R.D. Burman's tune for this song's mukhda was originally composed by his father S.D. Burman, who used it in two Hindi film songs - "Dene Wala Jab Bhi Deta (Chhappad Phaad Ke Deta Hai)" ("Funtoosh", 1956) and "Chanda Ki Chandni Ka Jadoo" ("Sitaron Se Aage", 1958). The 1956 song was written by Sahir Ludhianvi and sung by Kishore Kumar and the 1958 song was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and sung by Asha Bhosle. S.D. Burman himself adapted the popular jazz standard "St. James Infirmary", popularised by Louis Armstrong, for the tune of his song. R.D. Burman's arrangement for this song itself may have been inspired by O.P. Nayyar's style of music.[1][2][3]