Rafi Sahab with RD Burman

When we talk about the combination of Rafi Sahab and R.D. Burman and about their partnership,  some of the finest songs that were composed by RDB trying to resurface on the thin layer of memory instantly  such as – “Tum bin jaoun kahan”, “Ni sultana re pyar ka mausam aya”  “ kitna pyara wada” , “Arrey ho goriyan kahan tera desh re”,  “Chura liya hai tumne jo dilko”, “Yeh ladka hai alla kaisa hai diwana”,  “Hai agar dushman zamana gham nahi”, “Kya hua tera wada”,  “Chand mera dil”, “Pal do pal ka saath hamaara” and Maine poocha chand se. RD Burman started his journey with Chote Nawab in 1962 with the help of the man with the golden voice, Mohammad Rafi.

Major songs in the film was sung by Rafi and RD Burman commanded respect in the musical community of that period, who were still mesmerised with the classical compositions of Naushad, folk songs of SD Burman, western effects of Shankar Jaikishan, OP Nayyar, Salil Chowdhury, Ghazals of Roshan, Madan mohan. RD Burman had other skills like playing the mouth organ, tabla and other related instruments and he showed his skill while playing the mouth organ for Laxmikant Pyarellal in the film Dosti, 1964 where Rafi had galvanised the silver screen with his tragic andaz. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi with Madan Mohan

It is known to the entire film world that Madanmohan Kohli was very close to both Mohammad Rafi and also Lata Mangeshkar.  When the spat took place between Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar over the issue of royalty, between 1963 to 1967, both of them did not sing any duet songs. Lata contended that singer should receive royalty for their entire life for songs sung in films. Rafi contended that if singers don’t share the losses suffered by the film industry, they should not also share the profits.

Composers in bollywood industry had to decide either to choose Rafi or Lata in respect of duet songs. It was a very difficult decision. Ghazal Ka Shezada Madanmohan Kohli handled the situation in his own royal style. He concentrated more of the solo songs where he could devote them to both Rafisahab and Lataji. In respect of duet songs, where the song required the treatment of female singer he asked Manna Dey or Talat Mehmood to sing the duet with Lata. When the song required the treatment of male singer he asked Suman Kalyanpur or Asha Bhosle to sing with Mohammad Rafi. Read the rest of this entry »

Anand Bakshi with Laxmikant, Amitabh and Rafi sahab during the recording

Rafi sahab is probably the only singer whose voice would suit all actors and stars irrespective of the decade and their age. Even though Raaj kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Amitabh Bachan and Rajesh Khanna were considered synonymous with Mukesh, Mahendra and Kishore , the songs Rafi Sahab has sung for them  occupy a special place in the careers of these actors and HFM in general.  For example who can forget eternal melodies like  “baazi kisene Pyar ki sung for RK in film Nazarana”, “ Bhari Duniya mein Akhir Dil” sung for Manoj Kumar in Do Badan and “Teri Bindiya Re” sung for AB in Abhiman. There are many more such beauties that Rafisahab has sung for these stars.  Needless to say all these  stars had and have the greatest love, respect and admiration for Rafi Sahab. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi

मोहम्मद रफ़ी को हर साल याद तो किया जाता है और यह भी मालूम है की उनकी कमी कोई पूरी नहीं कर सकता. क्योंकि वोह एक लाजवाब शख्शियत थे .वोह जितने महान कलाकार थे उतना ही महान इंसान थे इस बात से कोई इंकार नहीं कर सकता. मगर महसूस करने वाली बात यह की इस महान इंसान के लिए भारतीय सरकार ने क्या किया? और उनका प्रशंशक होने का दावा सभी करते हैं, कुछ लोग उनके भक्त होने का दावा करते हैं . मगर क्या उनके साथ हो रही नाइंसाफ़ी के लिए कभी किसी ने आवाज़ उठाई? Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi with Verma Mallick, Devendra Goel, Ravi

Legendary music composer Ravi Shankar Sharma popularly known as RAVI expired on 7th March, 2012 due to cardiac arrest who celebrated his 86th birthday with friends three days before his death. He was survived by his separated son Ajay and daughter in law, actress Varsha Ushgonkar.

On his death, his filmmaker friend, A. Krishnamurthi remarked, “Ravi was noted for his heart-touching, soft, melodious tunes, which made his songs and music immortal and is hummed even today, decades after he composed them. As well as he was a very fine gentlemen and a great human being.” Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi Tributes

Mudhra hosted a programme yesterday, 04.03.2012, at the Infosys Hall, Chennai. A tribute to the playback legends of the North and South. This was part of their 3 day programme of music appreciation.  http://timescity.com/chennai/events/appreciating-indian-music/23866

Such a programme is always welcome, for indeed, there are very few people who can lay claim to sing like the legends, or even represent them. Being an ardent Mohammad Rafi fan, I was delighted to be invited and thrilled that  Chandan would be representing Rafi. None better. There were other singers too. For Mukesh, for Kishore. And for Lata. And on the southern side, for TM Sounderajan, PB Srinivas, P Suseela, S Janaki. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi

The 60′s were probably Mohd. Rafi’s greatest years. The decade started off with him winning his first Filmfare award for the title song in “Chaudavi Ka Chand” (1961). Throughout the decade he produced many hits with many top music directors, such as Naushad, Roshan, Madan Mohan, Ravi, Shankar – Jaikishan and others.  Rafi’s prominence for the decade is the best it ever got for any singer in the history of Hindi Films and in the many of those movies he was the only male voice. The songs list goes as ~ Zindabad Zindabad e Mohabat Zindabad; Sangam Yeh Mera Prem Patra; Nain Lad Jaiye Hain; Tum Se Izhar-e-haal Kar;  Waqt Se Din Aur Raat; Yeh Reshmi Zulfe; Ek Tha Gul Aur Ek Thee; Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki; Baharon Phool Barsoo; Mast Baharon Ka Mein; Aap Ki Pehlu Mein; Ye Parda hata do; Rahe Manva Dukh ki Chinta; Chalkey Tere Aankhon Se; Ahsaan tera hoga;  Paon Chu Lene Do; Bade Miya Deewane; Janu kya Mere Dil; Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya; Madhuban main Radhika naache and many more. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi

मेरी   नज़र   में    रफ़ी   साहब  उस    चाँद  की तरह   है    जिसकी   मुक़द्दस   रौशनी     रहती दुनिया    तक   बकरार    रहने वाली  है,  उस   चाँद   में   एक   कशिश   है.जो भी   उसकी   ओर   देखता   है   उसका ही हो  जाता  है   सदा के लिए.  जिसकी शीतल  छाया   में   तपती  धुप   से   जलते   हुए तन-मन   को   आराम   मिलता  है ,  जिसकी  रौशनी   भूले -भटके   लोगों को रास्ता  भी दिखाती है ,  वोह  रौशनी  जो हर  अँधेरे  को दूर भगाती  है. यह   चाँद   है   अपनी   सम्पूर्ण आभा  को समेटे हुए ,एक युवा और  जिंदादिल   जिंदगी   का   मयार . Read the rest of this entry »

Joy Mukerjee and Mohd Rafi

Veteran actor Joy Mukherjee died on 9^th March, 2012. He was the son of noted filmmaker Sasadhar Mukherjee and Sati Debi. Sasadhar Mukherjee was the co-founder of Filmalaya Studios.

Joy Mukherjee stormed bollywood films with his debut in the film Love in Simla in 1960. It was directed by RK Nayyar. Iqbal Qureshi composed the music of the film. From that time the everlasting combination of Joy Mukherjee with Mohammad Rafi stormed bollywood music for the next 10 years. Read the rest of this entry »

Sri Ravi Shankar Sharma

While I was driving back from work, and for some strange reason, only one song kept coming back to me. It was “ Na muh chhupa ke jiyo aur na sar jhukaake jiyo”. Little did I know at that time that music director Ravi was already gone.

As usual, it was my friend from Bangalore Nagesh Sidhanti who had informed us by mail, but I hadn’t checked the mail but had just posted a Holi Song of Rafi Saab- the very popular Holi Khelat Nandalal Biraj mein from Godaan.  When I saw a response to that post of mine from Vasudha my other friend from Bangalore, I wondered why she mentioned Ravi in her reply.  Upon scrolling down a mail or two I read this note from Nagesh.  And I was dumb struck. What a coincidence. I had been thinking of many songs, and all of them were Ravi Saab’s songs. Read the rest of this entry »