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The Impact of Mohammad Rafi’s death on India’s music industry

Sunday, November 18th, 2012

By Nadeem Sundoo

Mohd Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar, Shankar Jaikishan and others

Mohd Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar, Shankar Jaikishan and others

There’s a lot of talk around the net about who is the best singer; Rafi, Lata, Asha or Kishore. And most of the articles are very subjective, the bias to one or another artist is clearly seen, be it pro-Rafi, pro-Lata, pro-Asha or pro-Kishore.

Ignoring the subjective articles there’s also a lot of objective articles comparing the various aspects of singing such as voice modulation, expression, power, sweetness and feelings just to name a few. These articles give a very clear indication about who, objectively seen, is the best singer India has ever produced – if ever there was any doubt. Some articles also talk about Mohammad Rafi’s impact and contribution to the music industry, but I have never encountered any article about the impact of his death on the music industry. And thinking about it I realized that it maybe holds the strongest argument for his superiority over all other Indian singers. (more…)

Use of Mohammad Rafi by Shankar Jaikishan during Rafi Lata spat

Sunday, November 11th, 2012

By Souvik Chatterji

Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi Sahab

Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi Sahab

Shankar Jaikishan were the musical duo who ruled bollywood films between the 1950s and 1960s. During 1963, a spat occurred between Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar over royalty. 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. (more…)

Mohammed Rafi – The Universal RATNA: setting the records straight once and for all

Sunday, November 4th, 2012

By Salim K

Mohd Rafi

Mohd Rafi

Mohammed Rafi is a name that takes a few seconds to pronounce but the unmatched talent, achievement, success and grace of the man is so large, diverse and unique that it would take a lifetime to appreciate the miracle of God. Yes Mohammed Rafi is nothing less than a miracle and miracles are rare and do not come cheap, nor they are a daily affair and nor they have any limitations. (more…)

The combination of Mohammad Rafi, Laxmikant Pyarellal and Dharmender stormed bollywood films of 60s and 70s

Friday, October 26th, 2012

By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi and Dharamendra

Mohd Rafi and Dharamendra

The combination of Mohammad Rafi, Laxmikant Pyarellal and Dharmender stormed bollywood films of 1960s and 1970s. When LP emerged in the musical arena with Parasmani and Dosti, bollywood music was being dominated by Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad Ali, Roshanlal Nagrath, OP Nayyar, Madanmohan Kohli and other big composers who created history. The stars of the golden age were associated with the big composers, for example Raj Kapoor was associated with Shankar Jaikishan, Dilip Kumar with Naushad Ali, to name a few. So Laxmikant Pyarellal required an upcoming star with whom they could create partnership. Dharmender was one of those stars. (more…)

Mohammad Rafi – The Singer

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

By Manish Chhabra

Mohd Rafi

Mohd Rafi

His was the voice which suited every hero of his era, yet, his was the voice which was so different that we are still looking for one, 32 years since his untimely death.

Rafi ruled the Hindi Film Music’s golden period of 1950s and 1960s.In fact, it won’t be an overstatement that Mohammad Rafi’s golden period was Hindi film music’s golden period.

Rafi was so popular during the 1950s and 1960s, that literally, no Hindi film worth its name was complete without his songs in it. There were singers who suited and suited very well on a particular style of compositions/heroes but Rafi was a fit-all singer. (more…)

Mohd Rafi: The Last word in ‘Acting in Singing’

Sunday, October 7th, 2012

By J.K. Bhagchandani

Mohd Rafi

Two eternal lovers meet at dawn in a secluded place. These moments of love, of passion are stolen, yet sweet; short yet rich. The lovers are apprehensive yet ecstatic; they are silent yet communicative, conveying the inner most feelings; they are restless, yet tranquil. The atmosphere has elements of charming sensuality. The song ‘Meri duniya mein tum aayee….’  (Heer Ranjha) conveys this wonderful set-up through its lyrics, its composition and most importantly through the way Rafi and Lata have rendered, almost like whispering in each others’ ears. (more…)

Setting the records straight

Sunday, September 23rd, 2012

By Amarjit Singh Kohli, founder chairman of Yaadgar-e-Rafi society

Lata Mangeshkar and Mohd RafiMohammad Rafi claimed to have sung 28,000 songs. He didn’t go beyond 5,000.

Legendary singer Mohammad Rafi had a 36-year-long career. But till 1991, there was no clarity on the total number of songs he sang. If we go by the articles and programmes on Rafi in the media, this number is somewhere around 28,000. However, this seems unrealistic, as 28,000 songs in 36 years means that Rafi sang an average of 777 songs each year. Out of the 36 years, if we subtract the years between 1970-76, when Kishore Kumar emerged as the most popular singer and Rafi did not get many singing contracts, the average comes to about 1,000 songs a year. This means 2.74 songs per day. This is not humanly possible. (more…)

Mohammed Rafi: The preliminary voice of superstar Rajesh Khanna

Sunday, September 16th, 2012

By Biman Baruah

Tribute to Rajesh Khanna(Shardhanjali to Rajesh Khanna)
NAFRAT KI DUNIYA KO CHOD KAR PYAR KI DUNIYA MEIN KHUSH REHNA MERE YAAR

This is the only Mohammed Rafi song aired when actor Rajesh Khanna passed way on 18th July, 2012 due to prolong illness and his funeral procession crowded by mourners in the street which made a mark after 32 years, last seen at the time of funeral of Rafi Sahab. The song created a history in Hindi Film Music. The producers and actor of the film Haathi Mere Saathi (earlier named as Pyar Ki Duniya) wanted all the songs are to be recorded in the voice of Kishore Kumar. But after several attempt, Kishore Kumar unable sing this heartbreaking song as desired by the composers then tussle begin between producer, actor and music director duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal. (more…)



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