Classical Rafi
This article is written by Mr. H.V.Guru Murthy.
I have a Cassette by name “Anmol Ratan Volume 12 Mohammed Rafi” – “Phir Rafi” released by HMV which I very frequently listen to while I travel. All the songs are classical based and are soothing to ears. Side A contains “Radhike Toone” (BETI BETE) music by SJ, “Manare Tu Kahena” (CHITRALEKHA) by Roshan, “Madhuban Me Radhika” (KOHINOOR) by Naushad, “Saaz Ho Tum” (SAANZ AUR AWAAZ) by Naushad, “Nache Man Mora” (MERI SOORAT TERI AANKHEN) by SDB and “Aaye Bahar Banke” (RAJHATH) by SJ.
Side B contains “Man Tarpat” (BAIJU BAWRA) by Naushad, “Duniya Na Bhaye” (BASANT BAHAR) by SJ, “Kaise Samjhaun” (SOORAJ) with Asha by SJ, “Ajahuna Aaye” (SAANJ AUR SAVERA) with Suman, again by SJ and “Nava Kalpana Nava Roopase” (MRIG TRISHNA) beautifully set to music by Shambu Sen.
All eleven songs are gems. The songs from Saanz Aur Awaaz, Rajhath and Mrig Trishna are comparatively not as popular as the other songs, but these three songs are real class. The Mrig Trishna song was picturised with a dance by Hema Malini which she admitted that she really enjoyed doing the dance for the song.
The “Kohinoor”, “MSTA” and “Baiju Bawra” songs are quite popular songs. Regarding the song from “Chitralekha”, nothing more need be said as it is considered one of the best short solos ever recorded in the history of Indian Film Industry. I read somewhere that some people felt that such a wonderful song should not be so small and they wanted to have one more Antara but finally decided to have just two Antaras, but still what a classic song.
The “Beti Bete” song is another good song. SPB tried the same song in a Kannada movie. The “Saanj Aur Savera” duet was a national award winner and that too picturised on Comedians Mehamood and Shuba Khote and the duet from “Sooraj” was also a hit song with a wonderful dance by Vyjayantimala. The “Basant Bahar” song comes in the climax of the movie and is one of the highlights of the movie, picturised on Bharat Bhushan.
What about other classical film songs sung by Rafiji? Of course, there are plenty of songs based on Indian Raags set to music by Naushad and SJ. Admittedly, Rafi was one of the few good singers who could sing a REAL classical song perfectly others being Mannadey, Lata and to certain extent Asha. This fact has been admitted by all the Music Directors.
If any further proof is needed of Rafiji’s caliber for such songs, the fact that Rafi sang “Man Mora Bawara” in RAGINI for even Kishore Kumar, himself a great Singer, should suffice. Apart from the above songs in the cassette, no one can forget songs like “Duniya Ke Rakhawale” (BAIJU BAWRA) especially people who have listened to Rafiji on stage, when Rafi used to raise his voice fourth time while singing “Rakhawale…….” in the end instead of three times as in the regular song. A classical duet with Lata “Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyaliya” (SWARNA SUNDARI) music by Southern Adinarayana Rao clearly showed Rafiji and Lataji’s mastery over even Carnatic music. Another song worth mentioning is a male duet sung by Rafi and Manna, “Tu Hai Mera Prema Devata” in KALPANA. “Panjaniya Chalke Raam” was another song sung by Rafiji in his melodious voice. Similarly the Rafi – Asha duet “Sawan Aaye” from Dil Diya Dard Liya was another classic, so also “Deewana Mastana” (Bambai Ka Babu). And what about “Ankhiyan Sang Ankhiyan Lagi” (BADA AADMI) and “Unke Khayal” (LAAL PATHAR).
Mannada of course was a master of classical music. His songs in films like Basant Bahar (Sur Na Saje and Bhay Bhanjana), Dooj Ka Chand (Phulgendava Na Maro), Dil Hi To Hai (Laga Chunari Me Daag), Jaane Anjane (Cham Cham Bajere Payaliya), Talaash (Tere Naina), Mere Huzoor (Jhanaka Jhanaka), Padosan (Aao, Aao Savanriya and Ek Chatur Naar), Budda Mil Gaya (Aayo Kahan Se Ghanshyam), Boot Polish (Lapak Zhapak), Lal Pathar (Re Mana Surame Ga with Asha), etc. are unforgettable.
Lataji also has given wonderful songs like Kare Badara Bairi Ja, Jyoti Kalash Chalke, Jiya Legayoji Mora Sanvariya from Anpadh, Ghar Aaya from Chote Nawab, etc. Asha also had “Kase Kahoon Man Ki Baat”.
Though Mahendra Kapoor also has sung few of such songs like “Shyamal Shyamal Karan”, “Tum Nacho Ras Barse”, etc., but his effort looked pedestrian and laborious. All other Singers hardly tried anything classical.
If the above songs are observed carefully, it is revealed that most of the classical songs are by either Naushad or SJ followed by SDB. No doubt that classically these three were the best MDs.
Perhaps, Rafiji and Mannada could have even given a full length concert of purely classical music if the numbers of such songs sung by them are considered.
April 6th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Vaishaliji,
Can you please mail the songs of BUDTAMEEZ to my e-mail id hvgurumurthy@yahoo.co.in.
April 5th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
ref to p :: 38
here is a link to download “meri aawaz suno” and few other songs of rafi ji as well…
http://mp3hungama.com/music/index.php?action=album&id=2052
April 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
HVG,
Rafiji voice matched with shammiji,dharmendra,jitendra,rajendra kumar,shashiji,and mehmood most
I hope that some times in future you serve us with special artical on each star.All the best.
Remain,
Prakash Shah.
April 5th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
hvg saab,
i am also thankful to Hussain bhai to favour me for robinhood,and budtameez songs.i have all the three song of budtameez,kindly sms me on my mobile your mail adress
Remain,
Prakash Shah
09426287666.(Mobile)
April 5th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Re. Post # 38: Mr. Patel, let me know your e-mail ID, I will send you a full version of the song “Meri Awaaz Suno…” from “Naunihal” in mp3 version.
melodiousrafi@yahoo.com
April 5th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Guru Murthy ji’s article really leads us to the golden era of Indian melodious classical singing and then Rafi sahab and Lataji were paramount!! hi! Today when we have rash western music most of the time, Rafi Sahab’s classical songs are like soothing melody to our ears. “Teri Jami se uthenge to aasma honge, hamare aise log zamane mei phir kahan honge?” Sanjaya Srivastava, IPS, Commandent, PAC, Etawah, U.P.
April 5th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Dear Prakashji,
Refer your post 33. Out of the five, I am able to place four of them. Somehow, I am not able to recollect the Budtameez song, which also had two other Rafi solos like “Haseen Ho Tum, Khuda Nahi Ho” and of course the title song.
Regarding other songs, all four are gems. All four are good examples of Rafiji’s soft songs and I would also say that quite popular songs in those days, especially “Phir Aane Laga Yaad Wahi”. Thanks to Hussein Saab, I got “Mana Mera Hasin Sanam”, which I have loaded on my mobile and enjoy very frequently. In Dil Deke Dekho, all other songs are bit loud but catchy and popular, except “Hum Aur Tum Aur Yeh Sama”, which is a soft romantic song very beautifully pitcurised on Shammi and Asha. Pitcurised on Mehamood, “Yeh Terii Saadagi” is alo a melodious song, especially the three different types of singing “Taubashikan”. This movie incidentally had one more wonderful song “Maine Rakha Hai Mohabbat, Apne Afsane Ka Naam”.
Thanks Prakashji, for reminding us about these songs. Though these sings were so good and we have heard them so many times still when somebody reminds about such songs, you start appreciating those songs as if we are hearing for the first time and also the songs remain with us for some time, that is, “gun gunate rahte hain”.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
I am looking for song Meri Awaz Suno Film Naunihal, Music by Madanmohan
How i can download or please tell me website, I try at youtube.com but not available.
April 4th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Dear Gurumurthy Sahab, I have received the mail from shri s. chandarji today and i have also replied back to him giving him all the details. i must thank you in the first instance for having introduced to us such an ardent fan of rafi sahab. i will be in regular touch with him through phones and personal meetings. i give my email ids for your future reference too : asmurty2@rediffmail.com, rafimurty@gmail.com and my mobile number is 9391267272 (Hyderabad). please forward to us names of any of your other friends who may be in hyderabad. thanks for introducing s chandarji.
April 4th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
can anybody please tell me from where i can download rafi sahib’s punjabi songs free.Please tell me any useful website from which the punjabi songs of rafi sahib are available i m desperately looking for them
MY EMAIL ID IS - VIXMAX@REDIFFMAIL.COM
April 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
haldar ji,
yes indeed there is abcd of raags in gurumurthy ji’s this article as they are classical based songs, my fav is “malkauns” bhajan set in a “jhap taal” by great naushad, i also like that link you have provided to “adana” set in “teen taal” although i don’t know much about s.d. batish…….
and here is a masterpiece composition by jaikishan in “kirwani”::
http://youtube.com/watch?v=vJYWAOdIaAc
now regarding writing of articles- i don’t think iam the right person to do so, neither do i have a great knowledge of hfm like you, nor i have a great writing skills like you..
mr.haldar, you are the appropriate person to do so, as you have lived that era, attended so many rafi ji’s stage shows, and you have a vast knowledge of not only composers but of musicians as well, so please share your thoughts through your articles, it would be great pleasure for all of us.. also i am eagerly waiting for your take on naushad, madan mohan and roshan….
thank you..
April 4th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Ref. to post 32 ,i can only says that this songs and others by rafiji are marvellous but are not popular at their time but they are evergreen songs have largeclassic value than more popular like naache man mora,or man re tu kahena dhir dhare,and radhike tu ne bansiya,etc etc were more popular at their time and many many people had already written praise abt.each one from the singer,musician,or lyrics its value but If u listen robinhood Md by Iqbql qureshi,or Usha khanna’s first film dil deke dekho hum aur tum etc and mentioned other and such a list of rafiji are uniq list with mr.shah and he always fond of this kind of song than more popular.
April 4th, 2008 at 11:33 am
HVG.Kindly listen rafis following songs and comment ;
1.Hum aur tum or ye shama…Dil Deke Dekho
2.Fir aane laga pyaar …………Ye dil kisko doo
3.maana mere haseen………..Adventure of robinhood
4.ye teri saadgi—————–shabnam
5.dil ko na mere tadpao………Budtameez
April 4th, 2008 at 9:27 am
DEAR SHRI. ASN MURTHYGARU & SHRI. RAMAKRISHNAGARU,
ONE OF MY FRIEND IN HYDERABAD, WHO IS ALSO A RAFI FAN IS INTERESTED IN GETTING IN TOUCH WITH FELLOW RAFI FANS IN HYDERABAD. CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE YOUR E-MAIL ID AND MOBILE NUMBER SO THAT I CAN PASS ON THE SAME TO HIM.
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
A blog has been created in memories of our great legends. Please visit this blog.
http://suhaniyaden.blogspot.com/
share your memories of your golden past on this blog.
you are requested to send articles/experiences/memories and comment in Hindi or English..
Thank you.
Vinod Viplav
09868793203
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:59 am
ref post 28:
pal do pal ka saath hamara, and you want me to attack someone? No way, xxx. Jokes apart, why don’t you do a micro-analysis of the songs that gurumurthy ji has mentioned in his article? They are the a to y of music. a for adana and y for yaman. Don’t waste your time writing comments. Write a series of articles starting with a(dana), where you can discuss the gem that you have commented on, and then proceed to b(hairavi), c(hhayanat)….
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Dear rafifans,
If somebody has mp3 of Tumhe Hushna Deke Khudane sung by Rafi,MannadeyVS Lata,Asha. Will you send at me please? My adress is: ailahibaks@gmail.com
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 am
haldar ji,
possibly your next attack on pancham, may be you are pointing out that pancham’s tbt(1980) quawwali mukhda is composed in same tune, daataram going with pace and pancham moving bit slowly and emphasizing those notes just before reaching taar saptak….. pardon me if im wrong…
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:13 am
Binuji,
I fully agree “its full stop”. In fact, I stopped my regular listening of Hindi Film Music after 1980. I admit I can hardly count on my fingertips the songs I know after 1980, but prior to that perhaps, mukhda, antara everything I remember not only of Rafi’s songs but even others. In fact, one of the reasons I was regular movie-goer was to enjoy the songs and after 1980, I have hardly gone to theatres to see movies.
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 am
ref to p 24:
haldar ji,
its a nice quawwali & listened 3 times but still get nothing special, plz elaborate your question or tell me what do you expected….
thank you….