Did R.D.Burman really preferred KK over Rafi?
This article is written by Mr.H.V.Guru Murthy.
A regular browser to web site mohdrafi.com, having gone through the letters of Rafi lovers would assume that R D Burman did not utilize Rafi properly, instead he preferred Kishore Kumar. Because of this reason, Rafi Fans are still upset with RDB even though he passed away a decade back.
Yes, it is true that RDB preferred KK over Rafi during early seventies. For that matter, which Music Director or Actor or Producer or Director will not have his preference. It was well known that Raj Kapoor always preferred Mukesh, Manoj Kumar preferred Mukesh or Mahendra Kapoor, B.R.Chopra films had Mahendra, MD Ravi also had plenty of songs with Mahendra so also O.P after he broke with Rafi. Similarly OP always had either Asha or Geetha Dutt and never Lata. Salil also used all other Singers. Director Subba Rao insisted on Mukesh for SAATHI even though the hero was Rajendra Kumar and MD Naushad, two Rafi Fans. Even Kalyanji Anandji had many films with Mahendra Kapoor, Mukesh and KK even though Rafi was instrumental in their raise through JAB JAB PHOOL KHILE, AAMNE SAAMNE, etc. LP, by all means Rafi Bhakts, used KK regularly in the early seventies even for Rafi heroes like Jeetendra, Dharmendra, etc. SJ also switched over to KK in movies like MAIN SUNDAR HOON, DIL DAULAT DUNIYA, KAL AAJ AUR KAL, etc. Of course, the music standard came down a notch or two in that period. But, well, it is their prerogative to have whomsoever they wanted though I am sure in heart of heart, why even openly, they would have admitted the superiority of Rafi over all other Singers. Similarly, RDB also used KK for almost all his movies in the early seventies as perhaps he had some special chemistry with him.
However, let us not forget that RDB used Rafi extensively during late sixties as his main playback singer right from the first movie. He gave hit music with Rafi in TEESRI MANZIL, NAQLI NAWAAB, CARAVAN, PYAAR KA MAUSAM, THE TRAIN, ABHILASHA, ADHIKAR, RATON KA RAAJA, etc. Later during late seventies he returned to Rafi and gave hits like SHAAN, HUM KISISE KUM NAHIN, ABDULLAH, ZAMANE KO DIKHANA HAI, etc. In between, he had Rafi in CHANDI SONA qawali with Mannadey (Ek Shok Hasina Se), YADON KI BAARAT (Title song and who can forget the duet with Asha Chura Liya Hai Tumne), DIL KA BAADSHAH (this Raj Kumar starrer had all songs by Rafi), THE GREAT GAMBLER (Raftasa Mera Naam), SHEHZADA (Solo Tere Attaroo and duet with Lata Kaahe Ko Bulaya), etc.
If a person cannot appreciate the greatness of Rafi, then it can be safely concluded that the person does not have a sense of music. Of course, RDB was a good MD though not a great MD like Naushad, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, SDB, etc. RD would have definitely known the great qualities of Rafi, the Singer. Just because he did not use Rafi extensively as one would expect, let us not degrade this MD who gave us some good songs in CHANDAN KA PALNA, PADOSAN, HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA, MERE JEEVAN SAATHI, AJNABEE, AMAR PREM, SANAM TERI KASAM, BHOOT BANGLA, BAHARON KE SAPNE (Rafi solo Zamane Ne Maare), PARICHAY, KINAARA, APNA DESH, ZAHREELA INSAAN, RAMPUR KA LAKSHAMAN (Pyaar Ka Samay with Lata, KK and Rafi), 1942 – A LOVE STORY, KATI PATANG to certain extent, etc. though he gave some very mediocre music in films like DEEWAR, SHOLAY, KITAAB, ZAKHMEE, RAFOO CHAKKAR, NAMKEEN, DHARAM KARAM and BIWI O BIWI (so un-RK film like), etc. so many forgettable movies as for as music was concerned.
The irony of RDB was either he gave good music or petered out to a very mediocre music in so many films. I read some where that Shashi Kapoor called RD as National Anthem Music Director. In those days, theatres used to play National Anthem at the end of the movie and the Hall doors used to be shut till the completion of the Anthem. As soon as the Anthem used to commence, our in-disciplined people used to rush to the Hall Door and wait for the door opening. Similarly, whenever RDB songs commenced in most of the movies, people used to rush to toilet.
Still, it is not fair that we use harsh and sometimes, un-parliamentary language against any body if they differ with our views. We cannot forget the contribution of all these MDs, Heroes, Singers, Directors, etc. in making the Indian Film Music so rich.
May 12th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Don’t waste your time with a person who says that LP gave more gems to KK than to Rafi and Lata, or that LP have more gems with KK than Rafi and Lata. It shows the lack of musical knowledge that this person has. It’s a universal fact that Rafi and Lata received not only LP’s best songs, but have more gems with LP than any other singers.
Moreover, Rafi and Lata are the only singers who have the best songs, and most gems, with the majority of MD’s. KK was primarily backed only by RDB.
May 12th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Rafi had the best voice ever, a golden voice, miles ahead of KK’s voice. Rafi had range, versatility, was gifted, and was the complete singer. KK and everyone else were miles behind Rafi.
Rafi, Lata and Asha are considered to be the three greatest singers of all time. KK doesn’t make the cut, he had severe limitations which were exposed.
Anil is quoting some people about KK, I could quote many more people about Rafi’s greatness. The majority of musicians, MD’s, singers etc. are all of the opinion that Rafi is the greatest male singer ever. Also, aside from what others say, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Rafi is the greatest.
“Humein tumse pyar kitna” was definitely modified for KK, just like “Mere naina sawan bhadon” and other songs, because KK could not sing classical songs.
May 11th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Anil:
LOL another hilarious post by you (as usual), filled with the usual dose of nonsense. He thinks KK never lost his top position when he did. He has failed to realize facts, as well as the truth, that Rafi had more hits from 1977-1981 than KK, the BGM from 1979-1981 was dominated by Rafi, yet he thinks KK was the top singer. Rafi had already taken over Kishore by the time he passed away on July 31, 1980.
No matter what RD said about Kishore, he knew Rafi was the better singer. Why did RD shy away from KK when it came to qawwali’s as well as most classical songs ?. It again proves KK’s limitations.
Btw, “O Duniya Ke Rakhwale” is considered to be the greatest song of all time, and is loved by a huge number of people, and countless other Rafi songs are loved by many people around the world, maybe you might not like them, but it doesn’t diminish the fact that everyone loves Rafi songs more than KK songs, due to the quality factor. You have listed pedestrain songs in your attempt to over-ride KK’s limitations, but you haven’t succeeded, and instead made a joke out of yourself.
RD did prefer Rafi to KK post 1975, just check out the quality of the compositions and you will know. Whatever Rafi sang for RD was gold, and half of what KK sang for RD is pure trash.
Anup Jalota’s voice doesn’t resemble KK’s in any way, so stop hitting the head with a nail by mentioning this point. During KK’s time there were many bhajans, but KK was not capable of singing them so no one gave him any bhajans. Qawwalies is another genre KK could not sing in, so don’t try and write nonsense that KK could sing it. Anything KK was weak at you don’t conisder offbeat, but something he could sing you consider it as offbeat, quite hilarious, and it shows you hardly have any musical knowledge and are trying to cover up KK’s limitations, but sorry it won’t work, they’ve already been exposed a long time back. There are so many other genres KK could not sing in, ghazals is one of them, and yet you want to compare him to a singer who’s miles ahead of KK and any other singer. The majority consider Rafi to be the first and last word in singing, only people like you who hardly have any knowledge compare singers like KK to Rafi.
You don’t know any facts, so please don’t comment. RD didn’t prefer Rafi to a limited extent, they have many songs together. LOL your counteraatck to LP story holds no ground because post 1975, LP were already ahead of RDB, and RD’s overuse of KK was his downfall. However RD realized that after and its a good thing he did, and we got many more classics from the RD-Rafi combo. RD’s trump card was not KK till the end, the number of RD-KK great songs after 1975 can be counted on one’s fingertips. RR has more great songs with KK post 1975 than RD does. RD produced more greats with Rafi than he did with KK after 1975. RR also produced great music with Rafi as well. Most MD’s preferred Rafi to KK, and that’s a fact, nothing you say will change that.
You wrote:
“i want people to look at kishore from other angle of depth, softness, ellectric taans, superb sad song rendition a greta voice”
No one is denying KK was a good singer, but Rafi is miles ahead of him in all those characteristics that you mentioned above. Everyone is judging KK as a total singer, which he is not, he was far behind not only Rafi, but many other singers in India as well. In the South, KK is not even considered to be a singer, and yet you claim all these high things about KK when the truth is he wasn’t even half of what you say he was.
Please stop writing such nonsense and foolish things here, if you want to contribute, then contribute positively, with good points, not rubbish points that are a figment of your imagination. This is why no one here is taking you seriously because your lack of knowledge has been exposed and you’re writing such trash.
May 11th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
For Mr. Sanjay:
‘Aaj mausam….’ is a singer’s nightmare… the sustained high-pitch singing is the ultimate litmus test (even bigger than reaching a crescendo from a lower note and sliding back). Rafisahab does an absolutely marvelous job here (as only he could/can). And that voice never weakens/wavers anywhere in that 5 and odd glorious minutes.. just wishing that people who speaks of deep/strong voice (esp. in connection with certain other singers) listens to this song closely and tries to visualise anyone else singing this song as beautifully…
May 11th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
For everyone:
Please note that there are two Anils here in the discussion..may I suggest everyone to use surnames too (just to avoid confusion)?
For Mr.XXX.
It’s true that L.P had many mediocre songs under their belt. But to me there’s a difference between them and RDB. L.P’s mediocre scores were just that.. mediocre,.. they were tolerable to an extent; but RDB’s mediocre scores? They were really bad (speaking personally), loud and crass (like Bappi’s songs)…Would you agree with me?
May 10th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
MR. SANJAY ARORA:
THE MDs YOU MENTIONED (NAUSHAD SAAB, SJ,MM) SERVED SUMPTUOUS ‘THALIES’ FOR LISTENERS, RAFI SAHAB BEING A MAJOR INGRADIENT OF MANY (IF NOT MOST) OF THEM. RDB (AS A RULE, THOUGH THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS) SERVED CRISPY, LIGHT FAST FOOD WHICH A GENERATION SIMPLY LAPPED UP. WE PEOPLE PREFER ‘THALIES’, ANYDAY. AM I RIGHT?
May 10th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Anil:
I would like to add, that “if” you feel RR had something to do with “yeh jeevan hai” then that is your own thinking. “If” you are trying to say that he may have had a hand in some of LP’s songs, then that is again your own thinking. I feel RR inherited the best qualities from LP, and they taught him a lot of things in those five years that he assisted them. Many a times assistants have had a hand in some songs of MD’s, but only RR would know if he had a hand in some LP songs, as well as what he did for LP, and for that you’d have to ask him about it.
But “if” you’re trying to take away credit from LP or anyone else in general, please don’t, as its foolish and the wrong thing to do, and also please don’t spread other overblown or nonsense statements on this site.