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.
April 9th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
r.d.b. and KK has given us too many flops and ordinary songs and
its a fact that kumar sanu took over from kk during his lifetime,
if i am not wrong…… Please correct me..
binu nair
April 9th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
ref 472 - hussein sheikh: i didn’t quote your statements to avoid bringing attention to them. you’re awfully misrepresenting rafi sahab & his music loving fans. rafi sahab himself was a saint who encouraged and appreciated his co-singers. i hope you’ll learn from him some day.
ref 468 - xxx - your rankings are within reason. the precise ranking will of course be subjective and people will have disagreements based on different taste / criteria. at least you get the big picture.
ref 471 - harvinder - thank you. i’m not very knowledgeable on the subject of sonik omi - when i am - i will comment on them. i did really enjoy the famous songs from mahua & heeron ka chor. i will ask everyone however - to reread 462 (i speak only on the article - if sonik said something else where - i am not waare)
April 9th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
really I don’t understant why people said that RD like KK more than Mohd Rafi because RD for his 1st song he went to Mohd rafi and Lata ji becaue he knew that only they can made him great ,RD used most of singer as said by RD that his first song was singed by Mohd Rafi and the way singed by Mohd rafi it was great magic by Mohd rafi after listen the song I was if I made this song or it is the magic of Mohd rafi………
April 9th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Re. Post # 455: RDB prefered KK hence he used him in Manoranjan, and Shammi Kapoor at that time was not hit, and with God’s wish the movie bombed and was declared super flop inspite of KKs songs. So…..!!!
April 9th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Post 454 of xxx. Every MD I know of has served as an assistant or arranger to a senior MD - Take any great MD. RDB had the advantage of him being assistant to his great father SDB and was termed great from day one like actors son these days. So it is no sin or taboo on the part of +Mr Sonik+ to have the honour of arranging great Madan Mohan sahib’s songs. It also was his right to set up his own shop along with his nephew +Omi+. It is fool hardy to call him a traitor as everyone likes to reference his past accomplishments to advance his own career. Did you listen to the songs of movies I suggested again lately i.e, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya and Aabroo ? Please listen and try figuring out as to why such brilliant compositions were not repeated. I do not think it was just a flash in the pan.
Post 467 of Abey John.
I am impressed by your analysis. May be you could throw some light on Sonik Omi’s failure to give more memorable numbers.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
RAFI SAAB IS AND THE GREATEST SINGER EVER IN BOLLYWOOD.I HAVE GOT ALMOST FIVE THOUSAND SONGS OF RAFI SAAB ,AND EVEN MY SEVEN YEAR SON ALSO IS FAN OF RAFI SAAB.RD BURMAN WAS ALSO A GREAT COMPOSER ,I HAVE GOT COMPLETE COLLECTION OF ALL 300PLUS MOVIES OF RDB,BUT THE COMPOSITION OF SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES OF RDB TILL HUM KISI SE KUM NAHIN WERE SUPERB ,BUT AFTER THAT IT IS NOTHING GREAT.
EVEN IF RDB PREFERRED KK OVER RAFI SAAB,IT DID NOT MADE ANY DIFFRENCE AS RAFI SAAB WAS PREFERRED CHOICE OF ALL OTHER MD OF THE TIME.
AND WHY GIVING UNNECESSARY WEIGHTWAGE TO THAT RDB PREFERRED KK,BECAUSE INDIAN FILM MUSIC IS MUCH MORE BEYOND RDB AS FAR AS KK FANS ARE CONCERNED THEY CAN ONLY DRAW SOLACE FROM THAT RDB PREFERRED KK OVER RAFI SAAB,CAN THEY SAY THE SAME FOR ALL OTHER MDS,THE ANSWER IS A BIG NO.
April 9th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Re. Post 467: RDB was not talented as SJ, LP, MM, Naushad, and others. It was just his luck that supported him few years. Yes, SDB was super.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:55 am
ref to 467::
mr.john,
iam agree with most of your points, except - you are placing rdb along with truly great mds {naushad,sdb,sj}, rdb was great but he was no way sdb ,sj & naushad… see through your overall spectrum that all those truly greats were far more consistent with utmost quality, these three set the standards of quality…
acc to me, here is the bracket of truly great mds-{naushad,sdb,sj,mm,roshan}
and here is the bracket of rest of the greats where rdb is leading as i think-{rdb,salil,opn,lp,cr,ravi,chitragupt,vasant desai, anil biswas}…
and my liking or ranking of mds has nothing to do with “whether they properly utilized great mohd. rafi or not”..
April 9th, 2008 at 7:35 am
ref 465
if you don’t know much about someone, as your post indicates, then don’t comment on him. rd burman was a very talented music director. if you read the early posts you’d know. he was a trendsetter. very versatile & innovative. his compositions have survived the test of time better tham most mds. his sales records are just one indicator. one could easily argue to place rd burman in tier 1 music directors along with shankar jaikishan, sd burman, naushad, etc. “all he knew was to copy western tunes” - is an false & naive statement perpetuated by people like you who just superficially think what is written and don’t bother to listen to the music of rd burman itself. it’s just like when people say that rafi was only good for “slow songs” or “classical songs”. if they listened to rafi - they’d know he was much, much more. rd burman definitely proclaimed himself as different by making good use of more than just rafi. we already have a dozen mds who devoted all their compositions to rafi (sj, ravi, chitragupta, lp, op nayyar, naushad, and many more). i love rafi but thank god rd burman gave us VARIETY. instead of one great singer we got two. look from the perspective of a music lover. you don’t know what you’re missing out on. just listen to tere bina zihdagi se koi shikwa and stop thinking “oh - if only rafi sang it”. just enjoy the song. be a music lover. you’ll enjoy the great rafi even more! you’ve got me talking like an a*RD*ent even though my favorite mds are the ones you had listed. but i don’t fail to appreciate rd’s brilliance.
April 9th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Nitin,
We know you’re trying to cause trouble here, but it ofcourse will not work. I request everyone not to pay attention to his nonsense comments. The more nonsense these KK fans write, the funnier it becomes.
You are totally “wrong” in saying RDB did not prefer Rafi or use him because he wanted to. Ofcourse RDB preferred Rafi and used him as per his own choice many times, there are so many examples.
S-J were outstanding, they were the pioneers and innovators in instrumentation and a variety of rhythms, much before RDB. L-P were also oustanding as well.
By mentioning the stupid remark that “Kishore Kumar’s popularity is the reason for Mohd. Rafi’s death”, you have proved to everyone that you are a gone case, and may you find the right path.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Shankar Jaikishan, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Naushad, Madan Mohan, O.P. Nayyar, Roshan, Ravi, and few others were/are far more talented than RDB. All above used Rafi Saheb knowing Rafi Saheb was/is genius and complete singer and gave what music directors wanted. RDB only knew to copy western music.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Re. Post 458: Rafi Saheb sang more than KK in the past and in 1980 as well. RDB failed to brake record of Rafi Saheb in giving chance to sing more songs to KK. Even KK was not able to record more songs in his last few years due to his bad health and/or grown age. This should be noted. It was a totally rotten comment by this Nitin. Atleast he should think before writing. As if he’ll live hundreds of years.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Rafi Saheb did not depend on RDB nor he begged songs from RDB.
April 8th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
ref 454 xxx
be careful. i read that article before and was disappointed. but we don’t know if *sonik* himself claimed to compose most of madan mohan’s tunes. what his young nephew omi said is not nearly as important.
April 8th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
ref. to post 458.
Nitin,you’re talking from your backside when you make comments like that.
Rafi sahab was on top in every sense when he left this world.
No other singer came close to him. The closest was Lata ji.
Rafi was the best and still is the best singer of all times.
April 8th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Re. Post # 458: This is a nonsense type of comment by this nitin. Can this chap tell us what was the reason of Kishore Kumar’s death? Any other singers’ popularity?? All have to leave this world as and when time comes! This chap is a KK fan and has no sense at all. These types of comments are only written in KK site, full of nonsense and boring! Better think before you write. Even KK was fond of Rafi Saheb. And if RDB didn’t use more Rafi Saheb so what? Rafi Saheb was on top when RDB didn’t even enter music world!
April 8th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
please ignore nitin 458. he’s entitled to his opinion but surely he is trying to cause trouble here. the internet has a lot of people - by sheer probability you’re going to have a few troublemakers. i don’t call him a trouble maker because he has a a differing opinion - but clearly he is saying somethings to stir things up. if you want to spread truth or have balanced discussions - you shouldn’t waste your time on trouble makers.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
After viewing this topic, there is one thing to add, which is RD never preferred Rafi, if he made Rafi sing his compositions it’s due to the fact that some producers wanted Rafi’s voice in certain films for certain heroes! Secondly there is no comparison between RD Burman and music directors like LP or Sankar Jaikisan who knew how to compose of course but never showed skill in instrumentation and versatile rhythms. RD was far beyond his time and a true genius of the art. I request all Md. Rafi fans to stop posting nonsense because Md. Rafi was not chosen to render most of the numbers as Kishore Kumar.
I rather request the moderator to create a topic “Kishore Kumar’s Popularity is the reason for Md. Rafi’s death” - which is more genuinely debatable. Thanks!
April 8th, 2008 at 8:43 am
ref to p 455::
abey john,
i heard once in radio that shammi was about to take rajesh khanna for this movie manoranjan(1974) ..but later rajesh ditched him and he changed the star cast… songs of this movie might have been recorded earlier in the voice of kishore keeping rajesh khanna on mind …. by the way music of this movie was not up to the mark, music was just ok….
April 7th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
in case someone responds that rafi was not available…i know that rafi was going on tour quite frequently in the 70s but i wouldn’t consider that as the reason. as for haj - that was in 1972 and the manorjan wasn’t released until 1974 so there was enough time for recording but i’m not sure.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
i strongly believe that the pancham-rafi relation is indeed grossly misunderstood. so i’m not here to perpetuate that but i do have a question on this topic…
manoranjan (1974) was a shammi kapoor production. i can undestand why shammi opted for rd burman rather than shankar at that point. but what about rafi? as producer and actor - shammi surely had the clout to demand rd burman to use rafi - just like in teesri manzil. in 72 and 73 we saw rafi’s magic in the baton of RD Burman for Caravan and Yaadon Ki Baraat. True - maybe Rafi wasn’t getting his usual chart presence for reasons entirely unrelated to his music quality - but why didn’t Shammi have Rafi for at least one song? This is absolutely in no way to question the good, warm relations between Rafi & Shammi but I am curious. if shammi felt rafi would get the commercial results at that point (and producers are indeed strained for that) and he was financing this movie and knew all too well the importance of commercially successful music - than i understand. i just want to know.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
ref to p 452 ::
is there any need to write about sonik-omi?? yes they were good but never great, they even tried to cash the popularity in the name of great madan mohan, omi once said that sonik composed most of mm’s tune… what a joke!!
mm is a name which is associated not only with great and divine music but with the comeback of rafi ji as well(laila-majnu).. what a great disrespect shown to him by his own arranger… great but unfortunate madan mohan…
go through this::
http://www.indianmelody.com/mmohanarticle1.htm
April 6th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
anmol singh, hussein sheikh, as murty:
anmol singh: you know just as well as i that your statement regarding maximum hits of rdb is misleading. of course mukesh & rafi will have higher percentage of hits because they have MUCH fewer songs than kishore, with rd respectively! likewise, one could make a silly argument that kishore has a higher hit percentage with naushad than rafi! i take statistics with a grain of salt although it does have limited importance.
hussein sheikh & as murty: salil choudury may not have had the commercial success of sj but he is listed among the greats. further, his music unlike that of other MDs, did not PARTICULARLY require rafi. example, the song “suhana safar” from madhumati was a simple tune splendid in the vocals of mukesh! if anything, i appreciated the variety. salil choudury, believe it or not, had immense respect for rafi as a singer. if his tune required rafi’s craft, salil used rafi. you guys need to look at the big picture and not always a rafi-centric view. how do you think mukesh fans feel about salil? how do kishore fans feel about pancham? they’ll say the mds reached soaring heights.
if rafi sang salil’s compositions - the results wouldn’t have been significantly different because the tunes suited mukesh or hemant very well! if anything, salil offered something different from sj, naushad, lp, etc and that served as forte. this is what happened with rajesh khanna. had he opted for rafi - he’d been just “another” one of the 20 stars of the past. with something different - he became rajesh khanna. rafi set the standards of excellence it is true. he set the standard of versatility. but he (and his partners the MDs, lyricists) were so good, that became a large planet, institution of their own! it’s like in the beginning you see many countries, cities, religion, races, etc and as you keep expanding and expanding - you no longer see it like that but see everthing as ONE large planet (or institution in the case of rafi). anything outside of it becomes “variety” just because it is no longer on earth (even though earth itself has variety). logic sounds funny i know - but this is true with the rafi phenomeon. he was a super singer. but music does NOT begin and end with him in the WHOLE spectrum.
April 6th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
This RDB column has shifted to other MD’s and latest guest is Mr Salil Chowdrey and his style. I personaly do not rate him great, but limit him to be a very good MD- possibly for the limlited number of movies he gave music to. I was surprised to hear Lata ji rating him #3 or #4 after Madan Mohan, SJ and probably LP.
Is it out of place to talk about a much lesser known pair of Sonik Omi. If you listen to their compositions of Mahua, Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya, Aabroo (Not many have heard of the songs here). To me their music had a bit of touch of Madan Mohan as they were disciples to the great MM. But Madan Mohan saheb, despite rated so highly by Lata ji, Rafi Saheb, OPNayyar and others who know about music more than most of us, did not win much of acclaim commercially and died prematurely as a broken hearted Music Director because RDB’s, KA’s and LP’s were more popular.
April 5th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Ref. Post 449: LP were more famous and popular than Salil Chowdhary. I agree the later made some good music but never gained position of LP. Where ever you mention LP, people will recognise it’s Laxmikant-Pyarelal, but if you mention SC, no one will know it’s Salil Chowdhary. According tome, LP were more talented than Salil Chowdhary, and this is a fact.