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 29th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
bristol & u.k. : pls do not compare chalk and cheese. rafi ji is way ahead of any singer and comparing rafi ji with any other singer is most “absurd”.
its like saying himesh reshamiya is the singer of this century. please dont expose ur hearing problems in this thread.
Binu Nair.
mumbai.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
ref post 538.
‘unfortuntely the truth is Kishore da songs are far superior compared to Rafi’s songs.’
these oneliners are most stupid(so its posters!) things here!
Kishore kumar was nowhere near rafi saheb and this fact was well known even to kishore kumar itself.
RD opt for the voice of rafi saheb only for the two reason, first when he find that his composition is very weak and only the voice of rafi saheb can make it hummable.just like his songs ‘YAMMA YAMMA’.and second, when find that his compostion is really tough and no other singer cd do justice with that song.just like the song ‘PAL DO PAL KA SAATH HUMARA’.
April 29th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I feel bristol has a point here, esp. the fact that Rafisahab’s calibre wasn’t really put to best use in many of his ’70s songs. I also feel his voice wasn’t always at its best in several ’70s (esp. late ’70s) songs, the voice seemed to lack that innate heaviness in some songs while in some others it was heavier (and thicker) than usual. However I wouldn’t subscribe to the opinion that Kishoreda’s songs were far better and more touching. Infact Rafisahab did sing some wonderful numbers in ’70s too like Laila Majnu songs, though Kishoreda, generally speaking, got the better songs in mid-70s.
April 29th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
ref to the post 540 of mr.myk,
yes you are right, mm was much more than the gazal composer, here are two such examples, both the songs are classy as well as popular::
1.http://youtube.com/watch?v=tHuWwlL3Erc
2.http://youtube.com/watch?v=FmIUtuIvcB8
infact i love the song #2 by asha, compare it with any western based rd-asha number, this song will beat any of the over hyped rd-asha western number. manohari’s sax is treat to listen…
song #1 is best song ever picturised in vijay anand(as i think..), rafi ji’s melody is excellent….
April 29th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
ref to the post 540 of mr.myk,
yes you are right, mm was much more than the gazal composer, here are two such examples, both the songs are classy as well as popular::
1.http://youtube.com/watch?v=tHuWwlL3Erc
2.http://youtube.com/watch?v=FmIUtuIvcB8
infact i love the song #2 by asha, compare it with any western based rd-asha number, this song will beat any of the over hyped rd-asha western number. manohari’s sax is treat to listen…
song #1 is best song ever picturised in vijay anand(as i think..), rafi ji’s melody is excellent….
April 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
ref to p 544::
sudhir ji,
sd burman never deteriorated the hfm, he was as classy as popular, perhaps the only one among truly greats who could well mix class and mass into his music, …. no matter whom he utilised his music was always nice … and as far as quality is concerned, for me sd’s music was next to and very close to the class of mm’s music from 70s, mm gave great quality tunes to 70s followed by sd burman, here are few great albums of sd from 70s::
1.ishq par zor nahi
2.sharmilee
3.abhimaan
4.milli
5.chupke chupke
6.anuraag
7.tere mere sapne
8.gambler
9.zindagi zindagi
10.prem pujari……..
April 29th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Dear Hussieni Shiekh : Ref.539 : I support yr comment on kk completely. the de-grading of hindi music started from the advent of kishore kumar. Barring few songs kishore sang all thrash songs without tune, melody or meaning. And to help kishore kumar do this sin of degrading music in hindi films, we had stalwarts like r.d. burman, bappi lahri and s.d. burman(sorry for including s.d.burman though he is my favourite music director who ditched mohd rafi in the end, because he wanted to be in the limelight and who compromised on melody and gave all noisy music) S.d. burman was a man whose favourite singer was mohd rafi and not kishore kumar. he would go out of his orbit to have mohd rafi in his films. Sometimes he succedded and that is why we have so many melodious of rafi and s.d. burman.
But money and fame and name was ruling the roost and that is why music directors were opting for kk for some time. and thus started the de-gradation of music. Why, even a man like naushad was compelled to take kk and also recorded a song with him. Actors like rajendra kumar, biswajeet and others who attained star symbol only becuase of mohd rafi, switched to kk thus ending their own carriers.
So, let us not forget that rafi had sung long time back `paise ke pechan yahan insaan ki keemat koi nahin`
April 29th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Ref post 538.
Ajv from Bristol,
You need to clean your ears and stop talking bull shit.
All in music industry know that Rafi was far superior in all types of songs and voice quality than any other singer. KK doesn’t even come second.
Even KK himself considedred himself below Rafi sahab.
You KK fans are full of bull shit.
Start talking some sense and you will be taken a little seriously.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
As i think we should not speak about songs if it was singed by other esle than Mohd Rafi..Mr Bachchan and dilip kummar they are great actors but they can’t be in all flims.
we can speak about songs one singer was not able to sing that song and other singer did that there are many Example of that…..
KK was one of the best singer ever we had.
People speak why Mohd Rafi didn’t got Bharat Ratna it so easy to answer because Bharat Ratna more smaller than God gift from more than 50 years still at the top…..
April 29th, 2008 at 9:35 am
post 538 ajv: we all know the limitations in Kishores voice. his songs in many movies bombed bringing the career of r.d.burman to a halt. No doubt he is a great singer with very great limitations.
The hoarse voice in many songs “trouble” the ears; and it has very minimum melody.
k.l.saighal and rafi ji had melody in their songs which kk lacked and this is the reason why KK regarded these two singers as the “greatest”.
Have u listened to rafi’s : ae nargis - e - mastana, and see how he has said the words: aee………………………. one word is enough to get the bliss and beauty of the whole number.
KK was the bestseller no doubt with the rajesh khanna wave and when the wave went down; rafi ji was back with a bang. i would add herein that some of KK songs are gems and marvellous and rafi saaheb would accept and compliment the singer as a true sportsman. but rafi i think lacked the p.r. and relied only on “quality singing” with no politicking.
the sisters too backed kk to settle some scores with rafi-ji along with a “caucus” in the music industry.
this proves the point that most of kks songs were “hyped” and “not” naturally popular howmuch ever u may sing “otherwise”.
binu nair, mumbai.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Ref Post 538:
Saying KK songs are far superior to Rafi songs is like saying Bappi Lahiri was a better composer than RD Burman. Please don’t spread utter nonsense on this site, there is already more than enough on the KK site, so leave it at that.
Rafi’s songs and voice quality were never motonous at any point in his career. They were both of the ultimate high quality, rich and golden in all aspects. On the other hand, KK’s songs and voice quality were not of the same level and standard as Rafi’s, and he was never consistent in those aspects because he did not have those capabilities.
——————-
Mr. XXX,
Thanks for your write-up, I fully agree, RR exploited KK’s voice differently compared to RDB and others. There is a duet from BBM, the title song, Kishore with Asha, “Suniye Kahiye”, where RR again makes Kishore sing in a soft way, and the results are great. I also agree that RR’s best came with Rafi.
You said it perfectly, Kaifi Azmi is indeed “24 karat gold”, and Gulzar cannot be placed in the same league as him and other greats. You are right, none of the second generation composers came close to MM in terms of quality in the 70’s. Remember the song “Mushkil Hai Jeena” from Sahib Bahadur sung by Lata, it is a masterpiece, and shows that MM was always great till the end, just like Dada Burman. MM’s orchestration was outstanding, his violins were pure class as you mentioned. As a ghazal composer he was in a league of his own, but MM was much more than just ghazals. He could compose in any genre as he proved, but people sometimes tend to associate him only with ghazals.
April 29th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Re. Post # 538: Most of KK’s songs after 1980 were cheap and bogus. His voice had turned fron bad to worst. During that period, singers like Shabbir Kumar and Mohd. Aziz were recording more than KK. Rafi Saheb’s voice remained melodious and sweet till he passed away.
April 27th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Binu,
Nobody needs to justify the singing quality of Rafi. Rafi was a great singer even if you don’t spell it. But unfortuntely the truth is Kishore da songs are far superior compared to Rafi’s songs. Rafi’s songs and his voice quality was montonous in late 70’s. Infact many of the rafi songs doesn’t utilize his sheer talent.
Sometimes it is a matter of taste! Kishore da songs just touches the soul.
ajv
bristol,uk
April 27th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Re. Post 536: I am not against KK, but I meant KK could not have sung it, as it was a high pitch song, and Mr. Sudhir Rao, you may be right too. RDB knew that KK was not capable of the said song!
April 27th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Post 532: hussein ji : kishore regarded and treated rafi saaheb as his elder brother and as the greatest singer.
more, kishore ji used to summon rafi to the studios many times if the song was difficult and the examples are (few) Mukaddar ka sikander title pathos song; ajab hai dastaan teri yeh zindagi and many others according to industry musicians who are ever willing to share anecdotes with rafi followers in the rafi foundation.
a composer also reported : kishore called rafi in and left after telling the producer : this is rafi’s song and he will sing this song. the musicians were confused : how rafi ji is here when the song is to be recorded in kishore’s voice.
binu nair…. rafi foundation…..mumbai.09833 250 701
April 27th, 2008 at 6:59 am
kIND ATTN. MR.SHIEKH : Thanks for yr observation of r.d burman not taking kishore kumar in `yamma yamma` from film `shan` but i want to correct yr observation. U had observed that kk did not have guts to sing this song, but the fact is that r.d. burman did not have guts to take kishore kumar in this particular song as both their voices,ie kk and rd burman, would have made this song very noisy and very un-melody. It was rafi`s silken and golden voice which lifts the song to its melody. i am sure u will agree my point of view.
April 26th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Ref - 530
I don’t think KK could have rendered this song either with Rafi or RDB. Its is very high pitch song at certain points, were RDB had give Rafi the upper hand. Perhaps the reason the snycronization betweem the two is perfect.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Dr. Khaja Aliuddin ji,
Maa ka aanchal was great score my madan mohan, and great lyrics by kaifi too..
asha sung some of her best songs here, rafi ji sung “maa hai mohabbat ka naam” which was great too…
here is the link to the song::
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eFC3IpAXuLE
April 25th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Re. Post 530: Kishore Kumar had no guts to sing this song.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Janab HV Guru Murthy Sahab, Adab Araz Hai,
I totally agree with you and Janab XXX. Kaifi Azmi Sahab is a great poet, no doubt about it. Please listen to his songs in Shola aur Shabnam and Maa ka Aanchal. These are the collector’s items sung by Rafi Sahab. There is a beautiful song on “Maa” in the movie ” Maa ka Aanchal”. Very sentimental song, beautifully rendered by Rafi Sahab. Whenever I listen this song, I cry for my mother.
Looking forward to hear from both of you and all Rafi lovers.
With regards,
Dr. Khaja Aliuddin
Chicago
April 24th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Can anybody explain why r.d.burman preferred mohd.rafi in the duet song `yamma yamma yamma yamma hai kubsurat samma` from film `shaan` with
mohd rafi and r.d. burman singing together. This song became a melody only because of rafi`s voice otherwise a thrash song. Imagine r.d.burman and kishore kumar singing the same song.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Dear Rafi fans : Mohd. Rafi was the greatest singer the world has ever seen. But what makes this man be remembered by his fans everyday in and out. It is hard to explain this, but I feel Mohd. Rafi was a great human being, he was never involved in any controversies,was a spotless character, with no qualms singing with any junior artists, always punctual in the recording room, always more than willing for re-takes till music director and himself were fully convinced of the song.
A man is remembered for his skill and quality but is worshiped if he has human virtues also. Mohd. Rafi is such human being who had both in abundance. Sometimes I wonder whether he was a better singer or a better human being. Did he become great singer because he was a very good human being or he became a very good human being because he was a great singer? I say this because a singer can sing better if he has learnt music but how will you explain `MOHD RAFI` who surpassed everybodys expectation in all the songs he has sung and each and every song of his has become an example or `MISAL` For this to happen he must be a great singer as well as great human being. Mohd. Rafi had only one challenge to face and that challenge came from within himself. It was not his effort to sing better than other singers but to sing his best.
By giving his best Mohd. Rafi broke all the barriers in playback singing and became an institution by himself thus telling the world the true meaning of singing is in expressing the lyrics with intense feeling.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I agree with post 526
RR’s use of KK was great, perhaps LP should also be included. LP’s use of KK was very extraordinary, especially when it comes to songs of ‘Anoroodh’. All the songs are outstanding including the classical number “Aao Ke Anoroodh”.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Mr. XXX,
I fully aree. Kaifi Azmi was 24 carat gold, where as Gulzar though good, is not in the same bracket. The beauty of Kaifi was the lyrics were simple, meaningful without usage of complicated words, where as Gulzar’s, you always need a dictionary. I have a cassette of Lataji’s, singing Kaifi’s songs, about 10 to 12 songs, all wonderful songs, but standout being, “Betaab Dil KI Tamanna Yahi Hai” (Hanste Zakhm) and “Zarasi Aahat” (Haqeeqat). The other songs are “Baharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Savaron” (Aakhree Khat), “Chalte Chalte” (Pakeezah), “Do Dil Toote” (Heer Ranzha), “Milo Na Tum To Hum Ghabaraye” (Heer Ranzha), “Hai Tea Saath Meri Wafa” (Hindusthan Ki Kasam), “Aaj Socha To Aansoo Bhar Aaye” (Hanste Zakhm), etc.
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:38 pm
mr.myk,
you summed up really very intersting points regarding rr, i agree that he exploited kishore in different way altogether than pancham, infact he chose a very different scale for kishore which was not kishore’s scale and he sung with false voice but still the songs were very catchy, however pancham used kishore in his original scale where kishore used to crack his voice to reach the high notes(e.g “chala jata hoon kisi ki dhun mein” ke antare), and when there was no scope to crack the voice, we can feel his inconvenience(”mere naina sawan bhado ke antare”). kishore stressing on those notes where rafi used to reach with ease.. rr used kk brilliantly in his original scale too(pardesiya ye sach hai piya, do aur do paanch bana de, lehro ki tarah yaadein).. i think khatta meetha was also great album by rr, all the songs were nice and very fresh, this movie was one of the best by basu chattarjee and rr gave nice modern melodies here, refreshing music by rr….
also notice that how well rr exploited full throated voice of kishore, whether it was “bhakuni saa ” from khatta meetha aur hoti hai ye raat hone do from “do aur do paanch” and many others. but i think his best compositions came through rafi, as mentioned by you those six songs, all those compositions are really very nice..
regarding kaifi and gulzar, i like both of them but kaifi is 24 karat gold for me like {sahir,majrooh,raja mehdi,hasrat,shailaindera,shakeel}, we can bracket kaifi among these greats but we can’t bracket gulzar among them…
kaifi’s work with madan mohan was outstanding,its nice that you placed madan’s “tum jo mil gay ho” among the top ten, i would also like to place at least 4 if not more by madan among top 10 from 70s…
if we look at the madan’s work from 70s, i think quality wise none of the composer from 2nd genration came close to the madan mohan, madan mohan’s loss was vast blow to hfm, it took out a class out of the hfm..
it was only after madan’s death other gazal singers became popular, mehdi hasan, glam ali, jagjeet.. all of them sung great gazals but when compared to the madan’s gazals than definitely there is a lack of emotions and melodies…
madan’s gazals with lata & rafi were great mix of emotions,melodies and most beautiful orchestration, you will definitely find melodies in mehdi hasan and jagjeet.. but when compared to madan’s gazals, emotions and orchestration are lacking in a great amount comparatively.. how about madan’s use of violins in his gazals .. it was sheer magic… madan mohan ji was great…