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.
November 25th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Hi everybody,
M big fan of rafi saab as a singer and as a person.He was only person who dosent have any scandal at this height.His voice is truely voice of INDIA.DO AJOOBE HAIN INDIA MAIN EK TAL MAHAL EK RAFI SAHAB KI AWAZ.His voice is Voive of Farishta.His voice is giving us a path.How sing a song with ROH(soul).Every singer is voice is of perticular actor but rafi saab’s voice is voice of every actor form Prithvi raj Kapoor to Rishi Kapoor and Govinda also.His voice dosnt want support any actor,his voice given support to so many unknown actors.KK was dependend on RD and Mukesh was on Raj Kapoor.In Rafi sahab case ……….. i think no need to say any thing.
Rafi sahab never asked for his fees. I want share a incident,Kohinoor’s producer was rejected Naushaad sahab’s song for his film but rafi sahab requested to producer for that song and said give me my fees after song’s market report.After success of that song producer came to rafi sahab and ask for his fees, he said i got my fees, logon ne pasand ker liya yahi mera mehentana hai. That song was Madhuban merin radhika naache.
We are not able to discribe his voice quality.God has send him only for singing.Now GOD will not send any other voice like Rafi sahab.God made his voice on hisown.
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:46 am
Dear All,
Please be kind enough to tell me which movie this song belongs to sung by Rafi Saab.
TERE SIVA NA KISIKA BANOONGA(sung in late seventies)
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:42 am
Dear all,
I have something to share with you all which ,till date i ve never ever shared with anyone.the reason for me to share that thing with you is that probably all of you out there love this greatest of all “the legend” RAFI SAAB” as much as i do.we all must be loving that great human being with an equal or rather more intensity ,what i have for him.So here is that I Love Rafi saab so much that words cant describe it and that too right since my childhood when i used to study in my second standard.I never knew who the singer of those songs was, which i continously sang day n night when i was hardly six to seven years old.At one time i wanted to become professional singer when i grew up but the kinda struggle i had faced that time getting into this field was much beyond one could ever expect.so i gaveup that thought of becoming a singer but never gave uup my passion for singing and worshiping the voice of my ideal.Today I am not a professional singer niether have i ever performed in public except at university level.but i looooove singing and whatever little i can sing is all because of that inspiration which i get from that legend THE GOD OF SINGING “NONE OTHER THAN THE RAFI SAAB “.
I sometime when think deeply about his singing i just cant believe that he is not there with us otherwise no place in this world could hide him from me to go and touch his godly feet and say that world of music starts and ends here only.
People who even think of comparing Rafi saab with any other singer of that time ,are ignorant and have no remote idea of that GOd’s own child whose magical voice was crafted and designed by no one else but GOD HIMSELF.so they definetely need some piece of real knowledge.
I am short of words to describe the greatness of that great personality because i am too small and insignificant to praise such a purely pure soul.
All i can say is that god bless him and his family and ofcourse you all Rafi saab fans out there.
Please forgive me for saying anything which said inappropriately.
Thanks N Regards
Sumit
November 12th, 2007 at 9:26 am
In the last week’s “Star Voice of India”, one of the Music Director commented some thing like if RD were not there, Asha would not have become popular or Asha’s versatility could blossom under RD, the exact words I am not able to recollect. I personally feel and I am very sure, most Music lovers will agree with me that Asha blossomed under OPN and her own standard came down after she left OPN. RD never gave with Asha solo songs like PUCHO NA HAME HUM UNKE LIYE, JAYIYE AAP KAHAN JAYENGE, AANKHON SE JO UTARI HAI DIL ME, CHAINASE HUMKO KABHI, RAAT KO CHORI CHORI, HUZUREWALA, AAO HUZUR TUMKO, WOH HANSKE MILE HUMSE, ETC. which OPN could regularly churn out with Asha. These songs are apart from the innumerable number of duets with Rafi.
November 6th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Post 195 : mr. vindd:
Who stopped u from appreciating KK or Lata ji. ? please tell us…
Binu Nair… the rafi foundation//// Mumbai..//Sargam sa re ga ma…//
November 6th, 2007 at 9:15 am
Let me start by acknowledging that Rafi is my favorite singer. But I also love kishore and Lata. These singers admired and respected each other. The comparison a lot of make is in error. Music is not like a boxing much where there may be a clear winner or loser. It is more like food. Which fruit do you like most? (You don’t have to rationalize your answer). Having said that, it says a lot about Rafi that he delivered hits in the 50’s 60’s 70’s and even early 80’s. One of the reasons KK was a phenomenon in the early 70’s, we were ready for something new. Rafi always delivered great music, including Tum bin from Pyarka Mausam (but we expected and to some extent took it for granted). When KK did it was amazing. Rafi will always be my favorite but that doesn’t stop me from appreciating KK or Lata.
October 30th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Reg. Post 193 of Imtiaz Sharif.
Friend,
I can understand your surprise and confusion. But, learned and knowledgeable Rafi analysts put the number of his total songs at no more than 5000. This is the number of his original studio recordings. Then there are his live concerts at various places wherein he obviously had sung songs out of these 5000 only. But, some people keep adding the rcordings of those live concerts as additional songs, which is fallacious.
Even the latest and well-respected chronicler, Salim-ul-Haq puts the number at about 4900+.
Now, even at 5000 nos. of songs, he certainly must be in the top three places for the most number of songs. Even Lata has app. similar number , I am told.
But, even more importantly, with respect to the percentage of gems out of the total number, he would be Badshah and No.1. Even with respect to the absolute number of gems, he would be head and shoulders over all others!
Venkat
October 30th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Dearest Rafians,
I am very glad to join your group. I am enjoying this site since last few days only. I think I joined very late. Anyways, “Der Aye, Drust Aye”. I am also a deadly fan of the one and only legend of subcontinent i.e. Padamshri Janab M. Rafi Sahab. (May Allah rest his soul in Heaven).
Reg. post # 127 of Mr. B. Venkatadri, I am unable to understand his figures which he has given as top 10. The total of top 10 + SDBs’ figures are 2,202 only, since Rafi Sahab’s total No. of gems are more than 26,000. So, rest of 24,000 gems he delivered under which MDs? Humbly requested to clear this confusion.
October 30th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I would also like to add “Subaha Na Aayi” from CHA CHA CHA to my list in post no. 191, especially the last line “Aajao”. True, some of Rafi songs are slightly nasal perhaps Rafiji did deliberately to match the actor’s voice.
October 29th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Dera Nadeem Saab,
Refer post no. 180. Joke of the Century - Rafi could not sing high pitch songs and became nasal. Can KK or for that matter any other singer could have sung the following high pitch songs with the same intensity with which Rafiji sang.
1. O Duniyake Rakhawale (Baiju Bawra), especially the last three lines O Duniyake Rakhawale when Rafi raises his voice every time. In fact, during stage shows he used to raise it the fourth time.
2. Zindabad Zindabad (MUGHAL-E-AZAM), especially Insaan Kahan………. in the last stanza.’
3. Yeh Mehlo Yeh Takhto (PYAASA), especially the last lines Zalado, Zalado.
4. Apni Aazadi Ko (LEADER), especially the lines Sar Kata Sakte Hai Lekin.
Rafiji’s voice was very steady while singing at any pitch. Only Mahendra Kapoor and to certain extent, Mannadey could raise and keep their voice steady at that high pitch. As far as KK is concerned, he used to get two voices while raising his voice. Of course, I still like a lot of KK’s songs though anybody including KK himself would admit that Rafi was far superior.
October 24th, 2007 at 8:00 am
Ramkrishnaji..
There was a typo in post 186… it should read..
In journalistic parlance one addresses a person by name. But
when it comes to a website or a personal address one can say:
rafi saheb, rafi ji, dilip saab, naushad saab, nayyar saab or their
pet names. Both ways of addressing is o.k.
about the ‘mental nadeem’, i think that he will not come near this
thread ‘too’ soon, and i am glad that ur will take care.
ramkrishna ji: ur are very passionate of rafi saab. let the magic
grow and spread. How about strengthing the rafi foundation in
hyderabad and chennai.. Please think on these lines and mr
narayanan will help matters.
All the best….
Binu Nair.
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:57 pm
sorry in my post i forgot to add that urdu the mother tongue of rafi sahab. i simply wrote ‘ urdu the mother tongue’. sorry.
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:55 pm
ref post 186
binu ji
in telugu we also address ‘ god ‘ as ‘ nuvvu ‘ as similar to malayalam. but in urdu the mother tongue everything is addressed with a lot of respect. thats the cultural heritage of that language.
binu ji here I will tell you a very very interesting thing. once while i was in muscat i had been to the house of one Mr Obaid along with mr Saif. after the door bell went off a small boy of 10 years opened the door. immediately Mr saif who is 55 years old wished him ‘ salam alaikum’ . I was astonished. thats the rich culture of islam and i am highly impressed with this.
thats why the word ‘ sahab’ comes out automatically from me.
as regards that nadeem please see my reply to him in my post 181. it was gentle. next time if he repeats you will see my responce. he will be torn to pieces. i swear.
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:35 pm
ref post 185
myk sir,
thank you very much for your prompt reply with due regards to rafi sahab.
yes, rafi sahab leaves in our breath.
in my hall i have a big photograph of rafi sahab nicely framed & garlanded. before i put this photograph the hall was empty and was looking pale. after the inception of this the hall has taken altogether a different look. a sort of divine i can say. this has made me very rich i can say.
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 am
ramkrishnaji: I wanted to make the same comments as myk did in
post 185 re: mentioning saab name before rafi saab.
rafi saab is on the the highest pedestal : for his sweetest songs and for
his immaculate and honest conduct. He is our second g o d.
I journalistic parlance - saab is never used. we use it for rafi saab
whenever possible due to inner feelings. not using saab - will never
reduce rafi’s respects in our hearts and minds,.
moreover in malayalam god is addressed as ‘nee’, meaning ‘tu’ not
aap - often and i used to wonder about it how we can call god
this way. but, its’ a accepted custom.
by leaving out ’saab’ no disrespect is ‘ever intended’.
Have u seen post 180 of an imposter and mad nadeem. Please
see my response :post : 183.
these mentals who enter this portal need to be addrssed. so please
develop a keen ‘eye’ on such wayward characters who want to
bring fallacies in rafi saab - which is impossible.
deal with them in the fittest way and be a ‘watchdog’ to this
portal - is my requet to you.
binu nair..
October 23rd, 2007 at 7:08 am
Ramakrishna-ji,
We all respect Rafi saab whether we put the ’saab’ infront of his name or not. Sometimes when we don’t put the ’saab’, it doesn’t mean anything, in our eyes he will always remain in the same class and pedestal, higher than the rest. Please don’t misunderstand me, and I agree, Rafi saab does require special acknowledgement, he was in a class of his own.
I also put the ‘ji’ infront of your name as a sign of respect for you and your knowledge.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:31 pm
ref post 182
myk ji,
Manna da is a classical singer of the high order. i agree with you Rafi sahab has the highest range in voice & perfect voice control. thats the reason he was the most sought after playback for any type of song.
why rafi sahab broke down I also dont know. may be it would have touched his personal cord & reminded him of his struggling days.
sir, i deeply regret that you have addressed me as , ‘ ramakrishna ji’ and the great rafi sahab simply as ‘ rafi ‘. sir this pains me very very much.
please note that when we take the name of rafi sahab the word ‘ sahab’ should come out automatically from our deep within without our knowledge or efforts. he is not a normal person like me sir. He is a ‘ farishta’ a ‘ saint ‘
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:51 pm
post 180 : Nadeem : who are u. where do u stay? are u not an
imposter? Please give ur proper identity and we will answer ur
baseless comment which have been said several times in the
KK portal.
rafi lovers please note that u do not have to answer to mad men and
u should have a sixth sense to identify this imposter who come to
this portal periodically with his slanders on rafi saab.
he is having a ‘hallucination’ and is afflicted due to the raging
popularity of this portal and rafi saab.
mr. nadeem : its a crime under I.P.C to impersonate hence
please take note of this and stop this nonsense which u have
said before.
rafi fans : remember the guy ashu/ashvin and other aliases
who was driven out of this site.
administrator : please help us in finding the true ‘identity’ of
this mental nadeem -
binu nair.. mumbai..
October 22nd, 2007 at 3:08 am
Ramakrishna-ji,
Thanks for writing about “Pucho Na Kaise”. I wonder what made Rafi so emotional that he had to give up the song. He would have done wonders with it.
There is no doubt in my mind that Rafi was better than Manna in semi-classical songs even though Manna was the more trained. Many bigot fans of other artists will tell you otherwise due to their insecurities and jealousy, but even classical music experts and Manna himself have mentioned Rafi’s superiority in the classical genre. Manna didn’t have half the range of Rafi, so this is where Rafi scores even in Manna’s most notable genre.
I wonder what made Burman Dada choose Mukesh for “Yeh kisne geet cheda” from the same film, Rafi would have done excellent on Pradeep Kumar like he did in other films. Probably the way the song was composed, Mukesh was chosen, and he did a great job.
October 19th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
ref post 180
mr nadeem bhai,
salam alaikum. your strange observation regarding rafi sahab. rafi sahab was not crazy for any award or wealth. now getting one award is not the measurement of ones talent.
now, let me tell you kishore ji being a very very good singer whom I also respect was supported by rafi sahab to give play back for him in 11 occasions & not one or two.
initially the song ‘ pucho na kaisey mainey rain bitayee’ was to be sung by rafi sahab. while in rehearsals rafi sahab was breaking down continously being unable to control himself. so many trials were taken & finally with the request of Rafi sahab Barman da had to take the help of Manna da for this song. and in the TVS saregama programme manna da told this and bowed down his head to rafi sahab with a very gentle remark, ‘ jo gaana rafi sahab ney chod diya, woh gana gaakey main mashoor ho gaya’
now coming to jesudass, you can clearly see his ‘ nasal’ while uttering the bit ‘ insaf ka mandir hai yeh, bhagwaan ka ghar hai’ you can find out that nasal factor at the word ‘ mandir’
and about mukesh ji he starts with nasal and ends with nasal.
did you hear the number ‘ jab bhi yeh dil udaas hota hai’ ? in antara at the highest pitch how sweet it is ! its the sweetest. its not nasal my dear friend. similar is ‘ Hari om ‘ number from baiju bawra.
my dear sir rafi sahab is the pacific ocean, you and me cant measure the depth.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:14 am
no doubt rafi is one of the great singer with all the training he had. kk had not informal training but coudl get an award for a song in pyar ka mausam, which rafi had also sang??????????????? rafi goes nasal when singing high pitch, which is switching over to a false voice from natural. only singer who could take a high pitch and keep the natural vioce are kishore kumar, manadey and yesudas??????
October 5th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Please do not compare Rafi Saab with any other singer.In everything he is above on all singers.Rafi Saab did not bring his son to the music field because of the dirty politics in that field.These traitors need Rafi Saab for coming up and afterwords playing dirty things which is not suitable for a gentleman like Rafi Saab.Just hear the song ” Janoom Meri Jaan” from film “Shaan”and see the difference of the voices.Rafi Saab did not sought anybody’s help to perform stage programmes in Kerala.But the other super singer sought the help of Yesudas Saab to perform a stage programme in cochin.
September 29th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Based on the on going discussion on Raag Kalavati. Few more songs
“Na To Caravan Ki Talash Hai” - Rafi/Manna Music - Roshan
“O ghatha savari thodi thodi bavari” - Lata Music - SDB
“Kahe tarasae jiyara” - Lata Music - Roshan
September 28th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Dear Haldar Sahab,
Thanks for your response. I was thrilled to bits, because all of us on this website know your eminence. It speaks great volumes of your humility to respond to a question from a Sudama like me.
Thanks & regards
Shirish Kulkarni
September 28th, 2007 at 9:06 am
parveen jee,
you asked my e mail address. it is sabnivis@yahoo.com