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Mohammed Rafi

This article is written by Raj Kaushal and contributed by Mohan Flora.

The CBSO celebrates the legendary Bollywood singer Mohammed Rafi, Bollywood’s answer to Frank Sinatra. Like Mohammed Ali, listen to another Mohammed who was simply the greatest.

Mohammed Rafi sung over 26,000 songs in a career spanning 40 years, most of those spent as the undisputed King of Bollywood playback singers.

When Mohammed Rafi was a little boy, a fakir used to wander by his house in Lahore singing songs. Captivated by the beautiful sounds, the little boy would follow the holy man and sing along. So began the musical journey of Rafi, a magical trip that would lead him to Bombay, the blossoming Bollywood film industry and immortality as, arguably, the greatest ever male Hindi playback singer.

Born in 1924 in Punjab to a middle class Muslim family of barbers, Mohammed Rafi was not meant to enter the world of music. His strict father regarded singing as an inappropriate career for his son, but with the help of his older brother, the young Rafi changed his mind and by the age of 7 was being trained in Indian classical music.

By the age of 13 he had amazed an audience of thousands with his debut public performance, and by the age of 18 had arrived in Bombay, ready to conquer Bollywood.

Mohammed Rafi montage

It was clear from the beginning that Rafi had a unique talent which distinguished him from the other playback singers of the era but it was only when he teamed up with the music composer Naushad – most notably in the 1952 classic film Baiju Bawra – that Rafi established himself as one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema.

Rafi revealed a golden voice of unrivaled tonal quality and range, which had the power to pitch lyrics from the lowest modulations to high soprano.

This incredible versatility of range soon attracted all the stars and, during the 1950s and 1960s – unquestionably the golden age of Hindi film music – Rafi became the voice of all the cinema greats, from Dilip Kumar and Guru Dutt, to Shammi Kapoor and Dharmendra.

Rafi proved his greatness further with an astonishing display of vocal pyrotechnics that used intonation and inflection to ensure no actor he lent his voice to ever sounded like the other.
But Rafi was more than just an outstanding Hindi playback singer. During his 40-year career he sang over 26,000 songs in all the national languages of India, achieving an unequaled level of success in many genres of Asian music, from ghazals and geets, to qawwalis and bhajans.
Surprisingly, Rafi could have pushed back the musical boundaries even further but in 1980, at the age of 55, he died of a heart attack.

CBSO pay tribute

On the 7th April 2006, the CBSO pays tribute to the legendary Rafi with a concert that showcases many of his much loved songs. It is a creatively bold and pioneering step by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra as they are investing in local artists who will play tribute to Mohammed Rafi

Whilst there are many South Asian musicians worthy of being honoured by the CBSO, it is difficult to think of a better starting point than Rafi to introduce the sounds of Hindi music to the West and the talents of the CBSO to the culturally diverse communities in and around Birmingham.

His influence stretched across generations and musical genres, encouraging and inspiring many of the great Asian singers in modern music. “The singers performing at the concert are local to the West Midlands, yet also have an international recognition, such as Mehboob Chohan who had the privilege of receiving personal tuition from the great Mohammed Rafi.” said Parminder Singh Jutla.

“The other singers are British Asian bhangra legends Shin, who came second in the tribute competition on the first anniversary of Rafi’s death, and Slinder Pardesi, who has recorded two tribute albums to Rafi.”

Shin added: “On the night we will be reliving and paying tribute to the great Mohammed Rafi. The audience will have the opportunity to hear 18 tracks played to a live orchestra, similar to how they would have been originally recorded. It will truly be a magical night for all.”

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77 Blog Comments to “Mohammed Rafi”

  1. sungma says:

    Hi Roger,
    Congrats! For the Wimbledon Title!

    Your friend Himesh is passing through the same phase as Kishore was passing through the 1971-1976 phase. See how all the producers and directors are going to him , just like they were going to RD Burman and Kishore Kumar during that phase. Better singers like Udit, Shaan, Sonu,Sukhwinder, Hariharan etc. are being passed by! But people will finally realise, just like they did in 1976-1980 and beyond that it was a passing fad!. Hindi film music these days is real bad and who remembers it after two months! Rafi is all conquering as you agree and he will rule for generations to come!

  2. Roger Federer says:

    This has given a new opening. This means Himesh has pulled off something original. WOW! Means he can be put in likes of Kishores. Too early to say. Can he pull of something of a new style to some of Rafi or Kishore numbers. The answer would lie in that. It is not enough to win only on your home turf to call yourself a “world champion”(ironic statement)YOU KNOW! However there where instenses in the 60’s when Kishore would adopt Rafi’s style singing on same lines. This gave kishore no SHORE! So he eventualy he changed his style to the ‘bold voice type’ which made him create waves for 6yrs(1972-1977). Mukesh was his own type;no need a mention. So Rafi in a way had to compete with singers perched on to their own ways. Any one of the three ways could have won the race. But it was Rafi who had the leading edge. He literaly dominated the scene for around 3 decades. Mark you I am using the word ‘domination’. Films ran literally on Rafis numbers.

  3. Roger Federer says:

    Then does this mean a permanent death to originality? May be perhaps. Rafi sometimes becomes a Big Barrier Reef to many of the upcoming artists. Can neither cross it nor break it. Infact after 24 of his death if he is able to have this kind of a dominant power over singers of this Era,one can emagine how his dominace would have been felt by his genre singers including Lata. Infact Kishore and Mukesh gave Rafi a tougher run than perhaps today singers. Udit ,Shaan,Abijith and even Sonu put in the previous generetion would have simply been brushed aside the way Mahendra.K or Manadey experienced before the likes of Rafi, Kishore and Mukesh. Now arises the question of Himesh. I think hats of to Himesh. In an era where singers of the caliber of Sonu is not able to pull off anything original, it could have meant a dead end. But somewhere from the heap Himesh has produced something wich is unheard of from a Rafi number.

  4. Roger Federer says:

    So, how else can todays singers establish their own rule. Frankly speaking it sometimes becomes fustrating. It is nice to sit and speak of the emporor in Rafi and his grandeor,to rejoice his godly voice and spiritual touch. But as an upcoming artist today he becomes a Big Barier Reef. You are neither able to cross it nor able to break it. You sometimes begin to wonder why this Rafi factor exits at all!

  5. Roger Federer says:

    Abhijit,Shaan only add to the numbers. Sadly even they try their best to make something look original. Alas! It is so that when they dig a part of the singing gold mine they only later end up knowing that the gold part of it has already been dug out by a person called Rafi. Then they start to wonder where else to dig for the ‘original’ tag. But the fact is that all the gold(originality) in singing has already been dug by Rafi. Take it or leave it. He has furthur refined it, converted into ornaments and has put it for sale. What you need is ‘supernatural’ talent to buy it. To really speak I feel like taking mercy on these today male singers. However the way they sing people will say”We have heard this style from Rafi before.”

  6. Azad Ilahibaks says:

    For me and i am sure for millions Rafi is the best singer of the world. I wander why there are so less video material of him, although in India they are making films from the earliest years.

    Azad Ilahibaks from Holland, born in Suriname (South America).

  7. Roger Federer says:

    Add to that Udit’s limited range. vocal pyrotechnics,well Udit can wish to have it in his next birth. Actually given Udit’s limited range musicians feel theirs screws are tightned. They have to stick to only the advanced piano style numbers. Closely observe you will know what I mean. That might have prooved a delight to a singer whose range is 2wice and who has more variety with voice modulation techniqs in Sonu nigam. This is what led to his raise in the beggining of this century. OOOPS! given all that Sonu has he lacks the most important part-A Sweet Voice. His might be sweet in short sweeps in the middle octave but it soon dies (like Hritiks fame after KNPH) giving rise to a knife sharpners sqeeking voice making me feel like simply switching of the electrical device and sit in silence.

  8. Roger Federer says:

    I think Rafi could have easily dominated now a day singers had he been alive simply because he would have witnessed the death of originals in this era save Himesh.R to an extent. Take Udit Narayanan. I think Udit is simply lucky to be arround for such a long time provided his limited talent. He simply dosen’t have it in to inspire the youth. To start with he himselves is a big Rafi fan. Carefully give your ears to the finer aspects of his coy. (like the taking off,straight landing,vibratory landing,eeka gamakas in the middle of the stagas,light hearted shifting of the swaras up&down with a careless touch to it) You will begin to discover that he is no better than a black carbon copy of Mohd Rafi. Actually I feel like giving words of pity for Udit. But still musicians persists with him coz of the absence of a complete male singer like Rafi. Not to rob Udit totally of the credit he at least has a stable voice(with a little bit nose).Thank god it remains stable up and down unlike Sonu nigam’s. Sonu’s voice reminds me of the knife sharpner’s noice. Yes it sometimes is simply noice.

  9. roger federer says:

    Rafi saab is simply amazing. He simply makes it look simple. Show me one singer yesterday or even who can do the same justice to many of Rafi’s numbers. Is there even one male singer who can take his place or even dream of producing the same ‘melodious comforting’ coy. Min you I am simply not speaking about the coy factor. Sonu nigam will be delighted to put forth his expertise in that field. Accepted Sonu is a child prodigy. May be he can superficially come near to Rafi’s(and that to simply for a big show off) coy. But 100 on 100 is my bets that Sonu cannot even dream to match Rafi’s indepth melody factor. Sonu has weak points in him like any other mortal. He simply trys to cover them up by either changing his voice or trying to protray it more sentually,which may have given him that mometry raise but soon he has realised that it has become stereotypic. This is finally showing him the way down in front of talents like
    Himeh.R.

  10. A.V.P says:

    My interest grew to such an extent that I too wanted to sing like him. My parents soon took me to my guru. From him I have learnt music to this stage. I have sung select rafi songs in my school and college days (though I am yet a college student). I however began to discover that classical and film music are differnt. I had to work seperatly for singing film songs. Clasical music just could have put iceing on the cake. But the major chunk of it was my stuff.

  11. A.V.P says:

    I am appearing for the senior exam next month in hin. cla. music.
    Yet my interest in light music is alive coz of rafisahab. My mother a fan of his made me forcibly listen to ‘madhuban me radhi ka’ when I was 6yrs. I thought it would be an other scrap for my ears. But not to be. Word after word I began to discover that this one is something to be taken note of. I asked his name to learn that it was Mohd Rafi I was listening to.

  12. anup padakandla says:

    dear countrymen,
    Besides the other unique points in Rafi is the point that he connects himselves with people directly. I never get a feeling, I am listning to a ‘bollywood singer’. He seems to share his feeling with all of us individually. We have heard that he was “giving without thinking of the returns” and even “sing songs witout taking money”. Though he is idolised and added the fact that he was a genius “he always remained down to earth and lived with all our day today middle-class values” as we have heard. that is inspiring! Well, whenever I listen to him I can’t help thinking that my own father is instilling the spirit of love in me. 26721822

  13. anup padakandla says:

    Dear countrymen,
    Can any one of us really believe that rafi was an ordinary humanbeing singing?No, when we hear him sing we wonder if god himselves lend his voice.For me (18yrs) I haven’t been in his era; so I am not sure whether a mortal can produce such a coy as that. I think he was an instrument through whom god was spreading love in our country by singing.

  14. Hashim Khan says:

    DEAR JAWAID NASEEM

    APART FROM THE NAMES YOU HAVE MENTIONED, THERE IS ANOTHER NAME WHICH YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN. RAFI LOVERS CIRCLE WHICH HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1997 WITH ONE SINGLE OBJECTIVE TO KEEP RAFI SAHEBS EVERGREEN AND ALSO UNCOMMON ALIVE THROUGH THEME PROGRAMMES PERFORMED ON STAGE. LAST YEAR WE ALSO INSTITUTED A MOHAMAD RAFI RAFI MEMORIAL AWARD WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO MUSIC DIRECTOR RAVI ON 312T JULY, 2005 AT OUR ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE ” YAAD E RAFI, SHAAM E RAVI. THIS YEAR ON 30TH JULY WE ARE STAGING RAFI SAHEB KI YAAD SONIK OMI KE SAATH. THE AWARD WILL GO TO MUSIC DIRECTOR OMI. YOU AND ALL RAFI LOVERS IN KOLKATA ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THIS SHOW.
    HASHIM KHAN
    98310 81230

  15. Sarmad iqbal says:

    Or mai bht shukar guzaar hun JAWAID NASEEM sahib ka jinhon hum sub RAFIANS k jazbaat ko apne khubsurat alfaz se ZUBAN bakhshi… hum sub RAFIANS jo jawaid jese TARJUMAAN pe FAKHAR hona chahye..mera dil se SLAM hai JAWAID NASEEM sahib ko……. NA FANKAAR TUJH SA TERE BAAD AYA …MUHAMMAD RAFI TU BHT YAAD AAYA……!!!!!!!!!

  16. sarmad iqbal says:

    MUHAMMAD RAFI ek tha ek hai or ek hi rhe ga… agar koi kahe kahe k koi duja rafi tha ya hai ya kbi qyamat tak ho ga to KHUDA ki qasam vo jhut bolta hai……… kash meri umar bhi RAFI GEE ko lag jati…ae kaash…………… !!!!! AFSOS RAFI JAHAN SE GUZAR GYA.. KYA KHOOB AADMI THA KHUDA MAGHFIRAT KRAY……..

  17. zia says:

    IF GOD COULD SING HE WOULD SOUND LIKE RAFI. ZIA.ZAREEN
    PALWASHA

  18. JAWAID NASEEM says:

    Ali Balooch…
    i am very much agreed with your words. I myself believe in the same cocept that Rafi sb dont require any award, he was far beyond awards and thingd like that, what required is AN AWARD SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN RAFI S’S NAME “MOHD RAFI ” AWARD AND SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE MOST TALENTED ARTISTE OF THE YEAR.
    MOHD.RAFI AWARD in Kolkata had been introduced by some of the caziest lovers of RAFI SAHEB and the award was given as LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to P.RAJ & M.SHAKOOR, it was a consistent effort of
    TAJ AHMED MOTI
    MD SALIM
    SHAMSHER ALAM
    &
    SABIR KHAN who played a very important role, these are the persons in Kolkata who are ready to do anything in the name of Rafi saheb.

    RPG introduced a Radio channel on TV in the name of GUZRA HUA ZAMANA, SABIR KHAN was the host and performed incomparable job to promote those rare songs of rafi sb which are hard to get these days.

    WE the Kolkatans are mad for Rafi sb. and welcome each and every Rafian from our heart to be a part of any cause for RAFI sb.

    JAWAID NASEEM
    09331052384

  19. Ali Baluch says:

    Hi music love,
    Why we Mohd Rafi fans want to Mohd Rafi should have Bharat Ratna Award or any other award?!!As I think there should be Award called Mohd Rafi award it should give to the best singer of the year.

  20. JAWAID NASEEM says:

    Woh ek shakhsh jo phoolon ki baat karta tha..
    woh ek shakhsh jo rangon ki baat karta tha…
    woh shakhsh jisne thi naghnon ko zindagi bakhshi
    woh ek shakhsh jo lamhon ki baat karta tha………….

    Woh shakhsh ab bhi sitaron ke saath rahta hai..
    woh shakhsh ab talak saanson mein uun hi basta hai…
    koi bhi rang ho mausam ho ya koi lamha………
    woh shakhsh yaad ki waadi mein sung chalta hai……..

    zamaane beet gaye aur badal gayee duniya..
    magar badla nahi chahat ka silsila apna…..
    main kaise baat karoon aur kahan se laoon usay
    magar mumkin nahi yeh bhi ke bhool jaoon usay..

    har koi jiski har ek deed ko tarasta tha..
    shafqaton ki jo kisi menh sa barasta tha..
    WOH EK SHAKHSH JO INSAAN NAHI FARISHTA THA
    WOH SHAKHS JISSE HAMARA BHI EK RISHTA THA.
    ********************************************

    aur woh farishta thhe JANAB ALHAAJ MOHAMMED RAFI SAHEB MERHOOM.

    JAWAID NASEEM
    09331052384
    jawaid77in@yahoo.com

  21. mohanflora says:

    While browsing thru the web, I found this blog written by a young man gautam in the topic MIND MATTERS who didn’t have much knowledge about Rafisaab initially but what one DD program did to him. Please read on:

    “Meri Aawaz Suno…..”
    27th December 2000. It was a chilly night and I was huddled up with a book. Just then the phone rang.”Quick! Switch on the TV! ” said she, “Doordarshan channel.”

    Dumbfounded, I did as instructed.On TV, There was a bald man in a suit, standing before the mike and waiting for the narrator to finish.Thinking it to be some kind of joke, I was about to turn away, when the words came out …
    “Suhaani raat dhal chuki …. na jaane tum kab aaoge
    Jahaan ki rut badal chuki… na jaane tum kab aaoge”
    And I stood there, mesmerized…. listening to one song after the other.

    The programme was a recording from the Doordarshan Archives… and the man whom I had just listened to was one of the legends in Hindi Film Music …. Mohammad Rafi.

    Next day, I went to our local music shop and bought a couple of his audio-cassettes. After listening to them, I wanted to have more, so asked my friends to lend me what they had of him. Very soon, I was listening to him day-in and day-out.

    The reason Rafi appeals to me is his awesome vocal range. He has sung some of the best songs in almost every genre of contemporary music. Be it :
    Qawwali ( Parda Hai Parda),
    Saddy ( Din Dhal Jaaye Haay),
    Playful ( Achcha Ji Mein Haari),
    Romantic ( Abhi Na Jaao Chhodkar),
    Ghazal ( Koi Sagar Dil Ko Behelata Nahi),
    Classical (Madhuban me Radhika Nache Re),
    Soulful ( Mann Re Tu Kaahe Na Dheer Dhare ),
    Devotional (Mann Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj),
    Patriotic ( Ab tumhare hawaale watan saathiyon),
    Mischevous ( Aaye Ga Aaye Aaye Ga Ye Kya Ho Gaya )…
    ….. You name it and you have it.

    As my net-pal Varsha rightly says, devotional songs in Hindi films are often too melodramatic, but listen to the ones rendered by Rafi, and you can’t help feeling drawn into it.

    I am also quite fond of Kishore Kumar, Mukesh and other male singers. However IMHO, there are very few songs of these which Rafi couldn’t have done an equal justice to … but there is quite a huge number of songs of Rafi which no one other singer could have sung with such a panache.

    Apart from being a music virtuoso, Rafi the person was also equally as good. He was humble, a tee-totaller, and deeply religious. There are n-number of anecdotes about how he helped upcoming music directors by singing for them almost for free.

    Some people accuse him of over-exposure. To some extent I do agree that he could have done without some trashy songs. But there might have been some compulsions.

    Today, I have a collection of about 500 of his songs. Indeed, there was a time when I thought I had heard him all …. but discovered very soon that my collection is a drop from an ocean.

    It’s futile to list top favourite songs since they keep on changing as per my mood and atmosphere, but there are a few which would make the list anytime…
    1. Suhaani raat dhal chuki
    2. Ek haseen shaam ko
    3. Abhi na jaao chhodkar
    4. Paaon chhu lene do
    5. Aapke haseen rukh pe aaj naya noor hai

    Mohd Rafi passed away five months before I was born. They say his funeral procession was the biggest one the city of Mumbai has ever witnessed. Though he may have ceased to exist in physical sense, his songs continue to accompany us in our moments of joy and sorrow, triumph & tragedy.

    To quote lyrics of one of his own songs ….
    ” Tum muze yun bhula na paaoge
    Jab kabhi bhi sunoge geet mere
    Tum mere sung yunhi gun-gunaoge ”

    Yours,
    – G.
    posted by -GS. at 10:38 PM 1 comments

  22. unknow says:

    Dear Nair thanks alot,
    Honour on any other singer will not be an insult to Mohd Rafi Sahab,it will be insult for award and singer who will get the award.
    The king gives award to other.
    there is a programm on ZEE SA RE GA MA I think it name should be MO HD RA FI.
    dear Nair you know better than me.

  23. Unknow says:

    Dear Nair what u said that is right 100% but what we can do in country where they don’t want to show a film because Aamir Khan in this film!!!!!!!!!!!
    Dear Nair after 26 years still Mohd Rafi is number 1,I think it is more than any award.

  24. Nair says:

    As far I understand, the plea for Bharat Ratna for Rafi Sahab did not make any impact or that it was turned down. Hopefully, they will press the matter again on this 31st July. I agree with Unknow that Rafi Sahab is the king, but disagree that he does not need conferment of BR for the reason that any further conferment of the Honour on any other singer will amount to be an insult not only to Rafi Sahab but to all music lovers and to music itself. The Phalke Award regulations say that it cannot be awarded posthumously, however, there is no such restriction in case of BH (after an amendment in 1955).

  25. Unknow says:

    dear mohd saleem ,
    It is better that Mohd Rafi has’t got Bharat Ratna Award because his not only from Bharat he is for all world he is only king on music world and King give awards 2 others not get awards

  26. Unknow says:

    dear mohd saleem ,
    It is better that Mohd Rafi has’t got Bharat Ratna Award because his not only from Bharat he is for all world he is only king on music world.

  27. mohanflora says:

    The following is a news clip from Central Chronicle dated Aug. 1 st. 2005. Any follow ups?
    BHARAT RATNA DEMANDED FOR RAFI
    Agencies
    Mumbai, July 31 Maharashtra government will recommend to the Centre to confer the country’s highest civilian award, the ‘Bharat Ratna’, to legendary singer Mohammed Rafi posthumously.

    On July 29, a delegation of Sahitya Sangeet Kala Akadami met Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in this regard.

    “The chief minister said he has instructed his office to strongly recommend the case of Rafi for the Bharat Ratna,” BJP MLA Babruvan Khandade told reporters on Saturday.

    The Akadami members staged a two-day sit-in at Azad Maidan in Mumbai demanding that the Centre confer the ‘Bharat Ratna’ on Rafi, who died on this day in 1980.

  28. mohd saleem says:

    Mohd rafi was indeed a great singer of all times.
    till now no singer has taken his place .
    i would like to know if lataji has got bharath ratna, a prestigious and highest award from the goverment of india.why mohd rafi has not given bharat ratna?
    its totally bias and discrimintion and double standard by not awarding this prestioguos award to this great legend.
    if the goverment considered him or not doent make any different.
    mohd rafi is himself a BHARAT RATNA who give his whole life to the contribution to the indian musics.
    do you think 26,000 songs in many regional languages is less for getting this award?
    please start a revolution to fight against such bias by the government.

  29. SADDAM JAWAID says:

    I AM ONLY 15
    JANAB RAFI SAHEB LEFT THIS WORLD EVEN TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I ENTERED THIS WORLD BUT FROM THE AGE OF FOUR I AM LISTENING ABOUT RAFI SAHEB, HIS CHARACTER HIS SONGS AND I LOVE TO COLLECT EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GREATEST ANGEL…
    YES I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT HE WAS AN ANGEL WHO CAME TO THIS WORLD IN A FORM OF HUMAN BEING.
    MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME TO CALL HIM ‘DADA JAAN’
    AND I ALWAYS FEEL THE SAME REGARD THAT I USE TO FEEL FOR MY OWN ‘DADA JAAN’
    WHAT I HAVE ASSESSED IS………..
    MD.RAFI SAHEB IS THE A – Z OF PLAYBACK SINGING.
    NOBODY ELSE CAN EVEN THINK TO REACH THE HEIGHTS AND COLOURS OF THIS GREATEST LEGEND, THESPIAN, TREND SETTER…. THE MAN AND THE VOICE INCOMPARABLE.

    SADDAM JAWAID
    033 3200 9236

  30. JAWAID NASEEM says:

    DEAR AVI…..
    HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH THE EMOTIONS AND STATEMENTS OF THESE HIGH PROFILE PEOPLES ??????
    ARE YOU STILL ON THE CONTROVERSARY????

    TAKE A BREAK AT LEAST THIS TIME DEAR.

  31. mohanflora says:

    What the stars say about Rafi Sahab(taken from Geocities website) :-

    OP Nayyar(Music director)
    “I loved Mohammed Rafi. His death was a big loss to me. When I composed for Shammi Kapoor or Johnny Walker, he managed to sound like them. He sang so many wonderful songs for me. Rafi miyan was a wonderful person. Nobody can ever be compared to him.”

    Lata Mangeshkar(singer)
    “A man of unassuming temparament, Rafi Sahab was very melodious. It’s my good fortune that I sang the maximum number of duets with him. He sang every kind of song so brilliantly that even those listeners not very conversant with music, would spontaneously break into appreciative wahs – wahs. Singers like Rafi Sahab aren’t born everyday.”

    Asha Bhosle(singer)
    “His greatest ability was that he could sing at a high pitch and shift to a low pitch immediately. He could manage that very well. One of his songs which I love is Suhani raat dhal chuki.”

    Johny Walker(comedian-actor)
    “Rafi Sahab was such a dedicated singer that he would take time to meet with the actors and to study the actors’ personalities so that he could match his singing style with the actors’ style, accent and pronunciation. Jab Rafi Sahab mere liye gaate, tab aisa lagta ki main khud ga raha hoon(When Rafi Sahab sang for me, it seemed like I was singing)”.

    Laxmikant(music director)
    “He was a great human being. He would never ask what he was going to be paid for a song. Apart from waving off payments, he even helped producers financially. He’d help out the needy. He always gave without thinking of the returns.
    Once Rafi recorded six songs in a day for us-two for Anjaam, one for Maa Aur Mamta, two for Man Ki Ankhen and one for Pyasi Shyam. Imagine, he could memorise six songs in a day! And he could do this at live recordings and not through the easy dubbing method that’s on today. If any singer claims that he has recorded 25-30 songs in a day, he’s talking nonsense. There’s only one singer in India who can even attempt that and that’s S.P.Balasubramaniam, not anyone else.
    The demand for Mohammed Rafi’s songs is phenomenal. No other singer, not even Lata Mangeshkar, has been able to attract such a tremendous following. It’s almost as if he were still alive.”

    Shahid Rafi(son)
    “If a producer was in a tight spot Abba would’nt accept any money from him. He was a God fearing man. He felt he was an instrument through whom God was singing…whenever he was extra busy he’d ask the producer to give the song to another singer)”.

    Naushad Ali(music director)
    Tu hi tha pyar ka ek saaz
    Nafrat ki is duniya mein
    ganimat thi teri awaz
    nafrat ki is duniya mein. On Rafi’s death Naushad sahab remarked…
    Kehta hai koi dil gaya, dilbar chala gaya
    Saahil pukarta hai, samundar chala gaya
    Lekin jo baat sach hai, woh kehta nahin koi
    Duniya se mausiqui ka paembar chala gaya !!!

    “He earned respect and his popularity touched the sky. The magic of his voice enthralled the whole world. His popularity, respect and wealth all increased tremendously, YET he ALWAYS remained modest. Like a fruit-bearing tree, the more he fructified, the more he bent in front of the world. His heart was filled with fear of God and the love for truth. Generosity and altruism were part of his system. God and truth were the only sources of inspiration for him. And he always used to say Tum yahan jaisa karoge waisa bharoge, ye duniya ek mandir hai”

    Jagjit Singh(ghazal singer)
    “Rafi sahab had immense versatality and an ability to take on the personality of the hero on whom the song was picturised. Every time you hear a Rafi song, you see the hero, you can vividly put in place the situation and correctly access the mood.”

    Raj Kapoor(Actor/producer/director)
    Raj kapoor’s reaction on hearing the news about Rafi’s death was “In the world of music, the uncrowned king of singing has left us”.

    Shammi Kapoor(actor)

    Shammi Kapoor acknowledges that Rafi had a lot to do with his success. “It was amazing the way Rafisaab adapted himself to what I wanted him to do. I used to be terribly involved with my songs and go for all the recordings. I used to make it clear how I wanted a certain line sung and Rafisaab always responded. I remember when the song Tareef karoon kya uski (in Kashmir Ki Kali) was being recorded, I wanted the signature line Tareef karoon to be repeated till it reached a crescendo. O P Nayyar, the composer and a friend of mine, objected. He thought it would sound boring. But suddenly, Rafisaab spoke up and said ‘I would like to do it the way the boy wants it because I know what he wants’.” When the film was released, the song was a big hit. Nayyar hugged Kapoor and congratulated him for his foresight, but the actor maintains “it was possible only because Rafisaab had taken the song to such a pitch and had sung each repetition in a different style.” He adds, with a touch of pride, “Though Rafisaab sang for all the actors — be it Dilip Kumar or Johnny Walker — he was especially identified with me. Some songs sung by him and picturised on Joy Mukherjee and Biswajeet were actually my kind of songs. Baharon phool barsao, Pukarta chala hoon main or Teri pyari pyari surat ko — these were my songs, sung in Rafi’s special style for me. I remember when he sang Main gaoon tum so jaao for Brahmachari, I told him how I wanted him to sing one particular line. When he saw the picturisation he came and kissed my hand and said, ‘it’s very beautiful, why didn’t I think of that?’ I felt as if my own voice had been lost and could not utter a word for hours when I heard this shocking news of Rafi Sahab’s death.”

    Shabir Kumar(singer)
    “I have been singing Rafisahab’s songs since 1968 when I first started performing on stage in my hometown of Baroda. I have met Rafisahab only twice and both meetings were very moving. He was so nice and kind to me even though I was a nobody at that time. The first time I met him at Famous studio in 1972, there were a lot of people waiting to meet him. I used to sketch then and drew a sketch of him when he was recording. As soon as he passed me I showed the sketch in his hands to get his attention. He encouraged me a lot. Even today, there is a large audience for Rafi’s songs.”

    Anand Bakshi(lyricist)
    Even today when I write something I imagine how it would sound if Rafisahab had sung it. His place can never be filled again.”

    Nitin Mukesh(singer)
    “Amongst his contemporaries, my father’s favourite singer was Mohammed Rafi. He loved Rafisaab’s voice, and believed that nobody could replace him.”

    Udit Narayan(singer)
    Udit Narayan talks about his FIRST recording with Rafi Saheb “As it was a dream come true I was obviously excited, and to add to my excitement I was to sing none other than with Rafisaab, that very singer whom I worshipped as my guru, whose voice I used to hear on the radio, was in front of me! I can’t describe my ecstasy. But I was a bit nervous too. Rafisaab, realised this and the angel that he was, he comforted me by saying ‘You remind me of myself. I too was of your age when I came in the industry. Do not worry keep going.'(Mohd. Rafi was a chorus singer at the start of his career.) ”

    Khayyam(music director)
    “Rafisahab was the pride of India. His voice and his memories are still with us even though his body has left us.”

    SD Batish(singer of 40s)
    “His extremely humble way of showing respect for my seniority, before all gathered, left an impression of utmost respect and regard in my mind. Time went by, and Mr. Rafi, with his, ever flexible good voice and sensitively flexible behavior, did not waste much time, in becoming the favorite playback singer of the film industry. It had been observed that he would not disappoint any film producer or music director who would invite him to sing. Whether he could pay or not. This created no problem for the generous Mr. Rafi. At the appointed time, the song would be recorded to the satisfaction of the music director.”

    Manna Dey(singer)
    “Despite being an educated singer, I could never reach Rafi’s height of popularity. And he sang very good songs that I could never hope to sing. His style was unique. I sing Rafi’s songs to myself when I am alone. He was a singer par excellence. He was an uneducated singer like Lata, but their voices are gifts of God. It cannot be anything else!”
    “I have been singing for many years now. I have seen and heard so many singers. But the most brilliant of all singers and all songs are the ones sung by Mohammed Rafi! ”
    “Mohammad Rafi was king, and Manna never grudged him his success because he genuinely believed that Rafi was better than he was! ”
    “In my time, there were giant singers. Rafi was there, and he was such a great singer. He used to sing for everybody — the hero, the villain and the comedian. ”
    “How can you ever dream of singing what legendary singer like Rafi have sung? I do not claim to come up to his standards. ”

    Dharmendra(Actor)
    On being asked “Hemant Kumar, Mukesh, Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar… all of them provided playback for you. Whose voice suited you the best?”, macho man Dharmendra said: ” Mohammad Rafi’s contribution to my career is immense. From numbers like Jaane kya dhoondti rehti hain yeh aankhen mujh mein (‘Shola Aur Shabnam’) right till Main jat yamla pagla deewana (‘Pratigyaa’) have remained evergreen. The other singers have also made huge contributions to my career. I can never forget that. But Rafi saab is a personal favourite. ” – Source: Filmfare 2000

    Sonu Nigam(singer)
    “Rafi Saab is God to me. I have grown up listening to him and imitating him in my early years. Rafi Saab sounded only like Rafi Saab if he sang Chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe from Junglee, or Man tarpat Hari darshan ko from Baiju Bawra which is what made him the legend he was.

  32. Devinder Kumar says:

    Rafi, the voice of purity, spirituality, life immemorial – why compare it with any one. You just can’t have that pure, soul stirring everlasting emotions without utmost purity in heart and love for nature and its infinite forms. Rafi has given me so much solice in my depest despairs, in my happiness -may that mother be blessed who gave birth to him.

  33. anwar says:

    If anybody have his VIDEO CLIPS please send me to my mail.
    my mail add. is nickybnd@yahoo.co.in

  34. Mesbah Uddin, Dhaka says:

    Rafi is Rafi, Frank Sinatra appendage does not do any good to his stature, most Indians would find it rather undermining. Unlike Rafi, Frank Sinatra of the west is highly publicised, thanks to Hollywood. What Rafi is to Indians has to be judged from the admiration, love and respect he is cherished with in every Indian heart, or rather in the whole of the sub-continent. When a male voice yearns to achieve something in the sub-continent, his dream is anchored in one voice alone- the unreal yet true heavenly voice of Mohammad Rafi. His name is pronounced very softly with the love and reverence of the most beloved of deities any myth can produce. Rafi lives on eternally from one age to another.

  35. Mesbah Uddin, Dhaka says:

    Rafi is Rafi, Frank Sinatra appendage does not do any good to his stature, most Indians would find it rather undermining. Unlike Rafi, Frank Sinatra of the west is highly publicised, thanks to Hollywood. What Rafi is to Indians has to be judged from the admiration, love and respect he is cherished with in every Indian heart, or rather in the whole of the sub-continent. When a male voice yearns to achieve something in the sub-continent, his dream is anchored in one voice alone- the unreal yet true heavenly voice of Mohammad Rafi. His name is pronounced very softly with the love and reverence of the most beloved of deities any myth can produce. Rafi lives on eternally from age to another.

  36. JAWAID NASEEM says:

    YAAD NA JAEY………….
    —————————-
    Seene mein teri yaad ke soote ubal rahe hain
    aansoo hamari aankh mein ab bhi machal rahe hain
    guzri hui baaton ka tasalsul nahi rukta hai….
    yadon ke shikanje jo dil ko masal rahe hain.

    Har su tumhara zikr ho har pal tumhari baat
    ‘Arman yehi lekar ghar se nikal rahe hain’
    ‘Dhal jaey agar din to satati bahut hai raat’
    lamhe tumhari yaad ke har gaam chal rahe hain.

    Duniya mein koi aur RAFI aa nahi sakta ab
    yeh baat koi aur ke manzar badal rahe hain
    EJAAZ HAI YEH TERA EZAAZ HAI YEH TERA
    KITNE HI ‘RAFI’ BANKAR DUNIYA MEIN PAL RAHE HAIN.

    ………………. aap logon ko meri is baat se inkaar hai???
    mujhe aap logon ke comment ka intezaar hai.
    JAWAID NASEEM
    jawaid77in@yahoo.com

  37. talal jam says:

    mohd rafi is best singer in world

  38. JAWAID NASEEM says:

    It was the year 1995 when i started a programme”NAZRANA’95” on RAFI SAAB and tried my level best to reach to the Rafi lovers. I got compliments from Naushad saheb, Rajindra Kumar, Dharmendra and some other digniteries of the film industry. I was lucky enough to have success and compliments in my pocket, by then I am always in an edeavor to do my best for Rafi saheb as my shardhanjali. TIME WAS PASSING DOWN and I was in my efforts but unfortunately I could not perform anything bigger due to the lack of support and interest of other peoples whom I contacted but still I was related to almost all the programmes organized on Rafi sb. And then on the occasion of the 23rd Death Anniversary we made it happen.
    MD.RAFI award was introduced in Calcutta for the first time with a very touching concept ” WOH LOG JINHO NE RAFI SAHEB KO DEKHA CHHOOA AUR MEHSOOS KIYA”.
    The Awards were given to P.RAJ & M.SHAKOOR. and some musicians who had played with Rafi saab.
    It was a pleasure indeed to get a very warm response by the viewers with an assurance to come forward for this noble cause but ultimately nothing happened in real. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CHAIN IN BETWEEN US AND I AM TRYING TO ESTABLISH THAT VERY CHAIN WHICH SHALL BRING US TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING REMARKABLE IN THIS CONTEXT.

    I am grateful from the deepest core of my heart and pay thanks to my friends MD.TAJ, MD.SALIM, ROSHAN ABBAS, and immense thanks to my dearest friend SABIR KHAN…… a very ardent lover of Rafi saab. without whose co-operation it is totally impossible for me to be a part of this noble cause.He is just like a torch in the darkest path of life.

    I WOULD REQUEST GLOBALLY TO ALL THE RAFIANS AND RAFI LOVERS TO COME FORWARD AND BE A PART OF THIS MISSION.

    JAWAID NASEEM
    jawaid77in@Yahoo.com

  39. JAWAID NASEEM says:

    LOG KEHTE HAIN……………
    ZAMEEN EK HAI
    CHAND EK HAI
    SURAJ EK HAI

    PER KOI MUJHE YEH BATAEY KE KIYA RAFI EK NAHI???
    APNI AAWAZ MEIN?????????
    APNE ANDAAZ MEIN????????
    APNI MITHAAS MEIN???????
    APNI SHAKSHIYAT MEIN???

    AAJ UNKE JAANE KE PACHEES SAALON KE BAAD BHI KYA KOI RAFI KA SAAYA BHI NAZAR AAYA HAI????

    TO LOG DILSE UNKI AZMAT KA ETERAAF KYUN NAHI KARTE??
    KYUN UNKE SAATH UNKI ZINDAGI SE LEKAR ABTAK NA INSAAFIAN HI HOTI RAHIN HAIN???
    KYUN UNHE WOH MAQAAM NAHI DIYA GAYA JISKE WOH HAQDAAR THEY??

    LOG KAHENGAY…………..
    KAISI NA INSAAFI??
    UNKE NAAM PE RAASTE KA NAAM RAKHA GAYA
    UNKE NAAM PE STAMP JAARI KYA GAYA
    UNHE SINGER OF THE MILENIUM KA KHATAAB DIYA GAYA

    BUS EK SAWAL MAIN POOCHHNA CHAHTA HOON
    KYA UNLOGON KE PAAS DOOSRA KOI RAASTA THA?????
    JIS RAASTE KA NAAM UNKE NAAM PE RAKHA GAYA WOH RAASTA NAHI EK GALIYARA HAI.
    JAHAN BAHUT SAARE LOGON PE LOT KI SURAT MEIN SARKAR NE STAMP PUBLISH KIYE UNMEIN EK NAAM INKA BHI DAAL DIYA GAYA TAAKE HUM RAFIANS KHAMOSH RAHEN.
    SINGER OF THE MILENIUM KA KHATAAB AGAR RAFI SAHEB KO NA DETE TO BHALA BATAIYE KISE DETE??????
    KOI THA YA HAI UNKE MADDE MUQAABIL??????
    SARI DUNIYA SE POOCHHTA HOON LAA SAKOGAY USKA JAWAB??????
    YEH INDIAN IDOL YEH SAREGAMA AUR UNKE LINKS AUR TAQREEBAN HAR CHANNEL PE STAR SINGER KI HODE MACHI HAI,,,,, BUSINESS BHI HORAHA HAI TALASH BHI HORAHI HAI LEKIN KAHAN SE LAOGAY????????

    TO PHIR AAO MILKAR UNKI AZMAT KA ETERAAF KAREN.
    RELIANCE KE R-WORLD KI TARAH HUM BHI EK R-WORLD BANAYEN……
    “R-WORLD YAANI” RAFIANS WORLD. EK DOOSRE SE E-MAIL, PHONES AUR LETTERS KE ZARIYA CONTACT PAIDA KAREN, APNE MAALOOMAT AUR EXPERIENCE, PHOTOGRAPH, VIDEOS AUR AUDIOS JO RAFI SAHEB KE BAARE MEIN HAIN EK DOOSRE SE SHARE KAREN, EK DOOSRE SE KHUD KO INTRODUCE KAREN…. AAPAS MEIN EK CHAIN BANAYEN EK RISHTA PAIDA KAREN TAAKE HUM SAB MILKAR RAFI SAAB KE LIYE WOH KAREN JO ABTAK NAHI HUA.
    AAP HAMARE SAATH HAIN NA??

  40. JAWAID NASEEM says:

    Rafi saheb 24 December 1924 ko is duniya mein aaye unki nazr kuchh lines hain jo aap sabhi Rafians ke liye hain.

    Taareekh thi chaubees ki chaubees ka san tha
    Utra tha aasman se zamin uska watann tha….
    Woh shaksh apni zaat mein ek gang-o-jaman tha
    Phoolon pe khaak daaliye woh khud mein chaman tha.

    kisi ne kaha tha……….
    hazaron saal nargis apni benoorii pe roti hai
    badi mushkil se hota hai chaman mein deeda-wer paida.

    Sangeet ki duniya bhi usi nargis ki tarah pichhle pachees saalon se rorahi hai lekin aaj tak Rafi jaisa fankaar jahan ko nahi milsaka aur mera daawa hai ke is jaisa fankaar ab sangeet ki duniya ko dobaara naseeb na hoga.

    kashish wohi hai geetonn mein tumhare aaj bhi lekin
    woh pehle phool barsaate they ab daaman bhigote hain.

    aur bheegay huey daaman ka taar taar sisak sisak kar bus yehi kahta hai ke…… hum tumhe yuun bhula na paengay.
    jab kabhi bhi sunengay geet tere,
    sang sang hum bhi gungunaengay.

  41. JAWAID NASEEM says:

    Rafi saheb ke bbare mein itna kuchh kaha jachuka hai ke ab alfaaz bhi saath nahi dete bus apni jaanib se apne alfaaz ko yuun bayan karta hoon ke…..
    Ek zamin ek chaand ek suraj
    aur naghmon ka Khuda ek RAFI
    Tujhse pehle na tere baad koi
    gar koi hai to faqat ekRAFI.

  42. SATISH KUMAR says:

    I think RAFI SAAHAB as a legend to all the Amateur singers of today because his voice is uncomparable and such a versatile singer .

    If anybody have his VIDEO CLIPS please send me to my mail.

  43. M.Salim says:

    It’s futile to compare Rafi with any western singer. No western singer can ever come anywhere close to our all time great.

  44. Prakash. S.A says:

    Rafi Saheb cannot be compared to any singer because his voice is a special gift from the Almighty. And, Rafi Saheb was not so called”Bollywood” singer. He is and will be an Indian Singer a classic legend. I cannot describe the sweet melodius talent that was given to him by our Creator.

    Prakash S.A
    Hyderabad-India

  45. Ali says:

    No way 2 compare the King Mohd Rafi 2 any singer

  46. Shahu says:

    I like listening to the Golden Voice of the legendary Frank Sinatra, but please, please keep Rafi sahab out of , and far away from any comparison with these singers.

    Rafi sahab was the Greatest, is and will remain the greatest of them all. do not bring him down to any level with the others. I would hate to see another round of mails on the topic to just prove who is what to the east or west. its their bad luck in the west if they could not experience the soulful voice of this magician of the east.
    My salaams to Rafi sahab in heaven.
    shahid.

  47. muhammad Haris says:

    i want to collect the interviews of the enduring singer muhammad rafi because there is no more like this legend.so please help me in this way.
    THANKS A LOT

  48. mohanflora says:

    Sorry!
    CBSO : City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

  49. mohanflora says:

    Excellent response,kg! Whatever you have said about the Guru of Songs,Rafisaab, is 100 percent to the point.The CBSO(City of Birmingham Symphony Society-United Kingdom- has done a great service to bring RafiSaab’s all conquering rendering of voice pyrotechnics to the fore! He surely is the greatest ever!

  50. kg says:

    Excellent article!.. But rafisaab does not need to be introduced as “Bollywood’s answer to Frank Sinatra”. Yes, Sinatra was a great singer in his own regard, but Rafi was great with an additional essence- his voice is endowed with that extra dimension of spiritualilty ( truly god inspired).The voice that stirs not just the heart and the mind but the soul. The reason why he is still so popular is this extraordinary element of spirituality in his voice… That’s why every song of his is evergreen.

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