Mohd Rafi and Filmi Ghazals
This article is written by Mr. A.S.Murty
For Mohd. Rafi, ghazal singing must have come naturally. Having come from an Urdu background, he must have been influenced early in life with Urdu couplets and Ghazals, just like any other boy of his background. Hindi film music has produced many great Ghazal exponents and Mohd. Rafi is one of these greats. His added gift of clarity in voice, pronunciation and diction went a long way in presenting to the Hindi film music many a great ghazal composition. Some of the very best that come instantly to mind are (1) Mujhe Dard-e-dil ka pata na tha, mujhe aap kisliye mil gaye, (2) Na kisi ki aankh ka noor hun, na kisike dil ka karar hun, (3) Lagta Nahir Hai dil mera ujade dayar mein (4) Tujhe Kya Sunaun Mein Dilruba Tere Saamne Mera Haal hai, (5) Zara Sun Hasina-e-naznin Mera Dil Tujhi Pe Nissar hai (6) Bhari Duniya Mein Aakhir dil ko samjhane kahan jayen, (7) Gujre Hain aaj ishq mein hum is makam se, (8) Naseeb Mein Jiske jo Likha Tha (9) Zindagi Aaj mere naam se sharmati hai, (10) Door Rah Kar Na Karo Baat Karib Aa jao. There are many more which readers may like to point out.
From the film GHAZAL, the evergreen – Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat Kise Pesh Karun – is one Ghazal for all seasons. The song was not only popular in the 60s but is hummed by all Ghazal lovers and Urdu poetry followers even to this day. Other two variations of the same Ghazal one each by Rafi himself and by Lata Mangeshkar from the same film – Ishq Ki Garmiyen Zajbaat Kise Pesh Karun and Nagma our Sher Ki Saugat Kise Pesh Karun were also equally well rendered. But the soul of that film and indeed of that era was the first song from this film.
Mohd. Rafi sang many duets which are Ghazals and with all female singers alike. Notable among them were with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle and Suman Kalyanpur. While he never tried to dominate, his superior singing always put him ahead of his female singers. Not that these three ladies did not justify themselves, they did splendidly. But they were left a notch too short when compared to Mohd. Rafi. Dile-e-betab ko seene se lagana hoga , Mijaze Garami Duwa hai aapki, Humsafar Saath Apna Chhod Chale are all examples of the highest standards of Ghazal singing by Rafi and the female singers mentioned above.
I sometimes wonder whether there will be music of any kind left in the Hindi film world after a few years. The way things are going – all noise and no sense of lyrics or compositions – leave alone any sensible singing – the doomsday is not further than a few years for the Hindi film music. The film industry must think about it seriously. They lyricists should write beautiful and meaningful poetry. The Music directors should revive the old magic of the yesteryears and the singers, for whatever they are worth, should learn from the great masters who have left behind them troves of treasurers in the form of tens of thousands of the best of music. Music companies would reap rich dividends if they compile the various moods of Mohd. Rafi life Bhajans, Romantic Songs, Sad songs, Ghazals, Patriotic songs, Qawwalis, etc. and release fresh volumes in each style.. These would sell like hot cakes and would also benefit millions of new generation music lovers who are desperately seeking to enjoy music where there is none these days.
Other notable Ghazals from the Rafi stable include – Tum Ek Baar Muhobbat Ka Intehan Toh Lo, Kal Raat Zindagi Se Mulaqat ho Gayi, Maana mere Hasin Sanam Tu Rashke Maahtab hai, Koi Nazarana Lekar Aaya Hun Main Diwana Tere Liye, etc. The list is certainly endless and I could add many more to it. But I would like Rafians out there to respond and interact by sending their comments and complete the list of Ghazals sung by the greatest singer of all times - MOHD RAFI.
PHIR BHI HUM JAHAN MEIN TERE TARANE LIYE PHIRTE HAIN
November 7th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I am amazed at the comments that have been appearing at the end of my article written with a specific purpose to sing praise where praise is required. I agree that I neither have full knowledge of all the thousands of ghazals that Rafi sahab had rendered and also that I may have forgotten to add many more that are known to me. Suffice it to say, all I had intended was to write on a topic called ghazals from hindi films which were sung by rafi sahab. Sure many great comments have also followed my article and many more have given valuable inputs too. However, of the 82 comments so far received on this article, I find it very disheartening that almost half of them are not exactly comments on my article or the subject on which I had wanted rafians to react, but sadly and disgustingly they were nothing less than “war of words”. While sending a comment, the readers should stick to the theme of the article and may praise or criticize the author. But straying on to different paths and almost mudslinging one another makes no sense to me at all. I too go through all the articles that are published on the website every day and sometimes I do give my thoughts. But let us be sensible enough not to indulge in such petty squabbles as to make first timers visiting this website make it their last. We all like good music and we have the highest regards of the singers of the past, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, Manna De, Mahendra Kapoor, K.L. Saigal and all the others from the distaff side. But still this is not the site for us to shower them with praises. There are several other websites which are devoted to musicians, singers and people from the glamour world and those who find the grass is greener elsewhere, let them stick to their fences. Why indulge in uncalled for diatribe with true rafi lovers ?? This website could more than just “moderation” before a comment is posted. It could delete a deregotary comment, if need be. That would filter most of the dirt-war that is unnecessarily generated. Think about it, Sir.
July 1st, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Hard to say becos any words or letters are not enogh to praise him the world is so unfortnate to miss him
June 11th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Dear mr. sawant,
I, on behalf of all ghazal lovers, thank you for posting such a nice and
descried article. Your job is praisworthy.
June 8th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Thank you very much Sawant Saab for the beautiful article on “GAZAL”. I feel we are using the word GAZAL very loosely and simply call every alternate song a GAZAL.
June 8th, 2007 at 11:34 am
http://smriti.com/urdu/ghazal.def.html
June 8th, 2007 at 8:43 am
A basic question. Can any body explain me what is actually a GAZAL?
June 5th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Dear Raaj kumar akela…
Pls. read post 71 of PEARL AND DO visit www.yoodleyoo.com, spend
some time and read responses to the article : Rafi vs. Kishore.
Here some illiterates have put some roadside phrases for rafi saab
which we vehemently object. They have no content and only limited
vocabulary - for Kisore Kumar, you will find…
Pearl it seems are supporting these illiterates and hence these war
of words…. between us.. Besides some facts - about the music
industry - upsets these narrow minded music lovers…
binu nair
binu nair
June 5th, 2007 at 3:29 am
I wonder what this name “BINUS2000″ is and what this name “PEARL” is !
And they are biting each other…wah ! Lux kya scene hai ? Why do not they
come out with their real names ?
tairna hai to nadi me aao
kinaron me kya rakha hai !
Pyar karna hai to bahon me aao
isharon me kya rakha hai !!
this website is slowly changing into a battle-field where a continue cold-war
can be seen between Rafians and KK fans.
what a pity !
music is a thing that takes us to heavenly mirth…but this dirty fighting is defaming music…
rafi saab was always the best singer and a noble human being. The whole
Bollywood knows this. Only a fool (like … … & …) can raise questions on
Rafi Sabb’s talent and Godgifted ability.
so friends, ignore few lunatics and enjoy the heavenly melodies of Rafi Saab.