O Duniya Ke Rakhwale
This article is written by Mr. Shashank Chickermane.
This marvelous song was written by Shakeel Bhaduyani, music direction by Naushadsab and sang by none other than Rafisahab. This three muslim personalities have given us lot of songs with Bhajans & classical songs also. Now, in this song one sentence is there “Aab tho Neer Bahale”, but I want to point out that in the Kannada language “Neer” means “Water”. What an word has been used by Mr.Shakeel Sahab, perfect one. Hear this song and you will find this word in the sentence.
Rafi Sahab with Naushad and Shakeel
The genius Mohdrafisahab in his usual smile in the photo. The Alap he has taken in the song “O Duniya Ke Rakwale”, feel Tansen is singing infront of us. He sang many songs but this song is a marvelous song which cannot imagine.
Here is live rendition of O Duniya Ke Rakhwale by Rafi Sahab. Courtesy: kjaan@Youtube
Rafi Sahab
Rafi Sahab singing O Duniya Ke Rakhwale
November 3rd, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Ref: post 14
Dear Haldar Sir:
This programme is a live concert? In that case it’s simply mind-blowing. Such a level of excellence in a live programme, I dare say it’s unthinkable.
November 2nd, 2007 at 11:01 pm
WE ALL RAFIAANS DEMANDS FOR NOT LESS THAN AN OSCAR FOR RAFI SAHIB POSTHUMOUSLY BUT FOR FOR YOU SHASHANK SIR WE ALL DEMAND A BHARAT RATAN BECAUSE YOU CONTRIBUTED TREMENDOUSLY TO THIS SITE DEDICATED TO THE GREATEST EVER SINGER TO BREATHE ON THIS PLANET.
SHASHANK SIR THE AMOUNT OF PICTURES AND OTHER USEFUL THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED TO RAFI FANS IS MORE COSTLY AND PRECIOUS THAN REAR DIAMONDS WORTH CRORES OF RUPEES INFACT IT IS UNREPLACEABLE BY ANY OTHER MATERIALISTIC THING.
WE ALL SALUTE TO YOU SHASHANK CHICKERMANE SIR.
MAY THE ALMIGTHY GOD BLESS YOU
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Ref: post 10
You are spot on wrt Rafi Sir’s voice during 75-80. It lacked a bit of heaviness (At times, at least) but still was melodious.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Rafi saab, you are too good. i love u rafi saab for wht u have in terms of music, singing. rafi saab, u r god so far as singing is concerned. you are ahead of everyone and will remain ahead. we will remember u rafi sab till eternity. i miss u a lot. u needed to be here for long time.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
If we hear the song “Oh duniya ke rakwale” in rafi saabs “royal albert hall stage programme” in London that song is enough to hear for any of the music lovers.The way he was singing as well as the audiances responding and in the end it is just like the end of a heavy rain with thunderstorm.Who else in India to have a song other than rafi saab with such a high pitch and voice control as well as the support of such a huge fans.According to me if i hear the song once in a day is enough for me to have cheerful for the full day.
i love u rafi saab for wht u have in terms of music, and singing. u r god so far as singing is concerned. we will remember u till eternity.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:19 pm
If we hear the song “Oh duniya ke rakwale” in rafi saabs “royal albert hall stage programme” in London that song is enough to hear for any of the music lovers.The way he was singing as well as the audiances responding and in the end it is just like the end of a heavy rain with thunderstorm.Who else in India to have a song other than rafi saab with such a high pitch and voice control as well as the support of such a huge fans.According to me if i hear the song once in a day is enough for me to have cheerful for the full day.
November 2nd, 2007 at 5:16 am
hi rafians if u want to download this song than plz contect me
my mail rafians74@gmail.com
November 1st, 2007 at 11:01 pm
thanx.
dear shashank ji great work .
November 1st, 2007 at 10:00 pm
O’ Duniya ke rakhwale’ is a hallmark of Indian music, which could never be matched by any one anywhere. This is a gem of a song. But, he had so many gems. This along with other songs will never ever be matched. But, I agree with posts about Rafi sahib’s voice changing during 70’s. Could it be because he went to the holy pilgrimage of Hajj during that period? Since Hajj is attended by millions and millions, and people suffer exposure to the elements, most people return with respiratory problems. That may have affect Rafi sahab’s voice in that period. It was little bit flat for a short while, but he came back with full vengeance in Laila Majnu released in 1976. In that film you can’t distinguish between Rafi sahab of 60’s and Rafi sahab of 70’s. After that he had many gems. Keep in mind MD’s and music style changed that too may have something to do with Rafi sahab’s delivery. Any way even his not so good songs are still better than many songs by other singers.
November 1st, 2007 at 9:50 pm
ref post 15
ahmed kutty ji,
i agree with you 100%.
i have the bhajan cd ‘ tere bharose nandlal ‘ .
i am requesting each fan of rafi sahab to please possess it. its a treasure.
i listen to this cd everyday before i proceed to office. it creates such a spiritual vibration which keeps me fully charged for the entire day.
ramakrishna, hyderabad, 09949509592
sabnivis@yahoo.com
November 1st, 2007 at 11:47 am
If we hear the song “Oh duniya ke rakwale” in rafi saabs “royal albert hall stage programme” in London that song is enough to hear for any of the music lovers.The way he was singing as well as the audiances responding and in the end it is just like the end of a heavy rain with thunderstorm.Who else in India to have a song other than rafi saab with such a high pitch and voice control as well as the support of such a huge fans.According to me if i hear the song once in a day is enough for me to have cheerful for the full day.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:36 am
This song was aired live as part of the “aarohi” program of doordarshan sometime in 1976, probably just before hkkn and aaa hit the market. The program was compered by Shahid Bijnori, who used to accompany Rafi saab for his concerts during the 70s; before that, johnny whiskey used to compere rafi saab’s programs. In addition to “duniya ke raakhwale”, rafi saab delivered “hari om”, “suhani raat dhal chuki”, “meri kahani bhool ne wale” and another patriotic song. They also played the clip of “o door ke musafir”, during which Naushad saab and rafi saab took a break. In my life, I’ve watched many live programs, but I have never seen any program that comes anywhere close to this.
October 30th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
I don’t think Rafi’s voice quality dropped in the period of 75 to 80. Yes voice changes with age. This is the case with all singers.
Listing to songs like “Parda Hai Parda”; “Hai Agar Dushman”; “Pal Do Pal Ka”; “Maine Puchha Chand Se”; “John Janny Janardhan”l; “Pucho Na Yaar Kya Hua”; etc. one cannot say that Rafi’s voice quality as dropped. His voice is as young as before will slight change. He could have easily continued for another 5 years at least.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:29 am
I think there is an another person who should get special mention apart from the golden triangle ,that is,RAFI-NAUSHAD-SHAKEEL , and that person is assistant director ghulam mohammed. he happen to be a great composer also apart from a brilliant dholak player, and composes several good songs in the films.he started his career as earlyas in 1947 and composes music for at least 32 films among which pardes, laila majnu,amber shayar, shama and pakeezah is notable.
even after becoming a successful music director, he continue to assist naushad saab and plays an important role there.
October 30th, 2007 at 9:09 am
I think Baiju Bawra should get special mention in HFM as this film was a real trendsetter.
the film was released in 1952….
Before composing the songs of this film, even naushad saab was a bit confused for whether the film would click or not as during that period , many western things were making an entrance in HFM .Even Naushad saab used such things in the films like jadoo Dastan and others…
After the success of BAIJU BAWRA, naushad saab exclaims that i now made to believe that good music is always liked by people,if such things made available for them. Each song of this film by Rafi saab is a real gem…
O dunia ke rakhwale..there is a myth attached with this song that blood came out of Rafi saab’s throat while singing..however this is just a myth. naushad sab clearly said in an interview that no such thing happen during the recordings. For this song which is in DARBARI KANNADA, RAFI SAAB rehearsled for 21 days….I am sure this the most tough song of RAFI SAAB. Nobody could sung this song with such passion on such high pitch without loosing the emotionality in the voice.
Naushad saab said,
“Rafi those days used to feel concerned that, though singing extensively, he had not been able to create the same impact as Talat Mehmood or Mukesh. ‘Well, here’s your chance”, I said. ‘This Baiju Bawra theme offers you the kind of vocal challenge which, if you meet, you will find yourself made for life.’
“Of course in saying that, I could not know, at the time, that the film would become an all-time musical classic. But about one thing I could be sure - that the theme offered me scope to create the kind of music that Rafi alone could articulate. And the scale of effor that Rafi put in during our elaborate rehearsals was something to commend in this singer, even if he was young, strong and tireless.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
great work .This song is unique because it established the range of rafi saab’s voice.The depth and height of his voice is seen in this song.We can see the 4th octave level in this song which is very rare among singers.One more thing which is noticable is that as the pitch increases the width of the voice also increases which normally narrows in other singers.This is the greatness of my rafi saab.
I again repeat as I do in my comments that on hearing this song I feel that overrated singers such as kishore kumar sonu nigam are ordinary singers .
I do not want to start any debate but I feel if rafi saab had not sung any other song in his whole life also this song would on it’s own made him a great singer.Still lata and asha do not praise rafi saab atleast on the basis of this song only.
Any way all this wont touch the greatness of rafi saab.Also this width was missing in his voice in the period of 75-80.His voice became very light and not as heavy as it was in his heydays.This was his and our’s misfortune.But yes the melody was always there.
Long live rafi saab
October 29th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
One of the best songs by Rafi Saheb, only he could have sung it. So, nice photographs of Rafi Saheb.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
This live recording is done towards the last years of Rafi Sahabs life - it can not be expected to be as good as recording room. Heavyness and lack of real rafi magic in voice is evident. Rafi saheb should have watched his weight. I have learnt that most of his family members are dying young.
Rafi Saheb’s voice was God’s gift to mankind, but there was definite drop in the voice quality between late fifties/sixties till his untimely death in 1980. I attribute that to his excessive weight gain.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
thx sashank,
i have made the photograph of rafi sahab as my desktop wall paper. its so nice as if rafi sahab is right in front of me. people say ‘ my pleasure’ but i say ‘ my treasure ‘
and about the song i have no words to say. i am too too too too small to give my opinion as i feel I am even much smaller than an infant here.
i can say this much only that a ‘divine incarnation’ can render this number.
October 29th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Good work dear shashank ji, but you should have written more on the song, like its different variations and the ragas with with the song was experimented with. Every one agrees (even those who are not rafi sahab’s fans and they are not too many) that this one song is the ultimate in playback rendition and counts as the best song ever in hindi film industry. Incidentally, “neer” is also a Hindi word just like kannada word for water. The other common word used for water in hindi is ofcourse jal or paani.The hindi of the era which was picturised in the movie Baiju bawra is more pure and hence the use of such words which are not prevalent in today’s hindi language. You have also posted such wonderful pictures of rafi sahab and i have copied them all. thanks very much for the same and for your article ofcourse. Keep writing on such subjects more often, but with much more analytical study that will fetch more and more responses from all rafians. all the best. asmurty2@rediffmail.com
October 29th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
dear shashank ji well done you have uploaded song you have uploaded rafisaabs pictures thanx
October 29th, 2007 at 11:08 am
nobody dares to imitate this song, a lesson song, historical song and a dream song for all singers
October 29th, 2007 at 9:12 am
This is an incredible song sung by Rafi Saab. One can listen to the song infinite number of times. Perhaps Rafi Saab sang the line “Mahal Udaas Or Galiyaan Suno” in different ways in a live concert abroad. The twist and turns for every time he sang was extra ordinary. Listening to the song I felt if Rafi could have been a full flagged classical singer, he could have been equally popular compared to various Ustads and Pandits.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:09 am
padma shree mohd.rafi is truely a superb singer and by by any measurement he is the extension of excellence
October 29th, 2007 at 1:21 am
Thanks for your effort.
You are a star!