Comments on: Phoolon Ki Narmi, Sholon Ki Garmi

By: biman baruah

biman baruah — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:30:07 +0000

respected anwar ji

thanks for a great topic with instance of great songs well defining rafi saheb’s versatility. He was the only versatile singer of HFM with real “phoolon ki narmi and sholon ki garmi. great job anwar saheb. we expect more lines from you in future.

with thanks & regards
biman

By: Bina

Bina — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 07:47:50 +0000

Anwar jer:

Only today I was listening to Aaj Ki Raat badi Shokh and was reminded of your article. Rafi Saab ki aawaaz ke liye jo phoolon ki narmi aap keh rahe the woh is gaane mein khoob dikhayi deta hai. Your article highlights that aspect of rafi saab’s singing that no one can ever argue against.

Guruji and Narayanji, your inputs of Rafi Saab’s 70s period are very well researched and intense and delightful for us Bhakts. I think you are right in saying that Binaca Geet Mala n Aap Ki Farmaish played a big hand in KK’s rise to stardom as did Rafi’s becoming a Haji.

KK got his due because he is a very good singer himself, and as in the well known line that luck favors the brave, Rafi Saab too proved it in his outstanding songs of the 70s. Who can forget tum jo and apni aankhon mein basakar sung during this period.

Bina

By: Utthara

Utthara — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:48:03 +0000

Anwarji, you have chosen a really hatke topic. Great sir. Like you said Rafi is a very versatile singer. He could singer both high octaves and low-pitched songs without any effort. And you have brought out this magic of his with several examples. For the high-pitched song, there is Subha na aayi wherein the end he says Aajao aajao…Rafi saab is splendid here.

Thank you for a fine article

cheers

Utthara

By: unknow

unknow — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:16 +0000

Sir Satyajit
There was anti mohd rafi groups in Bollywood
People like Dilip Kummar,Dev Ananad,Dharam ji ,RD,SD and many more who was hit because of Mohd Rafi they switch to KK(KK was great singer).
If we make the list of songs from 1970 to 1980 we will see that Mohd Rafi sang more than any other male singer,In 1980 Mohd Rafi sang only for 8 months but he sang more songs than KK and others singers….
Only in 1970′s there was only Madan Mohan was with mohd Rafi and naushand was not giving music…also LP used Mohd Rafi whenever other singer was not able to sing that song..O P Nayar said in 1970′s give me one film I will show you who is Mohd rafi!!!!
Media play the biggest role to side line Mohd Rafi but they was not able as they did with Mr Bachchan…..
when KK asked by media that you are in Mohd rafi place now,The KK answer was that you don’t know about music I am Mohd Rafi fan..
Please Make list of songs sang by mohd rafi from 1970 to 1975 you will see that mohd rafi was the top.
1970′s the top actor was Rajesh Khanna and Mr Bachchan that help KK but when ever there was mohd Rafi song was hit also Mohd Rafi sang for B grade,C grade films and none filmi songs that was his greatness
Mohd Rafi was there in 1970′s ,1980′s 1990′s and will be for ever

By: Mohammed Irfan

Mohammed Irfan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:15:29 +0000

A very nice article explaining in simple words and nice examples of the intricacies of High and low notes.

Be it any note and any octate, rafisaab’s voice had it enveloped in the emotions that were demaded by the characteristic of the song.

To start on a low note and reach a crescendo is a skill that is aspired by all singers and few achieve it but it was only Rafisaab who could do that without sounding hoarse even for a fraction of second.

Another point I would like to mention is how difficult it might be to start a song at a higher scale, maintain it for a period keeping the voice quality intact as well as emoting the feelings before descending to a lower note.

No one can better Rafisaab.Subhan Allah

Listen to this songhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhBnFPuIF6s

By: binu nair

binu nair — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:18:26 +0000

is this satyaji a bachha to say – some say, some say and some others say. what you think and what your ears hear – is the truth.

dont ever depend on some say and others said stuff. please believe in your ears.

binu nair… mumbai rafi foundatiion…

By: Manish Kumar

Manish Kumar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:37:14 +0000

that question has been beaten to death and grown like a weed in so many articles. if you are so anxious to know about it – just check the true voice or rd burman thread and you’ll get all the different angles possible.

By: Narayan

Narayan — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:05:10 +0000

Dear Satyajit,
In the 70s like any devout Musalaman Rafi sahab went to holy pilgrimage to the pure n revered holy place Mecca n Madina.. and became a Hajiyaar.
There few clergy priests referred to him that singing is un islamic and Rafi sahab got misguided by the views. At the same time many producers like Shakti Samanta wanted to finish the film Aradhana very soon and the music director Sachinda was ill. It is believed that Panchamda his son was un officially given the responsiblity and since Rafi sahab was not available n keen KK got the offer. After that in the 4-5 years of 70s also Rafi sahab was busy in his family settings in London and not very keen do playback ,the hit songs got reduced compared to his 60s,
But later from advise of Naushad saab and other wellwishers he began to sing like before and hence made a glorious comeback in the 76/77 which no one had done in the film industry, Maybe Amitabh will be the 2nd person to emulate Rafi sahab

By: AHAMED KUTTY

AHAMED KUTTY — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:10:04 +0000

dear anwarji,
nice article indeed.for music lovers,rafi saab’s each quality
is an open book to study and to practice.to make a study
easily but to practice it is very difficult.we have singers
with very sweet voices but in low pitches only.how the voice
of mahendra kapoor is changing in high pitches.veteran singer
yesudas have very attractive sound.he had sung a song in a
malayalam movie “aaraam thampuran” and song is a typical
one and treasure for malayalm cinema.in that song when it
reaches high pitch,the sweetness of his voice is changing.

By: pmc thangal

pmc thangal — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:49:56 +0000

hi sajit, nothing happened to rafi in 1970′s. he live calmly and peacefully as before.remember the fact that rafi saab was the undisputed master singer for 3 decades ie in 1940′s,50′s and 60′s. the lovers of other singers were envious to rafi as for his superb position in the field of singing.they got a great chance when the kishore songs of “aradhana”become super hit.they create a duplicate type of popularity to kishore kumar’s songs in major cities of india .to some extand anti rafi groups got much support from the mds,producers ,heroes etc.at this stage rafi saab’s chances had fallen much . but he had not ready to “ding” those who keep aloof him . he cocentrate his time to sing non filim songs and live programmes at abroad.thank you anwar sab for presenting this wonderful article . expecting much more this type from you in future.