This article is by Mr. Anmol Singh.

Rafi with Ravi

Ravishankar Sharma known as Ravi originally hails from Mathura. Ravi is the son of a temple priest. Earlier an assistant to Hemant Kumar later became a full-fledged music composer. Ravi who has been instrumental in promoting Mahendra Kapoor, choices none other than Rafi Saab to render title song “Waqt Se Din Aur Raat” based on Raag Bhairavi for the film ‘Waqt’.
Who can forget the evergreen mind blowing Ghazals like “Chaudvi Ka Chand” based on Raag Pahadi, “Ye Wadiya Ye fizayen” based on Raag Pahadi, “Door Rah Kar No Karo Baat”, “Husn Wale Tera Jawab”, “Cho Lene Do Nazuk”, “Aa Lag Ja Gale Dilruba”, “Jaane Bahaar Husn Tera” based on Raag Malkauns, “Kis Tarah Jeete Hein”, “Ye Sham Ki Tanhaiyan” based on Raag Shuddha Kalyan, “Yeh Zulf Agar Khulke” render by Rafi Saab for Ravi. In the last song Rafi Saab provides a twist every time he sings the word “Achaa”.
Some of the Sad solos composed by Ravi are also unforgettable viz. “Bhari Duniya Mein Aakhir” based on Raag Bhairavi, “Raha Gardishon Mein Hardam” based on Raag Darbari Kanada, “Is Bhari Duniya Mein” based on Raag Bhairavi, “Zindagi Kya Hai”, “Mili Khak Me Mohabbat”, “Baazi Kisi Ne Pyar Ke Jeeti”, etc. The film ‘Neel Kamal’ is remembered for two songs. In the song “Tujh Ko Pukare Mera” based on Raag Pahadi, Rafi Saab provides a haunting touch for the word “Aaja”. No voice can describe a wandering soul so well. Another song “Babul Ki Duwane Leti Jaa” describes Rafi Saab as the most loving Father in the world. Coming back to the wandering soul theory, there is another hunting classic composed by Ravi, “Sau Baar Janam Lenge”. Here Ravi uses Raag Kaushik Kanada. Rafi Saab sings with great feeling and perfection.

No marriage in India is complete without the song “Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi”. If there are songs for beggars like “Gharibon Ki Suno” based on Raag Bhairavi, “Olaad Waloon Phulo Phalo” again Rafi does full justice to the character. Being the son of a priest gave an advantage to Ravi for composing some of the best devotional songs or Bhagans of all times. Asha Bhosale has sung many devotional songs for Ravi. Rafi Saab has also contributed equally; but the most memorable is the one from film ‘Khandan’, “Badi Der Bhai Nandalala”, truly remarkable.

A Tribute from Ravi
“Rafi sang more for me than any other male singer did, and all our songs together were super-hits, whether it was ‘Iss bhari duniya mein…’, ‘Chaudhvin ka chand…’, ‘Sau baar janam lenge…’ or those two cult songs without which no marriage ceremony is complete even today - ‘Aaj mere yaar ki shaadi hai…’(Aadmi Sadak Ka) or ‘Babul ki duaen leti jaa…’ (Neel Kamal). At every Idd he would send mutton and sevaiyan to my house. Some years later he came to know that I was a strict vegetarian! He asked me why I have never told him this and I said that I did not want to turn back the cherished tokens of his love for me, and that I would pass the mutton over to my musicians! He would embrace me every time he loved one of my songs.”

Rafi with Madan Mohan

A man from Army joins the All India Radio, Lucknow and later has the honor to become the Shagird (Student) of Legendary Ustad Fayyaz Khan and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, which makes him one of the greatest Ghazal composer of all times. Lata calls him “Ghazal Ka Shehzada” till date. He is none other than music composer Madan Mohan. Madan Mohan was an assistant to Dada Burman in his earlier part of his career.
Rafi Saab had the privilege to sing the some the most classic Ghazals for Madan Mohan. To name a few “Aapke Pehelu Mein Aakar”, “Chirag Dil Ka Jalavo”, “Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat” based on Raag Puria Dhanashri, “Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho”, “Kabhi Na Kabhi”, “Mein Yeh Soch Kar Uske Dar”, “Tu Mere Saamne Hai”, “Teri Ankho Ke Siwa Duniya” based on Raag Jhinjhoti, “Mein Nigahen Tere Chehre Se” based on Raag Darbari Kanada, “Tujhe Kya Sunayu Mein Dil Ruba”, “Tumhari Zulf Ke Saaye”, “Do Ghadi Wo Jo Paas Aa”, “Hamsafar Saath Apna Chhod” based on Raag Gara, “Yun Rootho Na Hassena”, etc.

Being an Army man in the initial part his career made him compose the best patriotic songs, where he could put extra life into it. The song “Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan” is a landmark in Indian music, which would enlighten our spirit and make us feel proud to be an Indian. Madan Mohan choices none order than Rafi Saab to give a master performance. The soldiers who protect our borders so that we can sleep in peace, it is only Madan Mohan who can understand their feelings and sorrows for being away from their family. The song “Hoke Majboor Mujeh Usne” is tribute to all our soldiers sung by Rafi, Talat, Manna Dey and Bhupindar. There are many such masterpieces Madan Mohan has composed. “Hindustan Ki Kasam” is another example.

Belonging to Punjab, Madan Mohan has contributed to Punjabi folk composition also. This can be seen from the song “Yeh Manna Meri Jaan” from ‘Hanste Zakham’; Madan Mohan uses Punjabi folk singer Balbir along with Rafi to give a master performance. The unique aspect about this song is, that it’s a Qawwali mixed with Bangra drumbeats of Punjabi folk music. Another film, which portrays the Punjabi culture, very well is ‘Heer Ranjha’. In “Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil” Madan Mohan provides a Sufiana touch where Rafi Saab does full justice. Another song “Meri Duniya Mein” based on Raag Kalyan / Yaman is a duet sang by Lata & Rafi almost music less, which appears more like a conversation between two lovers, but actually both are singing. Full marks to Madan Mohan. Though Madan Mohan was labeled as a ‘Ghazal Composer’, but pratically speaking he had the capability to compose any type of song. There is one devotional number sung by Rafi Saab, “Basti Basti Parabat Parabat” based on Raag Darbari Kanada.
Madan uses Rafi in ‘Laila Majnu’ and ‘Mausam’ in the mid 70s. Songs “Tere Dar Pe Aaya Hoon” based on Raag Jhinjhoti, “Barbad-E-Mohabbat Ki Dua” and a duet with Lata “Es Reshmi Pajeb Ki Jhankar” and “Chadi Re Chadi Kaisi Gale ”. For the duet with Lata in Laila Majnu, Madan Mohan apart from S D Burman also uses Rafi for high scale operation compared to Lata. Madan Mohan did not live to see the musical success of these two films. Jaidev completed the music for ‘Laila Majnu’ after Madan Mohan’s death in July 1975.

Madan Mohan could win many film fare nominations but did not receive an award in his entire career. But he was honored with a National Award for his unforgettable compositions for the film ‘Dastak’. It was a totally offbeat film. But the songs sung by Lata are excellent, perhaps could be rated as one of her best performances under Madan Mohan. Rafi Saab has delivered one solo in the same film “Tumse Kahoon Ek Baat”. Here for the words ‘Halke Halke’ again Rafi Saab provides a hunting effect.

Rafi with Roshan

If we talk about the Seventh Wonder of the World, “The Taj Mahal” we remember the legendry composer Roshan Lal Nagrath popularly known as Roshan. Roshan hales from Gujranwala, Punjab. The songs “Jo Waada Kiya” based on Raag Pahadi, “Paon Chu Lene Do Phoolon”, “Jo Baat Tujh Mein Hai” for the film Taj Mahal rendered by Rafi Saab and Lata Ji are a tribute the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal and to all the lovers world wide.
If we talk about most beautiful actress of all times “Madhubala”; there only one song “Zindagi Bhar Nahin” from the film ‘Barsaat Ki Raat’ which describes her beauty the best. Roshan selects Rafi Saab to sing the classic composition using Raag Kalyan / Yaman. There is another Ghazal “Mein Ne Shayad Tumeh” based on Raag Pilu, where Rafi Saab operates between low and high scale effortlessly. In a Qawali from the same film “Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai”, Rafi Saabs makes a late entry in style surpasses every one. There is another classic Qawwali, “Na To Caravan Ki Talash” based on Raag Kalavati, sung by Rafi Saab along with Manna Dey. Both singers are too good here and sing with great control incorporated with many twists & turns.

The song from film ‘Chitralekha’, “Mann Re Tu Kahe Na Dhir Dhare” is another landmark in Indian music based on Raag Kalyan / Yaman. Rafi is excellent here. Rafi Saab has sung many classic solos for Roshan, “Dil Jo Na Keh Saka” based on Raag Yaman, “Hum Intezaar Karenge”, “Mile Na Phool To Kanto Se”, “Aapne Yaad Dilaya”, “Ab Kya Misaal Doon” based on Raag Khammaj, “Mehefil Se Ut Jaane Walon” & duets with Lata, “Rahen Na Rahen Hum” based on Raag Pahadi, “In Hawaoon Mein Akele Na Phiro”, etc.

Rafi with Salil Chowdhary

Mukesh was the favorite singer of Salil Chowdhary. Rafi has sung few everlasting songs for Salil. In ‘Do Bhigaa Zamin’ there is a great number – “Ajab Tori Duniya Ho More Raama”. For ‘Madhumati’ a high pitch solo “Toote Huve Khwabon Mein” based on Raag Darbari Kanada, no one other than Rafi could do justice. From Dev Anand starred ‘Maya’ two songs are remembered till date “Koi Sone Ke Dil Wala” & the duet with Lata, “Tasveer Tere Dil Mein”. Being a Bengali it is indeed amazing that Salil Chowdary could compose a song based on Punjabi Folk, “Mein Koyi Jhoot Boleya” from the film ‘Jaagte Raho’. Again Balbir joins Rafi here. Prem Dhawan writes excellent lyrics speaking the reality of the system, presented in a comical form.

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