Rafi with Unknown Personalities
This article is written by Mr. Anmol Singh
If we talk about the legendry singer Mukesh, Raj Kapoor comes in picture. Similarly if we talk about Kishore Kumar the first thing that strikes our mind is Rajesh Khanna & Amitabh. Same is the case with Mahendra Kapoor, Manoj Kumar comes in picture immediately. Perhaps this is not at all the case with Rafi Saab. One cannot associate Rafi Saab with any actor or personality as such right from the beginning of his career till the end. Rafi Saab is every one’s voice. We have had a lot of discussions related to Rafi Saab with actors like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, etc. Here we will focus of songs pictured on unknown or small time actors sung by Rafi. This is another unique quality of this great personality called Mohd Rafi which needs to be explored.
In the late 40s & 50s there are some great songs which were picturized on unknown actors but remembered till date. “Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki” from Dullari . One can listen to this incredible score composed almost more that half a century ago infinite one of times. The song “Bapu Ki Amar Kahani”gives Rafi Saab a face lift perhaps the actor on screen is unknown. The song “Yeh Zindagi Ke Mele” is an all time classic perhaps again actor is unknown. Another song “Aana Hai Aa Raah Mein Undher Nahi Hai” from Naya Daur is also a beautiful devotional song also pictured on an unknown actor. There is one more famous score “Tujhe Kya Sunau Main Dil Rubaa” composed by Madan Mohan. Again the actor opposite Nutan in the song is unknown.
A still from the song Tujeh Kya Sunavun Mein Dilruba featuring Nutan with an unknown actor
From the 60s there where many more songs picturized on unknown personalities. To name a few, “Roshan Tumhi Se Duniya” and “Wo Jab Yaad Aaye, Bahut Yaad Aaye” from Parasmani. The actor on screen is Mahipal. A classical based score “Ankhiyan Sang Akhiyan Lagi” is truly classic perhaps the on screen actor is unknown. The song “Main Ye Sooch Kar” from Haqeekat is also magnificent, but the actor on screen is Sudhir who has acted as a small time character artist in many films there after. Who can forget the ever green songs of film “Dosti” picturized on unknown artists. The song “Chahunga Mein Tujhe” fetches Rafi Saab a film fare award. Another unforgettable score from Mughal-E-Azam, “Zindabad-Zindabad Ae Muhabat Zindabad” sung by Rafi Saab for an unknown actor. In this song Rafi’s voice completely super seeds the actor and the charges the entire atmosphere in such way that one hardly watches the actor on screen. An incredible score by Naushad from the film ‘Son of India’ is picturized on an unknown artist, “Zindagi Aaj Mere Naam Se”. There are two incredible gems in the film Sehra, “Tum Tho Pyar Ho Sajni” and “Teqdeer Ka Fasaana” picturized on the actor unknown. The song “Dono Ne Kia Tha” is picturized on an actor Shiv Kumar. In all the above songs hardly any one remembers actors like Mahipal, Sudhir, Shiv Kumar, etc. But the songs picturized on them are remembered till date.
As we move to the 70s the era of change and a new league of music composers and film makers. This era was completely different from the 50s and 60s. So it was for Rafi Saab as well. It was an era of challenge for him since many Rafi centric actors like Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Jeetendra, Shashi Kapoor, etc were provided playback by singers like Kishore, Manna Dey & Mukesh. It is during the 70s Rafi Saab’s success criteria on unknown or small time actors can be best understood. To start with a melodious score from film Seema, “Jab Bhi Ye Dil Udaas Hotaa Hai” picturized on Kabir Bedi. Who can forget “Churaliya Hai Tum Ne” & “Yadoon Ki Baraat” picturized on a new comer Vijay Arora. Another gem composed by Madan Mohan “Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho” from film Haaste Zakham. On screen actor is another new comer Naveen Nishchol. Moving ahead with one more new comer in the 70s is Anil Dhavan. Classic songs like “Badi Door Se Aae Hai” and “Teri Galiyon Mein” are picturized on this actor. A song “Achan Hi Hua Dil Toot Gaya” from Maa Behan Aur Biwi picturized on an unknown actor fetches him a film fare nomination. One more song “Mein Ek Raja Hun” from film Uphaar is also famous but hardly any one remembers on the on screen actor. Who can forget the song based on street singers from the film Zanjeer, “Diwaane Hai Diwanoo Ko” picturized on the song writer Gulshan Bawaraa. “Apni Aankho Mein Basakar” is another example of picturization on an unknown actor. The song “Meri Hasraton Ki Duniya” is also picturized on small time actor Kiran Kumar. There are many such incredible examples from the early 70s.
Sudhir Dalvi in Aadmi Musaphir Hai
Perhaps this quality of Rafi Saab can be witnessed even in the late 70s and early 80s as well. The most classic examples are the songs “Chand Mera Dil”, “Yeh Ladka Hai Alla” & “Kya Hua Tera Wada” picturized on the actor Tariq Shah who acted mainly under the Nasir Hussian banner. “Kya Hua Tera Wada” fetches Rafi Saab both Film fare and National Award. There are more such examples. “Aadmi Mussafir Hai” is picturized on a small time actor Sudhir Dalvi. The song gives Rafi Saab another film fare nomination. The song “Chalo Doli Uthao” is sung in background by Rafi Saab gives him one more film fare nomination. The song “Tu Es Tarah Se Meri Zindagi” is picturized on another new comer Deepak Parashar. Similarly the song from Shaan “Aate Jaate Hue Mein” is picturized on a small timer actor Mazhar Khan.
Even when the super stars in the early 70s where preferring singers other than Rafi Saab it didn’t affect his success. Plus he won many film fare nominations in the 70s on songs picturized on unknown personalities. A total of 22 % film fare nominations are through songs picturized on unknown actors in his entire career span. Shammi Kapoor & Rajendra Kumar for whom Rafi Saab contributed maximum number of hits in the 60s constitute of 27 % nominations. Rest of the nominations have come through songs picturized on Guru Dutt, Raj Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Jitendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Amitabh & Sanjay Khan. If the film fare awards criteria could have start 10 years earlier there would have been many contributions from Dilip Kumar, Bharat Bhushan & Guru Dutt. In other words Rafi Saab’s success is not at all personality driven plus his work is recognized when he sings any type of song for any artist in any situation. With the changing scenarios the actors faded with time but Rafi Saab kept on going contributing to new personalities. No wonder Rafi was always in great demand from the right from the beginning of his career till the end.
Among Rafi Saab’s contemporaries no singer has such a success rate with unknown personalities. In case of Mukesh 57 % nominations have come through songs picturized in Raj Kapoor & Manoj Kumar. Rest contributed by Sunil Dutt, Amitabh & Shashi Kapoor. Similar is the case with Kishore Kumar also. He has sung incredible scores for all actors but his 70 % film fare nominations have come through Rajesh Khanna & Amitabh combo. In other words the on screen performances of super stars have played a very vital role in their success.
Courtesy :
http://www.singermukesh.com
http://www.mohdrafi.com/awards
http://www.yoodleeyoo.com/nominations
http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com
November 13th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Rafi Saheb has sung a nice song for Dara Singh in a film called “Faulad” and the song is - “dil hai hamara phool sa nazuk bazoo hai faulad…”, anyone need this song, please mail me. refimagic@gmail.com
November 13th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Refer Vikas Sharma’s post # 15.
What Anmol ji has put in a lot of effort to reserch - this goes to show how Rafi Saheb’s fans respect their idol. There is no comparison between RAFI SAHEB and KISHORE DA. Both were great. But if the stats given are true, then Anmol ji is proving a point that is a stark reality.
Can anybody please post Daadimaa’s melodious song “Jaata hoon main mujhe ab naan boolana”- Brings back childhood memories.
Thanks
November 13th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
DEAR ANMOLJI
THANK YOU FOR THIS FINE ARTICLE ON OUR BELOVED RAFI SAHAB !
REGARDS/A.T.M. SALIM.
November 13th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
excellent article anmolji, you have given a clinical insight to what the legend of legends of playback singing was capable of. Joy mukherjee, biswajit and pradeep kumar were no great actors but kept their hold on the industry for many years by the sheer strenght of their songs. majority of which were playbacked by Rafi saab. There are many other hit songs of rafi saab on flop heros as well which i will post very soon.
Yes absolutely right Mukesh conjures Raj kapoor / manoj kumar and Kishore Kumar is in sync with Rajesh Khanna / Amitabh bachhan but Rafi Saab was universal. He could blend perfectly….with the rich and the poor, for the strong and the weak, for the raja and the rank. for the hero, comedian or the unknown personality.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Vikas Sharma Ji,
There is no intention to compare Rafi Saab with any of his contempories. These are simple analysis as per actual facts. The basic purpose of writing on this subject was to highlight Rafi Saab’s greatness in the early 70s where a lot wrong propaganda has been done in the past to tarnish his image. Every individual however successfull one can be; faces challenges in life and Rafi Saab was no exception. Early 70s was an era of challenge to Rafi Saab’s singing and his existence. He accepts all challenges willingly and returns a winner by mid 70s. Such things need to be highlighted which act as a great source of motivation to Rafi fans.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:23 am
I also list down some of such songs from my own article “RAFI’s SONGS FOR OTHER HEROES AND ACTORS published in the web site about six months back.
For Navin Nischol – “Sun Sun Sun” and “Chaal Me” from Sawan Bhadon, “Is Dharti” and Title song from Ganga Tera Paani Amrit, “Jis Dinse Maine” from Parwana, etc.
All the songs from Aabroo for Deepak Kumar like “Aapse Pyaar Hua”, “Har Chehra Yahan Chaand”, “Yeh Zindagi Hai” were hits. Deepak Kumar was lucky to have two other huge hits of Rafi picturised on him in Khoj – “Maine Tuzhase Kiya Hai Pyaar” and “Halka Halka Sa Rang Gulabi Ka”.
Anil Dhawan had Rafi singing for him – “Badi Doorase Aaye hain Pyaar Ka” and “Sabke Rahte Lagta Hai Jaise” from Samjhauta.
Rafiji also sang some wonderful songs for not so popular heroes like “Aayi Baharo Ki Shaam”, “Mere Pyaar Me Tuzhe Kya Mila”, “Paas Baito Tabiyat Behal Jayegi”, “Kahin Aisa Na Ho Tum Ajnabi” from Milap, “Apni Aankhon Me Basakar” on Baldev Khosla in Thokar, etc.
November 13th, 2007 at 2:15 am
nice sir anmol ji
November 12th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Dear Anmol ur are anmol as ur name.
Raj Kapoor,Manoj Kummar,Rajesh Khanna and Big B they never were famous boz of songs but Shammi Kapoor is still famous for his songs,there was also new actors in 60’s they was famous in 60 boz Mohd Rafi but without mohd rafi in 70’s where was they!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?God made the sun when there is no sun we can see stars lights but God made one Mohd Rafi when there is Mohd Rafi there is no other singer
November 12th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I URGE ALL THE RAFIAANS TO PROVIDE THE SITE WITH RELEVANT ,GOOD AND NEVER ENDING INFORMATION REGARDING RAFI SAHIB BUT PLEASE DONT TRY TO COMPARE HIM WITH KISHORE DA .THANX
November 12th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
ANMOL SIR,
I REALLY ADMIRE AND APPRECIATE UR TASTE AND LOVE OF MUSIC YOU HAVE POSTED A GREAT ARTICLE .THE SONGS MENTIONED BY YOU ARE ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES .
RAFI SAHIB HAS SUNG MANY MEMORABLE SONGS FOR VARINDER THE BROTHER OF DHARMENDAR IN PUNJABI FILMS, AND HE HAS ALSO SUNG FOR DARA SINGH IN MANY FILMS.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Anmol singh,
U HAVE DONE A MINDBLOWING AND EXCELLENT WORK TO PRESENT THIS USEFUL AND KNOWLEGEABLE ARTICLE BUT SIR AS A MATURE PERSON AND A LOVER OF MUSIC U SHOULD NOT HAVE COMPARED THE MEASTRO AND IMMORTAL RAFI SAHIB WITH KISHORE DA AND MUKESH.
ALL ARTICLES REGARDING RAFI SAHIB ARE A TREAT AND WELCOMED BUT PLEASE DONT TRY TO COMPARE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF RAFI SAHIB WITH OTHER DISTINGUISHED AND WORLD KNOWN PERSONALITIES LIKE KISHORE DA AND MUKESH.
I MYSELF IS A HUGE FAN OR U CAN SAY I WORSHIP RAFI SAHIB ,KISHORE DA,MUKESH,LATA(MATA),ASHA,NUSRAT
BUT STILL I DO NOT EVER COMPARE HIM WITH KISHORE DA OR MUKESH.
I M SORRY IF I SAID SOMETHING WRONG BUT SIR U CANT COMPARE SACHIN TENDULKAR WITH KAPIL DEV.
November 12th, 2007 at 9:01 pm
anmol,
sat saria kaal.
i would like to add a few more songs in this chain.
1. mere liye aatihain sham, chanda bhi hai mera gulam ( raton ka Raaja )
2. Phirki waali, tu kal phir ana ( Raja aur rank) when Sanjeev kumar was nascent to the silver screen.
3. ankhiyana sang ankhiya nache nachey ( bada aadmi )
4. khamosh zindagi ko, awaz derahe ho, tutey hue haathon mein kyon saaz de rahe ho… ( Naag mandir )
rafi sahab is just like ‘ mercury’. as all of us know mercury takes the shape of the container in which its poured, and at the same time mercury enhances the value of the container.
and thats the ‘ hypnotic ‘ power of rafi sahab ‘ the great ‘
and thats our rafi sahab the great.
November 12th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
What a wonderful subject. We had all along listened to all the songs listed but had never compiled them so beautifully and never imagined that there are indeed so many of such lovely songs of Rafi Sahab picurised on either small time actors or even unknown actors. Yesterday only we were at a small musical gathering where one of my friends sang the song “MAIN IK RAAJA HOON, TU IK RAANI HAI” and we had all wondered who the actor was on whom the song was picurised. Movies come and go, actors come and go, but the freshness of the song will always remain. Great work of compilation and thought Anmol Singh Ji. It was enchanting reading the same. Keep digging out such stuff in future too.
November 12th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Mr. Anmol Singh your title “Rafi with Unknown Personalities” insists to read the article after many days a real articles came on screen, very nice you focused an untouched side of our beloved Rafi Saab. We appreciate you imagination Keep it up
zaka_7@yahoo.com
November 12th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Dear Anmol Ji,
Good researched article. Thanks for the information. I would like to add two solid gems in the same category. The song “Hai Bas Ke Har Ek Unke….” and a qawalli “Aayen Hain Isi Umeed Pe Hum…” from the film Mirza Ghalib. Both were picturised on unknown personalities.
Even during the making of the film Wardat, Mithun Chakraborty was also a new comer and Rafi Sahab eagerly agreed to sing for him when another singer had refused to sing for him. But later when Mithun rose to fame, the same singer agreed to sing for him. We need not use the words to explain Rafi Sahab’s personality, its the happenings that describe so much about him as a good hearted human being.
LONG LIVE RAFI SAHAB !
November 12th, 2007 at 11:36 am
one more song i want to mention is Jaata Hoon Main Mujhe Ab Na Bulana from most probably the film Dadimaa picturised on an unknown actor.
this is a gr888888888888888888 rendition by Rafi sahab on a comparatively flat tune
November 12th, 2007 at 11:34 am
Well done Anmol
After a big gap we are getting some well researched articles from u. Pl add more.
The songs from Sawan Badhon which catapulted Naveen Nischal and Rekha to fame was sung by Rafi saab with support from Ashaji.
Infact most of the compositions of Sonik-Omi,Shyamj-Ghanshyamji were sung by Rafi saab for unknown actors like Baldev Khosla,Anil Dhawan…
Even in R.D.Burman music from the film Raton ka Raja and Adhikar the songs were hit picturised on Dheeeraj Kumar and Bramachari
November 12th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Hello Guru Murthy Ji,
Thanks for the correction. Possibly there could be some more errors, since I haven’t seen the picturization of many songs on unknown personalities. Requesting you and all Rafi fans to highlight such errors.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Dear Anmolji,
You have done a very good job.If we analyse the film music after
mohamed rafi saab’s demise we will feel his real absence.
90% of the preset songs we cannot hear for more than 5 times.
rafi saab was not only singing the songs but acting with his voice for
the actor as well as for the situation.this is a rare ability for any type of
performance in the world.mohamed rafi saab sung a hindi song for a malayalam movie “thaliritta kinakkal” and in the screen it was “kuthira
vattam pappu” a comedian who could get rafi saabs blessings while
rafi saab performed a stage programme in calicut.
November 12th, 2007 at 10:14 am
really a good observation anmol bhai..
November 12th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Mr. Anmol Singhji,
“Bapu Ki Ye Amar Kahani” is not a film song but a private song written by Rajendra Krishen and sung by Rafi after the demise of Mahatma Gandhi.
November 12th, 2007 at 7:35 am
Nice analysis,Anmol !
Keep it up.
November 12th, 2007 at 6:32 am
dear anmolsing ji great article well researched article in fact rafisaab was main choice for debut actors if they need to became popular there was no other choice other than rafisaabs voice in fact i would like add song from cid leke pehla pehla pyar rafisaab gave voice for character actor omprakash ji in many films
November 12th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Rafi Saheb’s voice is Nation’s voice. The legend’s magic voice suited each and every actor whether an “A” grade or “C” grade. rafimagic@gmail.com
November 12th, 2007 at 5:20 am
Thanks Anmol for giving us valuable information about Rafi Saab’s performance and also thanks to the organisers of this website who try to give fresh details about great singer’s era.