This article is written by Mr. H.V.Guru Murthy

Recently there were two articles in the web site on romantic songs of Rafiji. Ms. Chandni in the issue of 25th December, 2007 had written about the NISHAAN song “Haye Tabassum Tera” and Ms. Asha on March 5th, 2008 had written about “Ishq Ke Garmiye” from GAZAL, especially for ‘Ishq Karnewalon Ke Liye’. How true, in those days wooing was done with Rafiji’s songs unlike these days with SMS, mobile / telephone, e-mail, etc. Whenever any one fell for some body, if he were bold enough, he would always praise his sweetheart with a romantic song of Rafi Saab in most of the cases and even the lady would have been too glad to be praised with such melodious songs.

Apart from the two songs mentioned in the two articles, there are umpteen number of songs of Rafiji, where in the lady is appreciated for her beauty and good nature in good poetry and sweet and melodious voice.

Take for example, “Apni Aankhon Me Basakar”, where Baldev Khosla is full of appreciation for Alka in the movie THOKAR. If any body remembers these two actors, mostly it will be because of this particular song. How nicely the song relates that the hero wants to have his heroin in her eyes and wants to lover her totally, instead of all the pleasure in life, the hero wants only a smile from his beloved, sitting in front he wants to sing her beauty, he is ready to promise that he will not leave her and ready to exchange all his happiness with her unhappiness, simple but meaningful lyrics but elevated by Rafiji’s rendering. Rafi Saab, Jee Me Aata Hai Ke Jee Bhar Ke Aapke Ganon Ko Pyaar Karun.

Another popular song in those days was “Khuda Bhi Aasaman Se” from DHARTI picturised on Rajendra Kumar and Waheeda Rehaman. The hero says that angels would be wandering where the heroine is, kissing every place wherever she is putting her feet, and only the person knows what is going on in his mind. The maker himself is astonished after seeing the picture of the lady, some times he must be feeling jealous himself (perhaps because his creation has become more popular than the maker) and some times, he must be feeling happy (because he is the maker of the beauty).. Beautiful lyrics, nicely picturised by Southern Director Sridhar and one of the best romantic songs sung by Rafiji.

“Jaane Bahar Husna” (PYAAR KIYA TO DARNA KYA) narrates how the hero feels that he is lucky to have his lady love, he will not even allow the sun rays to touch her. Picturised on the Rafi hero Shammi Kapoor, the heroine of the song was the Southern Actress B.Sarojadevi.

In “Prem Patra” (SANGAM), the lady is compared to Ganga and Jamuna, but not to Sun and Moon as Sun has fire and Moon has stain and even after death, the soul would cry waiting for the lady love. “Ae Jaane Bahara Rooh Ae Chaman” is another wonderful song of Rafiji where the lady love is told that she will shine better and become more beautiful if she comes to the hero and is called Khabon Ke Gagan Ki Shehazadi. “Husnase Chaand Bhi” (DOOR KI AWAAZ) praises the eyes dipped in love seeing which even Gods will stray, not to mention of ordinary human bweeings, without taking anything, he is feeling intoxicated. Also says that whenever she smiles, it is spring, wherever her shadow fell, flowers sprout, etc. etc.

One big song fully attributed to the beauty of a lady was the title song “Mere Mehboob”. Picturised with Rajendra Kumar standing on the stage singing and the beautiful Sadhana in a Burkha, each and every stanza is dipping with love. In fact, SPB in one of the Kannada programs in TV mentioned this song and also sang few lines. Similarly the title song “Chaudavin Ka Chand” on Guru Dutt and WR. Comparing her eyes to Sharab, Zulf to Cloud, her smile to lightning, her face to a blooming lotus in a tank or a Gazal tuned to life, she is the dream of any poet, well, the whole song just puts the listener in a different world and I am sure any lady love would be too pleased to listen to this song from her boy friend. Another perhaps not much popular song but equally good song was “Meri Mohabbat” (JANWAAR). The hero is so full of love and so happy, he says that no body is like her and his eyes have chosen her, the fire which has risen in his heart is like the light to his Manzil or destination. He even says that he would not mind dying if it is on her lap and even after cremation, his love will remain forever.

Other such romantic songs sung by Rafi Sahab include “Boonde Nahin Sitare” (SAAJAN KI SAHELI), “Maine Poocha Chaandase” (ABDULLAH), “Main Kavi Kahin Na Banjaun” (PYAAR HI PYAAR), “Teri Aankhon Ke Siva” (CHIRAAG), “Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin” (GHARANA), “Na Zhatako Zulfase Paani” (SHEHANAI), “Likhe Jo Khat Tuzhe” (KANYADAAN), “Main Nigahen Tere Cheharese” (AAP KI PARCHAYIYAN), “Yeh Jo Chilaman Hai” (MEHABOOB KI MEHENDI), “Baharon Phool Barsao” (SURAJ), “Mana Mere Hasin Sanam” (ADVENTURES OF ROBIBHOOD), “Tere Is Pyaar Ka Shukriya” (AAG AUR DAAG), “Nigahen Na Phero Chal Jayenge Hum”, “O Mere Shahe Khuba” (LOVE IN TOKYO), “Mehabooba Teri Tasaveer” (ISHQ PE ZOR NAHIN), “Nazar Na Lag Jaye” (NIGHT IN LONDON), etc. I am sure our fellow Rafi fans would come out with scores of such songs and freshen our memories. Not only songs, perhaps they can even further elaborate the significance and beauty of all these songs.

Other Singers also came out with hummable romantic numbers like the phone number “Jalte Hain Jiske Liye” (SUJATA) by Talat, “Tum Hi Pukar Lo” (KHAMOSHI) by HK, “Kahan Se Layi” (DIL AUR MOHABBAT) and “Mera Pyaar Woh Hai Ke” (YEH RAAT PHIR NA AAYEGI) both by MK, “Woh Sham Kuch Ajeeb Thi” (KHAMOSHI) and “Chookar Mere Manko” (YAARANA) by KK, “Ae Sanam Jisne Tuzhe” (DEEWANA) and “Tum Jo Hamare, Meeta Na Hote” by Mukesh, etc. etc.

How we wish things were as simple and innocent as they were earlier and we get all those romantic, meaningful and melodious songs. But the fact is neither we have lyricists like Sahir, Shakeel, Kaifi Azmi, Shailendra, Majarooh Sultanpuri, etc. nor we have MDs like Naushad, SJ, OPN, MM, SDB, etc. nor Singers like Mannadey, Hemant, Talat, Mukesh, KK and above all Mohammed Rafi. So, even now we listen to all these old golden songs and enjoy.

My suggestion to all the present day young lovers is to try these old romantic songs on their lady loves and I bet the reaction will be much better and positive. In our days, we were not as bold as you are now-a-days and perhaps, most of us kept our feelings inside though we knew all such romantic songs by heart, but you, young and bold people, can try out this new suggestion. Any lady in real love would like to listen to a good romantic song from her lover boy rather than the remix-pop songs in vogue these days.

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