Some Rare Diamonds of Rafi Saab - 5
This article is written by Mr. B.Venkatadri
(Rafi & Suman Kalyanpur - A Compatible Pair) Rafi Saab’s duets with Suman Kalyanpur have one unique characteristic. Both the singers seem to be completely at ease with each other, for Suman Kalyanpur always knew and accepted that she was singing with a distinctly superior male singer. This was so unlike the Rafi-Lata recordings, wherein the high ego of Lata often used to make the recording room intensely tense!
The humble and pliable Suman Kalyanpur was willing to learn the song from the MD and even from Rafi Saab and always fell in line, like Rafi Saab, with the MD’s conception of the song. Hence, Rafi Saab could bring out his own best without having to compromise to the whims of the female singer. With Suman, for him, there was no modifying of his own scale or making a forced later entry after the female singer or having to give up some of his unique vocal sangats, etc.!
Suman Kalyanpur and Rafi Sahab with Hasrat and Jaikishan on harmonium
Today, let us discuss three excellent, but somewhat rare, duets of this pair.
1.“Aap Ne Huzur Mujhe Kya Se Kya Banaa Diya—Meherbaani, Meherbaani”—Film:Fariyaad(1964)—Lyrics:Kedar Sharma–MD:Snehal Bhatkar
2.”Tere Hum, O Sanam, Tu Jahan Main Wahan, Suraj Tu, Zara Main, Tu Kahan, Main Kahan”—Film:Bachpan(1963)—Lyrics:Hasrat Jaipuri–MD:Sardar Malik
3.”Mujhe Yeh Phool Na De, Tujh Ko Dilbari Ki Kasam, Yeh Kuch Nahin, Tere Honto Ki Taazgi Ki Kasam”—Film”Ghazal(1964)—Lyrics:Sahir Ludhianvi–MD:Madan Mohan
1. Snehal Bhatkar is the lesser-known MD who scored some great music for films such as ‘Hamaari Yaad Aayegi(1961)’ and Chhabili(1959/60).
Some of us may be knowing the great Mukesh solo, “Farishthon Ki Nagari Me Main Aa Gaya Hoon” from Film:Hamaari Yaad Aayegi. Also the title song of this film by Mubarak Begum.
Similarly, Chhabili(1959/60) has the very nice solo, “Ae Mere Humsafar, Rok Apni Nazar”, sung by none other than Nutan herself!
Now, coming to our first Rafi-Suman duet of today from Film:Fariyad(1964), it goes thus: “Aap Ne Huzur Mujhe Kya Se Kya Banaa Diya - Meherbaani, Meherbaani”. This duet was picturised on Ashok Sharma and Zeb Rehmaan.
The song has, at once, utmost melody and catchy rhythm. Renditions of both the singers are of top quality. Whenever I listen to this duet, I go back to my final schooling days! Listen and enjoy. “Aap Ne Huzur Mujhe—Meherbaani”
2.The next Rafi-Suman duet for today is the one from Film:Bachpan(1963) composed by the highly talented Sardar Malik. You can drift into a beautiful trance while listening to this melody! It goes thus: “Tere Hum O Sanam, Tu Jahan Main Wahan”. Listen, enjoy and comment
3.The last one is from the 1964 film, Ghazal, starring Sunil Dutt and Meena Kumari. Meena Kumari is offering a mere flower to Sunil Dutt and as he is not satisfied, he is telling her “Mujhe Yeh Phool Na De, Tujh Ko Dilbari Ki Qasam, Yeh Kuch Nahin, Tere Honton Ki Taazgi Ki Qasam” What great lyrics by Sahir Saab!
This duet is a semi-classical composition by Madan Mohan and is one of the many duets of Madan Mohan wherein he clearly chose Rafi Saab and gave up even his favorite Lata, during that ‘dispute’ period! But, I have no regrets as Suman did utmost justice.
I just love the divine way Rafi Saab says the word “Qasammmmmm” during all the Mukhdas! And, further, see how he keeps making subtle variations to that “Qasammmmm” each time!
Please do listen and enjoy.
Finally, as all the three are great songs, please listen to each at least two times to obtain true enjoyment!
Shall be grateful for comments.
April 28th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Hi venkatadriji ,
You may be correct, there is no second openion about Rafi sahab as a good human being. His inoscent smile tells everything. But still I do not belive that Lata was uncomfortable with Rafi sahab. I have seen their photographs together during recording. They are rehersing, taking tea and laughing together; that’s why their duets are most beautiful duets compaired to other pairs.
My question is why should we bother about her behaviour ? we do not have any rite to rate her as a human being. When we identify someone’s drawback we should remember that those drawbacks are within us too!
That’s why I say , those who write an article on some artist ; mention only about his contribution rather than dragging some other artist.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Meenu Ji,
I am the author of this article responding. I do have high respect for Lataji as a very great and divine singer (though I find Asha Ji never second to Lataji)!
In fact, I heartily enjoy the rarest of Lataji’s rare songs too. Only this morning, I was playing again and again this very rare and beautiful Lata solo from Film:Sardar(1955)–MD:Sursagar Jagmohan–”Pyaar Ki Yeh Talkhiyan, Jo Na Kehe Sakoo, To Main Kya karoon”!
But, I also do believe that Lataji was never comfortable with this greatest phenomenon called Mohammed Rafi. This was indeed at the root of her blatantly abnormal behaviour in relation to Rafi Saab.
You said that no one ever says one wrong word about Lata Ji in Radio/TV interviews. But, knowing Lata Ji and her continuing clout in the Industry, is it surprising?
But, while no one says a bad word about her, equally, no one ever praises her as a person, definitely not whole-heartedly! Compare this with what people say on TV/Radio about Rafi Saab 30 years after his death, when he can no longer listen to any of those comments! People so passionately praise Rafi Saab’s virtues, his greatness not only as a singer but as a human being.
Regards,
Venkat
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:28 am
Meenu ji : post 37…..
u must know that the senior-most singer had booked the recording studios continuously for three years and every one was at her mercy for a recording. this fact u many never be able to - refute. the younger sister gave a statement saying : when your own family person keeps u at home, why talk about others; this was some time in 1964.
we all do mistakes; lata too did it by promoting suman for a song (this is not independently proved) up till now.
but read gopal sharmas book, he has unfolded incidents as it happened in the film music industry. i will send a copy to u. mr.sharma is the ex radio jockey of ceylon radio who used to play at 7.57 a.m. the k.l.saighal song by which people used to adjust their watch - everyday.
some facts can be distorted but ‘truth’ can never be buried. however, i admire your courage in defending the indefensible.
binu nair. mumbai.
April 21st, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Hi Rajnath ,
your comment -
For male singing its very often we can find many singers used by various md for various artists. but in female singing its vary rare due to only lata….
my comment -
I can list many female Contemporary singers of LATA
Start from Suman Kalyanpur
Shama chittaar (suman’s yourger sister Jeevan chalne ka naam fame film shor)
Sudha Malhotra (Sudha Morwani same)
Meenu puroshottam
Sharda
Usha trimoti
Krishna kalle
Gita dutta
samshaad begum
Mubarak begum
Surayya
Sulaxana pandit
Hemlata
Vani jairam
Madubala zaveri
S. Janki
P. Susheela
Kanchan
Runa laila
salma agha
pushpa pagdhare
Hemanti sukhla and many more …….
Late 80’s when Lata was singing with force
Alka
Anuradha
Alisha
Purnima
Kavita
Sadhan sargam
Arti mukharjee
Your comment -
Sometimes lata gave her voice to two or more heroine in one movie, rafi Sahab & kishore doesn’t have this type of mentality.
My comment - It was Music directors and Producer’s choice not Lata’s.
In old movies Rafi sahab used to give his voice to hero as well as commedian line Jony walker , he as given his voice to Kishore kumar too. What will you say about this ?
Your comments-
Many stories will comes out after her death…..until….we have to wait.
My comments -
I feel pity for your low mentality. People bless her to live long life and you are waiting for her death. Very sad.
Stories are comming nowitself… we can read in various forums , articles but those are masala added stories.
That will not make any difference to she as well as her fans. Her fans are not only common man but great singers of today’s generation.
April 21st, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Hi Friends ,
Music directors choosed Suman over Lata ; it was sheer compramise. If Milk is not available then one has to adjust with butter milk. But Music directores gave solo songs in same film (in which Rafi sahab and Suman sung duet ) to only Lata.
Aji rooth kar aba kaha ja yea ga… (shankar jaikisen ) only Lata can do justice to this kind of songs not Suman. Suman’s voice is soft and melodious but monotonus. I never heard ‘Dil wil pyar wyar..’ or ‘Aa jaane ja..’ kind songs from Suman. She was like Mukesh, in every song she sounds similar.
She sound similar to Lata in only old songs later her voice changed.
Those who are regular listerners can easily make the difference in Lata and suman’s voice. Lata was having challange from only her sister Asha.
Listen - Allah karam karna.. from DADA,
Naa jane kaise from Badlate rishte
Main point - There was a downfall in every singer;s life but it never happend with LATA. She was constantly in demand. Today’s new generation MDs also wants to work with her but due her age problem it is not possible.
So any no of articles written to degrade LATA will not help !
Whatever she has achived will remain with her and nobody can snatch from her. This kind of articles or forums probably poison people’s mind to some extent but whenever they will listen LATA’s spritiual voice they all will bow their head with respect !!!
April 17th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Dear Binus2000,
great personalities should be
the “least” selfish people as they are ” microspically judged”.
Yes that’s why Lata gave Suman her carrier’s first song which she rehersed with Mohmad shafi. She recomended Suman’s name for many songs. Suman was the regular vistor to Lata’s house.
She constructd the well equiped hospital in pune not for personal benifit.
After recording she used to ask the doorekeepr that how he felt about the song ? There was never a tense atomsphere as she herself was a great mimic with good sense of humer. Rafisahab used to say ‘Aaj bara brikaa mukabla hai ‘ whenever there was duet with Lata.
When lata went to perform in Albert hall, she recognized one of the chorus singer (who sung in chorus and she met lata after 30 years gap ) , her enimies try to spoil her image saying she is arrogant.
One more thing I observed , whenever the old singers they give interview either on radio or on TV they never say single word against LATA, either they do not have courge or all the alligations are baseless.
People did’t even spare GOD , Lata afterall is a human being.
One thing I want to tell everyone. Love LATA for her work , because she did full justice to her work. Her work is only reaching to the common man and not her behaviour. If ever she misbeheaved with someone then we need to check the behaviour of that person too !
Hum ye nahi bol sakte kee waha dudh ka dhula tha !
April 5th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Art of living - course of sri ravi shankar should have been done by
some singers it’s felt. truth always hurts and maa saraswathi must
have all the great “qualities” of Maa and saraswathi - which sadly
is not the case.
i say this as reports emanating from the recording studios and personal
anecdotes say things which i cannot “report” here.
compare this with rafi ji : who learnt “the art of living” right from the
age of six from a wandering baba . rafi ji imbibed these in to his
daily life and immortalised himself - during his lifetime, itself.
very aptly the times of india group and the hindustan times voted
rafi - ji as one among the 50 top indian movers and shakers list;
last august 15 independence day issue.
truth can be hurting meenu ji and great personalities should be
the “least” selfish people as they are ” microspically judged”.
binu nair.. rafi foundation….mumbai, : binus2000@hotmail.com
April 5th, 2008 at 12:22 am
Meenu ji,
While I don’t condone unnecessary Lata bashing (as is often the case) - there are times when we must speak the truth and not sweep everything under the rug for the sake of political correctness / image. At such times the truth isn’t always pleasant.
April 4th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Hi Aseerji ,
I visited your website about Rafi-sahab. It would have been really good to read about the the great Rafi Sahab ; if you would have only mentioned about his contribution in music, how good human being he was etc. but you constantly did mud-slinging on Lata to prove his greatness. In fact ,many visitors in that site are anti-lata. Whatever Narayanji is written is wrong but you too are equally sick !!
Who are you to write ill about Maa Sarswati - Lata ? How can you compare male voice with female ?
The fact she left all her Contemporary singers far behind. Success creates more enimies than friends.
Don’t foeget out of hundred if there are 5 abusers then 95 are supporters of LATA.
March 4th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Simply marvelous Venkatadri sahab, for the selection of these songs which though coming under the rare category are pure magical intonations. the third song from the film ghazal is a very top order song and cannot be sung in ‘that’ attitude by any singer other than those actually singing it - rafi sahab and suman kalyanpur. i had seen the movie long long back and i remember all the other song but not this one and it is a gem of a song. the other songs mentioned in your piece too are master strokes but the song “mujhe yeh phool na de” takes the cake. it was heavenly to hear the song.
February 11th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
well friends pl do not copare me with one Narayan who has started another controversy,
Iam out n out Rafi saab’s poojari and consider him as the best in the bollywood playback singing followed by others.
can any one precisly inform me as which were the years Rafi saab n Lataji did not sing?
Is it 1964,65,66 ?
pl comment
February 11th, 2008 at 10:07 am
about lata ji:
pleasse read what two senior musicians told me re: lata didi;
on recording days : when lata would not arrive, they would be
in fear.
she would “not” call the studio of her not coming; she will send
her driver with the “non-availability” message.
the musician would “lose” their wages and the producer his money
for the day….
binu nair….. mumbai.
February 10th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
@ sanjay ji ref. post 25
watching her own back and watching someone’s progress over the shoulder requires similar physical movement but they are poles apart in intention i guess.
Lata ji was greatest in front of the mike but IMHO off the mike probably the meanest.
u shud have read the article to understand why i reached this conclusion although stand to be corrected.
the best in quality shudnt fear losing the numero uno spot to anyone, in case she was losing ground to suman ji proved that her supremacy was challenged. many more points I can raise but i wud like to devote that time to listening Rafi sahab, including his duets with lata as on the mike they are one of the best couple ever.
regards
February 10th, 2008 at 4:48 am
mohammad rafi, lata and mukesh live programme in london.would u plz upload this programme.i will be thankfull to u.
February 8th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Lata was always jealous with singers like Suman Kalyanpur, Vani Jairam and few others. She cannot be compared to Rafi Saheb. I agree to Mr. Rajnath Singhji’s post # 23.