The emotional songs of Rafi
This article is written by Mr. A.S.Murty
Mohd. Rafi has sung songs in very different moods. Some of these songs have so much emotion and depth in them that one is inclined to believe that they were actually written and composed for Mohd. Rafi himself. One would tend to forget the characters for whom the song may have been picturised. For those of us who have seen such movies, we would have been carried away by the emotion ourselves, leaving an indelible mark in our memories for all time to come. For those who may not have seen the actual picturisation itself, it would seem that Mohd. Rafi has sung the song with his heart out. To quote only a few examples of the highly emotional songs, I would not go very very far.
In fact mid sixties and mid seventies present a host of such songs from films of all makes – directors, actors, musicians et el. In Ek Phool Do Maali for example, songs like Oh Nanhe se Farishtey Tujhse Yeh Kaisa Naata have surcharged emotions of a father’s love for his son. These are not romantic songs yet are so melodiously composed and sung that they sometimes tend to become a part of our lives. They are neither sad songs nor comic ones. Usually romantic, comic or sad songs become popular with masses, but songs of above elk have the magical powers to convey the emotional feel of humans. Another song is the vidaai song – Babul ki duvayen leti jaa jaa tujhko sukhi sansaar mile - from the film Neelkamal. Here again although sung in a very sad tone, it is actually a emotional song for a father’s love for his daughter who will be leaving his house to go and spend the rest of her life with her husband. Though the situation depicts the father to be sad that his daughter will be leaving him and that he indeed cannot help it, he is also happy that she is married to a righteous man and will be happy for the rest of her life in her new surroundings. The sobbing song was sung in such great depth by Mohd. Rafi that it went on to become one of the all time hits and is played by the music bands in weddings in India even to this day.
Yet another song that I had wanted to mention is of a different genre altogether. In the film HAATHI MERE SAATHI, all except one song were sung by Kishore Kumar. They all went on to become instant hits. But there is one song sung by Mohd. Rafi – NAFRAT KI DUNIYA KO CHHOD KE PYAR KI DUNIYA MEIN – which needs special mention here. Once again, though a very sad song on the death of a dearest friend (Ramu – the elephant), the song depicts the heroics of the beast and also the bond and attachment between the true friends. It poses pertinent questions on the humans’ attitude towards animals. If Kishore Kumar had suited so very well for Rajesh Khanna, why then this song was in Mohd. Rafi’s voice ? This was because only Mohd. Rafi could have swung into such emotional tone.
Then there is a pathos song – Main tooti huyi ik naiyya hun mujhe chahe jidhar le jaao – from the film AADMI. This song again narrates the utter helplessness of a lame whose world has changed. So much so that he realizes that his lady love maybe having second thoughts about him and is only giving him the overt company which the society demands. The pun, the saga of bitterness and the unusually bold statements that the song makes gives one the impression that only a genius could compose such emotionally packed song. And who else could sing it other than Mohd. Rafi? No singer of that era could even think of the multifarious notes of recital that have gone into the composition. Naushad may have exploited Rafi the fullest like no other music director did, but Mohd. Rafi had more than anyone else contributed to Naushad’s rise as the numero uno among music directors of that period.
One can go on and on in this never ending fairly tale description of Mohd. Rafi’s uniqueness. The above are only given as a few examples and there are many more that readers would like to add. The only point, however, that I had intended to make and which most readers would agree is that Mohd. Rafi put his SOUL into the songs that he rendered. And none can challenge the fact that this gifted was indeed a Godsend to planet earth and its emotional humans. I shall come back next time with another side of Mohd. Rafi and hope to do it a few more times with different moods of Mohd. Rafi – GAYIKI KA SHAHANSHAH.
April 14th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Dear Fans and music lovers,
For me the pillars of Saptaswaras were created by Naushad,Shanker Jaikishen,O.P.Nayyar,Madan Mohan,S.D.Burman,Lakshmikant Pyarelal and Roshan. All the 7 together with Rafi Sahab gave us the maximum number of hits in the 40s 50s and 60s.
These were followed by Kalyanji Anandji,R.D.Burman,Ravi,Chithragupt,Usha Khanna and others who gave us icing on the Foundtion Cake.
We friends used to watch movies to hear Rafi sahabs songs and its picturisation and not on the basis of actors.
P.narayanan
April 13th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Dear Hussein and all Rafi lovers (Rafians)
Right. Very Right. Pl. do not compare Mohd Rafi and Kishor Kumar.
Enjoy the good music while writing on our favourite singers.
As I always feel Rafi Saab is incomparable. No comparison. You
can’t compare the SUN with the stars………
binu nair
binus2000@hotmail.com
April 13th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Sirs, let me frankly tell you that Rafi Saheb and KK cannot be compared at all! Rafi Saheb was much talented even more than Lata, so KK was too behind in talent to Rafi Saheb. Remember that in an interview of KK, he had said that he believed in 3 singers only being [1] Rafi Saheb, [2] Lata and [3] K.L. Saigal!! KK had 3 photos each of Rafi Saheb, Lata and K.L. Saigal in his personal room.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Sir Binus 2000
as u said that KK was good singer I agree with u that but there are many singer they are better than KK.
when we go to cinema to see a flim at the end of flim we see THE END it is same in music world when Mohd Rafi went it mean THE END of music.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Hussein ji,
Some songs of KK are really good. Some were not music to the ears;
Kishore Kumar regarded Rafi Saab as his G U R U AND would
ofter tell producers/composers to give a particular song to R A F I
Saab. This is stated to me by atleast two Composers.
I respect KK and enjoy some of his great songs. KK was a natural
singer but he had limitations in his vocal range whereas Rafi saab
was a trained professional singer - whom the G O D S had sent
only for the purpose of singing which he did up till the last
moment of his life. He left us when he was in top form creating
great works of arts, which would be remembered and prized for
CENTURIES together.
binu nair binus2000@hotmail.com
April 12th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Frankly speaking, I cannot tolerate Ki[shor]e Kumar’s voice, but Rafi Saheb songs the whole of my life. Mukesh was ok in some songs.
April 12th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
SUSHIL SAYS
MY LIST
MUSIC DIRECTORS:- SHANKAR JAIKISHAN, LAXMIKANT PYARELAL,
KALYANJI ANANDJI, S.D. & R.D.BURMAN &
MADAN MOHANJI.
LYRICIST :- SHAILENDRA, HASRAT JAIPURI, ANAND
BAKSHI,SAHIR LUDHIANVI.
ACTORS : AMITABH BACHHAN,SANJEEV KUMAR & AAMIR KHAN,
ACTRESS : MADHUBALA, MADHURI DIXIT & SRIDEVI.
SINGERS : MOHD RAFI SAHAB, LATA MANGESHKAR, KISHORE
KUMAR & MUKESHJI
REGARDS
RAFI FAN
April 12th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Let me say that, I too have 3 favourites in each catagories :
- Music Directors: Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, Laxmikant-Pyarelal,
- Lyricists: shakeel Badayuni, Sahir Ludhiyanvi, Hasrat Jaipuri,
- Movies: Baiju Bawra, Phool Aur Patthar, Chhotisi Baat,
- Actors: Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Rajendra Kumar,
- Actresses: Meena Kumari, Sharmila Tagore, Madhubala,
- Singers: Mohd. Rafi Saheb, Mohd. Rafi Saheb, Mohd. Rafi.
Can’t even think of other singers other than Rafi Saheb.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
DEAR UNKNOW 1
SHANKAR JAIKISHAN HAD IMMENSE TALENT WHICH WAS NOTICED BY SHREE RAJ KAPOORJI IN HIS FATHERS PRITHVI THEATRE.HE WAS GOOD AT SELECTING TALENTS.
RAJ KAPOORJI HAD ALSO SELECTED SURESH WADKAR AFTER LISTENING TO HIM AT ONE OF THE COLLEGE SHOWS IN MUMABI WHERE HE WENT AS A CHIEF GUEST AND SIGNED HIM FOR PREM ROG.
WHILE SHANKAR WAS GOOD AT COMPOSING CLASSICAL TUNES LIKE TUNES OF BASANT BAHAR JAIKISHAN WAS GOOD AT COMPOSING LIGHTER MUSIC LIKE SHREE 420 ETC.
IT DID NOT AFFECT THE LEGENDS AS THEY WERE MAESTROS OF MUSIC.EVEN THE SONGS SUNG BY SUMAN KALYANPUR IN RAJKUMAR AND SHARDA LIKE “CHALE JANA JARA THEHRO KISI KA DUM NIKALTA HAI ” GOES TO SHOW HOW GREAT COMPOSERS THEY WERE.THEY UNDERSTOOD THE LIMITATIONS OF THE SINGER AND COMPOSED WITHOUT DISTURBING THE BASIC THING I.E.MELODY.THERE IS A LOT THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT SJ.
REGARDS
RAFI FAN
April 11th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
Dear fans
I think SHANKAR JAIKISHAN they are the best also there are other great like Naushand,Madan Mohan,O P Nayar,SD,LP but I think SJ is the best but no one speak honestly about greatest SJ but they made RD the best!!!!!!!!!!!!?there are many who speak about the greatness of Mohd Rafi but I hope there should people speak about the greatness of SJ also.Singer like Late Ji she said that will not sing for SJ but SJ was hit without Lata ji.why people don’t speak about SJ because they was not good with Lata ji and Asha Ji and they made RD the great!!!!!!!!!!
April 11th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Sir sangeetvishwa,
as u know and
April 11th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
SUSHIL SAYS
TO ALL RAFI FANS
I ALAWAYS BELEIVE THAT GOD HAD SENT SPECIAL PEOPLE LIKE RAFISAHAB ON THIS EARTH TO DO A PARTICULAR JOB AND WHEN
THE JOB IS COMPLETED HE JUST TAKES THEM AWAY. SOMETIMES
THE LIVES OF GRAET LEGENDS LIKE RAFISAHAB IS NOT JUST THEIRS BUT THEY ARE BORN TO SERVE MILLIONS OF FANS OUT THERE.
THANKS TO THE LEGEND FOR THE LEGACY HE HAS LEFT BEHIND FOR MUSIC LOVERS LIKE US.
OTHER LEGENDS WHOM I SALUTE
MY PERSONAL FAVOURITES - M.D. LAXMIKANT OF THE HIT LP JODI
SANGEET SAMRATS M.D. SHANKAR JAIKISHAN -
THE FIRST JODI WHO CHANGED THE FACE OF INDIAN MUSIC TO THE COMMERCIAL LEVEL.
I REMEMBER LAXMIKANT SAYING IN HIS INTERVIEW “SHANKAR JAIKISHAN NE JO KUWA KHODA AAJ SAB M.D. USISE PANI BHAR
RAHE HE”. THE INITAL PERIOD OF L-P RESEMBLED A LOT TO S-J.
REGARDS
RAFI FAN.
April 11th, 2007 at 2:02 am
Sangeetvishwa ji..
Indeed right. Mr.Ashok Khare a true Rafian and a great singer
who gives great performances on stage. I have not heard him
hence its my loss..
Sunil Menon and Chiragh from Mumbai are also great singers
from Mumbai who sing Rafi numbers and one can notice encore
requests from audiences many a times.
binu nair Rafi Music Academy binus2000@hotmail.com
April 10th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I would like to say that Rafi saab has sung songs of every genre with such great emotion that pointing out just his non romantic numbers for does not seem fair. Definitely, sometimes his voice appears to be on the brink of crying…it is hard to imagine how he could infuse such great feelings into his bhajans, patriotic songs, light numbers and of course- his forte: romantic songs. Truly, he was and will be the greatest.
April 10th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
SUSHIL SAYS
RAFISAHAB HAS SUNG MORE THAN 27000 SONGS IN HIS WHOLE CAREER
AND THAT TO AT A TIME WHEN THERE WERE RELATIVELY LESS FILMS BEING PRODUCED WHICH ITSELF SPEAKS OF THE GREATNESS OF THIS MAESTRO.
THE LIST IS ENDLESS.
TO BINUS 2000
THERE IS ONE MORE SINGER WHO IS A DIE HARD RAFI BHAKT.HE IS A PROFESSOR IN GOVT COLLEGE IN MUMBAI (VJTI). HE DOES TWO SHOWS
EVERY YEAR ONE ON RAFISAHABS BIRTHDAY AND OTHER ON HIS DEATH ANNIVERSARY AND WE NEED NOT TELL THAT THE SHOW IS A BIG HIT EVERY YEAR.HIS NAME IS PROF.ASHOK KHARE.
HE DID HIS FIRST SHOW AT SHANMUKHANAND HALL AT MATUNGA ON 31ST JULY 1981 AND I WAS THERE TO SEE IT AT THE AGE OF 11.
SUCH WAS THE CRAZE THAT EVEN AT THAT TENDER AGE OF 11 THAT I COULD FEEL THE LOSS OF RAFISAHAB.
REGARDS
RAFI FAN
April 10th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Dear fans and music lovers,
Excellent article Murthy sir.
In fact shall I add few more songs which are highly touching n emotional
All the songs of film Dosthi, Shabab, Uran Khatola, Deedar,Dulari,Mere Mehboob.
I LIKED PARTICULARLY THE SONG ‘ TUKDE HAI MERE DIL KE’ FROM THE FILM MERE SANAM. WHAT AN EXCELLENT PATHOS IN RAFI SAHABS VOICE N NAYYAR SAHABS MUSIC. THEN ANOTHER GEM FROM JOHNNY WALKER ‘GARIBI JANTHE HAI’ FROM THE SAME COMBO.
I ALSO FULLY AGREE WITH MEHTAB THE SO CALLED CURRENT ARTISTES CANNOT MENTION THE NAME OF THE GREATEST SINGER OF THIS PLANET AS THEY CANNOT EVEN MAKE AN EFFORT TO SING THE MAESTROS SONGS.
YES BINU ALONG WITH THE SINGERS WHO CATER TO OUR RAFI MANIA PUBLIC IN THE COUNTRY THERE IS ONE MORE SINGER BY NAME DR SALIM FROM BLORE WHO EXPERTLY TRIES TO SING THE DIFFICULT SONG OF RAFI SAHAB AND IS VERYPOPULAR HERE.
April 10th, 2007 at 6:46 am
To add a few more emotional songs by RAFI SAHAB Aaj ki raat mere dil ki salami lealy. Apni to har aah ek tufaan hey. Aaj purani rahoon se koi mujhe awaaz na de. Hum to chale pardes hum pardesi ho gaey. Mean zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya. & many more. javifazl@yahoo.com
April 9th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
great job sir,
if we speak about the list of Mohd Rafi songs there is end.
Who can give me one song which is not singed by MOhd Rafi from his heart.
April 9th, 2007 at 8:33 am
To add a few more emotional songs by Rafi.
Na Kissi Ki Aankh Ka Noor Hun
Taqdeer Ka Fassana
Yaad Na Jaaye Beete Dino Ki
Sathi Na Koi Mazil
Mai Ye Sooch Kar Uske Dar Se Utha Tha
Aap Ke Pehloo Mein Akar Ro Diye
Es Bhari Duniya Mein Apnon Ka Sahara Na Hua
Raha Gurdishon Mein Har Dum
Teri Galiyon Mein
Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat Kisse Pesh Karon
Tere Kuche Mein Armano Ki Duniya
Kahaan Ja Raha Hai Tu E Jane Waale
& Many more
April 9th, 2007 at 12:02 am
A very well written article with great insight. I would like to add the songs of film ‘Dosti’ to this list. All of these gems are sung by Rafi saab in such a mesmerising and straight from the heart voice….they score very very very, high on the emotional scales.
Well, actually Rafi saab’s voice is in itself so expressive, he conveys the emotions expressed in the lyrics so effectively, that the genre of the song becomes irrelevant. Rafi is close to what people call GOD
April 8th, 2007 at 1:21 am
Great article Thanks to Mr.A.S.Murty.
April 7th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
This article by Mr. A.S. Murty is very well written and I agree with him. There are plenty of Rafi Saheb’s songs which no other singers would have able to sing. Rafi Saheb was a complete singer, he gave same emotions to each and every song he sang as wanted by music directors. All the music directors were 100% satisfied with Rafi Saheb’s crooning.
Hussein Sheikh, Bujumbura, Burundi, Central Africa
hussssssein@yahoo.com
April 7th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Rafian MEHTAB well said….
May I add herein that CLASS is PERMANENT and FORM temporary…
Like someone said it’s very difficult to sing Rafi saabs songs - which
is only true…
I have heard few young singers sing Rafi songs and they do a neat
job out of it like Fahad from Calicut, Rana Chaterjee, Sreekant,
Anil Vajpayee, Menon from Mumbai and Mohd. Hanif from Bangalore.
There are many others who are carrying the flame ahead …….AND
the audiences hunger for Rafi songs continue unabated….. in any
stage show…..
April 7th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THE FOLLOWING SONGS TO THE LIST.
1. ‘MERI AWAAZ SUNO’ FROM “NAUNIHAL”.
2. ‘NANNE MUNNE BACHCHE’ FROM “BOOT POLISH”.
3. ‘TUMHARE HAI TUMSE’ FROM “BOOT POLISH”.
4. ‘SUNLE TU DILKI SADA’ FROM “TERE GHAR KE SAMNE”.
5. ‘DEKHI ZAMANE KI YAARI’ FROM “KAGAZ KE PHOOL”.
6. ‘YE MEHLO YE TAKHTO’ FROM “PYAASA”.
7. ‘JINHE NAAZ HAI’ FROM “PYAASA”.
8. ‘TANG AA CHUKE HAI’ FROM “PYAASA”.
9. ‘AE MERE DIL YAHAN TU AKELA NAHI’ FROM “PAGLA KAHIN KA”.
10. ‘ZINDAGI MUZHKO DIKHADE RAASTA’ FROM “SAANJ AUR SAVERA”.
WELL, THE LIST CAN GO ON AND ON.
April 7th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
All Respected Fans of Rafi Sahib,
As we all know that now we are able to write or present hundreds of thesis (for Ph. D. or D. Lit.) upon the depth of Rafi Sahib’s singing art, his all time favourite and melodious, inimitable, immemorable, incomparable voice, his saint like behaviour. Mr. A. S. Murty has also touched an aspect out of hundreds of aspects of Mohd. Rafi the Great. His art is as deep in its sense as it is the highest in the world. Rafi Sahib is even today like such a lever that can easily move the Earth. The Great Artists of today’s Bollywood like Udit Narayan & Sonu Nigam feel and accept before the whole world. But some inexperienced & so-called singers nowadays are afraid of taking the name of Rafi Sahib during their stage performances. Actually, they have some phobia of Rafi Sahib because they don’t have the capacity to access the depths and heights of Rafi Sahib. We can feel pity of such so-called artists, who are numerous in numbers today. They will repeat the names of all other contemporaries of Rafi Sahib but would not name Rafi Sahib himself. A layman feels very bad about such artists. I don’t want to take the names of those artists, you all surely know their names.
Such so-called artists’ lobby was active even during the period of Rafi Sahib. He also knew about them but he never complained. He was devoted only to music and he rarely thought about such handful people. Such people made impediments in the way of Dada Sahib Phalke or Bharat Ratna Awards to be conferred to Rafi Sahib but the whole Universe like Rafi Sahib even after the almost 27 years of his death. Rafi Sahib is immortal and will remain forever. Such so-called singers have not any recognition at all even after the 5 to 15 years of their careers. They ‘ll perish into their own destiny but Rafi Sahib shall always shine like the rising Sun.
–MEHTAB (Chandigarh) +919815703226, mehtabmasih@yahoo.co.in