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.
June 1st, 2007 at 3:27 pm
momd rafi sahib ek kohinoor hain jo samne rehkr b paas nahi hai.main unka fan hoon. unka gana “o duniya k rakhwale”mera best gana hai.i wish ki aane wali pushte b unhe yaad karen
May 5th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Janaab-e-Binus2000-ji,
Aadaab arz hai!
Sab say pehlay tu aap ko khushaamded. Main aap ka tah-e-dil se shukr guzaar hoon for the warm welcome!
Vaise toh Rafi Sahib ka gaya hua har ek zabardast naghma khoobsurat aur dilkash hai. Lekin, Mere liye sirf do naghMae (1) Ye duniyaan, ye mahafil mere kaam kee naheen— from film HEER RANJHA and (2) Rang aur nur ki baraat kise pesh karun — Sahir Ludhiyanvi ka likha, based on Raga: Puria Dhaneshri, Film - GHAZAL are the best.
Also, Soch raha tha is baar Indian Film industry ke baray mein. Mere mutaabik, Baiju Bawra (1952) was the greatest musical film ever made. I was only 10 years old when I first saw it and it made a great impression on me. For me it is still unforgettable and the best. It was a film with a Hindu theme, but three Muslims — Naushadji, Shakeel Badayuni and Mohammad Rafi had a big hand in making it memorable.
Indeed, the team of the four biggest personalities that dominated the three best decades (50s, 60s and 70s) of Indian films were Naushad (Music Director), Shakeel Badayuni (Lyricist), Mohammad Rafi and Dilip Kumar (actor). The first three have passed away and Yusuf Khan Sahib is currently 84 yrs old.
It is very sad to say, but there are no giants left in the industry and the quality of the new products is very diminished. What is happening now in cinema and on TV bears no resemblance to the great and glorious past of Hindi media. I cant even recall any of the songs or the singers names of the last 10 to 15 years. I am saddened by the gradual loss of the good and great. The current mediocre and the downright unskilled personnel in most sectors of the industry leaves no scope for hope.
I have now explored your wonderful site in some detail and it is very nice indeed. Meri jaanib se daad aur mubarak.baad qubool kareN!
Minoo C Dumasia, PhD. Cambridge, UK.
May 4th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
True. Damasia ji …
The golden triangle of lyricists, composer and the singer Mohd.Rafi which is common
to many many songs of the bygone memorable era.
Rafi and Lata are the treasures of the earth but in humaniities and humility, Rafi saab
is miles and miles ahead.
This is the reason why the maestro commands respect, awe and love..
Wecome to this great site…. damasiaji…
binus2000@hotmail.com
May 4th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Awards are just a token of appreciation of a persons ability. It makes him feel good when he is alive and if given posthumously makes his relatives and friends feel proud. The legend that was Rafi Sahab will live on long after we all are gone, irrespective of awards.
As a playback singer, his talent was his ability to mimic and project his voice singing to the varied situations in different films. As many people have said above, he sang filmi, non-filmi songs in various languages, qawaalis, ragas, thumris, patriotic and bhajan songs and many others. But he was only a singer and we can only apreciate his vocal talent.
We must never forget that the lyrics to the songs he sang in films and elsewhere were written by the masters of poetry- the lyricists and their words were set to music by the famous music composers. Rafi Sahibs voice enhanced and did justice to the sentiments of the lyricists and to the music of the composers.
April 25th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
RAFI DOESN’T NEED ANY MAN-MAD TROPHY. HE EARNED LOVE OF ALL THE PEOPLE. HE SANG FOR HUMANITY, HE SANG FOR UNITY, NOT FOR MONEY. MONEY WAS OFCOURSE A FACTOR, BUT HE NEVER GAVE IT THE FIRST PRIORITY UNLIKE LATA, KISHORE, ASHA.
April 24th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
DEKHI ZAMANE KI YAARI IS THE MOST EMOTIONAL SONG EVER PROBABLY AND ONLY RAFI SAAB COULD SING IT!
April 16th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
To the great list of such emotional songs other than the usual ‘bichade huye sajan’ songs, patriotic and bhajan songs sung by Rafi, the follwoing can be added.
1. ‘Ae Mere Dost Mere Humdam’ from “Meherbaan” on a devoted servant boy.
2. ‘Sabke Rahte Lagta Hai Jaise’ from “Samjhauta” on utter helpnessness of a lonley man.
3. ‘Kaali Ye Raat Kaali’ from “Upkar” on the poverty and effects of war on common citizens.
4. ‘Nanne Munne Bache Teri’ from “Boot Polish” on the future of Children.
5. ‘Tumhare Hain Tumse Daya Mangte Hain’ from “Boot Polish” on poor students begging for their livelihood.
6. ‘Ek Banjara Gaye’ from “Jeene Ki Raah”.
7. ‘Kabhi Na Kabhi’ from “Sharabi” on a person’s loneliness.
8. ‘Ae Mere Dil Yahan’ from “Pagla Kahin Ka” on the anguish of a dejected person.
9. ‘Mera To Jo Bhi Kadam Hai’ from “Dosti” on a friend.
10. ‘Chahoonga Mai Tuzhe’ from “Dosti” on a friend.
11. ‘Chal Udjare Panchi’ from “Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke” on bidaai of a sister.
12. ‘Zindagi Muzhko Dikhade Raasta’ from “Saanj Aur Savera” on seeking guidance from life.
Well, the list is endless.
April 14th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Zaka Says
Great Article
I m greatest fan of Rafi Sahab. I have collected his more than 4000 songs filmi, non filmi unreleased in variousn languages like ENGLISH, PERSIAN, SOORNAMI, HHINDI, MARATHI, URDU, KONKANI, PUNJABI, SINDHI, BANGLA, GUJRATI, RAJHASTHANI, MAGHADI, MATHELI,TELGU & URIA
sayedzakarahim@yahoo.com
Tell: 022-24051327/8 Cell: 09324485530
April 14th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Mostly people said that why Lata ji got award and Mohd Rafi not it so easy to answer because they give award to human like Lata ji who did many mistake she didn’t sing with SD and SJ we know why!!but Mohd Rafi never did mistake he was great than a human.the award which Mohd Rafi has it given by God not by us human.The award is still at the top from 1950……