The immortal Rafi
Article from The Hindu Business Line. Contributed by Mohan Flora.
Shammi Kapoor hero-worshipped him, Dilip Kumar was grateful that “Rafi saab sang with so much emotion, that it lightened the burden on the actor during song sequences”.
On the evening of July 31, 1980, after recording a song for the J. Om Prakash film, Aas Paas, Mohammad Rafi asked music directors Laxmikant-Pyarelal if he could leave for home. This was an unusual request because Rafi was always the last to leave the recording session. Hours later, he suffered a heart attack and died.
Thus ended the remarkable 39-year career of the most famous and versatile playback singer of Hindi cinema that had generated a mind-blowing 25,000-odd songs. Rafi gave his melodious voice to hit and flop films, famous and ordinary music directors, best and worst actors. But he sang with the same gusto for all of them and it was no surprise that less talented actors like Joy Mukherjee and Biswajeet enjoyed an occasional hit film because of Rafi’s songs.
In the bitchy, backbiting film industry he remained above controversy, doing his work quietly, with dignity and attributing his success and fame to Allah. He had one minor disagreement with Lata Mangeshkar (she had several with stars, music directors and fellow playback singers) over some royalty issue. They did not sing together for some time. But he just shrugged it off and did not speak about it.
In fact, he spoke very little. Says Ameen Sayani, well-known broadcaster and music buff, “It was impossible to make him talk. He would not give interviews and was not comfortable talking about his profession where he was the greatest.”
Music directors fell over one another in praising Rafi’s dedication, greatness and more important, versatility. “Give him a ghazal, a bhajan, a qawwali, a soft solo or a boisterous masti number… Mohammad Rafi would put his heart and soul into it,” observed veteran music director Naushad, who was among those who gave a break to Rafi in the early 1940s.
It was Naushad who discovered the singer’s potential for higher notes. Early in his career, in films such as Dillagi, Mela and Anmol Ghadi, Rafi handled a number of popular songs in lower notes. Recollects Naushad, “Rafi saab had tremendous potential for the higher notes too and I used this talent of his in films like Deedar, Amar, Uran Khatola and most important, Baiju Bawara.”
Today, Rafi is more remembered for songs of this kind and no Rafi album is complete without Meri kahani bhoolnewale, Insaaaf ka mandir hain yeh Bhagwan ka ghar hain and O duniya ke rakhwale… Such versatility was possible because Rafi, the youngest of five brothers from an Amritsar family, despite parental objections, learnt classical music from Ustad Wahid Ali Khan and later Ustad Barkhat Ali Khan.
At a K.L. Saigal concert in Lahore, the power failed and Rafi, then 17, was roped in to sing a couple of songs to keep the restive audience quiet. Music director Shyam Sunder, who was in the audience, was impressed. Rafi got his first break in Hindi films in a Shyam Sunder film and his dream of working with Saigal was realised when Naushad gave him two lines to sing in the Saigal film, Shahjahan.
The Rafi-Naushad combination clicked in the 1946 hits, Anmol Ghadi and Jugnu where his duet with Noor Jehan, Yahan badla wafa ka… became the rage. This was the first time Rafi sang for Dilip Kumar. His popularity soared when he sang the immortal Husanlal Bhagatram tribute to Gandhiji after his assassination, Suno suno ae duniyawalon Bapuji ki amar kahani.
But the competition in those days was stiff. Raj Kapoor depended on Mukesh, Talat Mahmood was the preferred choice for Dilip Kumar and the classical songs went to Manna Dey. Yet Rafi created an impact with hit numbers in the films he sang. In 1952, Baiju Bawara became a major turning point in his career and thereafter, the famous Naushad-Dilip combination opted for Rafi.
This was the beginning of the golden era for Rafi, and he was now wooed by all music directors. S.D. Burman opted for Kishore Kumar to sing lively romantic songs for Dev Anand, but when it came to soulful melodies, such as Tere mere sapne, ab ek rang hain in Guide, he turned to Rafi. And believe it not, O.P. Nayyar chose Rafi to sing a classical number for Kishore Kumar in Raagini (Man moraa baawara).
Rafi did not mind singing for heroes, villains or comedians, as long as the songs were melodious and suited the situation. Some of his best songs were pictured on comedians such as Johny Walker (Pyaasa and Naya Daur) and Mehmood. He had a special rapport with top heroes such as Dilip Kumar. “Rafi saab sang with so much emotion, that it lightened the burden on the actor during song sequences,” observed the thespian.
Shammi Kapoor hero-worshipped Rafi, who first sang for him in the musical, Shama Parwana. “He was responsible for my success as the rebel star and dashing romantic hero,” recalls Kapoor. “Often Rafi saab instructed me on how I should perform in song sequences. During the shooting of Kashmir Ki Kali, I wanted to repeat the first lines of the theme song at the end of the number to create an impact. Rafi saab backed me and finally music director O.P. Nayyar agreed. “Such was the rapport between us that even if I was absent during some of the song recordings, nothing went wrong.”
At the same time, Rafi was aware of the fickleness of the industry and when he was eclipsed by the Kishore Kumar euphoria following the Aradhana days in the early 1970s, he did not show his hurt. That was the time when every musical director and star ran after Kishore Kumar. But Rafi was unperturbed and his dedication remained the same. Once while running a high temperature he recorded five songs in a day for Laxmikant-Pyarelal! Recalls Pyarelal, “He would bring thermos jugs filled with special tea spiced with almond, pista and elaichi, and pour out cups for us during recording. I never saw him in a bad mood.”
The gentleman that he was, he conveniently `forgot’ to remind producers for dues when a film did not do well. Rafi did not want his sons in the show business because he knew that singing talent cannot be inherited. He must have witnessed the struggles of Nitin Mukesh or Khalid Mahmood, sons of his colleagues Mukesh and Talat Mahmood. He gave his sons a sound education and set them up in business enterprises.
Twenty-five years after his death, some of his best songs continue to haunt music rasikas.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Hi to all Mohd. Rafi & Kishore kumar fans…
Well… the best singer that India has ever produced besides Lataji is none other than mohammed rafi. You can certainly compare Rafi with Kishore.
Take this simple test: Imagine Kishore singing Rafi’s songs and vice versa.
I’m sure Rafi would have done justice to at least 75% of Kishore’s songs as compared to Kishore who would have hardly been able to sing only 25% of Rafi’s songs. There are other reasons as well… I’ll keep writing.
May 19th, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Really a person, I mean a melodious voice like Rafi saab’s can not die. he is evergreen and everlasting. his voice was the miracle of nature. once in an enterview someone asked rafi saab “rafi saab, aapo bolte huye bahut kam suna hai..” and he replied :meri awaz achhi nahi hai..: Again he was asked, “fir aap itna achha kaise gate hain ?” he replied “mai khud nahi janta,
allah ka karam hai..” what a simplisity !
March 3rd, 2007 at 4:50 am
MUHAMMAD RAFI – LIVE IN CONCERT
Muhammad Rafi was an outstanding singer and one of the most influential playback singers that our part of the world has ever produced, a voice which captured millions of heart’s and whose songs touched all generations.
This is the second time that I am going to comment about the master, who I had the privilege as a child to watch on stage at Bradford’s St George’s Hall, West Yorkshire [UK]. I actually grew up listening to his melodious voice as it soared all around me, whether I was watching a movie or listening to the radio set.
There came a time in my life when I was just ten years old, that I got the chance of watching Muhammad Rafi [The Legend] live on stage and in person performing live to a captivated audience. I had to be forced to go by one of my family friends who had bought 2 tickets for us both, so he literally had to twist my arm into going with him.
However whilst attending the gig I was totally baffled at what I had just experienced on stage, he was right ahead of me… yes Muhammad Rafi Sahab singing live. He kicked off the show with ‘Bari Door Se Aaye Hain’, followed by many of his recent hits and past famous songs such as ‘Hum Bekhudi Main Sanam’, ‘Parda Hai Parda’, ‘Hum To Chale Pardes’, ‘Kiya Hua Tera Vaada’, ‘Sar Par Topi Lal Rumal’, ‘O Duniya Ke Rakhwale’, ‘Punjabi track’, and some other hits.
It’s been a long time now and for a ten year old it’s very hard to remember, but I never ever forgot that memorable night as some of it’s contents were captured onto one of those old movie cameras. Which were later distributed onto vhs tapes in the 80’s and sold for ridiculous high prices to anyone interested in buying a copy.
My dear father bought himself a copy of that recording which I’ve watched innumerable times over the last 25 years or so, but my vhs tape is failing me now in 2007. So I am going to have it’s contents transferred onto dvd format, once I manage to grab myself a good machine… it’s been over 2 months now since my last post in December 2006, but would you believe it – I’m still looking for one.
Once it’s been transferred entirely all onto dvd quality format, I can then distribute it by offering it to any buyers who will be interested in buying themselves a rare recording of the legendary Muhammad Rafi live in concert. Before all that I would like to put some clips on you tube first, just to give you a small little taste of what’s to come in the near future.
You may email me whenever you have the time
altaf786hussain@hotmail.co.uk
December 19th, 2006 at 8:37 am
ONLY A SENSELESS PERSON CAN COMPARE KISHORE WITH RAFI SAAB. WHAT ABOUT THE SOUTH INDIANS? WHY ALL PEOPLE SELECT RAFI TO COMPARE ANYONE? THATS BECAUSE RAFI IS THE ULTIMATE STANDARD. SOUTH INDIANS LOVE SP BALA AND MANY SAY THAT HE IS BETTER THAN RAFI AND MANY DONT EVEN CONSIDER KISHORE AS SINGER! BUT SP BALA SAID THAT HE WAS NOT EVEN HALF WAY CLOSE TO RAFI. ALL LOVE RAFI- THE TRUE SINGER- THE TRUE VOICE.
August 8th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
HI YUSOOF AND VIJAY KUMAR—MY NAME IS SANJEEV AND I AM FROM BOMBAY IN INDIA,CURRENTLY LIVING IN CHENNAI(TAMIL NADU)–I, LIKE THE REST OF THE MILLIONS OF RAFIANS, AM A BIG FAN TOO.
I AM A COLLECTOR OF RAFIS SONGS.I HAVE A HUGE COLLECTION OF RAFIS RARE SONGS AND SONGS SUNG IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SUCH AS ENGLISH,ASSAMESE,KONKANI,TELUGU,KANNADA,GUJRATI,BENGALI,PUNJABI,MARATHI.
ALSO I HAVE RAFIS GHAZALS AND BHAJANS AND AN MP3 OF ISLAMIC QUAWALIES.
THIS MAIL IS IN REGARDS TO GETTING MORE SONGS TO UPDATE MY COLLECTION AND TRANSFER MINE TO ALL THE OTHER FANS WHO LOVE TO COLLECT RAFIS SONGS.
I WANT THIS MESSAGE TO BE READ BY YUSOOF AND SPECIALLY VIJAY KUMAR WHO POSSESSES THE 12 CDS OF RAFIS LIVE PERFORMANCES AND A DVD TOO.MR. YUSOOF AND VIJAY KUMAR, PLEASE HELP ME TO GET YOUR COLLECTION BY MAILING ME AND ILL BE GLAD TO PAY FOR IT. MY EMAIL ID IS monty_ch2005@yahoo.com and my contact number is 09994146695.pls contact me as early as possible.
July 20th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
dear KK fans,
The film maker they made around three films on Bhagat singh(maybe more)but the best is when mohd Rafi singed Ae Watan,Ae Watan,humko teri kasam and Kar Chale hum Fide who else can sing these songs,Please see all films on Bhagat Singh(I hope the u know Bhagat singh).
Please listen to ” Jahan Dal Dal Pe chidiya”and there are many other songs on Bharat(India)If u listen these songs I think u will forget all singers jest u remmber only Mohd Rafi.I am not from bharat but when I listen this ” Jahan Dal Dal Pe chidiya” i feel that I am from bharat that is the magic of voice of Mohd Rafi.
July 8th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Hindisong.com says:
The music industry used to fondly say that Rafi could sing in just about any style and all those who have heard his songs will not dispute that statement. He was so versatile that he could easily adapt himself to the style of any music director. He could sing ghazals, qawallis, classical and folk tunes with equal panache. The songs are too many to be named but one very unforgettable number would be Suno suno re duniyawalon, Bapuji ki amar kahan” after the death of Mahatma Gandhi. Rafi’s voice brought forth to the masses the irreplaceable loss of the Mahatma and many spilled tears after hearing it.
Rafi was not just a great singer but a wonderful human being too. He was known for his magnanimity and often sang for a very low fee to producers who could not afford his price. He sang for new music directors without show of any ego and never sabotaged the careers of any new singers. In 1965, the Indian Government conferred the prestigious Padma Shri on him. He breathed his last in the holy month of Ramzan. His friends confided that the Almighty must have decided to take back the deeply religious Rafi during the holy month. Indians, however, continue to mourn him.
July 8th, 2006 at 10:54 am
Edited article from MusicNmovies site:
Rafi Sahab had been nominated for 22 songs out of which he won 6. He was nominated for the first time for Chaudavin Ka Chand - Chaudavin Ka Chand (1960), which he won and last for Mere Dost Quissa - Dostana. The number (22) would have been much higher if Filmfare had started giving awards for the best playback before 1959. One more thing about filmfare awards. Till 1966 there was a single category called Best Playback Singer. It became Best Male and Best Female after 1966. So during the years from 1959 to 1966, apart from Mukesh’s 1 and Mahendra Kapoor’s 1 for all the other years when Rafi did not win filmfare it was Lata who got it. So that probably is yet another reason for less count as competition was even tougher.
Chaudavin Ka Chand - Chaudavin Ka Chand (1960)
Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat - Sasural (1961)
Chahunga Mein Tujeh - Dosti (1964)
Baharon Phool Barasavo - Suraj (1966)
Dil Ke Jharonke Mein - Brahmachari (1968)
Kya Huva Tera Waada - Hum Kisise Kam Nahin (1977)
Clearly Rafi was a great singer. He never cared about how much money he was going to get for a song. Rafi was a saint singer as he concentrated on song and not on the payment. But his songs are immortal and transcend the time.
Rafi died on July 31, 1980 when a massive heart attack stuck the king of melody, which left his fans stunned and shocked. Several singers have tried to imitate Rafi’s style but there just can not be another Rafi. Rafi will live forever because of the rich heritage of songs that he has left behind for the music lovers who will remember him for years to come.
Mohammad Rafi immortalised himself by singing a number of songs which still enliven our lives.
July 3rd, 2006 at 7:45 pm
Champions Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina
could be relegated from Serie A and forced out of European
competition if found guilty.
June 29th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
Talking about Dilip Kumar’s picturization of the song “Madhuban Mein Radhika”, Naushad mentoined in his interview that Dilip Kumar has learnt to play Sitar for 6 months before the picturization of the song was to be shooted. When Naushad attending the shooting of the song, he observed that Dilip Kumar’s fingers were cut during the training for playing sitar for the song.
June 7th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
A wonderful website and all my goodwishes t you for keeping up the good work.sitting on a remote post on the the borders one survives on the immortal songs of rafi saab especially ‘zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya…..’ of the famous hum dono ..
May 26th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
i am very thankfull to web world to find my ideal singer website is there.And also thanks to develop my favoriute singer website. I am just 28 year old bachelor boy in modern life i like modern technology.but in entertainment worl i like hindi classical music especialy Md.Rafisab songs of 70`s & 80`s but i like sum greate qawwalies from them still i like to hear that kind style of singing
May 24th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
Hi all
I found this site from Google.com and i find it to be worth to have such a small but sweet biography of rafi.
Few of my favourites are Kishorda and Manna DeyJi
Its cool really
May 23rd, 2006 at 1:42 pm
It is a request who so ever get a chancve to listen to Rafi Saheb just try to observe the variations and range in his golden voice then only one can understand why he is so very great !!
May 14th, 2006 at 1:49 pm
when i was child i love to hear kishoreda songs i like his voice vry much as my age develop i slowly slipped to rafi saab songs now iam in 30s rafi is in my breathe now i found how much gr8 singer he was i really feel sorry for not listening his songs in my childhood
i also adore lataji she was an living legend
May 14th, 2006 at 1:28 am
No other person of such exceptional singing calibre and carat will ever walk this world again!!!
May Rafi saab continue to spread that joy in…eternal paradise
May 13th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
I am an ardent Rafi fan. I am a amateur singer also in mycountry. 90% of my practice is in Rafi’s songs. He is an institution in himself. With a few songs that I had recorded for Radio Nepal, some of them have been very popular. I give the credit to no one else dut to Rafi Saheb. I consider him as my GURU. His style, his emotions, his enunciation, his pronunciations are incomparable. Actually, there are no words to describe Rafi. He is immortal and will be with till this universe stays.
May 10th, 2006 at 5:46 pm
I am very much thankful to the people who made this website. I like to thank these people from bottom of my heart.
About Rafi sahab, I just want say one thing that no singer can compare with him in singing. and we cannot have another Rafi like him till the world last. A LEGEND AND a grate human being….. RAFI SAHAB