True Voice - Mohd Rafi
The following article was brought to my notice when Sharad posted it on MAS. The article has been trimmed down a bit keeping afloat Rafi details. However, anyone interested can go visit the source at http://tfmpage.com/forum/4980.6302.04.57.19.html
I am Swaminatha Iyer and I am 78 years old. I hail from Tiruchi and I am a part of music associations in Tiruchi, M’as as well as in West Bengal and Maharashtra.
I think it is wrong to condemn music or artists on either side of Vindhyas. Our Indian music is one of the few which has not been cleaned off by the western music though there has always been a influence. It speaks a lot of the richness of our music. Sometime back director of MTV had said that MTV westernized the music wherever it went but in India , MTV had to be Indianized for it to be accepted. A lot of this credit goes to the Indian film music.
I have been fortunate to have close personal association with Rafi, Sirkali, TMS, Dr. BMK, Kishore, SPB & KJY, PS, Mannadey and the one and only Lata Mangeshkar.
Comparisons are bound to come, but almost every artist or I have met considers Lata to be beyond comparison. Her talents are beyond anyone’s reach. Even Sirkazi used to talk of her singing like a die-hard fan as do countless others.
Now coming to the Rafi-SPB discussion. It might be difficult to convince an South Indian to believe Rafi is the better and at the same time Rafi crowd will never believe any other male singer comes anywhere nearer. There is one more mobile crowd, which is well conversant with Hindi and some south Indian language. Majority of them tilt to either Rafi or Kishore.
During one of my stays in M’as I had stayed with SPB. While talking of true voices he said, I don’t feel like half a singer when listening to Rafi. True voice is not a tech term but many in circle use it. Perfect example would be lata, but to understand consider our own PS who within her range is superb. People who do not have such true voices can never do justice to original. They generally underplay many parts of the song or fake it with bass/superficial singing. True voices make people like Sirkazi, Nusrat Fateh Ali khan, Lata… Inimitable. However since Sirkazi and Nusrat did not have the filmy voices their “real” following is limited to their local arena.
In addition to the true voice if the singer has a very good voice then in “most” cases he/she can better songs of others. It is this combination which makes Rafi stand out among the other male singers. There are many here who seem to have mistaken notions on a good bass and also on high pitch.
Bryan Adams does not require a monster bass in “Summer of 69″ to sound real manly. It is the punch which gives that feel and that is decided only by the comfort level in most ranges (that is by what your throat can support). This you CAN never disguise with bass. Since people have talked about lack of manly voice viz. a viz. Rafi it was necessary to bring this point out. I have had the fortune of listening to most singers in studio and some times without a mike, practicing with MD’s.When Lata or Rafi do, the level is so high that people hesitate to even hum. It felt silly to sing in their presence (and it feels silly when someone says his voice isn’t manly).
In RD’s tribute when SPB sang “Aaja Aaja mein hoon” or “Chaand mera dil” it sounded only sweet and lacked punch if you compare with Rafi’s original.
Yesu once told me God has been partial to Rafi. He said “god gift term anavasyamaa romba common aa ippo use aardu”.. but idu Rafi kee thaan 100% porundu”. This person could sing “as intricately as a lady without sounding thin”, “cover any mood”, “versatility odey perfect example Rafi”. Yesu said most important is the comfort level over ranges which makes you feel God has been partial to Rafi. (But Of course in Rafi’s early career (1950’s) the voice was relatively feeble).
To people exposed to Rafi’s talent, these or any amount of praise can only seem less. I just wish he was alive and you people could get a live chance to hear him. Probably you can get hold of the DD album for the Geet Gaata Chal series where the first four episodes were dedicated to Rafi. Rafi is on camera singing “O Duniya Ke Rakwaaley” and many other songs. If you see and hear the last part you will realize why SPB said “impossible”. I think particularly those people who have talked about scales w.r.t Rafi should see this album. Its a known fact in industry that Rafi ruled high pitch and there is no male singer better in switching notes so easily. There are artists who can go beyond but then they sound strained or they don’t have pleasant voices when they venture into those territories.
Many singers of today are his compulsive followers. But they end up inheriting only part of his quality. Md. Aziz ended up with a sad voice. Mahendra Kapoor with a thick nasal voice. Anwar with a nasal voice. Sonu Nigam with a feminine voice. Rafi neither had a soft voice nor a heavy (bass) voice he had a good voice. Importantly did not strain at high notes, and voice if at all only became better at higher notes. If you see him singing it will remind you of Janaki. However diff the song is or the note is he will be smiling and singing. It is unthinkable that he cannot sing something.
There seems to be lot of talk about “Shankara Bharanamo” song. SPB has sung many a great numbers and things being said about this song in this forum are rather amusing, particularly b’cos 3 out of 4 people who can be called as singers will be able sing it and at least one out of 10 will sing it with the same effect. There are lot of other songs of SPB where this great singer has played with songs in total control. You will find most south Indian singers who have had a good exposure say that it is beneficial to learn Hindustani as it gives better breath control and improves expression.
Rafi was not only able to glide over a song, the important thing was that he could express each word/sound when singing. It is one thing to hold your breath, start and reach a crescendo (high note), as like in “Shankara”, “Anbey (Yennai kaan villaye)” it is different ballgame if you have to do it from low notes or suddenly switch notes. With practice the former can be done, latter requires a special gift. Rafi had a natural ability to do the latter. In “Tum joh mil gaye ho” there is such a transition in the “karwaan mil gaya” part. I have never seen anyone do justice to most of his songs in my life time. In “parda hai parda” quawaali the similar part is “kar doon to, Akbar mera naam”. In fact most of his songs will have these specialty as it was his natural ability to sing freely in a wide range at the same time giving that extra expression.
Whereas SPB takes us to heavens with “Idu oru pon maali”,”Ilaya nila” “bisiladarenu”(kannada), when he sings Rafi’s song it lacks the punch or expression, though it has the bass. But at least most agree that SPB does some justice to original, whereas most others murder the original.
One trivial point I would like to add is that singing in Hindi is harder. There are more “JHA”,”CHA”,”HA”,”THA”, “KHA”,”JA”,”FA”. These take away the breath faster. The more expressive you are the more air you are using up. Just singing from Nabhi will not help, your throat also needs to do a lot, for singing in Hindi, Bengali etc. SPB makes you fall in love with his south Indian songs but same cannot be said about his Hindi songs. If you just glide through words having these sounds, you will never be expressive. Doing this as well as reaching high notes is not easy. Rafi had this gift and that’s why it is difficult to imagine anyone else in his shoes. Song “Chalkaaye jaam” has so much expression that it is unthinkable how anyone can sing it. When Rafi switches to a high note with “Mitwaa” in the song “Chaahunga mein tughey” you cannot replicate it with bass. Most others will sound as if they are shouting in such cases. That man’s throat had the ability to freely sing at such levels.
Versatility is not just the ability to sing in various styles, more important is how good you are singing in those styles. You have lot of Ghazal singers today but when Rafi sings a Ghazal you will sit up and take notice. You don’t have to be part of the Ghazal listeners crowd. This is one important aspect. Whatever style you sing you should be able to pull the common man to listen and not just a particular crowd. Pick “parda hai parda” or any qawalli and it will stand tall among other qawalli’s.
Variety is amazing :
songs of Guru Dutt’s Khagaz key phool or songs like abhi naa jao chod key, Aaja teri yaad aayi, Aaj kal mein dhal gaya, Aaj kal terey merey pyaar, Aasmaan sey aaya farishta, Dil ney pyaar kiya hai, Deewana mujh saa nahi, Din dhal jaaye, Duniya paagal hai, Jaane walon jara, Dil joh na kaha saka, Dil key jharokon mein, Dil kaa bhavar, Chalkey teri aakkhon sey, Kar chaley hum fida, khilona jaan kar tum, Woh jab yaad aay, Woh hain jara khafa, Vaadian mera daaman, Pathar key sanam, Chaand mera dil, Main zindagi kaa saath, Mainey poocha chaand sey, sun sun jaalima, Koi jab raah na paay, hum to chaley pardes, badan pey sitaarey, laal chadi maidaan, Tum jo mil gaye, O meri shaahey, Sau baar janam lengey, Tum mujhey yoon bhula, Tumney mujhey dekha, Terey merey sapney, Tumny pukaara hum chaley aay
Name a situation/mood and Rafi’s song will be there on the top.
Swami
May 23rd, 2006 at 1:28 pm
Reason for writing again and again is my comments are awaiting since last couple of days. I don’t know why it is in awaiting state. Nway i am again copying the same things.
============================================
Manoj,
U r idiot and etiquetteless guy. FYI I am not in Bangalore.
Currently i am in Japan and basically from Delhi.
And I m not eager to see u or ur band because i’ve already visualized what kind of person u r. Just stop runing around bush, and compile ur song and post it to my mentioned mail address.
Before u said Rafi is like blah-blah, if u read all the mail then u will find that i wrote KK is Microsoft before u wrote the same for Rafi and still u don’t know that there is no comparison between “Microsoft, HP, IBM, Sun, Yahoo, eBay, and Google” as a whole, may be partly google has search Engine (ONLY), ebay is Ecommerce but as whole Microsoft is pioneer.
Boss, don’t get offended.
I have never been personal to u till now and i m asking u to follow the same etiqutte.
If u r involved in Yahoo band then u should aware that u could not miss KISHORE in any show but u can miss RAFI easily.
Boss i can also write like you if u don’t stop writing nonsense thing.
Manoj, As u said u r senior VP, nice to read it but disaapointed with ur sense/attitudes.
You should know that u don’t have rights to say ‘IDIOT’ or some nonsense thing to other.
I can also say the same thing to u but if i do so the same then there will not be any difference between u and me.
Hope u understand and behave nicely as a gentleman now onwards.
U can write anything on Rafi or KISHORE because it would be ur view not others.
Don’t get personal. It will be good for u, me and forum.
=========================================
This comment is just to tell you what i mean on “Microsoft, HP, IBM, Sun, Yahoo, eBay, and Google”.
As per their business, i am depicting the suitable personality who can be good in one or more fields (BUSINESS).
MICROSOFT: KISHORE KUMAR (Versatile- OS, Coding Tool, Office, and above all criticise by so called “knowledgable person”)
HP: MAHMOOD (Comedy acting, direction, production)
IBM: RAJ KAPOOR (Acting, Direction, Production, involded in all technical part)
SUN: MOHD. RAFI (Great in SInging, CLassical trained and great respect)
Yahoo: Amitabh (Acting, production, little bit singing)
eBay: Manish Malhotra (Fashion Designer)
Google: Jhamu Sukand
I meant to say there is no comparison between above all except MICROSOFT and SUN.
Tommorrow u will say Rafi is like Raymonds,Bata, Tissot etc which will not be valid.
May 22nd, 2006 at 2:08 pm
This blog is just to tell you what i mean on “Microsoft, HP, IBM, Sun, Yahoo, eBay, and Google”
MICROSOFT: KISHORE KUMAR (Versatile- OS, Coding Tool, Office, and above all criticise by so called “knowledgable person”)
HP: MAHMOOD (Comedy acting, direction, production)
IBM: RAJ KAPOOR (Acting, Direction, Production, involded in all technical part)
SUN: MOHD. RAFI (Great in SInging, CLassical trained and great respect)
Yahoo: Amitabh (Acting, production, little bit singing)
eBay: Manish Malhotra (Fashion Designer)
Google: Jhamu Sukand
I meant to say there is no comparison between above all except MICROSOFT and SUN.
Tommorrow u will say Rafi is like Raymonds,Bata, Tissot etc which will not be valid.
May 22nd, 2006 at 11:51 am
Manoj,
U r idiot and etiquetteless guy. FYI I am not in Bangalore.
Currently i am in Japan and basically from Delhi.
And I m not eager to see u or ur band because i’ve already visualized what kind of person u r. Just stop runing around bush, and compile ur song and post it to my mentioned mail address.
Before u said Rafi is like blah-blah, if u read all the mail then u will find that i wrote KK is Microsoft before u wrote the same for Rafi and still u don’t know that there is no comparison between “Microsoft, HP, IBM, Sun, Yahoo, eBay, and Google” as a whole, may be partly google has search Engine (ONLY), ebay is Ecommerce but as whole Microsoft is pioneer.
Boss, don’t get offended.
I have never been personal to u till now and i m asking u to follow the same etiqutte.
If u r involved in Yahoo band then u should aware that u could not miss KISHORE in any show but u can miss RAFI easily.
Boss i can also write like you if u don’t stop writing nonsense thing.
Manoj, As u said u r senior VP, nice to read it but disaapointed with ur sense/attitudes.
You should know that u don’t have rights to say ‘IDIOT’ or some nonsense thing to other.
I can also say the same thing to u but if i do so the same then there will not be any difference between u and me.
Hope u understand and behave nicely as a gentleman now onwards.
U can write anything on Rafi or KISHORE because it would be ur view not others.
Don’t get personal. It will be good for u, me and forum.
May 22nd, 2006 at 9:49 am
Manoj,
As u said u r senior VP, nice to read it.
But u should know that u don’t have rights to say ‘IDIOT’ or someother nonsense thing.
I can also say the same thing to u but then there will not be nay difference between u and me.
Hope u understand and behave nicely.
U can write anything on Rafi or KISHORE, i will put my point for that but don’t get personal.
May 22nd, 2006 at 9:39 am
Manoj,
U r idiot and etiquetteless guy. FYI I am not in Bangalore.
Currently i am in Japan and basically from Delhi.
I m not eager to see u or ur band because i already visualize what kind of person u r. Just stop runing around bush, and compile ur song and post it to my mentioned mail address.
Before u said Rafi is like blah-blah, if u read all the mail then u will find that i wrote KK is Microsoft before u wrote the same for Rafi and still u don’t know that there is no comparison between “Microsoft, HP, IBM, Sun, Yahoo, eBay, and Google” as a whole, may be partly google has search Engine (ONLY), ebay is Ecommerce but as whole Microsoft is pioneer.
Boss, don’t get offended.
I have never been personal to u and i m asking u to follow the same etiqutte.
If u r involved in Yahoo band then u should aware that u can’t miss KISHORE in any show but u can miss RAFI.
Boss i can also write like you if u don’t stop writing nonsense thing.
Don’t get personal and follow the forum rule. It will be good for u, me and forum.
May 21st, 2006 at 4:09 pm
Ashwani,
Let me know whenever you are in Bangalore next. I work for Yahoo Bangalore, and am also involved with a small band in the city. I will introduce you to my band, and will also demonstrate how easy the apparently difficult songs of Kishore are.
-Manoj
May 21st, 2006 at 3:38 pm
Ashwani…you are a complete idiot who can’t even understand the context of statements. I said that Rafi is like Microsoft, HP, IBM, Sun, Yahoo, eBay, and Google all combined into one. It was supposed to be a “metaphor” if you know what that means. It was supposed to imply that Rafi was the greatest in almost “all” aspects of singing since all these companies excel in different fields of IT. I am senior VP myself at Yahoo, and know the high-tech industry much better than insignificant imbeciles like you. No wonder you like Kishore so blindly….you don’t have any class, you are totally illiterate both musically and otherwise. Again, you put your foot in the mouth by quoting people like Dhoni & Sachin….they are good cricketers, but not well-versed in music either, and not the most educated people. The fact that you are getting excited by Dhoni’s musical choice shows your lack of education, cheapness, and lack of any class. You poor thing….you need help!!!
May 21st, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Manoj,
I feel very sorry for u, u r sounding cheap everytime.
Now i understand ur knowledge abt music and other area.
I remember in one blog i said KK is like Microsoft and Rafi is Java(SUN) and u replied (Note: As u didn’t have any word to say apart from stealing my words) that RAFI is like Microsoft, HP, ebay and etc.
Manoj, my fried, you should know that Microsot, HP, ebay are working in different-2 domain. There is no competition between Microsoft, HP,ebay but there is huge competition between Microsoft and Java(SUN).
Just check DHONI and SACHIN interview, their preferred singer is none other than KISHORE. I saw live DHONi on NDTV yesterday where he said he alwasy listen KK after asking question on songs by audience (I am sure there is no politics and he is not RDB’s relative
) and SACHIN said the same thing long back. He has huge collection of KISHORE, he also listen MUKESH.
And You mean to say LP did not have music knowledge that he allow kishore to sing RAM BALRAAM song and many hits even though KK could not utter the word correctly.
Pls. go to some specialist and get check-up ur ears. Till now i did not say anything against RAFI because i had great respect for him n i m great music lover. Rafi could not do justice to many songs, it doesn’t mean i would say something wrong/cheap abt him.
Listen few Rafi songs mention below and come up with ur opinion. I don’t want to say anything against Rafi.
1. Salaam kijiye, aayi hai Aarti Devi ..(Bhupinder sound better)
2. Bottle se ek baat chali hai .. (disaster)
Manoj, just listen
1. EK Mahal ma chhamchham karti rahti dui sahzadi
Manoj, I have those collection of Rafi and KISHORE which u would not have listen yet. And I am fond of collecting all those songs sung by Rafi/KK which are not famous.
From next blog, don’t forget to mention “I” before u say Kishore was cheap and loud because it is ur personal view so say “I think” OR “I feel’. U can’t take everybody granted.
You are saying “O majhi Re”, “Nafrat ki Duniya” are not tough songs, can u pls. render both songs in ur voice and upload it to my mail. This is my mailid: songdb@rediffmail.com.
May 21st, 2006 at 12:58 am
Ashu,
To respond to your allegations, I am not throwing balloon in the air. You think like that because you feel really cornered and exposed.
It’s you who is just “throwing balloons in the air” by mentioning O Manjhi Re Tera kinara, and Main Shayar Badnaam as difficult songs
Do you have any consience at all?? Any shame?? If you can’t even sing these childish songs, then you might not even sing in Bollywood. 
It just goes to show that you are such an ignoramus!!
The only reason why I told you I didn’t want to get into individual songs is that it’s childish for you to try to judge and compare a phenomena called Rafi by one or two songs. And I told you before that I have heard almost all of KK songs, and he has never ever sounded better than the GREATEST Rafi. Plus, Rafi has sounded 100 times better even in all the Rafi-KK duets that you have mentioned. Anyways, I mentioned to you the Ram Balram example. Listen to the song again, and you will notice the difference. To quote me from my other post:
“For example, listen to “Ek Rasta Do Raahi” from Ram Balram and you will notice the HUGE difference between a genius like Rafi and a clown like KK. Rafi sings the song effortlessly and masterfully, while KK is just shouting through in his constipated style. Of special notice is the point when the antaras wrap up in a higher pitch and while Rafi breezes through it effortlessly, Kishore sounds so constipated that he can’t even say the words clearly!!
”
And to your point that anyone could have sung Kya Hua Tera Vaada, I should tell you that you are partly right. Most competent singers could have sung this song well, but not Kishore. Firstly, even though the antaras are not very high-pitch, it is still high pitched enough to make Kishore sound like he is constipating. I mean, KK couldn’t even pull off Nafrat Ki Duniya after several tries and the MDs had to send a special request to Rafi, and Nafrat Ki Duniya is not even such a tough song. Secondly, Kishore’s voice was just too loud, harsh and this song will also have ended up sounding cheap. Again, I have the greatest respect for KK as a film personality, but I can’t help it if his voice wasn’t very good….I am just stating the facts.
May 21st, 2006 at 12:37 am
Poor Ashu,
Since you are just so ridiculously deluded, I am sending a Manna Dey interview for you in which he says that categorically that amongst all the male singers “I don’t think there is anyone to touch Mohd Rafi.”.
http://www.littleindia.com/september2004/AiMerePyareWatan.htm
I have another inteview where he calls Mohd. Rafi as the greatest singer in the world, and then mentions that Lata & Asha are his 2 other favorite singers!!!! I will send you this link later once I find it. I have yet another interview where Manna Dey says that Rafi holds the positions 1 to 10 in the world of playback singing.
Also read what Udit Narayan, Sonu Nigam etc. have to say about Rafi. Udit Narayan clearly says that “I admire all our great singers, but to me Rafisaab is the ultimate.” That clearly means that Udit rates Rafi higher than your KK. http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=10916
May 20th, 2006 at 7:29 pm
Rashid,
As you said RDB always give easiest composition to KK. It means RDB composed only easy music because 80-90% of his song sung by KISHORE.
Few of many RDB easiest composition for KISHORE
1. O Manjhi Re Tera kinara
2. Kucch to log kahenge
Note: Manna Dey was begging for this songs from RDB but after listening this song. He said “I could have not done justice to this song as KISHORE did”. This is not my word, this is Manna Da word.
3. Main Shaayar Badnaam
4. Na koi dil me samaya.
5. Meri pyari Bindu
Note: Its hilarious but if you have time please listen the way he sang.
I can mention few of many easy song composed by LP
Na hasana mere gham pe, insaaf karna..
Jo main ro padu to mujhe maaf karna.
Note: Just listen last anatara
Again, I am not comparing KK with Rafi from their SOLO, Reason for writing this blog is, According to u KK sung all easiest songs pls. listen above songs as music lover not as rafi fan.
Enjoy.
May 20th, 2006 at 7:12 pm
Dear Rashid,
I am using 2 name because my laptop has name ashu and my desktop has name ashwani so when i use laptop, you can see ashu and desktop, ashwani. I have written a programe which reads machine name and display it in the ‘NAME’ textbox. Hope u got it.
Nway now come to KK and Rafi point. I like ur blog because you wrote what you really think correct fromur point of view, not like Manoj who just throw baloon in the air.
Just listen to this line in same song (Raam Balram) KK and rafi both sang : “Mana hai hum dono ka juda hai raasta”. KK is awesome.
Rashid, all Rafi songs you mentioned in ur blog is terrific. I like it so much but i request don’t compare KK and Rafi with their solo songs.
Just listen KK songs :
1. Yaadon me wo jaaye kahan, dhadkan ka bandhan to dhadkan se hai
2. Na koi dil me samaya, na koi pahlu me aaya (AA gale lag ja)
3. matlabi hai log yaha par matlabi zamana (Begana)
4. Meri zindagi ne mujhpe ehsaan kya kiya hai (DO aur do paanch)…Very low note.
Indivisually u can’t compare both but yes you can compare them with their duets.
You can listen following songs and come up with views.
1. Ek mahal maa chhamchham karti rahti dui sahzadi …the way KK sing “DUI” fantastic
2. Sa re ga ma (Chupke-2_)
3. Tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush hua (AAP ke Diwane)
4. Kya mausam hai (Doosra Aadmi)
There are many songs and if u r really music lover, u can easily differentiate and find KK is far ahead.
I am not going to stop you by saying “Rafi is greatest”. This line is true according to you but not me.
Rafi fans always complaint that RDB favored KK, i m saying why not if RDB thought only KK could do justice to his composition.
You should not forget RDB first choice was Rafi till AAradhana. Hope you rememeber ‘The Train, Baharo ke Sapne, of course Pyar ka mousam’.
Once again I always rate KK with Rafi with their duets not with their solo.
Rafi’s solo and KK’ sole both are marvelous.
I am big fan of KK and Rafi but i like KK more.
So Rashid, according to me KK is greatest.
There is nothing personal, so pls. understand it.
May 20th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
Rashid,
I formatted my desktop today and wrongly spelled my machine name. Just now i reset.
Reason for writing to make you sure that you do not get confused.
:)
Regard
May 20th, 2006 at 7:06 pm
Dear Rashid,
I am using 2 name because my laptop has name “ashu” and my desktop has name “ashwani” so when i use laptop, you can see ashu and desktop, ashwani. I have written a programe which reads machine name and display it in the ‘NAME’ textbox. Hope u got it.
Nway now come to KK and Rafi point. I like ur blog because you wrote what you really think correct from ur point of view, not like Manoj who just throw baloon in the air.
Just listen to this line in same song (Raam Balram) KK and rafi both sang : “Mana hai hum dono ka juda hai raasta”. KK is awesome.
Rashid, all Rafi songs you mentioned in ur blog is terrific. I like it so much but i request don’t compare KK and Rafi with their solo songs.
Just listen KK solo songs which are not famous but they are great:
1. Yaadon me wo jaaye kahan, dhadkan ka bandhan to dhadkan se hai
2. Na koi dil me samaya, na koi pahlu me aaya (AA gale lag ja)
3. matlabi hai log yaha par matlabi zamana (Begana)
4. Meri zindagi ne mujhpe ehsaan kya kiya hai (DO aur do paanch)…Very low note.
Indivisually u can’t compare both but yes you can compare them with their duets.
You can listen following songs and come up with views.
1. Ek mahal maa chhamchham karti rahti dui sahzadi …the way KK sing “DUI” fantastic
2. Sa re ga ma (Chupke-2_)
3. Tumko khush dekhkar main bahut khush hua (AAP ke Diwane)
4. Kya mausam hai (Doosra Aadmi)
There are many songs and if u r really music lover, u can easily differentiate and find KK is far ahead.
I am not going to stop you by saying “Rafi is greatest”. This line is true according to you but not me.
Rafi fans always complaint that RDB favored KK, i m saying why not if RDB thought only KK could do justice to his composition.
You should not forget RDB first choice was Rafi till AAradhana. Hope you rememeber ‘The Train, Baharo ke Sapne, of course Pyar ka mousam’.
Once again I always rate KK with Rafi with their duets not with their solo.
Rafi’s solo and KK’ sole both are marvelous.
I am big fan of KK and Rafi but i like KK more.
So Rashid, according to me KK is greatest.
There is nothing personal, so pls. understand it.
May 20th, 2006 at 2:27 am
Also Ashwini or Ashu you mentioned that KYA HUA TERA VADA sung by Rafi saab could be sung by anyone. EXACTLY because RD Burman could only compose songs that were easy to sing Not Rafi saabs fault.
Kishore Kumar songs are also easy to sing. But what I really like about this song is that that is the song that he Rafi saab won the award for and also coming from a RD composing who always favoured Kishore.
No need to get upset as I am only making this point because you brought it up in the first place.
Khalid Rashid
UK
May 19th, 2006 at 8:50 pm
Oh and Ashu or Ashwini
I forgot to put that SHRI MOHD RAFI SAAB THE GREATEST SINGER BOLLYWOOD EVER PRODUCED. Just in case you forget that.
KK good singer, loud singer yes I like some of his songs but thats all.
with all respect
Khalid Rashid
UK
May 19th, 2006 at 8:46 pm
All I will say is that KK is not even a patch on Rafi Saab.
Ashwini or Ashu whoever you are that one person using two names.
Since you brought this example of Ram Balram.
In Ram Balram Ik Rasta Do Rahi just listen to Rafi Sahab sing the line HUM CHALTE HAAAIN TO DETE HAAAIN KADAM YEH GAWAHI. Just so so class the way he says it. Honestly when I heard this song when I was a kid I did not know it was Rafi and Kishore singing it I only knew it was Amithab and Dharmendrain the film.
Amithab in the film sounded so heavy voice when he sings ACHA HAI HARAB HAI BURA HAI NAIK HAI and who sang it KK as if he is trying to prove he is more better than Rafi as towering over him.
When Rafi saab sings that line Oh my god you really hear a nice smoothing voice what else can I say honestly that made me take up and notice Dharmendra in the film. Whats more Rafi goes on to dominate the song.
Have you heard of Rafi saabs SADKE HEER TUJHPE HUM FAKEER SADKE. On Asian Gold radio the presenter said no other singer shall be able to repeat what Rafi saab did there.
Listen to Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil and the line at the beginning where he says MERE KAAM KI NAHIN honestly I heard this with the headphones on and the feeling, the emotion, I cannot believe how good it was.
Listen to YEH RAAT HAI PYAASI PYASI. Listen to the lines NAYI AAG DIL KO JALANE LAGI HAI MACHALNA SIKANE LAGI HAI and so on and I can tell you that no other singer will be able to do justice.
Khalid Rashid
UK
May 19th, 2006 at 2:58 pm
Manoj,
Again u r sounding chidish. Sometime u says popularity doesn’t imply greatness.
And what u said in ur last blog:
“More people request Rafi’s songs on the radio & TV shows than even Lata”
Even today more people demand KK over Lata and Rafi.
I am sure u r always free, just listen FM/Zee Musi/V TV, u can found more KK songs on demand.
Pls. be firm on ur word buddy,
8 yrs. old guys are always better than u (may be in later 30’s) because whatever they say, they say from their heart. Not like you who doesn’t accept the truth and always want to run away from truth.
I know u r very intelligent who doesn’t know how to respect great personality.
If intelligent people are like you then sorry i am ok with illieterate.
May 19th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Poor Ashu…don’t be in denial just because you stand brutally exposed. You are absolutely crazy and deluded in thinking that I am making stuff up on what SPB, IllyaRaja, Yesudas, Ravi, Naushad, Manna Dey, Anu Malik, LP, SJ, Anoop Jalota, Shailendra Singh, OP Nayyar, Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan says “Rafi is greatest”. I have their interviews in either film magazines, tv interviews or on the internet. This is quite a big and illustrious list and some or most of these guys might like Kishore too but ALL OF THESE PEOPLE RATE RAFI HIGHER THAN KISHORE, and just as well because KK was nothing compared to the GREATEST Rafi. Ashwani…………after all these exchanges, I am sorry to say that you sound like a person who is not only illiterate musically but perhaps also otherwise too. You need to learn how to think critically and analyze the depth of things, rather than think and talk like an eight-year old.
Talking about popularity, let me give you a huge shock that Rafi & Lata are the most popular and well-known singers from the Indian subcontinent in the entire world overall. More people request Rafi’s songs on the radio & TV shows than even Lata, forget your favorite Kishore!! Different singers are more popular in different segments of the community, but Rafi is the #1 singer even in popularity, at least amongst all the male singers.
May 19th, 2006 at 11:24 am
Manoj,
The comment which i have attached in my 3rd last blog was my first comment in this forum, you came later. First Ravi who replied me then you, so boss please check it with ur naked eyes.
If you don’t care Nasir Hussain, Lata and Asha then who cares you. According to you my childish statement “I feel Kishore is far ahead of him as playback”. I wrote “I” and i hope you undesrtand meaning of “I”.
Manoj, Just watch Lata interview, it will clear ur inherit doubts.
Just check what Lata said abt KK in LA concert.
May 19th, 2006 at 10:30 am
Manoj,
I KNow the difference that’s why i am trying to take you on right path. Last week Anu malik came to Radio City, he was interviewed with Sonu Nigam where he said Rafi and Kishore both are legend in their own style.
I don;t know where you saw SPB, IllyaRaja, Yesudas, Ravi, Naushad, Manna Dey, Anu Malik, LP, SJ, Anoop Jalota, Shailendra Singh, OP Nayyar, Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan says “Rafi is greatest”, must be in your dream.
Manoj, you are penning things which you want to hear from others.
I have seen and read almost all interviews given by MDs and singers so whatever you said 100% wrong and baseless. Just watch SPB’s quote abt KK in LATA concert.
Udit said in his interview in “GAATA RAHE MERA DIL” that he wanted to become KISHORE and RAFI because they got the same status and fame as our heroes like AMitabh and DILIP KUMAR are getting.
Boss what am i writing is with proof, not just cooking something in air.
Manoj, you are sounding cheap by saying meaningless quote by LATA.
May 18th, 2006 at 10:18 pm
By the way, I have heard all of SPB, IllyaRaja, Yesudas, Ravi, Naushad, Manna Dey, Anu Malik, LP, SJ, Anoop Jalota, Shailendra Singh, OP Nayyar, Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan say “specifically” in interviews that Rafi has been the GREATEST male singer in Bollywood, and some of these people have also said that he has been the GREATEST singer in Bollywood regardless of male and female.
Don’t be quoting meaningless statements like “sampoorn kalakar” and stuff like that to us, because it doesn’t mean the greatest singer by any stretch of imagination….I guess it’s hard for you to know the difference.
Learn to read between the lines!!! 
May 18th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Ashu,
You are like a rabbit blinded by bright lights. If you look at the messages history, yours is the FOURTH message and before my first message in this thread!! Do you get it????? So you started it all by making a childish statement that “I feel Kishore is far ahead of him as playback”. I am sure you will still not be able to figure out what’s happening here.
I don’t care what Nasir Hussain feels about one Rafi duet with Asha. Rafi might have had his bad days like every human being, but he dominated all other singers in most of their duets, and the whole music world knows that. Even if you imagine in your wildest thoughts that Rafi didn’t sing one song very well, it doesn’t matter because you look at the entire body of work and then compare. Rafi’s body of work dwarfs even Asha’s & Lata’s, and let’s not even talk about KK’s childish stuff.
And talking about SPB & Shailendra Singh….just ask them who the best male singer ever is and they will tell you Rafi right to your face!! Yeah, they might admire KK but they rate KK much lower than Rafi. In fact, I have a video interview of SPB where he says that he considers Rafi to be at least 10 times better than the next best singer. Dude…..aresn’t you deluded!! And you don’t even understand that even Lata calls KK a “Sampoorn Kalakar” because he was pretty good in a lot of different fields. Lata has never ever called KK as the best singer, and will never do. She knows better than that. I guess you can’t even figure out the meaning of people’s statements!!!!!!!! There is a HUGE difference between saying “Sampoorn Kalakar” and “Greatest Ever Singer”, and we are talking only about singing in this forum, in case you missed that point too.
May 18th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Again you are running on wrong track.
Tell me who said Rafi is better than KK and KK is better then Rafi from the list of singers/MDs you have mentioned in the comments.
SPB always admire KK, just listen his track he sung in LATA concert, he took KK songs. He could not justify but he chose KK songs.
Sailendra singh is hugh admirer of KK. I saw his interview in Zee TV in 1994-5 in “GAATA RAHE MERA DIL” programme. I am sure you have not heard of this programme. As you music lover i’ve never miss a single programme on music.
Manoj, I am telling u all this with proof not just throwing ballon in the air like you.
I will tell you those who knows the music they will never compare two legends apart from their legendary style.
Whatever you are saying is baseless and unbelievable. I wrote many time that it is ur mistake that ur knowledge is better than anyone else.
Comparing Lata with Rafi shows another lack of music knowledge. Male and Female can’t be compared and FYI female voices are always better than male voices.
Whatever you said is ur imagination, as i wrote in my prev. blog what Nasir hussain thought on Rafi after hearing “AAJA-2 Main HU PYAR TERA” and this is not imaginary, it was telecast in Doordarshan and CNN IBN while having chat with ASHA/Nasir Hussain and Rajdeep Sardesai(Hope u know him).
KK is like amitabh, no doubt.
For your info, Lata told in her inetrview abt Kishore “HE IS SAMPOORNA KALAKAAR”.
ASHA said that she had to work hard whenever she had to sing with KISHORE/LATA.
You view is “0″ before 2 living legends views.
Madonna and Pele comparison is happened outside INDIA that’s why you can see such foolish result, u should know this. Indian are more intelligent than anybody else. If you remember Amitabh became “STAR OF THE MELLENIUM” because we indian votes. And same year they said “KK is ‘SINGER OF THE MELLENIUM’”.
May 17th, 2006 at 11:51 pm
Ashu,
By the way, you are totally wrong to believe that whatever is more popular is better. In a very well-known poll, Maradona was rated the best soccer player of all times by more than 80% of the people, with Pele getting only 15% of the votes. Whoever understands soccer knows that Pele was on a totally different level than Maradona and other soccer greats.
There also have been polls where Shahrukh has been rated better and bigger than even Amitabh, so you should know not to fall into the herd mass mentality.
Anyways, I have a very strong feeling that Rafi will be rated the best playback singer by people who understand music and know the difference. Just listen to what SPB, IllyaRaja, Yesudas, Lata Mangeshkar, Ravi, Naushad, Manna Dey, Anu Malik, LP, SJ, Anoop Jalota, Shailendra Singh, OP Nayyar, Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan and a host of other music professionals have said about Rafi. In fact, if you talk to the old-timers in the Hindi music circles, they will tell you that during the 50’s & 60’s, even Lata was considered an inferior singer to Rafi, and that Lata had a Rafi complex all those years because of Rafi’s unparalleled talent and range. That’s why, as great as Lata was/is, she is really lucky that she has outlived Rafi by more than 25 years. These extra years have helped her build a demi-god like image for herself, when in fact, Rafi has actually been the GREATEST of all bollywood singers.