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
October 30th, 2007 at 9:58 am
POST 570 :
THE BEAUTIFUL number ‘Kuhu Kuhu bole koyaliya” was sung by
rafi-lata.
shri ghantasala recommended rafis name to the music composer
adi narayan rao.
sastry ji.. how many songs did shri ghantasala sing in hindi ,
english and other languages as rafi did?
Please do not compare rafi with any other singer as rafi is a
‘quintisential singer’ who could give ‘quintuple’ effect to any
number or deed he did.
If ever god could ’sing’ it would have to be in the voice of rafi.
more, if ever god made a great human being with a golden
voice it has to be rafi and rafi ‘ alone ‘.
please write your views in the orkut pages as rafi fans here
are not ‘interested’ in any of your theories and comparisons
herein.
please be happy and leave the place. no thanks.
binu nair. mumbai
October 30th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Sastry garu,
You have specifically addressed a post to me and asked for my views and I gave them to you. You do not have to agree.
Incidentally, just one small, but important, point. All the Telugu MDs including Ghantasala (Ghantasala is as much an MD as a singer!) used to closely follow all the old Hindi songs and used to copy them in their Films many a time. In this, Ghantasala was a forerunner.
It also so happens that 90% of such songs that he copied from HFM for his Films were by Rafi Saab.
Only some examples:
1.”Prema Kosame Wala Lo Padene Paapam Pasi Vadu” (patala Bhairavi) from Rafi Saab’s “Suno Suno Ae Duniya Walon Bapu Ki Yeh Amar Kahani” (Copied both the Mukhda and Antara)
2.”Samsaram Samsaram Prema Sudha Teeram” (samsaram–MDs:Ghantasala & Susarla) from Rafi Saab’s “Yeh Zindagi Ke Mele” from Film:Mela
3.”Jayammu Nischayammu Ra Bhayammu Ledu Ra” (Sabash Ramudu) from Rafi Saab’s “Kadam Badhaye Ja nazar”
There are many more of this nature from early 50’s right upto the early 70’s.
I will post a complete list (over 35 to 40 songs) later.
But, the point here is that it was Ghantasala who used to closely view Hindi Film Music and its MD’s/Singers. Rafi Saab was a great favorite of both Ghantasala and NTR. Rafi Saab and rest of the HFm hardly ever needed to be inspired by or copy from Ghantasala songs.
So, the above proves two points:
1. Ghantasala, though a very great singer, was just known to Telugu people like you and me. Even Tamil/Kannada/Malayalam folks do not know him.
2. Even your great favorite Ghantasala used to be inspired only by HFm and especially Rafi Saab.
One more point. I make my assessment in my own mind based on comparision of hundreds of both singers’ songs. Even on SOng-to -song comparision Rafi Saab has a clear edge, but it is a faulty way of doing it.
Finally, I have no idea of your knowledge of Hindi songs of Rafi Saab and hence would not like to continue this discussion with you.
Venkat
October 30th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Here’s Telugu Rafi in action (original tune composed by two Gujaratis):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tFh2AM9e5M0
And here’s Punjabi Rafi in action (tune composed by a Bengali):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dlEEuNw-Kwc
October 30th, 2007 at 7:54 am
Venkatadri garu
Sastry garu seems to be more generous. He is simply quoting. But I wish to bring to your notice that I feel happy that at last you have acknowledged voice of ghantasala as strong and booming than rafiji. You also fully accept that ghantasala had no competition and rafi indeed did face competition. As sastry garu said, there was no dearth of talent in telugu, and as sri anil cherian says about k j yesudas, he very much sang in telugu films when ghantasala garu was very much there but could not match ghantasala at any point of time leave matching rafi sahab who is the greatest singer on par with ghantasala. You also further acknowledge ghantasala as your best singer. I don’t know despite accepting all the above points what more edge rafi ji is having according to you, i don’t know. It seems from your analysis that despite accepting above points you somehow want to support rafi ji in some or other way i.e. by hook or crook depite accepting above points with reference to ghantasala. This is confusing. What do you say Mr. Venkatadri.
Mr anil cheriyan, i feel you are from south and I frankly admit that k j yesudas was definitely a great singer but as stated my many friends in these columns including music analysts, he ranks only next to ghantasala and rafi sahab.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Who are raj and sid? KK was just a joker, Rafi Saheb jaisa koi nahin.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Venkatadri garu,
I don’t feel convinced with your comments. Your view that hindi field has more talent than telugu counterpart seems misleading. There were indeed top singers such as p b srinivas, a m raja, k j yesudas also sang in telugu when ghantasala garu was very much there, and as you said mukesh, talat etc. are certainly not much great vis-a-vis aforesaid telugu people. The above referred telugu people are also equally multitalented as I have listened to many of these telugu as well as hindi singers. But none could match ghantasala at any point of time. I told you even during his last stages (71-74) when ghantasala was not well, then also he dominated the field due to his experience and voice. Even in such stage other singers could not match him. ghantasala rose like a colossus among all these singers only due to his majestic voice and his voice well ensured that no competition exists. Not that there is dearth of talent. What about raghunath panigrahi singing with ghantasala in jayabheri?
Why don’t you compare same songs of both? i.e. paya ninche o chiluka of ghantasala garu and chal ud ja re panchi of rafi. Will you not agree former’s voice has more attraction. Similarly in suvarna sundari song, hayi hayiga amani (in hindi kuhu kuhu koyalia) again ghantasala has dominated both in terms of presentation and melody. What do you say? Rafi might have sung in all moods. does that mean ghantasala did not sing. Certainly no. If rafi has sung o duniya ke rakhwale, then ghantasala assumes speciality in madhuram madhuram siva mantram in kalahasti mahatyam (note the devotion and sharpness in high pitch) pl. compare both. Similarly, take ghantasala’s song amma ani arachina in panduranga mahatyam or ye nimishaniki emi jaruguno and see the emotions there. The question here is not that who presented better talent but who possessed the most natural melodious voice. This might be temporary also and only at a certain point of time. I feel certainly ghantasala had that. I tell you pl. hear tenaliramakrishna picture song hare rama hare rama (nagaiah and ghantasala singing), the melody in the voice of ghantasala is all powerful there. Rafiji never expressed such melody in any of his 25000 plus songs.
Difference with reference to speciality in both voices is when a song goes from low pitch to high pitch ghantasala garu’s voice becomes more sharp and strengthened without compromising melody but rafi sahab maintains only melody but his voice does not become sharp or strengthened. This is the main difference between both and accordingly ghantasala definitely assumes edge. (pl. comment on symala dandakam of ghantasala in mahakavi kalidasu - this proves my above point)
I have nothing more to say.
October 29th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Ref: post 553:
Dear Venkat Sir:
In the list of Rafi admirers, u seem to have missed out the great K J Yesudas (who IMO is the only singer that can be compared to Rafi Sir)
October 29th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
and rafi lovers please remember that ’some ‘ crazy men come
to this portal and start writing that so and so singer is better than
rafi.
binu ji, i have deep regards for u and also i m the moderator of the biggest Rafi community in orkut along with Mr Nitish Sinha….sir we take utmost care not to let any intruder defame Rafi sahab a bit. zero tolerance for such things. I invite u to plz visit it and make comments as we have a forum for that also. one slight indirect attack on Rafi sahab and BANG! a kick on his back and there he goes.
In orkut we r also dedicated fans sir and we have already developed a great website of our own.
plz visit www.eternalrafi.com
waiting for ur comments
October 29th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Dear Raj,
Why are u so ingnorant my dear bhai? No where Manna da has said that Kishore da is superior to Rafi saab and he is only higlighting his expericences with ur fav singer and nothing else….
There was a interview of Manna da live one in Radio city all stations where he clearly mentions that if he wants to take rebirth he would like to be like another Rafi saab.
Also he mentions with great respect that any budding artiste will first offer respect to Rafi saab in male n Lataji in female category and keep a framed photo of the legend.
Either growup or tell facts do not distort them if u do not know….
As for Ghantasala garu he is the supreme in telugu films industry like Yesudasji in malayalam, and so on so forth..
But when it comes to bollywood it is Rafi saab n lataji followed by others….
I think we should not compare the two legends as they are from different languages and Ghantasala garu has not sung any hindi film songs to my knowledge….
It is like foolishly we are comparing hindustani exponent Bhimsenjoshi with carantic Balamurali krishna…
Or comparing Amjad ali khan with some one like Narayanaswamy a veena vidhwaan…
so do not be a blind fan like what Nitish sinha has mentioned
October 29th, 2007 at 12:54 am
Some ignorant folks, who claim to be great music lovers, have been trying to interpret raju bharatan’s interpretation of what manna dey wrote in his autobiography. I’ll respond to Raju Bharatan’s piece later; he has been getting on my nerves for the last 40 years and I’ll give him a fitting reply. But for all the other raju’s and raj’s, here is a sampling of manna da’s comments; if they understand English, I’m sure they will understand what he means:
1. The singer comments on actors and contemporary singers with reverence. About his contemporaries he says, “Rafi and I shared a great rapport and I doubt if he shared this with anybody else. Rafi instituted a tradition by himself and his style remains unique. Lata has been singing for nearly 50 years now. She hails from a tradition very rich in natya sangeet, a convention with an amazing range of stylisations. Amazing also is her dedication.
2. I am indeed very lucky that in spite of the fact that there were greater singers than I, like Rafi, Asha and Lata, I was still sought after. I never cease to be surprised at the way these doyens sang. Their voices transport me to another world. I am honoured that I have been able to make a place for myself among them.
3. And here’s the advertising line for his autobiography:
“You listen to my songs; I listen to Manna Dey songs only,” the legendary Mohammad Rafi once said.
High praise indeed for the popular playback singer of Hindi and regional films. And praise which Dey treasured more than awards, which he looked upon ‘as an inconsequential form of recognition’.
October 28th, 2007 at 11:24 pm
dear sastri and raj sahab
first of all thanks for u compliments.
1)first of all,bollywood is the major source for all over the world,who cares telugu or other film industries?
2)if we listen savarana sunadi kuhu kuhu tell me who has sweeter voice?ghantsala or rafi?no doubt rafi has more melody that ghantsala while ghantsala has pace in my opinon.
3)secondly,who is more famous in world rafi or ghantsala?if u are immoveable then i can mention my punjabi songers more range than anyone in subcontinent.
4)secondly,be open minded every one has to face set backs in his life,career etc so u point is not valid.so ,the question is that who is better and verstile?rafi or kishore?
listen and enjoy
October 28th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Sastry garu,
First of all, my sincere thanks for your appreciation of my knowledge, whether I deserve it or not.
You are aware that I am a great admirer of Ghantasala Mastaaru for his many divine and excellent songs. Fortunately, God had given me the opportunity to listen thorughly to almost all of them including private songs.
Now, your first question was whether I do not find Ghantasala’s voice ’stronger’ than that of Rafi Saab. Let me reply firstly that I admire Ghantasala’s voice a great deal. But, ‘being strong and booming’ is not necessarily the only quality of a great voice. In fact, lovers of Rafi Saab, Talat Mehmood etc. do so, among other things, for their ‘Mukhmali’, soft voices. Especially, Rafi Saab’s voice has many many facets. To put it briefly, his voice modulates at will.
Secondly, you said Ghantasla did not have competition during his lifetime, but Rafi Saab did have competition. Yes, indeed. Even during his dominating period between early 50’s to early 70’s and again from 1976 till the end, Rafi Saab always had competition from the likes of Mukesh, Talat, Kishore etc. But, Ghantasala not having competition and Rafi Saab having it do not prove anything. For instance, Hindi Film Music industry certainly had more talent than its Telugu counterpart and that explains your point.
Well, Sastry garu, based on some many hundreds of songs of Ghantasala that I know and also many hundreds of songs of Rafi Saab that I know, I can say that Rafi Saab certainly had an edge over Ghantasala as a singer, considering talent, voice, variety/versatility, etc.
As I said in some earlier posts, my second best male singer out of all languages is Ghantasala!
Regards,
Venkat
October 28th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Here goes the article abut the way the dicussion goes-
KKFan : It is obvious that KK was the best singer ! Better than
your Rafi !!
RafiFan : (perplexed) Obvious ? but how ?
KKFan : Of course. He kicks ass. And mightyly.
RafiFan : (still perplexed) But how does that say anything about
singing abilities ?
KKFan : I mean he pours emotions in his songs.
RafiFan : (slightly interested) Can you elaborate please ?
KKFan : Naturally. The way he laughs in between, his famous
yodeling, the way he could say “kukru kuku” etc.
RafiFan : But what about singing. What you said above, can be done
in a better way by Johny Lever. What about SINGING ?
KKFan : (annoyed) Come now. Have you ever seen him singing ? He
really used to dance while recording his songs.
RafiFan : But I prefer to HEAR somebody sing, rather than SEE him
singing. What about his singing abilities ?
KKFan : He was a genius. He could act, he could dance, he could
direct movies. He was ultimate. He had 4 wives, you know !
RafiFan : But my dear freind, let’s discuss SINGING please.
KKFan : You don’t understand anything about music. Your Talat
had a palindromic name.
RafiFan : (??) But I am a Rafi fan. I don’t care how anybody spells
a name. I would like to know why you think KK was better.
KKFan : Don’t dare you start a flame war ! Our KKFanClub has a lot
more members. You will be blasted off the net.
RafiFan : (amused) But let’s just discuss. eg. How good was KK while
singing classical based songs ?
KKFan : Ah ! I knew you would come to this point. We are well aware
that KK didn’t have a formal training.
RafiFan : But is it Rafi’s fault ?
KKFan : (trying to think) No .. I mean .. Yes. No. No. But he was
good in every other aspect. And why should everybody sing
those Naushad songs ? KK was more lively singer, he could
put emotions into every song. Remember that “kukru kuku” ?
RafiFan : (exasperated) There is no hope. I give up.
KKFan : You see, you see. I knew I would win. You Rafi fans have
no point on which you can argue. Ha ha ha, KK the greatest !
(shouts … shouts and just shouts … )
So dear KKfan, if you have anything more than this …
October 28th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
while drowning, a person try to save himself through different loads. if one load is not enough, he left that and try to grasp another load. so if singing of quality of kishore da was not enough to save his point from drowning, then statements of manna dey was taken..however when it is clear that that stuff gone against him then this ghantashala stuff and 1971-1976 era stuff and after this you will find some another stuff.
Because it is now clear that 1948-1971 era and 176-1980 era stuff is now worth of discussion for him………..
Interestingly no one will find such person discussing the ’singing’ of kishore da… However i think one will find one or two good things in his singing, but all discussion are going like the following article I find on the net by some MR ABHAY..
October 28th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Raj,
I am glad that my posts addressed to you had the desired effect on you! You have started defensive expressions such as “at least from 1971 to 1976″ etc.! Ha ha!
I have nothing more to discuss with you.
Venkat
October 28th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Venkatadri garu, Namaskarams.
I hope you remember me and my earlier messages. I am aware you are an elderly person almost equal to me and i have deep respect for you and have great admiration for your knowledge on both singers i.e. ghantasala garu as well as rafi sahab. Your earlier messages i personally feel that i am not fully convinced about the explanations given therein because you have skipped some points and covered only some points. I was asking you whether rafi sahab’s voice has the same strength of ghantasala garu voice as in jayabheri (madi sarada devi). The sangeeta swaras when rendered by ghantasala garu appears more dynamic, strong and majestic whereas when rafi sahab sings (madhuban me radhika for instance) with regard to such strength and dynamism, I don’t think his voice is powerful than ghantasala garu. What do you say? Moreover the carnatic music specialists have definitely edge over hindusthani specialists because carnatic music itself is more powerful than hindusthani. An adept in carnatic can render hindusthani with lesser effort whereas an hindustani expert has to struggle harder to render carnatic music with ease. That is why the beauty and strength in ghantasala garu’s renderings in siva sankari and hayi hayiga amani from suvarna sundari which carry hindusthani music stamps. These points I have heard from leading telugu music directors namely sri saluri rajeswara rao (he was not satisfied with any singer except ghantasala) , and I am not myself
quoting this.
next very important point, as mr. raj has said I too submit that ghantasala had no competitor and no body dared to compete with him as long as was alive. In fact, it is said when ghantasala entered chennai (then madras) all existing singers had to pack off permanently from madras for the next 3 decades. Another point i have heard from our elders, even you have to enlighten me on this, that ghantasala was adjuged as the best playback singer award by film associations for the entire 3 decades (i.e. every year) . No other singer got that award when ghantasala was there. Even it is said when Bhakta Tukaram film shooting was going on m d Adi narayana rao waited for ghantasala for so many days because he was not well at that time. Ultimately, he recorded top songs of ghantasala garu in that film. The leading singer p b srinivas has quoted voice of ghantasala as kanchu kantha (impregnable voice).
I dont think rafi sahab enjoyed the same status equivalent to ghantasala. He did face tough competition from kishore kumar. For aradhana kishore got best singer award. But as i said ghantasala was the best singer in telugu as long as he was alive and never the best playback singer award slipped from him.
I request your valuable comments after hearing my analysis above.
with best regards.
October 28th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Mr. Venkatadri as well as Binu nair, Pl. carefully read word to word of mine.
A smell of leaf of a tree is enough to know about the tree. As stated my many people here, I have heard siva sankari telugu song of ghantasala in dishant. com in telugu songs and also his other songs. I had already posted this view of mine in previous messages, perhaps you might not have seen my message (message no. 499) This is enough to know the skill and voice of ghantasala. I may not know telugu or ghantasala but do you think I am writing here simply without hearing him. And also my immediate past messages regarding bhagavad geetha few slokas, the same are available on internet in mp3 download format. I think I need not tell you about this.
Regarding kk, you yourself state that kk was much sought after from 1971 onwards. If rafi’s skill is incomparable why was kishore sought after and what happened to rafi’s skill. Ok as per your words at least from 1971 to 76 why that temporary fall back for rafi. Thus rafi did face competition and competitor.
Binu nair, you were stating I start supporting ghantasala. One point I am asking you and venkatadri. could you reply. You yourself say kishore gave tough competition to rafi and rafi faced setback. But never in any of the messages of telugu and other readers seen that there was or has been any competitor for ghantasala during his lifetime and even after his death till today (as can be seen from raghavan sahab’s message rafi voice if comparable i.e. with kishore, whereas ghantasala incomparable means no competition for him)
This single point i.e a singer who had no competitor or no body dared to compete with him either during his life time or his passing away is enough to prove him as a superior singer. Hope your matured mind understands this. This point has been repeated from time to time by many telugu people here many many times.
if you think you are so well knowledgable, don’t forget to post clear cut replies to my above explanation.
raj, the determined fan of superior singer
October 28th, 2007 at 11:11 am
“Rafi was a wonderful person , a trendsetter in singing , he evolved a style of his own which iI used to follow too!”
This was the statement made by MANNA DEY, in one of the most prestigious newspaper THE HINDU.
“I am a great admire of this wonderful person Mohd Rafi. maiN hamesha sochta tha ki aisa talent bahoot rare logo ko milta hai. bahoot respect bhi mai karta tha unko. Rafi sahab hamare hindustan ke sangeet jagat me male singer ki haisiyat se sabse bada gaane wala hai.”
(manna dey speaks in legend series of HMV).
There a lot of such articles, interviews video recordings of MANNA DEY about the geniousness of Rafi saab. but if one is DEAF-DUMB-BLIND how could one believe the reality. Better to say , if someone did not understand after hearing his divine voice, then how could they know the reality after reading these words of legends. I really felt pity for them.
In 70’s a friend of Kishore Da exclaimed before him”aapne to Rafi ki Chhutti kar di”
The singer replied him in the most perfect way=He give him a good slap on his face.
Therefore it is better for raj type of people that kihore da I not alive today. Otherwise such people would have get many a slap for making such dirty remarks.
October 28th, 2007 at 9:25 am
Refering Comment 550, Mr. Raj Who r u to declatre do u understand meaning of of declaration what do u think about urself that ur president of India or ur donating ur personal properties. Mr. Raj various of manna da vedio clips are available in youtube u may c there that he says
1) what he (Rafi Saab) does in his songs it comes as al land mark 4 us…
2) I (Manna da) also tried too much to sing like him but alas….
and which anti rafi comments ur refering to read it is similar like raj = roy
Remove ur ears & mind garbage and try to understand real voice, sweet voice, round voice, high & low pitch voice, Class,classical & semi classical voice,sad voice, commedy voice, shardha voice and and intitute of voice and many more qualities of Rafi And only Rafi saab. Be a sensible music lover open ur mind why do u refer others comment write ur own
October 28th, 2007 at 7:25 am
Is Raj from Maharashtra ko GHANATASALA Ka Spelling Bhi Yhain Se Pata Chali. And he passes verdicts on Ghantasala, his voice etc. Raj, tell me just 20 songs of Ghantasala that you ever heard! The fact is that you do not even know who Ghantasala is and you go around bluffing!
Venakt
October 28th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Raj from Maharashtra:
Ur are a paranoid bug - raj.
one day u say Kishore Kumar is superior than rafi.
when someone writes that ghantasala is better than rafi ; you
jump over - to congratulate him and second him..
There is a KK website for you raj the imposter. we will catch your
identity soon.
remember impersonating is a cognisable crime under the indian penal
code.
and rafi lovers please remember that ’some ‘ crazy men come
to this portal and start writing that so and so singer is better than
rafi..
my advice to these confused persons is to go to ORKUT and write
these absurd stuffs.
Surely this portal is not ‘meant’ for such confused music lovers.
binu nair..
October 27th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Raj: from Maharashtra:
Hello, from Maharashtra which place? are u hiding ur identity
and faking your identity again? I was expecting u here and u
have arrived yet ‘again’ to creat trouble as u are ‘paranoid’ about
rafi saabs popularity.
Listen : whay Manna dey said to an interviewer when asked
“what he wanted to become in his next birth”. the journo expected
that he would say that he wished to be born as manna dey again.
No, he did’nt say that. He said : he wanted to be born as the
legendary mohd rafi..
there are video clippings to this effect.
Please reveal ur identity - or else we will seek u out raj and
remember we do’nt approve your slot as a “trouble maker”.
the other kk portal is open for u to give your paranoid views.
we are not interested..
binu nair… the rafi foundation… mumbai.,.
October 27th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
Raj and Sid,
A few more points. Manna Dey never said in that interview of yours that Kishore was a better singer than Rafi Saab. Now, considering that he was speaking on the Death Anniversary of KK, he said KK was a very good/ great /top singer, etc. We also do not disagree that he is a very good singer.
In contrast, day in and day out, not only during Birth/Death anniversaries, Manna Dey keeps eulogising Rafi Saab to the extent of openly saying that Rafi was a beter singer than Manna Dey himself and all others!
Add to Manna Dey the following. SPB, Ravi, OPN, Naushad, MK, Suresh Wadkar and tens of other celebrities.
Venkat
October 27th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Raj and Sid,
Ridiculous is the way you both have tried to grab a piece of straw as support in swimming the Indian Ocean!
Raj, on your challenge, I read the complete interview uploaded by Sid. Nowhere in that interview did Manna Dey say that Kishore is a superior singer to Rafi Saab. All that he said and meant was that after 1971, with a couple of freak hits of KK, he has become more sought after for a few years in HFM, that too only upto 1976 or so. Rafi Saab had regained his numero uno position from 1977 onwards till the end. When he said “with the advent of Kishore on the scene”, he meant from 1971. Otherwise, KK was very much on the scene fro donkey’s years right from early 50’s or even earlier, but could not even scratch the surface!
Manna Dey also came out in that interview u/led by Sid that he himself was disapproving of Kishore’s temporary ascent as it was undeserved! Observe his words, “capricious ways of this transient world”!
Unfortunately, unlike we Rafi fans, you guys do not get even an iota of material anywhere in your support. That is why you guys were eager to pile on to that interview without properly reading it.
Now, finally, you are talking of interviews. Forget it. I have with me on the hard disc a video of Manna Dey saying “Hum Sab Bhi Gaate Thhe, Lekin Rafi Saab Ke Nazdik Nahi Aa Sakte Thhe”. In that Video, he even said “I never had any hesistation in admitting that Rafi Saab was a better singer than myself”. And, he considers himself way way above KK! In that video he talks further about Rafi Saab’s voice modulation, expression, enunciation, etc. too in glowing terms.
If Pradeep Ji allows, I will upload that Video here!
I appreciate that you have waited so long for replying, as you yourself said. But, you need to wait indefinitely and endlessly!
Venkat
October 26th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
ref post 549
roy sir,
good to learn that you are in hyderabad. i too. pls give me your tel number. mine is 9949509592.