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
January 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Mr. singh:…
we surely need some “fun” and “humour” in this site
since we are getting toooo0 serious…..
calling out for mr.singh : can u pls help out… i am preseently serious
and mean it.
binu nair…. mumbai..
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 pm
post 773
ahmed bhai,
i fully agree with you.
the innocent face of rafi sahab depicts simplicity and that evergreen smile only we can get from a ‘ saint’. thats our rafi sahab the most beloved one.
rafi sahab you are simple + sober+gentle+kind+un assuming+ lack of ego+helping natured+soft spoken+extremely melodious = divine incarnation
we want you back in mortal frame rafi sahab please come back, please come back, please come back.
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:13 pm
When Rafi Saab was alive,he did not have any problem with anybody
other than Lataji.It is seen from various articles in newspapers and other
magazines he helped whoever sought his help.A singer sing for another
singer ! (Rafi saab for Kishoreda) was also happened.
We can see from the innocent face of Rafi Saab that he cannot hurt anybody.
when I hear his song I feel just taking “Kheer” with a Golden spoon.As far as I am concerned while hearing Rafi Saab’s song my mind is having full of
happiness that I am hearing a “golden voice” from a “golden gentleman”.
Let us all pray for his soul instead of hurting his soul.
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Singh Ji,
I will score the balance 46 runs if you give me able support at the other end like Bhajji once did for Tendulkar!
I find it highly hilarious that you have no interest in this site other than that the run target must be met! We indeed need people like you too!
Venkat
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:33 am
Post 770.. which means “u” have been been defeated by 45 runs
mr.singh and u remain “not Out”…
now finally concluded. remember the “not out batsman is
not permitted to bat” which means u cannot post on this subject .
enjoy ur cricket, singh saab.
binu nair…… mumbai..
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hello please please please, binu and ramakrishna saab’s
Pl. do not withdraw until victory is achieved; only 46 messages (runs) to win. you both only are capable of delivering the victory for this site of rafi saab.
January 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
POST 767
from my part this discussion stands
“concluded”.
RAMAKRISHNA
HYDERABAD
January 21st, 2008 at 10:50 pm
postcript : post no.766 ; from my part this discussion stands
“concluded”.
binu nair…. the rafi foundation…. mumbai…
binus2000@gmail.com
January 21st, 2008 at 10:04 pm
old and senile bull ? that means you can go on writing anything you like ? anyway my dear friend i cant see tears in your eyes. you go on writing any rubbish words people wont mind ?
poor man, poorer individual, poorest soul. it needs only wah wah. now he writes dear rafi lovers just to get their solace. why dint he praise sirish kulkakrni in the beginning and why now ? this great sirish kulkarni has done splendid work for a fortnight before 31st july 2007 for rafi sahab. why he was not highlighted then ? why now after my writing ?
your addressing me as ‘ bull’ does not make any difference. if you go on writing like this then people will think, ‘ ek saandh ney dusrey saandh ko khoob pehechaana ‘ ha ha ha …………..
god bless you my dear brother.
January 21st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Dear rafi saab lovers,
my “apologies” are due to rafi saab lovers for keeping them
engaged on a issue of protocol and grace while dealing with
rafi lovers - with people who may not share ur views.
this website is doing a yeomen service for the cause of
rafi lovers and as usual there are elements who will break the
norms of decent bahaviour and be unrepentent about it all their
lives.
and old bull, as if he is a parmatma tells rafi lovers ” go to hell”
and shows in inbuilt angers and frustrations on music lovers
and rafi lovers.
this is not accepted AND i tried to counter him by counter attack
but not succeeded.
he is too thick skinned. mutual friends called me up and called
for a truce but this “bull on the run” breached the truce. one can check up
this with mr.shirish kulkarni.. from mumbai who has done some
exceptional work with me.
since , this person will never mend his ways, i am withdrawing
from this discussion with this “old and senile bull”.
My apologies to rafi lovers once again as i was only trying to
restrain this person in his use of word and bring compassion
to the various discussions we are having.
i am answerable to rafi lovers and to the great legend who has
shows umpteen times : what’s modesty and large heartedness.
i am withdrawing from this discussion having “no hope” that this
individual will ever correct or reform himself.
i take it “philosophically” since in life u meet various sorts of people.
sorry for the inconvenience caused to the ” sea of graceful and
genuine rafi lovers ” - of this world.
binu nair…. the rafi foundation.. binus2000@hotmail.com
January 20th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
you can use any word you like ? are you a dada or a self styled hero ? you are inviting other people also to intervene. funny people are really enjoying my dear bull.
you are not a true follower of rafi sahab’s principles but you keep on advising people to follow.
ohhhhhhhhhhhhh my god please help this poor soul.
January 20th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Post 761: u have to withdraw the term “go to hell” used on
rafi lovers and then withdraw from the forum….gracefully.
else u will be termed as a “bull” on the run…..
there are too many graceful rafi saab lovers; but u are different.
good bye and do cool down a bit as shirish kulkarni has advised
u at different times.
binu nair….
January 20th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Reg Post 760.
Singh Bhai, I do admire your sense of humour and your penchant for fishing in troubled waters! Keep it up!
Venkat
January 20th, 2008 at 11:11 am
If there’s nothing more to discuss here (apart from personal arguments and counter-arguments), why keep the thread open?
January 20th, 2008 at 10:14 am
great binu jee,
i respect you and also you are respected by all the people in this beautiful forum of our legend rafi sahab. in fact i have never disagreed with anyone who so ever does not agree with me. i have convinced them with a respect. but for some i had to use a bit harsh words. for a stubborn person its necessary that we have to give a little higher tone because he catches that frequency.
next you have written that i am old . you are elder to me in every way. but at the same time i pity on you to name the ‘pious’ people who have advised me . i know mr sirish kulkarni very very well. he is a ‘ diamond’ in this forum. to all the readers i announce very proudly that he is the great person who has designed the photograph of rafi sahab which is the cover of the maiden issue of sargam magazine. boss why dont you write this to praise this worthy person. he is thew person who has gone all the way from bombay to kolkata to attend the inauguration of rafi sahab fountain.
you have no authority to write about my conduct. conduct is spoken by a gazetted officer rank only. why do you think that you have become a gazetted officer to advice and command people like this. binu respect you in this forum just because they think that you are true devotee of rafi sahab. but such types of remarks from you are definitely tarnishing your image. i am a normal man but since you have got a lot of recognition from people dont advice people like this.
now i wont write any thing else because you will be going on responding in a more and more erratic way, qouting rafi sahab’s name to maintain gentleness in this forum, where as you violate this golden rule.
propably you are not aware that rafi sahab never had quarrel with lata ji over that ‘ royalty’ issue. he withdrew himself softly. i am folowing the same path.
i am withdrawing my self from this forum for the time being. its not because of your remarks. pls dont feel proud that i am withdrawing. its not because of your remarks. its because of the remarks of mr singh at post 760.
mr singh i am sorry . your remarks is so good. i take this view from you and making my exit from this forum.
to all the readers i am sorry that i put you all in unnecessary embarassement. i apologise for this .
long live www.mohdrafi.com. i appreciate them for publishing my articles & comments in this forum.
bye bye…………………………..
binu i wish to see you happy today, tomorrow & for the next 100 years.
January 19th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
writers,
good, the argument still continues. still 57 messages to go to beat the other site .i.e. rafi kishore saga (815 messages). hope this site will beat the other site. only 57 runs to win.
January 19th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Ramkrishna ji..
u are old enough…. but good sense will rarely come to you since
u tell rafi lovers in the thread : “go to hell”… who disagrees with u..
shame on u and ur conduct…
please do not disturb us…
binu nair…
January 18th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
post 757
you are a great , greater and the greatest soul.
whats this rabbit, crow etc ?
January 17th, 2008 at 9:20 am
hallucination will never leave and let live this person..
and i remember a saying : he caught a rabbit by its ear but
will argue, argue and argue that what he caught is
“two great horns”….
jealousy is more an attribute associated with women
but this individual beat this theory hollow…..
he gives me jest and a great laugh each day. it’s good for the
health - they say.
but, i pity his mind set…. poor soul…
binu nair,, the rafi foundation… mumbai.
January 17th, 2008 at 8:28 am
have anyone listened to english songs of rafi? it is really refreshing. he doesn’t try to emulate english accent or western singing, he sings english words the way he sings hindi words with the same sur and tal, which is incredible considering the low quality singers of today who try to emulate western style even in hindi songs!
January 16th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Vasuji :
we should keep up the great traditions of rafi saab and follow
all steps as per his philosophy of life.
I meet rafi saab friends and learn many “noble” things from them
and from u - how to conduct a discussion in the most “dignified” manner.
In the past many months i have met many many types of rafi lovers.
vasu ji… this is a caravan, we all will surge ahead….. and most of
rafi lovers will follow us…
let me assure u that once we meet we will spend some time
listening to rafi saab and ghantasala saabs few songs and make
it a wonderful experience of our lives..
the caravan must move onnnnnn….
binu nair… the rafi foundation..
January 16th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
post 751
sirish kulkarni has advised him ? really ? anybody else more ?
he has never written that ghantasaala garu is superior to rafi sahab. probably you cant read & understand properly. so sorry to note.
he is the person who has inculcated the word of respect ‘ sahab’ for the great mohammed rafi sahab while people gave examples that in their mother tongue they address god in singular .
what a bull headed person he is . ohhhhhh god help him please.
i know he will be going on writing like this as he has a number of tail lifters. i really pity on these people.
i know he cant face a challenge. he needs only praise & praise & praise.
he qoutes the name of rafi sahab and advices others to follow rafi sahabs principles but he never follows even a pinch of it.
only ego & ego & ego. oh god please help this man.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Binu ji, post 752,
I reciprocate with heartful thanks your comments in the post. Indeed it has been our endeavour to maintain a possible high level of dignified discussion throughout truly fitting the greatest playback singers/legends of indian film history & in particular rafi sahab.
one more gratifying news sir to share with all our good friends here, today it was reported in the news that the great playback legend of bollywood, mohammed rafi sahab’s name has been recommended for the highest civilian award i.e. bharat ratna. Let us all hope & wish that sri rafi sahab may be honoured with the award in due and honourable lines without paving way for any political hitches.
January 16th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Vasu ji:
my compliments to u for carrrying the discussion in the most
dignified manner.
ur sentiments are respected nd reciprocated herein.
binu nair…
the rafi foundation,,, Mumbai…
January 16th, 2008 at 9:17 am
He has been advised by shirish kulkarni a rafi lovers to shed
his anger while writing. this he has forgotten or now trying to
pretend that he has forgotten it. post 748….
it seems shirish has talked to him; but it’s like the proverbial
tail which will not turn better nor straight.
he says he has gone to the doctor for treating ‘hallucination’
since he sees others images when he stands before a mirror.
he has also broken the mirror - he has confirmed in this thread.
but he is rafi saab lover and will write
about shri ghantasala and try to prove that shri ghantasala is
better or if u do not “agree”, he is similar to rafi saab.
he also confirms that he has been to a very very very good doctor.
but from the doctors clinic he has picked up “few words” from the
para-medical staff or from the patients.
he uses them all around …. and very soon his doctor might
diagnose that his condition is not improving and give him
a few “electric shocks”…
he should be alright at the earliest is a thought.
Binu Nair… mumbai