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
April 15th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
and of course i like mukesh too, here is classic by mukesh from movie madhumati, music by melodious salil::
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BeYFRzr1jKk
and here is gem by rafi from the same movie::
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KqG9JMOZB4s
April 15th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
here is another very well known song composed in “bhairavi” from movie udan khatola(1955), music by great naushad, another example of traditional melody::
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wbZJXi1Xc0o
April 15th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
here is an utter example of traditional voice with full of melody::
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CrP8ke60gIQ
April 15th, 2008 at 8:58 am
hello every rafi lover:
Many readers regard me as a “great fan” of mohd rafi saaheb which
surely i am.
but i am also a great lover of music and all the singers appeal to me
and foremost among them is saighal saaheb, talat saaheb, manna dey
and lata mangeshkar. mukesh saaheb has sung some great songs can
we miss kishore da’s great numbers.
binu nair
April 15th, 2008 at 8:17 am
What is this “new Issue” ? comparing legends?????
Please understand that we all love rafi ji and we know he is the best.
let a music lover hear these three songs of rafi ji : subah na aayee
shaam na aayee; caravan gujar gayee, woh hum na the wo tum
na the and the asha-rafi duet quawalli : meri tasweer leke kya
karoge, tum…. and opine here as to how “any” other singer would
have sounded.
let’s all learn to respect kishore, mukesh, talat , saighal, manna dey
for their great contributions. there is absolutely no wrong to say
they too were masters of their type of singing.
but, rafi leads from the front - by far and only the ignorant will
miss this point.
binu nair, rafi foundation, mumbai, binus2000@hotmail.com
April 15th, 2008 at 3:17 am
Interesting replies to my comments everyone — I don’t think anyone understands my taste here — not that I expected you to
For the questions regarding why Naushad et al used Rafi for their most soulful numbers — soulful is definitely debatable; furthermore, Rafi was far more musically correct than Mukesh. Mukesh had a tendency to go offkey at times — but his voice IMO is the best.
Rafi’s voice is nice and all — definitely in his early numbers like — Toote Huye Khwaabon Ne (IMO he is as good as anyone else here) — but the voice had this, bass to it which I didn’t prefer. I prefer a “manly” voice as it were to a more traditionally meloidious voice.
Regardless of these silly comparisons of taste, and qf admit it, it boils down to taste as to whose voice sounds better.
The more objective analysis of who is more musically correct, has a greater range, higher pitch definitely goes as follows:
1) Ghantasala ( I would have put Rafi on top if it were not for the Shiva Shankari song I heard)
2) Rafi - used to be my num 1
3) Manna Dey
4) Yesudas, SPB, Kishore, et al
Some where in the last) Mukesh — I admit — he didn’t have a great range
I am not a blind fan as many of you seem to think here — I simply like the tone/quality of his voice
April 15th, 2008 at 2:04 am
ref 790
I don’t know why my post got truncated…what I meant to say is…
if you want to judge Rafi’s voice, please choose a song BEFORE 1972.
By mid 70s, health problems did catch up to rafi sahab.
By the way, Rakesh, I appreciate your honesty, you are absolutely entitled to your opinion. Just because some musical stalwart likes one singer’s VOICE (which is so subjective) doesn’t mean you have to choose the same. If Mukesh ji’s voice is closest to your heart - I’m glad. We love variety from our legends.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Re. post # 787: Yet another rotten joke this time by Rakesh Malhotra, please bear in your mind, no one is near to Rafi Saheb. Mukesh ji sang many nice songs, but this does not mean he was a better than Rafi Saheb. Please think before writing such nonsense comments. Even the said Ghantasala is no where to Rafi Saheb.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
ref to post 787::
actually there is a problem with you guys, as you think you know more than the legendary musicians and mds who always put rafi at no.1, from naushad to sdb to sj to mm every one put rafi at their highest esteem so what is a problem for you guys??… if you like mukesh than just write “i like mukesh”, and this is a rafi forum so do not insult rafi here..
April 14th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
ref to p 787::
you must be joking, kishore & mukesh were great singers but rafi was by far great, you are talking of voice quality, do you know why s-j & sdb(earlier were mentors of mukesh and later one was mentor of kk) used rafi for their soulful songs?? because his voice quality was by far superior
and reminding you- every great md- naushad, sdb,sj, mm etc etc used rafi ji for their best compositions, all of them whether he was rafi-composer or non-rafi compser accepted the superiority of rafi over others…
by the way there is one song from dillagi(1949)- is dunia mein aey dil walo, listen to that song and you will find that rafi was best in this so-called mukesh genre as well…
here is brain storming question for you— how many ghantasala’s or mukesh’s rock ‘n’ rolls and quawallis are there?? rafi was complete singer and best singer too…….
April 14th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Rakesh,
Do you know who Mukesh ji’s favorite male singer was?
This is not to compare but just for fun. If you ever judge Rafi’s voice quality, please judge it on a sing
April 14th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
ref post 787
Rakesh,
You need to clean your ears before suggesting that Mukesh ji’s or Kishore da’s voice is better than Rafi sahab’s. It is a well known fact amongst all who know music that Rafi sahab’s voice is very sweet and melodious and is above all other singers let alone the other qualities of singing.
I am obviously a Rafi fan but i do like some Lata, Asha, Mukesh, Kishore and Mahendra Kapoor numbers but there is no one that i have heard who comes close to Rafi sahab. Lata ji was the next best singer and than come the rest.
To be honest i find Kishore’s voice not very good but he has sung some very good numbers to his credit. My preference after RAfi is Mukesh and Mahendra Kapoor.
You opinions are biased towards those singers you like. I dont have a problem with people having any singer as thier favourite but to suggest something that is utterly nonsense is stupid.
You make a fool out of yourself making comments like that.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
ref post 785
Anjit ji,
Aap ne bil-kul sach kaha.
You have spoken the truth.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Hello,
I have just read the comments and the discussion of who is better between Rafi saahab, Kishore ji, and Ghantasala ji.
First, let me tell you my biases — Mukesh ji is my favourite all time singer. His voice, in my opinion, is simply unmatched. I admit that singing talent wise Rafi saahab eclipses him easily — but I am not a fan of the timbre or quality of Rafi ji’s voice. Mukesh ji, IMO, has a sublime timbre.
Listen to Jaane Na Nazar for eg. to get a hint of what I am talking about. Mind you, I am not talking about singing talent but rather quality of the voice.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CzhyIsKP4rY
Second, I am also a fan of Kishore ji - IMO his voice is also better than Rafi saahab’s - again in terms of quality. Eg:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nGYcIG-shcc&feature=related
Third, and possibly most amazing, I heard the Shiva Shankari song posted above after reading Khan saahab’s raving review of Ghantasala ji, and man, am I lucky I decided to visit this website today.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is he for real?!! And, how come I haven’t heard of him until today?! He has the perfect combination of voice and technical ability — the latter is simply out of this world, the modulation, the control, the pitch he reaches. WOW!!!
Anyone out there who hasn’t heard him yet — please listen to:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M3hCRAQ2yJg
I guarantee - you will be amazed. After listening to this, I listened to songs sung by both Rafi saahab and Ghantasala ji, and I must say Ghantasala ji easily eclipses him in all of them. Suvarna Sundari aur Chal Ud Ja Re Pancchi.
Being a Mukesh fan, I couldn’t resist comparing Saawan ka mahina to Ghantasala’s rendition of it — even I must admit that Ghantasala is simply out of this universe. Albeit, Mukesh’s rendering retains a certain provincial flavour to the song which I like — same flavour found in other songs like Gayeja Geet Milan Ke in Mela.
Anyway, Ghantasala is a new find for me — and such a late find too. I am buying his collection tomorrow. Thanks everyone for making me discover this gem.
Good bye,
Rakesh
April 13th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
whatever rafi ji sung in 40s, 50s, 60s & 70s was true magic, hfm gave us many great singers-mukesh,talat,manna,kk,hemant.. but rafi ji’s range cover all these singers plus his own unmatched and untouchable qualities, he was true playback voice.. was there any singer at that time in the whole planet who could sing rock ‘n’ roll to classical with same ease.. rafi was just unbelievable, greatest singing talent, truly gifted voice…
April 13th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
RAFIJI SAHAB amar hai…agar sangeet mein koi bhagwan hai to vo rafi sahab hi hai……tare to corore hai per suraj sirf ek hai aur vo rafiji hi hai…kya aavaj ,kya gaane ki range…aur kya bagwan ki den …it would be injustice to music to compare any one to rafiji ….anyone listen to his song just say…WAAAH KYA AAWAJ HAI ,KYA GAYA HAI…..no one can even think to even touch his feet …
April 9th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
dhani ram ji…,
rafi saaheb amar hai, unke gaane amar hai . rafi saaheb can never
die….
binu nair.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Dear Mohd Rafi fan and music lover,Award like Bharat Ratna is so small in front of God Award,after 27 years gone still people remmber his birth day no one from his family having his birthday but all over the world,
If u ask me the name best 3 playback singer ever born the answer will be 1st was Mohd Rafi 2nd is mohd Rafi and 3rd will be Mohd Rafi.
Mohd Rafi had fans like u it is more than any award ………………………………………………………………………………
April 9th, 2008 at 12:41 am
Binu Sir
Rafi deserved Bharat Ratan in his life time.I don’t know how Rafi was considered less than Lataji.Rafi Sahib hasn’t been given even Dada Sahib Phalke award.It is a pity that we haven’t given our best singer of all times his due.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Rafi Saheb’s voice was a God gifted voice. His last songs in the year 1980 had the same freshness as it was in the 60s. One of Rafi Saheb’s last songs recorded was “Phool Ka Shabab Kya… Husn Mahatab Kya…” from the film “Farz Ki Jung”, released in the 80s. This song was picturised on Govinda (I must say Govinda being so lucky having sung in Rafi Saheb’s golden voice).
I appeal to all, hear this song and tell me was there any change in Rafi Saheb’s voice as it was in the 60s? Long Live Rafi Saheb, the saint with a golden voice. Anybody need this song, can mail me.
melodiousrafi@yahoo.com
January 29th, 2008 at 10:23 am
singh saab:
we are rafi lovers and we will keep the flag flying high and
honour rafi saab..
meanwhile, let’s all enjoy rafi saab songs which are “blissful”
to our body and souls.
binu nair… the rafi foundation…mumbai
binus2000@hotmail.com
January 29th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Now that the Government has finally left the Bharat Ratna undecided for the seventh year in a row, we must focus our energies to achieve the same for Rafi Sahab atleast next year. The need of the hour is not to lose precious time but the campaign must go on. All the time tested avenues must be explored afresh and the Government must be made ‘aware’ of the stark reality of the greatness of this one single individual who deserves this coveted award more than anyone else. The Rafi Foundation should put its act together and all those who can work for this most noble cause, need to keep the campaign as their cherished aim. Efforts made in right earnest will yield positive results although it may seem to take some time.
January 28th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Friends,
Bharat ratna is losing value b’coz every other person is lobbying for it. That’s why govt. did not declare the award for so many years.
Binu saab and vasu saab.
i feel greatest singers like rafi saab and ghantasala ji should not be dragged into line of such awards which are being given to even politicians in power. I certainly do not want to see these great artists to be placed on par or equal with the so called not eligible people getting these awards. Even personalities like mahatma gandhi, bhagat singh, netaji etc. have not been given any award. We should hence observe the losing value of these awards and the personalities to whom they are being given. Very few rare and eligible persons are recognised in true spirit that too very late like as vasu saab mentioned regarding p susheela, the top melodious female singer of the south with highest number of songs in females singers in south.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
vasu ji:
surely yes to all what u state. the lobby-ists have again succeeded.
the rafi foundation is just seven months old and the b.r. isssue
is one of the points in the agenda.
we will take it up again in a better and professional way. meanwhile,
we all feel that “an injustice” has been done to the memory of
rafi saab by denying him his due place by the powers that be.
the people must ask the govt. to correct this monumental error
to a sage and an unparelled singer.
binu nair…. the rafi foundation… mumbai.
January 26th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
binu ji,
Bharat ratna has not been declared for the seventh consecutive year. Moreover, the issue is much politicised now. Almost a ineligible personality also wants it now. Anyhow, one of my grievances as mentioned earlier has been rewarded. P Susheela, the melodious lady singer from the south has at last been awarded padmabhushan. Her yesteryear talents have been recognised now. Our stalwarts, as i already mentioned earlier (i again repeat here) i.e ghantasala garu and rafi sahab, though eligible for greater awards have been let off with only padmashri. Binuji, hence, i personally feel that these awards etc. are subject to much political recommendations and the talent and skill factor assumes a secondary role.