The King of melody
This article is by Mr. Binu Nair. It has been published at http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=15713
Even if belatedly, music lovers have now appealed to the government to honour Mohammed Rafi with the Bharat Ratna posthumously. A singer par excellence and a paragon of humility and piety, Rafi strode the musical landscape like a meteor, enchanting generations of music lovers and transcending geographical borders. The melody and vocals Mohd Rafi created, crafted and pioneered during his reign have withstood the test of Time. The mellifluous vocals rise like a glorious tide, caressing the soul with songs for every mood and occasion.
Mohammed Rafi has sung them all, with grace and unsurpassable elan - be it ghazals, bhajans, classicals, soft romantic numbers, bhangra, sad songs, duets, nazms, and high-pitched fast numbers.
THE EARLY YEARS
Mohd. Rafi was born to Haji Ali Mohammed and Allah Rakhi in Kotla Sultan Singh village, a town near Amritsar on December 24, 1924. A disciplinarian father disapproved of Rafi’s passion for singing but the child had the blessings of his mother, according to Rafi’s youngest son Shahid Rafi, now in the business of garment exports in Mumbai.
The story goes that as a young boy, Rafi used to hear a fakir passing by the house, ektara in hand, singing to glory. The young lad would follow the fakir, sit with him under a tree and hear him to his heart’s content. This mendicant was the first to plant the singing bug in young Rafi’s mind. The ubiquitous radio too played its part, Rafi being glued to it when not attending primary school. At 14, Rafi’s family moved to Lahore for good, where he discreetly trained under Ustad Barkat Ali Khan.
Music composer Shyam Sunder, impressed by the lad’s voice, gave Rafi his first break - a duet - in Gul Baloch. The song ‘Soniyo ni heeriyo ni teri yaad ne sataaya…’, was recorded in 1942 in Lahore and thus became his first recorded song. Composer Feroze Nizami duly got for young Rafi his first job - through Radio Lahore in 1943. Thereafter, along with elder brother Hamid (who helped Rafi get major singing assignments in the early struggling days) Rafi reached Mumbai.
The brothers took up a ten-by-ten-feet room in the crowded downtown Bhendi Bazar area. Probably, to make ends meet Rafi also faced the camera in two movies, but his heart was set on singing. Long hours of early morning riyaaz mainly at the Chowpatty sea-face followed. As destiny would ordain, Shyam Sunder was now in Mumbai and again provided an opportunity to Rafi - who got to sing a duet with GM Durrani, ‘Aji dil ho qaabu mein to dildar ki aisi taisi…’, for Gaon Ki Gori, which became Rafi’s first recorded song in a Hindi film. Rafi’s stars were looking up now. National recognition soon came from the runaway hit, composed by Firoz Nizami, ‘Yahaan badla wafa ka…’ with Noorjehan, then reigning queen of Hindi playback singing for Jugnu. Many other popular songs followed and music composers were now convinced of Rafi’s phenomenal voice range.
In 1948, after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the team of Husanlal Bhagatram-Rajendra Krishan-Rafi had overnight created the immortal song ‘Suno suno ae duniyawalon, Bapuji ki amar kahani…’, which became a national rage. Mohd Rafi became a household name.
It was perhaps Baiju Bawra (1952) that brought real fame to Rafi and riches never even dreamt ever by this God-fearing lad who was on his way to becoming India’s topmost singer. ‘Man tadpat Hari darshan ko…’, ‘O’ duniya ke rakhwale…’, ‘Tu Ganga ki mauj…’ all became chartbusters. It heralded the era of the Naushad-Shakeel-Rafi team the musical works of which later reflected young India’s dream of a ‘secular and noble’ India.
THE SINGER AND THE MAN:
The then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru while viewing Baiju Bawra, enquired about the singer of the devotional songs from his secretary. When the PM was told it was a singer by the name of Mohd. Rafi, he was invited to dinner with the PM himself. Rafi was duly honoured and hugged for his singing feat by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. He was all of 28 years then and thus started the annual visit to the PM’s house and the tradition of singing for Prime Minister Nehru and several dignitaries.
Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, O.P. Nayyar, C.Ramachandra, Hemant Kumar and Ravi now began composing great numbers suited to Rafi’s vocal range. Rafi’s clear rendition, perfect sur and bhaav, unparallelled expression and impeccable diction placed him way above the other singers of his time.
However, despite fame and adulation, Rafi’s life and routine remained unaltered. The recording room-to-home itinerary never changed. No film parties, no vices, retiring at 9 pm and doing riyaaz from 4 to 7 in the morning were some strict norms laid by the maestro for himself. The only ‘luxuries’ Rafi indulged in and looked forward to were sports like carrom, badminton and flying kites along with family members and close friends.
Rafi became quite adept in singing in languages like Marathi, Kannada, Konkani, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati and English. He would rehearse for days before each recording - driving perfection into the numbers.
When Aradhana happened (and Kishore came in due to the advent of R.D.Burman as its associate music director and later hit centerstage), a section of music composers wasted little time in prophesizing the end of the road for Rafi and his salability as a playback singer. This hurt the gentle Rafi no end. Believing this to some extent, he thought of retiring and settling down with his sons in London. But Naushad, Rafi’s mentor and friend, urged Rafi to stay on and not run away from the scene as - he had considerable talent to face the heat of the times.
At this stage, composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal was in top creative form and not getting typecast in a specific musical mould like R.D. Burman. LP also did not forget Rafi’s huge role in their success in Parasmani, Dosti and many other films and his support when they were making their transition from assistants to music composers.
In due course, Rafi regained his confidence and once again was on top reckoning form with hit numbers from films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Sargam and many others.
A teetotaler and family man to the core, Rafi is the shining example of a singer who lit the way and blazed the trail for numerous aspiring singers from Mahendra Kapoor to Anwar and Shabbir Kumar down to Sonu Nigam. Mahendra Kapoor was his disciple and both shared a guru-shishya relationship till the very end.
Rafi came from a family where humility was equated with worshipping the divine. He had a lovable nature, no enemies and perennial humility.
Help would often go to artistes fallen on bad times - without the world knowing of it. He sang more for the song than for the money - the money would come later or never from struggling producers - but satisfaction always arrived at his doorstep. He would often waive his singing fees from debutant composers with no resources - charging one rupee as a token for a song. If he liked a song he would waive his fees too, citing his satisfaction as his payment. Rafi was content with the remuneration he received for his recordings. He did not chase money like some other artistes of the day.
THE LIMITED HONOURS
Did the Indian government give due recognition to Mohd Rafi, asked a Bangladesh journalist in www.mohdrafi.com, a website dedicated to the legend. The Padma Shri was conferred on Rafi and a nondescript tiny marquee with the sign “Mohammed Rafi Chowk” stands on Mumbai’s arterial SV Road in Bandra, the suburb in which he lived. But Rafi’s biggest award perhaps is the place that he has carved in people’s heart in many corners of the world.
August 30th, 2007 at 2:17 am
I’m actually stuck in a rut at this present moment of time, due to copyright infringement laws… where basically you need full authorisation for distribution of such known material, concerning video footage of the great one. The actual professional convertion centre’s have refused to transfer the original 2 hours and 20 mins of video live footage of the legend in concert, due to piracy strict laws.
Even though if footage of this concert was made available to fans, then what restriction laws do I have… to prevent them from supplying millions of copies of my footage throughout the world. How do I stop these so called greedy scroungers from transfering my rare video footage for their own personal gain, only way out is to ask all fans to sign a disclaimer from prohibiting or selling any material made from my disc for their own financial gain.
Well the good news is that I have recently bought myself a new panasonic dvd recorder for £479.99 over the weekend, and will now transfer the original video of the master onto dvd-r discs. You will also have chance of witnessing the great one on youtube and you will bear witness to my solid efforts, and see for yourselves of what kind of job I have provided. Although if it was done by a professional… then he would have had the privilage of boosting the sound and enhancing the picture quality of the footage.
August 25th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
After so many years, no singer could sing even upto the 10% melody voice of Rafi Sahib. Rafi Sahib’s songs give solace when you are all alone. A great great singer indeed
July 29th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
thanx mr Pankaj Mishra
July 28th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
DD News is airing a half an hour show on Mohammad Rafi on 31.07.2007 at 10:30 PM.
Do watch it
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Rafi sahib was the institution of Music. I just have one comment for the MD whose songs were sung by other songs other than Rafisahib and those songs were also hit, but if the same songs would have been sung by rafisahib then those songs would not have been just hit but also the immortal like all the other songs of rafisahib.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Rafi lovers: this is startling news. a rafi lover in delhi has made
a documentary on rafi saab and he approached the stalwarts who
worked with rafi saab for intervies and footage… Most of these
composers asked money from the rafi lover except Pyarelalji. Lata
and Asha refused any interviews.
Rajesh Khanna had tea with the fan on two occassions. on the third
appointment he said : I do not have the time. the fan then told Khanna:
the time spent over tea in the restaurant was enough for the shoot.
Dilip Kumar one of rafis great pillar also backed out from the deal.
Post 1971 rafi saab probably tired took a break and it was then that
a jobless Kishore Kumar got work big time when r.d. and
rajesh khannas stars were on the rise. they along with certain
manipulators, radio stations and radio anchors pushed rafi to the
wall.. But , they could not succeed in the long run and the most melodious
singing legend of the times made a great comeback against all odds.
we are eagerly waiting for the documentary maker to contact us .
binu nair the rafi foundation binus2000@hotmail.com
July 18th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Friends, music lovers n Rafi bakths,
It was great honour for us to interact with so many bakths across our country n abroad. This was simply overwhelming and we know that this movement is going to accelerate faster than our expectations.
Kudos to all Rafi-ians
July 18th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Nd tv has said that it will relay the rafi foundation report today
18th in english at : 11.30 p.m. night and in Hindi at 12.00 p.m.
it will be continued to be relayed on thursday too at regular
intervals..
binu nair the rafi foundation Mumbai.. 9833 250 701
July 17th, 2007 at 8:36 am
The elder one of Mumbai s Peddar road sisters first used c.ramchandra
then salil chaudhary to undermine rafi saab in the late fifties.. yet
they could not touch rafi saab.
Lata lost out to rafi in the royalty issue and mended fences only to
hit back later in the company of her younger sister and her new
found husband - pancham…
She says pancham is a great singer and she wanted to hit another
singer with her foot wear for saying pancham sang from his nasals more.
the singer was terrified and apologised.
the singing quality of pancham and the singer with his cap on and
thretening the sky - is well known to all of us.
there are many female singers who talk about the sisters schemes
to me and even some of them are frightened of d i d i …
the sisters have ruined many careers and many livelihoods yet
one of them gets the bharat ratna - and how we all know …
they should atleast now stop their games and take penance for their
omissions and commissions of a long tenure. the elder sister once
thretened that she will leave Mumbai if a flyover is built. she was
thretening the city which gave her royalty and richness from a
povertied and humble background. the public outcry made her
eat her words in no time…. the tales do not end if u have some
connexions with the hindi film industry…
binu nair.
July 17th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Nd tv today : is covering rafi saab and the rafi foundatin at 1130 p.m.
in english ( Night out )and in hindi at 12.00 p.m. Night.
It would be re-telecast many times up to wednesday.
Pl. do not miss it.
Mr. Viswan: Mr. sanjeev from chennai is the person in the team doing
the rare collections of rafi saab. we must request him and we all will
try for it.
A rafi library in all the stated capital will solve this.
binu nair the RAFI FOUNDATION 9833 250 701 Mumbai.
July 15th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
great dedication by binuji.i herd rafis ist recorded item was a song bodcasted from all india radio lahore or lahore radio.is it true?if so can we retrieve that?now with the foundation you can do that and dedicate that invaluable song to millions of rafi fans.can anybody post the rafi version of zindagi,eksafar in youtube.com?ALL INDIA RADIO LAHORE……what a lose to india
July 15th, 2007 at 12:38 am
My dear friends : rafi saab is indeed the force that propels the
rafi foundation members to action.. we are sure that we will create
a big force of vintage music lovers in Mumbai. Rafi lovers - please
wish the rafi foundation team well — in all centres of this universe.
We will surely ignite the great Indian tradition and culture and bring
the people back in to the vintage and golden musical fold.
An info Here : our chief guest M r Nanji Bahadur a close friend of
rafi saab has also sang chorus in saigal songs and perhaps he is the
only surviving member to have sung with the wizard kundenlal saighal.
( see post 107 )
binu nair. binus2000@hotmail.com
July 14th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
DEAR BINU NAIRJEE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS INFORMATION ( POST-107) !
BEST REGARDS/ A.T.M. SALIM.
July 13th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Wow,
Binu Ji A heartfelt thanks
July 13th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Mr Nair is doing a great job\
hats off to him
i m a member of the delhi branch
i wud like tyo meet this person in person
May Allah bless all his efforts
July 13th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
CONGRATULATIONS Mr. Binu Nair, Mr. P. Narayanan and scores of other real activists of Mohd. Rafi Foundation. You are doing an immense service not only to the ardent fans of the greatest singer of all times _ MOHAMMED RAFI- but indeed to the Music industry. We are all with you. Carry on the good work. Looking forward eagerly to 17th July to watch coverage of the grand function at Mumbai on the 11th.
July 13th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Messers P.Narayanan & Binu Niar.
Both of you have resurrected the passion associated with Raf Saheb.
Badi door se aye hain, Rafi Sb ke pyar ka tohfa laye hain.
Rafians, Rafi Lovers and all those people whose hearts still throb ” Rafi Rafi ”
shall remain grateful to you… Khush rahe aap sade, Ye Dua hai hum sab ke.
Hashim khan.. Rafi Lovers Circle. Calcutta
July 13th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Binuji Ref.to post 108:Thanks to you and to your team for gathering on 11th.
as u written nanjibhai sang a song from basant bahar (Badi der bhayi……..)is my most favourite classic song of rafiji in raag “Bhairvi”by SJ , this song if we compare with baiju bawra’s any classical than also stand beyond any songs.Thanks to nanjibhai also.
July 12th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
The rafi foundation inaugural function was flagged off by paying
glowing tributes to the legend of legends : shri mohd rafi, at a function
in Vileparles hotel ramkrishna on july 11.
eighty six year young orchestra singer and musician of the hindi film
industry - mr. nanji bahadur sang 3 songs in a tribute to Naushad and
mohd rafi his personal friend (when they both were trying to establish
as singers in mumbai post 1947.) nanji bahadur played the harmonium
and sang Bahi der bahi, Badi der bahi… kab loge kahabar mere ram
to a thunderous applause.
top singers from mumbai musical circuit like Aswaz Darbar, Nari
Ahuja, Kishor Makhwana , Ustad jan mohd khan saheb and sreekant
narayan sang some rafi gems… it rained melodious numbers and
the monsoon rains graciously took a virtual break from downpour.
the Ndtv also played its role by interviewing narayan and yours truly
the founders of rafi foundation which has spread to 14 cities today.
The interview and rafi foundation coverage will be relayed on tuesday
17 at prime time and on 18th at regular intervals.
Journalist and delhi rafi ardent lover Vinod Viplav who has written a book in hindi was officially launched at the function.
C t.v. covered the function, broadcast the songs and flashed
vintage rafi photographs at half an hour intervals with a running
commentary at regular intervals.
Rafi lovers please do not miss the ndtv special on music and rafi
on tuesday 17 evening onwards.
binu nair. mumbai binus2000@hotmail.com +9833 250 701
July 10th, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Mr. ramakrishna: Ardent fans of rafi saab can get in touch with
the rafi foundation members.
Mr.Narayan and myself.
binu nair binus2000@hotmail.com
July 10th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
ref post 103:
In the sri lanka concert mentioned in the post, usha khanna accompanied rafi saab. for people who question his popularity, there were more than 1 lakh people in the audience.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
i dont mind my message is deleated. but i would like to know wheather my request to get the tel no of Mr venkat has been forwarded to Mr venkat ?
July 9th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Dear Beenu Ji
Indeed you have done an excellent job by bringing millions of fans of Rafi Sa’ab.
We were fortunate enough among those who have witnessed the Live Programme of Rafi in ‘Shankar -Jaikishan Night’ at Dalli-Rajhara Mines of Distt. Durg (C.G.) in April 1980, referred as the last ever programme in India. After this he gave his performance in abroad only at Sri Lanka.
We could remember the words of Rafi still today when he accepted about himself that he is a Mimicri artist presenting the style of different actors of the silver screen while singing a particular song. And then he displayed some superb styles of such actors ! What a great artist was he !
A heartfelt tribute to our loving Rrafiji….
July 6th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Dear binuji,
I hope that coming year 2008/01/26 our mohammedrafi should get “Bharat Ratna”award.
Dr.vinay kamal do some eye opner corrospondence towards jury member wel in advance to complete one of the mission.
Best of luck to all rafia connected to this mission.
June 18th, 2007 at 8:42 am
Rafians: please read post 98 and 99 under the King of Melody
title and revert ….
binu nair…