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Happy birthday to Shammi Kapoor and his combination with Mohammad Rafi

By Souvik Chatterji

Shankar and Shammi with Rafi Sahab

Shankar and Shammi with Rafi Sahab

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to rock and roll star Shammi Kapoor on 21st October, 2011. He died this year making huge number of audience sad. He had remained a dancing sensation in the 60s.

Shammi Kapoor is also admired a lot by a big section of music lovers because most of the hit songs of the 50s and 60s belonged to him and the legendary singer Mohammad Rafi had sung immense number of brilliant songs for the stylish actor.

Although in the early part of his career he had mediocre films like Laila Majnu, he bounced back in style with the film Tumsa Nahi Dekha in 1957 and Dil Deke Dekho in 1959. His stylish andaz and dancing mannerisms like Elvis Priestley created a separate image before the viewers. He in fact modernized Indian films.

His combination with Shankar Jaikishan and Mohammad Rafi was very grand. SJ composed music in almost 22 films of Shammi Kapoor and the songs of those films are still considered musical gems. Hit songs include “yahoo chahe koi mujhe jungle kahen”, “ehsaan tera hoga mujhpar”, “meri yaar shabba khair”, “ay ay ya karoon me kya sukoo sukoo” sung by Rafi, composed by SJ in Junglee, “tumse accha kaun hai”, “lal chari”, “humko hai tumse pyar”, “meri muhobbat jawan raha hai”, sung by Rafi, composed by SJ in Janwar, “aye gulbadan”, “awaz deke”, composed by SJ sung by Rafi in the film Professor, “tumne pukara aur hum chale aye”, “yeh rang badalti duniya me”, “hoshiyaar”, “tumne kisi ki jaanko jate hue dekha hai”, composed by SJ, sung by Rafi in the film Raj Kumar, “aasmaan se aya farishta”, “raat ke humsafar”, “akele akele kahan ja rahe ho”, “dewaane ka naam to pucho”, “tera dil hai mera” composed by SJ and sung by Rafi in the film An Evening in Paris, “mai gayun tum so jayo”, “aajkal tere mere pyar ke charche”, “dil ke jharoke me”, “chakke pe chakka”composed by SJ sung by Rafi in the film Brahmchari, to name a few.

Shankar and Shammi with Rafi Sahab

Shankar and Shammi with Rafi Sahab

Shankar Jaikishan composed music in other less known films of Shankar Jaikishan like Boy Friend, Andaz, Singapore, Tumse Accha Kaun Hai, Jawan Muhobbat. Mohammad Rafi’s hit songs in those films include “dil use do jo jaan de den”, “re mamma re mamma re”, “hai na bolo bolo”, “tumse accha kaun hai”, “janam janam ka saath hai”, etc. The list can go on.

Shammi Kapoor received filmfare award for best actor only once, for the performance in the film Brahmchari in 1968. But that cannot show his dominance in bollywood films in the 60s. If Rajender Kumar portrayed the sophisticated style of romance in the 60s, Shammi Kapoor portrayed the westernized dimension. Actors like Joy Mukherjee, Biswajeet followed the Shammi Kapoor style and got success in contemporary films like Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Mere Sanam, etc.

Shammi Kapoor acted opposite all the leading actresses of bollywood films in the 60s, including Sharmila Tagore in Kashmir Ki Kali, Sadhna in Raj Kumar, Asha Parekh in Teesri Manzil, Saira Banu in Junglee, Rajashree in Janwar, Hema Malini in Andaz, Mala Sinha in Dil Tera Diwana, Nutan in Laatsahab, etc. After the 70s, he switched to character roles and there also showed his skills.

Shammi Kapoor and Mohammad Rafi combination was phenomenal even in other films where music was composed other than Shankar Jaikishan. For example OP Nayyar was unparallel in Kashmir Ki Kali, Tumsa Nahi Dekha, RD Burman was excellent in Teesri Kasam, Ravi was brilliant in China Town.

Some of his memorable films in old age include Betaab, Bidhata, Prem Rog, Parvarish, etc. His films and songs should be restored to remember the golden age of Indian films with colourful music.

Souvik Chatterji, the author of this article

Souvik Chatterji, the author of this article

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9 Blog Comments to “Happy birthday to Shammi Kapoor and his combination with Mohammad Rafi”

  1. Sudhir Kumar says:

    Nice one Hans:D

  2. Hans says:

    sunil pahwa you have rightly pointed out that andaz is not a lesser known film. mr. souvik does not even mention the films like pagla kahin ka, prince, badtameej, bluff master, ujala, pyar kiya to darna kya, preet na jane reet. he does not remember the songs of dil tera deewana and latt sahab, but knows who was the heroine. and above all, he posts a happy birthday article after more than 5 weeks.

    but, anyhow thanks mr. souvik for entertaining us with your latest photograph.

  3. sundeep pahwa says:

    sauvikji Andaz was not a lesser known movie of SK in fact it was the
    last romantic lead role of SK opposite hema malini and the first film
    directed by ramesh sippy , it was a silver jubilee hit
    sundeep pahwa newdelhi

  4. vijay bavdekar says:

    All rafi-shammi combination lovers should watch & enjoy video of rarest meldious song”game hasti se mai begana hota”from “vallah kya baat hai”having music by late Roshansaab.

  5. rakesh bhatt says:

    thanxxx chatterji sir……… you sand the good things to rafi sahab….

  6. Samir says:

    Good blog. Indeed a priceless combination of a swashbuckling hero and a divine voice. But that was during Shammijee’s era as a hero.

    One question…did Rafi saab lend Shammiji a voice in a song any movie between when he started doing character roles with Zameer (correct me if I am wrong) until Rafi saab’s untimely demise?

    I cannot recall a single song with Shammi + Rafi combo during that phase (1974 – early 80s if I consider Rafi saab’s unreleased movies after his demise).

    Please clarify if you know any song.

    Thanks.

  7. ali says:

    “teesri manzil was one of few films in all film songs mohd rafi voice used,also if i am not wrong RD best films as music director…

  8. sunil kumar says:

    Souvik sir, nothing new in the article i expected some an informative article from a seasoned Rafi fan. Pls correct Teesri kasam had Shankar jaikishan music not R D Burman it was “teesri manzil” which had first time combination of Rafi & RD Burman and Shammi Kapoor. Shammi had not done any movie and he was noy willing initially But RD told shammi ji that first you hear my songs and and then decide after hearing few songs shammi kapoor gave his green signal and even told RD that It will be a trend setting music. R D says he was so overjoyed with shammi ji response because shammi ji was very knowledgeable as far as music is concerned. he used to take great interest in the creation of a songs and use to give some tips also to SJ who were his favorite music directors. SJ remained on top in the No.1 slot and everybody came after them so RD was overjoyed because he was replacing SJ and shammi kapoor was giving him thums up.

  9. Ali says:

    Shammi and Mohd rafi one is body and other was voice,OPN never used Lata ji also shammi ji never used Kishore da voice when mohd rafi was alive but there is no actor or music director from 1950 to 1980 who didnt used mohd rafi voice(If am not wrong)

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