Rafi’s unmatched track record
Article by K. Pradeep. Contributed by Mohan Flora.
Many of Mohammed Rafi’s songs exist only in the collections of his ardent fans.
Some of Rafi’s unheard melodies.
- Pyar Karna Hi Padega (Sharbati Aankhen: 1945)
- Kahke Bhi Na Aaye Tum (Safar: 1946)
- Hum Apne Dil Ka (Actress: 1948)
- Teri Yaad Sathaye (Bansuriya: 1949)
- Narayan Jaage (Narasimha Avtaar: 1949)
- Jalte Deep Bujh Gaye (Jalte Deep: 1950)
- Arre Denewalon (Meena Bazaar: 1950)
- Karle Kisise Pyaar (Lekh: 1949 with Asha Bhonsle)
- Bananewale Kya Tune (Jalpari: 1952 with Asha Bhonsle)
- Chalo Ho Gayi (Shaadi Se Pehele: 1947 with Lata Mangeshkar)
- Meri Nigah Ne Kya (Mussaphir Khana: 1955 with Nirmala Devi)
- Taron Bhari Raat Hai (Kaajal: 1948 with Suraiyya)
Even after 25 years of his death, Mohammed Rafi remains immortal through his songs. Music director Laxmikant expressed surprise at the phenomenal demand for Rafi’s songs. `No other singer, not even Lata Mangeshkar, has been able to attract such tremendous following. It’s almost as if he were still alive,” he once said. It is believed that Rafi, in a career spanning around 40 years, sang almost 26,000 songs. Compilations of his songs are still being released but they are mostly those that have already come out in other collections, sometimes digitally mastered, the same vintage stuff in new forms.
This versatile genius made his debut as a playback singer in Hindi films in 1942 in the film `Laila Majnu.’ It was a qawwali in which his voice was part of the chorus. Rafi also played a small role in this film. Till he got his first solo in the film `Dillagi’ (1949: Naushad), Rafi sang in the chorus. He got his big break in the film `Baiju Bawra’ and since then, till his death on July 31, 1980, there was no looking back for this great singer.
However, even today a huge chunk of his songs have not been reproduced in cassette or CD formats, some of them have never been broadcast, remaining as prized possessions in the hands of a few private collectors. Then there are songs that Rafi rendered during the early phase of his career but never got the credit for it.
“So many of Rafi’s melodious songs are not in circulation today. During those early years, many a time, his name was never printed on the gramophone record labels. In fact, that was the fate of many new singers of those days. The labels had the names of the characters on whom the songs were picturised in the film, or that of the actors or actresses who starred in these films,” points out film historian B. Vijayakumar.
On the label of the 78-RPM gramophone record of the film Amar Raj (1946) is printed `Mohantara Talpade In Duet.’ Rafi sings the song, which is recorded on both sides of the disc and lasts around six minutes, with the female singer lending her voice for hardly one minute. But while the female singers name is faithfully printed, Rafi’s name has been ignored.
“Playback singing those days was not yet established. Filmgoers believed that their favourite stars sang all those songs they saw on screen. In `Amar Raj’ the hero was Trilok Kapoor. He, being a top star in those days, would not have wanted people to know that a rookie singer was lending his voice for him. That must have been one reason why Rafi’s name was dropped. Those days even the film credits did not have the names of the playback singers,” says Vijayakumar.
Preserving the 78-RPM records was a tough job and took up a lot of space. Songs from these records were converted to Vinyl, Long Play, Super Play and Extended Play records when these came into vogue. “Many songs, including those sung by Rafi, were lost during this process of conversion. The recording companies had their panels to select the songs that were to be converted. The selections were usually very subjective. They mainly went for the top hits and popular songs leaving behind some real nuggets. The saddest part was that the companies either destroyed or dispensed with most of the old 78-RPM records. So now these treasures are to be found only in private collections,” explains Vijayakumar.
hello everyone, i need to download the old songs of rafi saab specially from 1945 to 1950, also need the videos of live recordings, stage performances, etc. please help me rafi fans!!!! you can send me the links at: sayedhyderali@gmail.com thank you!!!
i am a fan of rafi sab ilike rafi sab’s emotional songs
Hi Mr. parvez,
Thanks for the information about http://www.esnips.com
we can download a lot of Rafi saab’s rare songs from
this website. you are a true rafians. salam !!!
Dear Nadeem Bhai,
Ghazab kiya trer wade pe aitabar kiya…
Bhagwan ik kasoor ki itni badi saza…
Hum intezar karenge tera qayamat tak…
Ehsan tera hoga mujh par…
Jo wada kiya wo nibhana padega…
Din dhal jaye haye raat na jaye…
Kya se kya ho gaya..tere pyar me…
Aana hai to aa raah me kuchh der nahi hai…
-Raajkumar Akela
Dear Ruhi Khan,
I am Munmun chakraborty from bangalore. I am an ardent fan of
late md. rafi saheb. I am also looking for his live programme Cd
for a long time. I saw you are going to help nabeel ehsan (pakistan).
i appreciate your spirit. will you please help me too ? my e-mail id
is__ munmunchakraborty2007@yahoo.com
i will look forward to your reply. thanks.
dear aseem i need your e mail address i will send song &pictures of rafisaab
hi friends, its aseem, just like u all.
a small & haqeer sa fan of greatest singer & a great person mohd. rafi sahab.
i became to this age with rafis voice. althow i born after his deth but he is my child hood friend because of his voice. i always think rafi, rafi, rafi & rafi….
i never travelled alone because rafi is alwayes with me…..
he is in my Rooh, My blood, My mind……
i know that i am a very small fan besides you but as much rafi is your, as much my also……
love you rafi sahab……
i would like to inform rafi saab fans about web site that u can down loard songs of rafi saabs -www.esnips.com- u have to register ur details and u have to sighn in u can down load songs if u are looking for rafi saabs vedeo stage proagrams that u will find in -wwwyoutube .com
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi
Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi Rafi & only RAFI
Dear nka its one of the most beautifull song of rafi saab. there is a great story behind this song i.e Rafi Saheab didnt accept his fees for this song and said to USha khanna unit that “shor sharabe ke is daur mein itna achcha gana gane kahan milta hai” and he became very very emotional.
sayedzakarahim@yahoo.com
Dear NKA_cool,
the song tu is tarah … is from Ap to aise na the, starring Ranjeet kaur and Rab babbar.
Nida Fazli wrote the song and Usha Khanna directed it.
Even I love the song.
I could not find it on the Net though.
Rishikesh Bahadur Desai,
Reporter, The Hindu,
Bidar, Karnataka
rishiscribe@gmail.com
hi
i would like to hear the song… ” tu iss tarah se meri zindagi mein shaamil hai…”
i love it.. could u plz email me the name of its film , or the song itself.. plz
my email id is nka_cool@yahoo.com
thx a lot!!!
I am Manojkumar. R from Kerala . i too am in search of the Rafi Saab video . Please let me know how to find it. Thanks.
Manojkumar.R. If possible, pls email at my below mentioned id.
I will be very grateful for this act of kindness.
I have Mohd Rafi songs of 1945 watan ke raah main watan ke nawjawan shaheed ho,Tere koochein me aramanon ke duniy (1946),Is duniya me aye dilwalom dil kaa lagaana khel nahin (1946), Tera Khilona toota baalak (1946) Yehan Badla wafa ka Taroon bahri raat hai with suraiyya (1948)(1946) and many more songs of 1945s to 1980 ranging to 1000 songs. I know a man who have video of Rafisaab Naushad programme but not yet received. Going to get in touch with him.
Thanking you all Rafi fans
E.mail: manojrk.00@rediffmail.com Ph: 0476 – 2695293.
manojmuralib@yahoomail.com
Just tell me where on the net will I get to easily download all those rare unheard songs of Rafi sahab, also the other categories.
Please Please Please………………………………..
Shahu.
Dear Ruhiji,
Feel very happy to note that you have formed Rafi Lovers Circle in Calcutta. Is it possible to give me details your association and agenda so that we in Bangalore can emulate your initiative.
My mob nunb is 09886779557 and email id is bangaloreconsultancy@hotmail.com. I also would like to have contact numb of Mr Pradeep who I am told is based in Bangalore and has done lot of hardwork in this website and hamara forums. If iam not wrong most of the photos of our favourite Rafi Sahab are done by Pradeep. Well done gentleman and your team. Keep up the goodwork.
P.Narayanan Blore
Dear Ruhi,
I am Nikhil from Mumbai. i too like Nabeel am in search of the above mentioned video . Please let me know how to find it. Thanks.
Nikhil.
Dear Nabeel,
I can possibly help you find that video.
Please reply on this site with your Telephone Numbers so that I can contact you.
Ruhi Khan, Calcutta
Have u ever listened a beautiful sad song sung by Rafi saab ??
“Jo zubane Dil Na Samajh Sake
Jo na kehe sake kabhi dil ki baat
wohi buth hai …..”
from Film Patharom Ka Shehar
Music by Usha Khanna
This is very good song…
Sir
i am nabeel from Pakistan i am 22 years of age .i love Rafi .I saw a video of Mohd Rafi on DD1 three years back ,in which he was singing with a lot of musicians.Naushad was also present since than i am searching from that video and also came to india for that video but all in vain.your site contains those clips but these clips could not be downloaded.Please tell me from where i can get them
it will be a greatness of you
Nabeel Ehsan
Conquerer