Elvis has left the building
© mohdrafi.com
Funny title, some might say; but quite fitting. Elvis Presley is a name which is known even today because of the sheer charisma the man exuded and his animal magnetism that pulled everything within reach towards him. There is only one Elvis. No one else like him.
Maybe the first statement is true, but we are not too sure about the second one. Because we are living proof to a magician who bound us all in his spell the same way Elvis did it- Shammi Kapoor. Not a clone of the afore mentioned superstar, but a superstar in his own right. One of the stalwarts of the Indian film industry who changed the way people thought, literally.
Shammi Kapoor existed in a time and age when heroes were not allowed to show their attraction to the opposite sex and could only dream about them in dream sequences. Something like the dark ages, where free thought was not acceptable. But then renaissance came in the form of a dashing and debonair man who wore his heart on his sleeve and swept women off their feet. His manner was so smooth that no one objected to emotions being portrayed on the screen, they started accepting the chemistry between actors on screen. A true revolution was brought about by a smooth operator- Shammi Kapoor.
Indian films have been like Broadway musicals- the main instrument used to portray feelings and emotions, till this day, is music and dance. Maybe that is why Shammi Kapoor fits right in- no one could foxtrot or shimmy like him. As far as the music goes, well, he fixed himself up really good there too with Rafi Saab as his voice. We must agree, the pair was remarkable.
Shammi Kapoor started his illustrious career with Jeewan Jyoti (1953). With his first foray into Bollywood, he also forged a deep bond with the great singer- Rafi Saab. ‘Lag gayi ankhiyaan o more baalam…’ and ‘Aankhon mein hain tu…’ were two master numbers from this film. An interesting fact to note is that in his first film itself, Shammi Kapoor sang two lines in the film. ‘So jaa re so jaa…’
Along with a great voice, Shammi Kapoor soon found the best man to give the right music. We are talking about Shankar Jaikishen, whose bond with Shammi Kapoor is legendary. They first worked together in Ujala (1959). The two seemed to match in every which way- their style, perceptions, tastes…the list is as endless as their friendship and the number of movies they have worked together in. ‘Jhoomta mausam mast mahina…’ and ‘Ab kahaan jaye hum…’ mark their earliest taste of success as a team.
This taste only whetted their appetite for more of this sweet fruit and they came up with a number of popular tracks. They roped in the amazing voice of Mohd Rafi to further enhance their songs. Boyfriend, College Girl and Singapore prove it. But then came the master blaster ‘Chaahe koi mujhe jungle kahe…’ from Junglee which catapulted all of the above mentioned into a whirlpool of success which churned out only the best. It’s quite ironic that Shammi Kapoor became the president of the Internet Users’ Club of India years later- a wonderful link to his Yahoo! Days.
Shammi Kapoor went on to team up with Kalyanji-Anandji- who were just trying to get a foothold in the industry at that time, and had a blast doing Bluffmaster with them- a movie that the man will always be remembered for. One can’t help but mention the song ‘Govinda aala re…’ which is an important part of the Gokulashtami celebrations to this day and is proof elucidating the ways in which we are so influenced by films.
Amidst the range of successes that the great man has enjoyed, there exists a film called ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’ for which he was with the master himself- O.P. Nayyar. The songs in the film were in a class of their own and show Shammi Kapoor in a variety of shades- all immensely flattering.
Shammi Kapoor was one of the few actors who had the right and privilege to have a say in the selection, creation, and lyrics of songs as well as the choreography in his movies. This just goes to show the hold he had over his audiences and associates. The relationship between Shammi Kapoor and Shankar Jaikishen blossomed with colossal hits like ‘Lal chhadi maidan khadi…’, ‘Dekho ab to…’, ‘Tumse accha kaun hai…’, ‘Meri mohabbat jawan rahegi…’ and many more.
Shammi Kapoor and Shankar Jaikishen had almost become like a packaged deal- no other music directors were even taken into consideration for the great Kapoor. But then Nasir Hussain introduced Shammi Kapoor to R.D. Burman- and rest, as they say, is history. The latter was the first music director for whom Shammi Kapoor made an exception and we got ‘Dekhiye saahibo…’, ‘Aaja aaja main hoon pyar tera…’, ‘O haseena zulfon wali…’, ‘O mere sona re…’ and other evergreen tracks from this new combination.
But then dusk started to creep into the actor’s life and circumstances brought about inevitable changes in his life. We all enjoyed his amazing gravity defying choreography, but he alone endured the price and pain for the same. The injuries he bore are not known to too many, but they caused him immense pain, for which he was on heavy medication. Around this time, he was to undergo another shock- the sudden death of his wife, Geeta Bali. All these things led to him putting on weight. Shammi Kapoor lost the zest to perform as before, but not the zest to live life and make movies. His last film as a leading man- Andaz, created shockwaves which rocked the entire nation. Bhramachari too went on to be great hit for this new side of Shammi Kapoor. Years went on and so did movies- Prince, Manoranjan and many more.
The magic of Shammi Kapoor is still arresting and captivating. An Elvis clone? No way. Because when Shammi Kapoor is in the house, Elvis leaves the building.
The truth is that Elvis Presley was a good rock singer and dancer,and our Shammi ji was a better actor then Elvis. Jai. Ketwaru
Rest in peace, Shammi ji. May God bless you. You will be missed sorely.
Where is this sangeet vishawa the rafi lover who stays somewhere in
andheri, mumbai. I wish to meet him.
binu nair, mumbai : 9833 250 701
mohd rafi is the world’s elvis presley and in a span of time rafi ji’s
music will become the “NEW STYLE” AND THE ‘TREND’.
watch out folks……………………… you can’t stop a tide, time or
“soulful music”.
there will be a renaissance in rafi music. continue watching these
spaces.
binu nair…. rafi foundation, mumbai : rafifoundation@mail.com
Thanks for Writing of Legend Shammi Kapoor and Elvis presley. Both were superb.
The singer Anwer said he tried to sing ‘TUM NE MUJE DEKHA HOKAR MEHARBAN”but he can’t sing this song it was greatness of Anwer that he said that,when Shammi Kapoor with mohd Raf it was not imporatant who is MD.
there are some great MD if u take Mohd Rafi from there music they have nothing in there music,I don’t mean in this they are great because of Mohd Rafi but they did great work with mohd Rafi.If I am not wrong Teesri Manzil is RD best film ever because all songs in teesri manzil was superhit.Mohd Rafi has hit songs with all MD he singed for and actors.Actor like Raj Kapoor and Manoj Kummar who didn’t used Mohd Rafi much but they said that Mohd Rafi is the best…………
There are hundread of songs of rafiji sang for shammi kapoor which are my favourite , rafiji always sang whole heartedly for shammiji and also i think that even music directors compose specially best tunes from theire stock for shammiji .may it SJ,OP,UK, KA,or RD
RD is marvellous in teesri manzil all songs solo or duet by rafiji were hit , but music lover has to give all marks to TUM NE MUJE DEKHA HOKAR MEHARBAN -a beutifully sang by rafi ,composed,and lyrics,a 100% result.
there were few lucky Bollywood heros who frequently used Rafi Saab’s golden voice. Among them Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, dharmendra, shashi kapoor, rejendra kumar, dev anand and many more can be listed. his voice was suitable to every character that appeared on the silver screen. May be it was legendary dilip kumar or an unknown faced beggar. I can not remember the face of the beggar who sang the song “O PAGLE DER NA HOGI PAL CHHINKI KE JIS DIN CHAL CHAL CHAL HOGI” (Kinare kinare) or the beggar who sang
“YA KAH DE HUM INSAN NAHI” (Balraj sahni -nirupa roy movie), but I still remember these songs only because Rafi Saab’s immortal voice. Not only immortal, but evergreen voice.
In this series shammi kapoor was, no doubt, the luckiest hero who was given never-forgettable songs like DIL TERA DEEWANA HAI SAMAN…DID DEKE DEKHO…TUMSA NAHI DEKHA…YAAR CHULBULA HAI…MUJHE APNA YAAR BANALO…HAI DUNIYA USIKI…YE CHAND SA ROSHAN CHEHRA…and many many more. So when rafi saab expired on 31st july, shammi kapoor was informed ” SHAMMI SAAB,AAPKI AAWAZ CHALI GAYEE…”
i like the mohd.rafi and shammi kapoor pair and i agree that there couldnt have been any better singer to match the cool style of shammi kapoor with his voice .Having said that i also agree that whichever songs rafi saab lent his voice for are superhits with or without shammi kapoor.He was gifted in a very good way and i cant think of any other singers who sang for a variety of ppl
but rafi saab .Forget the main leads he sang for comedians too and made those songs unforgettable.”yeh hai bombay meri jaan”from CID and the “sar jo tera takraye ” from Pyasa which had johnny walker on screen are as popular as any other track which is picturised on a leading hero.
Rafi Saheb ki Jeetni bhi taarif karo kam hai, shabd kam hi padenge mere doston… Unka chehra itna noorani tha ke bas….. Aise insaan ab kahan?
Mohd Rafi ! As soon as this name appears in front of me, I am recharged. The name itself gives me enthusiasm. And the voice…no words to express about God’s miraculous creation. I think we all are created by angels, but Rafi Saab was created by God himself. Till the dooms day there will no other Mohd Rafi. May his devine soul be in eternal peace !
-Raajkumar Akela
(BANGALORE)
09845124321
RAFI SAAB was a farishta indeed as Shammi Kapoor said. Once one of my friends asked old days playback singer Sudha Malhotra about RAFI SAAB and she replied..”RAFI SAAB aur ek saal ka bacha, bus ek samajh lo.” So simple was this great singer. There is hardly a day when I do not listen to his devine voice in my player. But unfortunately I have never and nowhere seen this great singer in any live programme. I wish if someone can share his/her treasure of a cassette/cd with me.
My good wishes to one and all.
-Raajkumar Akela
(09845124321)
RAFI SAHAB IA THE INSTITUTION AND REST ARE STUDENTS.
RAFI SAHAB IS THE OCEAN OF MUSIC WHILE REST ARE SMALL PONDS.
RAFI SAHAB IS THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION OF MUSIC WHERE REST JUST CAN HOPE TO REACH THERE IN VAIN.
RAFI SAHAB IS JUST THE MASTER AND REST ARE JUST PUPIL.
IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT… IF STILL SOME IDIOTS LIKE KUMAR SANU, ABHIJIT, BABUL SUPRIYO (ALL BANGALI AND KISHORE FANS)AND LIKE THEM OTHER IDIOTS THINK THAT KK WAS BETTER THEN I HAVE NO TIME TO WASTE FOR THESE MENTALLY SICKOS.
Rafi Saheb jaisa koi nahin hai……..
Dear Unknown 1 and irony 81,
We rafians appreciate your love for r a f i saab but pls.
put your words in right forms so that we all can understand
your thoughts – much better.
Dear Sir sangeetvishwa thanks
As u said u r true but only i don’t agree that mohd Rafi WAS LIKE A SUN because is and will be the Sun in music world..
DEAR UNKNOW1 AND ALL RAFI FANS
LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.
RAFISAHAB WAS LIKE A SUN-
THE SUN HAS ITS OWN LIGHT AND ENERGY AND IT LITS UP THE WHOLE UNIVERSE.SUN BURNS ITSELF AND GIVES ENERGY TO OTHERS BE IT PLANTS OR HUMAN BEINGS OR OTHER PLANETS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
KISHORE KUMAR WAS LIKE A MOON –
THE MOON LOOKS ATRACTIVE IN THE NIGHT BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN LIGHT AND ENERGY .IT BORROWS LIGHT FROM THE SUN AND REFLECTS IT ON THE EARTH. HOWEVER YOU CANNOT SEE THE MOON DURING THE DAY TIME SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE INTENSITY WITH WHICH THE SUN SHINES IN THE SKY.
IN SHORT WHEN RAFISAHAB SHINES YOU LOOSE THE VISIBILITY OF THE OTHER SINGERS SO HE IS AND WILL ALAWAYS REMAIN THE BEST.
THIS IS MY WAY OF PAYING TRIBUTES TO THE GREAT LEGEND “MOHAMMED RAFI”
REGARDS
RAFI FAN
Sir thanks 4 answering,
offourse we have many in Music world but Mohd Rafi is only name I think all we should agree that he is the best,L from LP said once that because of Mohd Rafi they became famous and P from LP said that we made songs the way as the singer but when there is Mohd Rafi we jest made the songs because how we made it Mohd Rafi will sing it…..
sir sangeetvishwa it is not very difficult not answer that who is better with Mohd Rafi it is imposible,If we speak about KK we can say RD or SD or Mr Bachchan or any other singer jest we have few names but about Mohd Rafi all worked with Mohd Rafi they have hit.
AS said by Sir irony81 if RD used Mohd Rafi as he used KK was better for RD,I think if KK used Mohd Rafi voice for his films as a actor I think today KK was the one the best actor in bollywood as we remmber Shammi Kapoor flims songs,Rajesh Khanna was superstar what said by media but no one like him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?how he became superstar?Shammi Kapoor was superstar because Mohd Rafi voice but they tried to made KK superstar with Rajesh Khanna,Mr Bachchan,Lata,Asha and RD but they all can’t cross Mohd Rafi…………..
THE MUSIC DIRECTORS MUST SAY ‘THANKS’ TO MOHD. RAFI BECAUSE DESPITE THEIR GREAT TALENTS AND ABILITY TO COMPOSE GREAT MUSIC, THEY NEEDED AN UNMATCHABLE SUPER VOICE, AND RAFI MADE THEM SUCCEED. IF YOU LISTEN TO THE FEMALE VERSIONS OF RAFI SONGS SUNG BY LATA, ASHA OR OTHERS, OR EVEN ANOTHER MALE VERSION OF RAFI SONG BY KISHORE OR MANNA, YOU FIND THAT THEY WERE NOT AS ATTRACTIVE AS RAFI’S OONES. THEY WERE EVEN SO BELOW PAR AS FAR AS QUALITY IS CONCERNED. PEOPLE LIKES RAFI VERSIONS ALL THE WAY. ALL THE MUSIC COMPOSERS WHO WORKED WITH RAFI CREATED GREAT MUSIC FOR RAFI AND IT BROUGHT FAME FOR RAFI, AND AT THE SAME WAY RAFI BROUGHT FAME FOR THOSE MDS TOO. I STILL BELIEVE THAT RD BURMAN MADE A HUGE MISTAKE NOT TAKING RAFI IN MOST OF HIS FILMS. HE USED KISHORE AS HE LOVED KISHORE, BUT I ALWAYS BELIEVE RAFI COULD EASILY SING ALL THE KISHORE SONGS MUCH BETTER.
ANYWAY, AS FAR AS BHARAT RATNA GOES, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? JUST A RATNA OR PRIZE? WHO CARES? RAFI DOESN’T NEED THIS MAN MADE DOLLS. EVEN IF LATA GETS THIS OR FOR THAT MATTER ELVIS GETS THIS, EVERYONE KNOWS WHO THE BEST SINGER OF ALL TIME IS.
Dear unknow1
Let me answer this for you. Rafisahab was such a versatile playback singer that he could do justice to any kind of music and the compositions of all kinds of music directors be it Naushad or SJ or LP.
I remember one MD saying that till MOHD RAFI was not there we had limitaions with the singers regarding composing of the scale of the song or tune because the other singers had lot of limitations but with the emergence of Rafisahab on the horizon of playback singing all this ended, MD’s had the liberty to compose and do whatever they wanted with the composition of the song because they knew that the end result would be the best.
Therefore it is very difficult to say with whom he was better because music also changed with time from Naushad to SJ to LP but at the same time Rafisahab also changed with time and adopted to the style of MD’s.
That shows that he had great professionalism as well and he survived for 3 decades much like LP who survived for 3 decades from PARASMANI to DEWANA MASTANA.
Also it should be noted that RAFIJI was instrumental in the sucess of many MD’s. But my personal opinion is he was best with SJ and LP both , than other MD’s simply because SJ and LP jodis were the kings of film music and melody in their own times.
Naushad was too inclined towards classical based tunes but as i said in the past also that SJ were the first to break the shackles of classical music and gave popular, melodious numbers and commercialized HINDI music in the real sense and then LP took it forward from there.
LP followed footprints of SJ during the initial days and later on went to create their own identity as great MD’s.They are second version of SJ.
Trust i have answered your question if not fully at least partly.
REGARDS
RAFI FAN
WHEN RAFI IS THERE, WHO THE HELL IS ELVIS? RAFI IS THE NO.1 SINGER OF THIS PLANET.
Rafi Saheb was better or say comfortable with all music directors, including all small musicians… He was a great human being apart from being a greatest singer than Lata or any other singers.
Thanks sir sangeetvishwa for answering but i didn’t got answer the Q who was better with Mohd Rafi,exp..MR with SJ or Nauashand or LP or…..
I think no one have the answer,
Sir sangeetvishwa,
thanks 4 answering
Q Why Mohd Rafi didn’t got Bharat Ratna award?
Ans.when there is name called mohd rafi it mean cheap paid singer,sing for any one,man never said no to any MD or film maker because of that Mohd Rafi didn’t got Bharat Ratna award and Lata ji got because Lata was high paid,she didn’t sing for all MD and film maker………
Q Why Lata ji didn’t sing for SJ and SD?
Q why O P nayar ‘never used Lata ji?
Q why Lala ji didn’t sing with Mohd Rafi for few years?
I think we all know the answer of these Q maybe because of that Lata ji got Bharat Ranta award but sham on people who know about these Q answers they gave this award to Lata ji they made this award so cheap and don’t hope that Mohd Rafi should get this cheap award…….
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????
SUSHIL SAYS
DEAR UNKNOW1
YOUR ANSWER IS HERE
RAFISAHAB WITH ANYONE AND EVERY ONE WAS A HIT JODI JUST LISTING FEW OF THEM
MOHD RAFI – SHANKAR JAIKISHAN- SHAMMI KAPOOR
MOHD RAFI – LAXMIKANT PYARELAL – DHARMENDRA
MOHD RAFI – NAUSHAD – DILIP KUMAR
MOHD RAFI – S.D.BURMAN – DEVANAND
MOHD RAFI – LATA – LAXMIKANT PYARELAL
AND WE CAN QUOTE SO MANY EXAMPLES.
HOWEVER ONE NAME REMAINS COMMON I.E. RAFISAHAB.
HE IS NOT JUST GREATEST PLAYBACK SINGER OF ALL TIMES BUT HE WAS THE MOST POLITE AND GENTLEMAN PERSON AND THEREFORE HE WORKED WITH
EVERY MUSIC DIRECTOR,
HE SUNG WITH LEAST KNOWN SINGERS,
SUNG FOR LEAST KNOWN ACTORS,
SUNG FOR PRODUCERS WHO HAD LESS BUDGET,
ALSO WITH PEOPLE WHO CRITICISED HIM DURING HIS INITIAL DAYS AND THEN LATER BECAME HIS ADMIRERS AND HE DID THIS INSPITE OF BEING AT THE PEAK OF HIS CARRER AND HAVING SUCH GREAT TALENT.
HE SANG FROM RAJ KAPOOR TO RISHI KAPOOR COVERING ALMOST 3 COMPLETE GENERATIONS. I AM SAYING IT 3 BECAUSE IN BETWEEN THERE WAS THIS RAJESH KHANNA GENRATION AFTER DILIP KUMAR AND BEFORE AMITABH BACHHAN.
I HOPE I HAVE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION TO YOUR SATISFACTION.
HUSSEIN SHEKHJI
EVEN I CANNOT GO TO SLEEP WITHOUT HEARING RAFI SAHAB
REGARDS
RAFI FAN
RAFI sahab, we love you.
kitny khushnaseeb thy woh log jinko Aap ka sath mila,
jinhone Aap ko dekha.
Yes Mr. Nair, I agree cent percent with you. I can’t pass my day without hearing Rafi Saheb’s songs.
I have found Mohd Rafi to be a true SOCIALIST in words and
deeds.
If he could create great vocals for Shammi, Dilip, Dev Anand,
Dharmendra, Rajendra Kumar, Jeetendra, up to Rishi Kapoor –
he could also spin true feelings for new and unknown actors.
In films like Mahua, Parasmani, Sawan Bhadon , Dosti and many
others Rafi saab gave his best to new faces often making their
careers.
Is it not SOCIALISM in the musical sphere. This is legend
Mohd Rafi for you…..
Rafians pls. comment…..
binu nair. binus2000@hotmail.com
You are absolutely right no one can comparison with Mohd Rafi in this world
Mohd Rafi with any name they are great but If with 3 names more greater,who can answer me Mohd Rafi Naushand and dilip Kummar are better or Mohd Rafi SJ and Shammi or Mohd Rafi Shammi and O P Nayar.
Mohd Rafi and RD better or Mohd Rafi with LP,Mohd Rafi with Lata Ji or Mohd Rafi with Asha Ji,Mohd Rafi with KK or Mohd Rafi with Manny Dey I think no one have the answer.
If u saw flim Raaj Kumar jest listen to the sad song of flim u will see how Mohd Rafi forgot Shammi Ji style and he singed the song as should be sing as wrote by feeling of writter………
God made one earth and one singer for this world as made of sun and he is Mohd Rafi…………..
Elvis Prestry is the king of rock-n-roll, and is still remembered after 30 years of his death. Rafi Saab is the king of melody. There is some thing in common, both are Capricorns. Both prospered in the same era in different lands.
Possibly Rafi was the best voice for Shammi Kapoor, king of Indian rock-n-roll, where Rafi saab could match each and every style and rythmn of Shammi. He sang at each an every level for Shammi, where romantic, sad or fun, etc.
Many tried to ape Shammi’s style, but could not attend the popularity and success the Shammi-Rafi combo achieved.
Deil Deke Dekho, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Junglee, Dil Tera Deewana, Brahmachari, Prince, Tumse Acha Kaun Hai, Teesri Manzil, Kashmir Ki Kali, Andaaz, An Evening In Paris, Jaanwar, Budtameez, Laat Saheb, Pagla Kahin Ka, Jawan Mohabbat, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Preet Na Jane Reet, Preetam, Professor, Sachchai, Raaj Kumar, well, the list is endless. That was the beauty of Rafi – Shammi, songs of rare melody, unbelievable dances. We were lucky that we enjoyed one of the Golden Era of Indian Film Music.
I happened to meet Shammi Kapoor in 1992 in Filmistan studio, I had asked him about Rafi Saheb, he just answered to me that Rafi Saheb was a Farishta sent by God to earth, and he miss Rafi Saheb a lot with lots of old memories they shared.
Very very interesting! Rafi Saheb’s songs on Shammi Kapoor… Sone Pe Suhaga!! People never loved Shammi kapoor’s acting, but go to watch his movies just because of our Rafi Saheb’s songs picturised on him. Unforgettable songs Rafi Saheb sang for this actor, people will never forget! How Rafi Saheb sang for this actor was really amazing and unbelieveable. I bet no one can forget Rafi Saheb and his songs.
Hussein Sheikh, Burundi, Central Africa hussssssein@yahoo.com