Minor Songs of Rafi
This article is written by Mr. H.V.Guru Murthy
Mohd Rafi
Rafii Saab’ songs are legend and are hummed even today after so many years. Rafiji has sung so many full length songs, i.e, mukhda and all antaras, but some times enters only in antara and has invariably stolen the show. But there are certain songs where Rafi Saab has just sung a line or two or just alaap and it is found that all such songs have become great because of Rafiji’s presence.
For example, in “Daiyya Re Dayya” duet by Rafi and Asha in the film LEADER, Rafijis is restricted to just alaap and the effect of the same is there for every one to enjoy. Another similar song is “Door Koi Gaye” sung by Rafi, Lata and Shamshad Begum in BAIJU BAWRA. Here again Rafi’s part is just “O Ji O” throughout the song and what a nice song it is. Incidentally music of both these films were by Naushad. Similarly in PAKEEZAH duet of Rafi and Lata, Rafi’s portion is limited to singing “Chalo Dildar Chalo Chaand Ke Paar Chalo” apart from a small alaap in the end giving a haunting effect.
O.P.Nayyar with Mohd Rafi and Kishore Kumar
OPN also used Rafi in similar way in the duet of Rafi and Geetha Dutt in CID where in Rafi’s part is limited to singing just one line throughout – “Aankhon Hi Aankhon Me Ishara Hogaya, Baite Baite Jeene Ka Sahara Hogaya” and how nicely each time Rafi Saab enters the song after Geetha’s antara with a “Haaaan”. OPN also used Rafi in MERE SANAM song “Haanji Haanji Haanji” with just two words “Haanji Baba”.
Madan Mohan in “Ye To Kaho” duet by Rafi and Lata in “Akeli Mat Jayiyo“, restricts Rafi to just singing “Yes My Darling” throughout the song and how well Rafiji has varied each time some times with a chuckle.
LP has at least three such songs, one being “Bagh Me Phool Kisne Khilaye Hain” a duet by Lata and Rafi in NIGHT IN LONDON with Rafi’s line restricted to “Maine To Nahin” throughout except in the end, when Rafiji sings the Mukhda completely. The other song was “Chanda Ko Dhoondane Kabhi” mainly sung by Asha and Usha Mangeshkar in JEENE KI RAAH where Rafiji sings the Mukhda in the beginning picturised on Jeetendra. The third song is from SHAGIRD, “Dil Vil Pyaar Vaar” sung by Lataji, where Rafiji sings just two lines in the beginning before Latajis’ “Ayya“.
SJ used the same effect in “Sun Sun Sunre Balam” in PYAAR MOHABBAT. The main song is sung by Sharada, but people who have seen the movie would know that at the end of the song, Dev Anand picks up the phone and sings the Mukhda alone to Saira Banu.
SDB used Rafi slightly differently in PYAASA in “Game Is Qadar Bade” and “Ye Hanste Huye Phool‘ both were not complete songs but just couplets with minimum back-ground music sung so beautifully by Rafi.
Mohd Rafi with S.D.Burman
Similar songs of other Singers are “Kahan Se Layi” sung by Mahendra Kapoor in DIL AUR MOHABBAT, where Asha’s role is limited to slight alaap in the antara. Similarly, in the movie “Yeh Dil Kisko Dun“, Usha Khanna just sings “Pyaar Ka Alam” in the song “Phir Aane Laga Yaad Wahi” by Rafi. SDB had in “Jewel Thief” song “Honton Me Aisi Baat“, one line “O…….. Shaalu“. Similarly in ANAADI, in the song “Woh Chaanda Khila“, though the main Singer was Lata, still Mukesh came out with one liner “Na Samajhe Wo Anaadi Hai“. In the Rafi solo, “Aankhon Me Ikaraar Thoda Thoda“, a female singer comes out with just two words “Thoda Thoda“. In the film SEEMA, Rafi song “Jab Bhi Yeh Dil Udaas Hota Hai“, Sharada’s role is limited to slight alaap and a little of Mukhda. Similarly people who have watched BEES SAAL BAAD would remember Hemant Kumar singing just the Mukhda of the haunting Lata number “Kahin Deep Jale kahin Dil“. Similarly in Lata song “Panchi Banoo Udke Phirun” from CHORI CHORI, Mannadey sings just one word throughout just before each Antara.
One of the best songs in this genre is “Aa Ab Laut Chale” sung by Mukesh and Lata in JIS DESH ME GANGA BEHTI HAI. Lata’ role is restricted to just singing “Aajare, Aaja” just before each antara and the sung has gone up several notches just because of Lata’s interlude and the superb piturisation on Raj Kapoor, Padmini, Pran and a host of Dakus by Director Radhu Kamarkar.
I like to thank the people who made this website. Rafi Saab is a legend for sure. As we see until today nobody can match the legends voice in anyway. He was a gift from god and I thank god everytime I listen to Rafi saab. May god bless his soul.
Dear Rafi Fans,
Anybody having the Rafi solo song “Ae Jaane Bahara Roohe Chaman” from Purani Pehchaan (1971) starring Sanjeev Kumar and Tanuja? If so can you please mail to me at hvgurumurthy@yahoo.co.in.
Dear Rafi Fans,
For your information, Mr. Salim Ul Haq from Hyderabad has the follwoing website.
http://mohdrafibiography.com/aboutrafi.htm
You can also get a booklet on the same by corresponding with Mr. Haq along with a CD containing very rare and unreleased songs of Rafi Saab.
Salim Saab,
The song “Are Hasnewalon, Kabhi Ye Bhi Socho” from Parwana is a complete song sung by Rafi having two antaras. This beautiful song is interspersed with “Yun Na Sharma” of Kishore in the movie, Navin Nischol singing KK version and Amitabh getting Rafi’ version in his “DIL”.
GURU MURTY JI
I AM ADDING 2 MORE SONGS OF RAFI SAHAB HERE :
1) ” YUN NA SHARMA ……” ( FILM : PARWANA ; RAFI SAHAB SINGS ONLY
FEW LINES FOR THIS SONG WITH KISHOREJI ; MUSIC BY MADAN MOHAN )
2) ” EK MAIN EK TU , I LOVE YOU ….” ( FILM : SHANKAR DADA ; RAFI
SAHAB SINGS FEW LINES AT THE VERY END OF THE SONG BEAUTIFULLY
WITH ASHA BHONSLE ; MUSIC BY SONIK-OMI .)
BEST REGARDS/A.T. M. SALIM
REF POST-14
DEAR ANMOLJI
THE SONG ” HUM TO AAPKE DEEWANE HAI, BADE MASTANE HAIN…. ” FROM THE FILM -‘AAP KE DEEWANE ‘ IS SUNG BY RAFI SAHAB , KISHOREJI & AMIT KUMAR (NOT SHAILENDRA SINGH ) .
ALSO THE SONG ” HAI NA BOLO BOLO …” ( FILM : ANDAZ) IS RENDERED BY RAFI SAHAB,SUMAN KAYANPUR ( NOT LATAJI ),SUSHMA SRESHTHA & ANOTHER CHILD SINGER .
REGARDS/A.T.M. SALIM
DEAR GURU MURTHY
I AM MENTIONING TWO MORE SONGS OF RAFI SAHAB FOR YOUR FINE ARTICLE :
1) ” HEY RE KANHA…..” (FILM : PRIYATAMA ; RAFI SAHAB SINGS VERY
SMALL PORTION OF THE SONG WITH USHA MANGESHKAR ; MUSIC BY
RAJESH ROSHAN ) ;
2) ” CHANDA MAMA SE PYARA MERA MAMA….” ( FILM : KARTAVYA ; RAFI
SAHAB SINGS ALMOST AT THE END OF THE SONG WITH USHA
MANGESHKAR ; MUSIC BY LAXMIKANT PYARELAL )
BEST REGARDS/A.T.M SALIM.
Hemant Kumar, Subir Sen and Dwijen Mukherjee, their voices resembled very closely. Some times its difficult to say who is who !
Online Edition of the first biography of Mohammad Rafi
This information may be useful for a number of Rafi Fans. A number of my friends and rafi fans want to know about online version of this book.
The full version of the printed form of this book (Meri Awaz Suno) is now available onhttp://www.indiaebooks.com
Now Rafi Fans and Music lovers can download the book on their Computers. If
anybody wants to download, read or take printout of this book, can visit following link:
http://www.indiaebooks.com/userpages/detail.aspx
If you are residing outside from India and want to get the original printed book by courier or post, you can visit following link.
http://www.a1books.co.in/searchresult.do?searchType=books&keyword=8190409719
Post No. 14: Anmol singhji, the song ‘Ae Dil Kahan Teri Manzil’ is sung by one Bejon Mukherjee and not Hemant Kumar.
Anmol Singhji,
The CID song had few more lines of Rafi in Antara (Sun Sun Baate Meri Gori Muskayee, Aayi Aayi Dekho Dekho Aayi Hasin Aayi Re) and (Mukde Pe Daali Huye Zulfon Ki Badali, Chali Balakhati Kahan Ruk Jao Pagali).
ref post 14:
anmol ji, “Ae Dil Kahan Teri Manzil ” is a wonderful salil composition; but the voice is not hemant’s. the singer is dwijen mukherjee, a famous singer from bengal, who used to sound like hemant. Another singer who sounds like hemant is shibaji chatterjee, who I believe sang one or two songs for pancham.
nice article murthyji.the song from “pakkeeza” chalo dil daar chalo….
very nice song.I still hope there is some more rafisaab lines in that
song.such a wonderful song why rafi saab voice restricted to some
extent only.
Hello Guru Murthy Ji,
A very good topic for research.
Would like to add a few songs.
1. Ae Dil Kahan Teri Manzil – Hemat / Lata (Lata sings only between the Asthai and the Antara…Aa Ha Aa Ha…)
2. Hai Naa Bolo Bolo…Papa Ko Mummy Se Pyar Hai – Child Singers/Rafi/Lata (Rafi and Lata enter in the end)
3. Hum To….Aap Ke Diwane Hai – Shalendra/KK/Rafi – Rafi singers only for a very small portion of the song.
4. O leke Pahla Pahla Pyar – Shamshad / Rafi (Rafi sings only O leke Pahla Pahla Pyar….. in the song).
Ponnappaji,
Please find below the link for an article of mine on “Rafi’s songs for other actors” from mohdrafi.com March, 2007.
http://www.mohdrafi.com/meri-awaaz-suno/rafis-songs-for-other-heroes-and-actors.html
nice write-up bringing out another interesting category of songs…congrats to the author for bringing this out,,,as you mentioned the Rafi ‘chaap’ is etched in memory even in the few lines sung/hummed by Rafiji…
‘o meri sona re sona’ from teesri manzil and ‘Chura Liya hai tumne jo dilko’ also fall in this category…late arrival but what an impact in both songs…
another similar thread could be that of Rafi songs for unknown/little known actors..there are many many Rafi gems in this category…someone please volunteer to write this….
In this category there is one more song coming to my mind. It is a chorus sung by Lata and Shamshad from film ‘Aan’ (music by Naushad): “Hoi gaao taraane mil ke ji…”. In the song Rafi saab just hms two words.. ‘Aahaa’ and ‘wah’ somewhere in the middle of the song. It is wonderful song.
Post 8 I fully endorse the views of Sunitaji that Rafi Sahab has sung the songs for all the characters in the hindi film and he can be honoured by installing an award in his name….
Siva Sir,
Both the songs from Baiju Bawra and Hanste Zakhm were greats. In both, Lataji sings few lines and Rafi is the main Singer. The article was to mainly bring out the fact that Rafiji excelled even while singing few lines or words or just alaap.
there cud never be a greater singer than mohammedrafi . he has risen high above the caste and creed . his bhajans can make a hindu wonder the bhakti and bhaav expressed so immensely.i wish if his name cud be put in guiness book of records to have lend his voice to the maximum characters roles played in films as his voice was lend to heros to the street singers to comedians and also extras played in films . wish this category of maximum voice lend to any film character include in guiness records and our dear mohdrafiji gets his rights in it.pl let us try .
dear mr shiva,
one more song that comes to my mind is from the movie sangam “yeh mers prem patr padh kar”. we have lata humming in the last.
ashish kapoor, (vice president) rafi foundation memorial society (regd) delhi, ashkpr@hotmail.com
Gurumurthyji very nice article on a different subject altogether. You brought out all the songs where Rafi sahab had maybe a minor role but excelled and also made the songs worth remembering for so long. There is one more from Pyar Ka mausam – o ni sultana re pyar ka mausam aaya arre haye re kali kali chhaya bolo na bolo mukh se gori chudi tumhri bole… these lines get repeated all the time before and at the end of asha bhonsle’s words in the songs.
Murthy Sir
Excellent article-the subject of Old hindi film songs is a vast ocean-die hard fans like us can keep researching for an entire lifetime. That is beacuse of the great composers, singers and lyricists. I need your expert feedback on two such songs where Rafi sahab had sung almost 99.99% of the song with only a line from a female singer. I think the singer is Lata ji but not sure:
1) In the song ” Tu ganag ki mauj mein jamuna ka dhara” from Baiju Bawara-at the end this line is sung by Lata ji(?)
2) In the song “Tum jo mil gaya ho” from Hanste Zakhm, again at the end of the sung Lataji(?) sings tum jo mil gaye ho to ye lagta hai , ke jahan mil gaya, ke jahan mil gaya
guru murthyji, thanks for the songs of rafi sahab.but you leave one song,with
shamshad begum in film mussafar khana, THODA SA DIL LAGA KE DEKH,rafi sahab sings,TARA RUM PUM PUM, what a nice song.what you say about that?.
assalam alaik guru murthy sahab
kya information hai aapke paas…….
i dont know what sort of intellectual are u! gurumurthy sahab.
i dont have words to appreciate u guru murthyji
thanks for ur writings
Nice article, Gurumurthy sir. A few more songs that comes to my mind are “o mere sona re….” where Rafisahab sings 2-3 lines towards the end, The ‘doosra aadmi’ song featuring KK and Lataji with Rafisahab making a late entry and singing 3-4 lines and “yeh ladka haye allah….”,
Guru Murthyji, Adab Araz hai,
AS usual very informative writing. Congratulations.
Best regards to all Rafi lovers,
Long live Rafi Sahab,
Dr. Khaja Aliuddin