Power of Evergreen Film Hits of Yesteryears
This article is written by Mr. K.S.Ramachandran
The power of evergreen Hindi film hits of yesteryears is even sung and enjoyed today, by one and all. It is surprising to realize that the younger generation has taken a special interest in its music and rhythm. What could be the reason behind it?
The great lyrics, wonderful composition and above all dedicated singing and renditions by stalwarts like Mohd Rafi, 
Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsale, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Mukesh, Talat Mohamad and many others. It is sometimes a permanent puzzle to wonder whether it was the lyric, music or the playback singing which had an edge on a particular song.
The legacy left behind by the music directors of yesteryears are bread winner to many today and most of the TV channels have contest to sing those songs.
Whatever said or explained, it is as simple as melodious music which can easily stand the test of a life time and probably beyond.
Is it not that simple concept of sincerity, dedication and focus that made those songs so memorable, qualitative, powerful and so historic that we can never miss to try and sing some numbers as we get busy in our daily routines? Sometimes one wonders if money was only incidental to the song making in movies in those days.
Post no. 8….Mr.Adinath : folow this song and my take on the h.f.m. scene Practiced by many inmates but not “at all” by legend mohd rafi saaheb.
mohd rafi was truly above politics and religion. if he so desired, rafi could have amassed awards and material wealth. he had very low desires for these.
“mathlab nikal gaya to pehchan-te nahin, yun jaa rahe jaise hame jaante nahin”.
many composers realised this in their last stage of their creative lives. c.ramchandra, husanlal, shankar-jaikishan, laxmikant-pyarelal, r.d.burman and op nayyar were the victims of the singers who went on to greener pastures once their “matlab” was over.
mohd rafi was above and over all small and little games, men and women usually play at various stages of their life. and that’s why rafi is the bharat ka ratna. the world will always remember the saintly man and his saintly voice and there will be no replacement at all of mohd rafi. only one mohd rafi can take birth.
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yes. i agree with your point no. 2 and not at all with point no. one. more, the lady singer used to charge “hefty fees” from her political masters for a 15 minute appearance. in private conversations, these politicians have admitted it.
binu nair….
Post 8: Point # 2 is acceptable, but, point # 1 is not so as you have said.
Rafi was a gr8 artiste but cannot be awarded Bharat Ratna, cuz he is a Muslim. Point No. 2 : Lata got the Bharat Ratna not as much as for her talent, but more due to her political connections. Lata got the award courtesy Bal Thackerey and Shiv Sena. (She has been a Shiv Sena financier for years… and she wanted to extract a price).
Madhu
Thanks for your reply. I am happy that you liked my article. I do shows in Chennai and also born and brought up in Kolkata. Please do write more about yourself to my email id chandan0106@gmail.com as I have started Rafi Chapter in Chennai. If you are in Chennai by any chance, please join our Rafi Chennai group.
Thanks and with best regards
Chandan
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Hi,
Excellent article, i have gone through your previous articles also and liked all of them. Like you im also a Rafian since the age of eight and im in my late forties. Rafi sahab cannot be imitated and replaced by anyone however good that singer is, Sonu Nigam has made sincere efforts but as it is he lacks the quality and rafi sahab’s voice and i was also very dissapointed to hear him sing Rafi sahab’s songs without perfection.
Regards
Madhu
Possibly in the last 20 years things have changed a lot. The overall life style has moved from reality to factacy. Living standards have gone up, which has given rise to greed, hate, etc. This is given rise to hypocracy and double standards every where. As a result there is no appreciation for the what is correct and right.
‘Bollywood music in its worst phase’ -Deccan Herald
SHRUTI I L
Performing in Bangalore “has always been a pleasure” for Pankaj Udhas.
“This time around it was even better, as there were so many young faces in the crowd. It is a great feeling to see them respond to music, some of which was made 25 years ago,†beams the Ghazal maestro.
Youngisthan much contrary to popular belief does look beyond rock, pop and Bollywood afterall. “Of course! And I see ghazals coming alive in a bigger way. People are tired of item numbers… and….Bollywood music is in its worst phase. It was not so 10 years ago, but now the quality of their music is bad.†We probe further. “Every song then had a relevance, and every actor, a voice. But now the style of movie making has changed.†And how so? “Influenced by Hollywood, most movies are of two-hour duration. Tell me how you can have eight songs, like before in a two-hour movie? So now there are four songs, out of which two are item numbers. And today’s macho actors don’t want to sing!â€
His reservations don’t end here. “There is also this tendency of introducing a sufi or a rock song here and there. This kichidi won’t work. Cinema music was what was seen in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Today’s songs have no shelf life. They don’t speak to you. Today’s generation of film-makers don’t understand our folk or classical music.†Now that explains why the veteran, who last lent his voice for the flick Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam, has maintained a distance from the B-town off late.
Udhas further fears that the whole concept of playback singing may die a slow death and it’ll mainly be just about background scores.
Adding fuel to fire is the TV industry, the singer feels. “TV has further messed up everything. Sub-standard music is seen especially in reality shows. What’s worse is that in these shows, talent loses out to SMSs. Many talented singers come out disillusioned. It’s also sad to note the involvement of children in such programmes.â€
His views on films and reality shows conveyed, we ask him to let us in on his forthcoming projects. “There is an album with Meer’s songs and those post his era. There is also a fusion album. I expect it to be out in the next six months.†There are also the concerts. That’s a busy life, how does he then de-stress himself? “Listening to Diana Ross, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Hariprasad Chaurasya, Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar. And spending time with my daughters Nayaab and Reva relaxes me. We three get along like a house on fire. And there is tennis that I love watching. In fact I’ve promised myself that I’ll watch Wimbledon live in 2010.â€
TO :
ALL RAFISAHAB FANS I M SUNEIL M I HAVE CREATED FORUM ON RAFISAHAB YOU CAN UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD SONGS ALSO SO PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE FORUM MY FORUM ID IS http://www.enjoyatkhushi.com/smf/index.php
YOU HAVE 2 REGISTER THAN ONLY U WILL ABLE 2 UPLOAD OR DOWNLOAD SO PLEASE KINDLY GO N VIST MY FORUM . I THANKS HAMARAFORUMS FROM BOTTOM OF MY HEART ALSO FOR GIVING ME INSPIRATION TO CREATE THE FORUM AND TO KEEP RAFISAHAB ALIVE IN OUR HEARTS .
JAB TAK SURAJ CHAND RAHEGA RAFISAHAB TUMARA NAAM RAHEGA . JAI RAFISAHAB .
THANKS & REGARDS . .
SUNIEL .
Dear Rafians,
The songs of 50s & 60s especially were often referred to as the songs belonging to the Golden Era of Hindi Film Music. The great congregation of Hindi/Urdu Poets that we had once, ranging from Shakell Badayuni Sahab, Majrooh Sultanpuri- the poet who wrote both in Hindi/Urdu with ease – the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, Hasrat Jaipuri- whose songs are still a rage, who can forget the incomparable Sahir Ludhianvi Sahab.
The Music directors- Khaiyaam, S.D Burman, Roshan Sahab, Naushad Sahab, Ravi, Madan Mohan- all simply great, who did full jsutice to the quality lyrics… and then…
Our singers- Rafi Sahab, Lataji, Manna Dey Sahab, Kishore Kumarji, Asha Bhonsleji, Suman Kalyanpurji, Geeta Duttji, Suraiyaji and a host of wonderful other singers whose names I may have missed out.
All these combined to achieve synergy in their work to churn out masaterpieces one after the other. That is why Old is Gold always.
Those songs which has sung by Rafi Sahab are very beautifull and sung with deep very deep of heart and with hard work after learing songs / rag sur.
Also GOD gifted him a lovly voice. May GOD bless him ever