Receiving Joy through Rafi Saab
By Achal Rangaswamy
Joy Mukherjee and Mohd Rafi
It has been a bad week for all of us. First we received news of music director Ravi Saab passing away. For me personally, the hanging up of his cricketing boots by Rahul Dravid was equally heart-wrenching and tragic. I had just finished listening to a few people tell me about his press conference, when I read a brief note from my good friend Rameshbhai Kurpad (simple sailor we all call him), that Joy Mukherjee had passed away.
I was in the midst of an important meeting at work almost all day and right into very late in the evening, but I just couldn’t help recalling some great moments of Joy that I had felt thanks to this chocolate hero of the golden era of hindi films.
Christmas day noon, Connaught Place in New Delhi. Year 1965. My father, whose own Hindi was always pathetic, nevertheless used to take us to watch Hindi films regularly. And this holiday was no different. He had taken us to watch what he called was a colourful film with lots of songs. We came out of Regal Cinema’s majestic interiors out in front of the Central Park, when Santa Claus rode down the circular road and waved to all of us. My sisters got excited watching the fat old man wave merrily in our direction, his car was also a jaunty jalopy of sorts. But his car did not fascinate me much. I was still under the effect of another vehicle, and a handsome man atop that vehicle gushing and cooing away with a song that has remained a favourite for so many years. The man in the movie had been singing “Banda parvar, thaam lo jigar…….phir wohi dil laya hoon”. This was my first look at Joy Mukherjee, though I had been listening to innumerable songs of his (or so I used to think, that heroes sang their own songs in Hindi films). I almost wished that Santa Claus would break into this song. But he didn’t, and we all crossed the road to walk across to Wenger’s, our family favourite, for a hearty lunch. And I had decided that I would be a cricketer, wear a white sweater the way this hero wore in the movie, and hit the ball to the boundary, using a guitar the way the hero did in the movie !!!!!
That was the day I fell in love with Laakhon hai nigahon mein, and Aanchal mein saja lena kaliyan. Only a couple of years before this day, I had been given a chance to accompany my aged grandparents, visiting us from Madras, on a road trip to Haridwar and Rishikesh, and the taxi that had taken us there had been playing some great songs (today I realize that it must have been a ‘luxury’ taxi, to even have a radio). I hardly remember much from that road trip except the cold river water and Lakshman Jhoola, but I will never ever forget four songs that kept playing ever so often. And they were:
Main Pyaar ka Raahi hoon
Bahut shukriya badi meherbani
Aap yun hi agar humse miltey rahey, dekhiye ek din pyaar ho jaayega
Humko Tumhare Ishq ne kya kya bana diya
It was perhaps the olden day radio version of ek hi film ke geet, or maybe this film had just been released around that time. I later learnt that it was a film called Ek Musafir ek haseena. I could hardly pronounce the name of the film fully but I learnt these songs promptly, and pyaar ho hi gaya !!!
Joy Mukherjee and Mohd Rafi
Joy Mukherjee must have been a truly blessed man to have had the gusty, romantic, absolutely delightful support of Rafi Saab’s voice for so many songs that were recorded on him. When one thinks of Ziddi and ‘pyaar ki manzil mast safar, tum ho haseen hum hai jawaan’ and the songs from Saaz aur awaaz like ‘dil ki mehfil saji hai chaley aayie’ one realizes that Rafi Saab must have definitely have had a soft corner for this handsome and charming (I remember my elder sister’s friends always mention this) young man. Yes, the girls were all truly in love with him. And they would have fallen head over heels in love with him when he sang “oh mere shah e khuba oh meri jaane jaana na” and “dil mera aaj kho gaya hai kahin”. Wherever it was love, whether in Shimla , or in Tokyo or even in Bombay !! The climax most certainly would have been the magnetic “Aa ja re aa zara, lehra ke aa zara “. Even the movie that Joy produced and directed, Humsaaya had the ever popular “dil ki awaaz bhi sun..”, a song that had millions of lovers humming this for their lady love, across so many stages and functions.
Shagird brought an energetic Joy teaching I S Johar the nuances of staying forever young with ‘badey miyan deewaneey” and woo Saira Banu with ‘wo hai zara khafa khafa’, there was this ethereal ‘teri raaton ke liye dil ko jalaaye humne’ with Asha Bhonsle. Every song stood out as a gem.
And true to Rafi Saab’s own magical way of demonstrating it, each time one of these songs played, one knew it was for Joy Mukherjee. Just listen to “mujhe dekhkar aapka muskurana, mohabbat nahin hai toh phir aur kya hai…”
Yes, in the case of Joy Mukherjee, it was always – Mohabbat nahin hai to phir aur kya hai !!!?????
That was Joy. And that was Rafi Saab’s contribution to Joy. Mohabbat.
RIP Joy Mukherjee. We shall always remember the soft spoken, handsome, charming young man who swept the girls off their feet, and made me want to sing with a guitar in hand and say “lekin wo baat kahaan”!!!!!!!!
dear friends rafi sb sings some english songs.who know about them please send links to me. thanks
bhagchandaniji
you are right. my post is also under moderation for so many days. this over moderation is killing the beautiful discussions. many starlwarts have already left the site due to this. this should not be done, at least in threads meant for paying tributes. it is justified only in controversial matters.
Sorry my above post (No. 18) was not meant for this thread. It is for Achal ji’s other write-up “Music director Ravi and his special relationship with Saab”. In fact my that post still remains under moderation on that thread. I got little mixed up.
Request the site administrator to look into it.
I find it bit curious that my earlier post (presently showing at No. 11) remained under moderation for about 10 days. Now it is out. Does anyone find anything wrong with that post?
sir I am looking for song sung by RAVI Saheb in the film Jogi.
There are 2 version of this song 1) sung by Ravi Ji himself 2) is sung by Asha Ji .
Ek Bhuli yaad ne Phir Dil Mera Tadpa diya . If any body has any idea where I can get this song sung By Ravi Ji, I have been looking for this song for quiet a long time but i always get the Asha Ji’s version. I will be Thankful.
Ravi ji was one music director whose loyalty to Rafi saab was 101%. If it were not for the two Chopra brothers, he would have scored a triple century with Rafi saab. In my book, he was the second best of composer of ghazals, after the great Madan Mohan. He has composed some of the best tunes for Mohd Rafi, Asha Bhosle and Mahendra Kapoor.
Friends, one after one, some of the greatest Rafians are leaving us. Shammi Kapoor’s death was such a blow to us. And now it’s Ravi and Joy. For those of who are not aware, Ravi ji migrated to Bombay to become a singer, because his friends told him that his voice resembles —-‘s. It is fortunate that he got to work closely with two of the greatest voices the music industry has produced: Hemant and Rafi.
In tribute to the two Rafians who left us last week, I’m posting a video of a song from Umeed where Ravi playbacked for Joy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bnDsAiYbi4
May your souls rest in peace.
P. Haldar
Dear Rangaswamyjee,
You deserve every bit of applause and praise which is coming your way for this highly emotional and beautiful writeup which made even people like me born much later in the late 70s think about the masterpieces sung by Rafi sahab for Joy Mukherjee again and feel the same kind of excitement and elation that you may have while listening to these songs and watching them over the big screen during the golden era of Hindi Film music. One of the songs that especially comes to mind written by Sahir Ludhianvi and music by Late Ravi is… Jeeyo toh Aise jeeo Jaise sub tumhara hai. Rafi Sahab was sublime in his rendition, while Joy Mukherjee looked charming as ever opposite the beautiful Mala Sinha jee.
Joy Mukherjee epitomised this song.. Jeeyo toh aise jeeo jaise sub tumhara hai, maro toh aise ke jaise tumhara kuch bhi nahi…
dear friends
i thank you all for your kind words.
i am also very thankful to jk bhagchandani ji for adding to the list some tremendous songs song by rafi saab for Joy Mukherjee.
warm regards
achal rangaswamy
very nice write up and love the title of the topic. Rafi sahab has sung all beautiful songs for Joy Mukerjee. All are incredible songs but the one that is very close to me is “Tere pyar ka sukriya mere meherbaan”.
rangajee,
your write up has your signature all through. flamboyant as ever, encompassing joy’s life being decorated by rafi sahab.
these chocolate hero’s like joy, biswajeet etc just carried themselves because of their cute looks and rafi sahab.
your description of those times with annecdotes in your life and also joys, takes us through those times as if we too are travelling along with you.
when i go back to the 50?s and 60?s black and white era – i still feel god really wanted humans to think, pray and live life that way and not with a cell phone in one hand and a girl in the other.
the songs, movies, the actors today are so very unrealistic that – human beings have slid so very deep into the earth – almost reaching the area’s where fire is eternally burning like lava and could consume all of us to being roasted as human kabaab’s – mai dojakk ( hell ) kee baath karr rahaa hoon.
anyways, sorry for getting carried away in my own thoughts and away from your dream write up with the dream hero and joy.
R I P – JOY. dont forget to thank rafi sahab and touch his feet in reverence and tell him that you got a highly respectfull ” send off ” from earth only due to his singing.
ek acchheee kahaanee bolnaa koi aaap sey seekhey. badhaai ho merey dost.
aapney mujhey bhee shaamil kar diyaa. – waah original rangakhush ishtyle.
ramesh narain kurpad.
Apt, crisp and brilliant are the three words that define this write-up. And heading (Receiving Joy through Rafi saab) is most appropriate.
Joy Mukherjee may not have been in the league of Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar or Raj Kapoor, but in his own way he created a unique place for himself. And true to his name, he was sheer joy especially in combination with Rafi saab. He was simply loveable in all those movies. My favourite Joy Mukherjee movie is ‘Shagird’.
Apart from the ‘Dil ki mehafil saji hai..’ song that you mentioned in the article, other songs of ‘Saaz aur awaz’ too were great. The duets ‘Pyar ki raah bahaar ki manzil…’, ‘Tum ishq ki mehafil ho..’ and other solo ‘Saaz ho tum awaz hoon main…’ are gems and bearing the Naushad stamp.
Thanks Joy for giving us so much joy. May your soul rest in piece.
-J.K. Bhagchandani
hello to all respected people, who listen, comment and part of this site. As I am the new one by luck to be a part of rafi saheb site so I feel very proud and immense plesure. Rafi Saheb was the person for whom their are no words to explain the Joy of music. As far as Joy ji concerned he was the great hero who was not compleat without Rafi sahib voice. Both were the best at that time.
Dear all,
Reiterates only one thing…. Rafi sahab made heroes out of anybody…. although Joy brought joy to people.. RIP Joy
Voice of Rafi Sahab is beyond comparison . It was attributed to his voice that many Heros and their films became popular. I have no words to express my feelings for the greatest of all singer. Jub tak Dunia Rahegi Rafi sahab ki aawaz rahegi
dear achal ji,
waqt ne bade jhatke diye hai sngeet premiyon ko is week mein , pehle ravi ji aur abhi ravi ji ke sanskaar se bahar aaye the ki joy sahab bhi chale gaye
jis tarah shammi ji aur rafi sahab ek duje ke liye bane hai theek waise hi joy sahab aur rafi sahab.
maine shaayed hi joy sahab ka koi geet suna jisme rafi sahab naa ho, joy ke 95% geeton mein rafi sahab hi hai.
abhi abhi gaana play ho raha hai yeh dunia nahi jagir kisi ki, rafi sahab sabke hai aur sada rahenge.
vinod mehru
09768245368
dear Achal saab, it was our great rafi saab’s voice that made many heros popular whether it was shammi kapoor, Joy mukherjeer, Vishwajit, Dharmendra, shashi kapoor, rishi kapoor and many more. Rafi saab da jawab nahin.
regards,
birendra Singh bisht
rangajee,
your write up has your signature all through. flamboyant as ever, encompassing joy’s life being decorated by rafi sahab.
these chocolate hero’s like joy, biswajeet etc just carried themselves because of their cute looks and rafi sahab.
your description of those times with annecdotes in your life and also joys, takes us through those times as if we too are travelling along with you.
when i go back to the 50’s and 60’s black and white era – i still feel god really wanted humans to think, pray and live life that way and not with a cell phone in one hand and a girl in the other.
the songs, movies, the actors today are so very unrealistic that – human beings have slid so very deep into the earth – almost reaching the area’s where fire is eternally burning like lava and could consume all of us to being roasted as human kabaab’s – mai dojakk ( hell ) kee baath karr rahaa hoon.
anyways, sorry for getting carried away in my own thoughts and away from your dream write up with the dream hero and joy.
R I P – JOY. dont forget to thank rafi sahab and touch his feet in reverence and tell him that you got a highly respectfull ” send off ” from earth only due to his singing.
ek acchheee kahaanee bolnaa koi aaap sey seekhey. badhaai ho merey dost.
aapney mujhey bhee shaamil kar diyaa. – waah original rangakhush ishtyle.
ramesh narain kurpad.
End of of great songs …..
kya kehne hai achal ji………….
true . mohd rafi had a special corner for joy mukherjee – its well known. add to the fact that rafi saaheb gave great songs during the period 60 to 70 and he was the main male singer giving hits after hits.
OP NAYYAR – mohd rafi – joy mukherjee were a joyful royal team giving hits after hits.
r i p Joy…………………….
Rafi Sahab’s lovely voice and Joy Mukherji’s charming act ,they always makes very effective and most lovable combination. we never forgate they both legends. AAH ! THEY BOTH ARTIST LEAVE THE WORLD.
Dear Achal Ji,
Beautiful thoughts along with beautiful words. Thanks
Joy Mukherjee came from a family in the film industry. His father Sashadhar Mukherjee was the co-founder of Filmalaya Studios. Mukherjee acted in several hit films like Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Love in Simla, Ziddi and Ek Musafir Ek Hasina. He also directed films. The film industry and fans have been mourning the loss of the actor. RIP Joy …………..