True Voice – Mohd Rafi
The following article was brought to my notice when Sharad posted it on MAS. The article has been trimmed down a bit keeping afloat Rafi details. However, anyone interested can go visit the source at http://tfmpage.com/forum/4980.6302.04.57.19.html
I am Swaminatha Iyer and I am 78 years old. I hail from Tiruchi and I am a part of music associations in Tiruchi, M’as as well as in West Bengal and Maharashtra.
I think it is wrong to condemn music or artists on either side of Vindhyas. Our Indian music is one of the few which has not been cleaned off by the western music though there has always been a influence. It speaks a lot of the richness of our music. Sometime back director of MTV had said that MTV westernized the music wherever it went but in India , MTV had to be Indianized for it to be accepted. A lot of this credit goes to the Indian film music.
I have been fortunate to have close personal association with Rafi, Sirkali, TMS, Dr. BMK, Kishore, SPB & KJY, PS, Mannadey and the one and only Lata Mangeshkar.
Comparisons are bound to come, but almost every artist or I have met considers Lata to be beyond comparison. Her talents are beyond anyone’s reach. Even Sirkazi used to talk of her singing like a die-hard fan as do countless others.
Now coming to the Rafi-SPB discussion. It might be difficult to convince an South Indian to believe Rafi is the better and at the same time Rafi crowd will never believe any other male singer comes anywhere nearer. There is one more mobile crowd, which is well conversant with Hindi and some south Indian language. Majority of them tilt to either Rafi or Kishore.
During one of my stays in M’as I had stayed with SPB. While talking of true voices he said, I don’t feel like half a singer when listening to Rafi. True voice is not a tech term but many in circle use it. Perfect example would be lata, but to understand consider our own PS who within her range is superb. People who do not have such true voices can never do justice to original. They generally underplay many parts of the song or fake it with bass/superficial singing. True voices make people like Sirkazi, Nusrat Fateh Ali khan, Lata… Inimitable. However since Sirkazi and Nusrat did not have the filmy voices their “real” following is limited to their local arena.
In addition to the true voice if the singer has a very good voice then in “most” cases he/she can better songs of others. It is this combination which makes Rafi stand out among the other male singers. There are many here who seem to have mistaken notions on a good bass and also on high pitch.
Bryan Adams does not require a monster bass in “Summer of 69” to sound real manly. It is the punch which gives that feel and that is decided only by the comfort level in most ranges (that is by what your throat can support). This you CAN never disguise with bass. Since people have talked about lack of manly voice viz. a viz. Rafi it was necessary to bring this point out. I have had the fortune of listening to most singers in studio and some times without a mike, practicing with MD’s.When Lata or Rafi do, the level is so high that people hesitate to even hum. It felt silly to sing in their presence (and it feels silly when someone says his voice isn’t manly).
In RD’s tribute when SPB sang “Aaja Aaja mein hoon” or “Chaand mera dil” it sounded only sweet and lacked punch if you compare with Rafi’s original.
Yesu once told me God has been partial to Rafi. He said “god gift term anavasyamaa romba common aa ippo use aardu”.. but idu Rafi kee thaan 100% porundu”. This person could sing “as intricately as a lady without sounding thin”, “cover any mood”, “versatility odey perfect example Rafi”. Yesu said most important is the comfort level over ranges which makes you feel God has been partial to Rafi. (But Of course in Rafi’s early career (1950’s) the voice was relatively feeble).
To people exposed to Rafi’s talent, these or any amount of praise can only seem less. I just wish he was alive and you people could get a live chance to hear him. Probably you can get hold of the DD album for the Geet Gaata Chal series where the first four episodes were dedicated to Rafi. Rafi is on camera singing “O Duniya Ke Rakwaaley” and many other songs. If you see and hear the last part you will realize why SPB said “impossible”. I think particularly those people who have talked about scales w.r.t Rafi should see this album. Its a known fact in industry that Rafi ruled high pitch and there is no male singer better in switching notes so easily. There are artists who can go beyond but then they sound strained or they don’t have pleasant voices when they venture into those territories.
Many singers of today are his compulsive followers. But they end up inheriting only part of his quality. Md. Aziz ended up with a sad voice. Mahendra Kapoor with a thick nasal voice. Anwar with a nasal voice. Sonu Nigam with a feminine voice. Rafi neither had a soft voice nor a heavy (bass) voice he had a good voice. Importantly did not strain at high notes, and voice if at all only became better at higher notes. If you see him singing it will remind you of Janaki. However diff the song is or the note is he will be smiling and singing. It is unthinkable that he cannot sing something.
There seems to be lot of talk about “Shankara Bharanamo” song. SPB has sung many a great numbers and things being said about this song in this forum are rather amusing, particularly b’cos 3 out of 4 people who can be called as singers will be able sing it and at least one out of 10 will sing it with the same effect. There are lot of other songs of SPB where this great singer has played with songs in total control. You will find most south Indian singers who have had a good exposure say that it is beneficial to learn Hindustani as it gives better breath control and improves expression.
Rafi was not only able to glide over a song, the important thing was that he could express each word/sound when singing. It is one thing to hold your breath, start and reach a crescendo (high note), as like in “Shankara”, “Anbey (Yennai kaan villaye)” it is different ballgame if you have to do it from low notes or suddenly switch notes. With practice the former can be done, latter requires a special gift. Rafi had a natural ability to do the latter. In “Tum joh mil gaye ho” there is such a transition in the “karwaan mil gaya” part. I have never seen anyone do justice to most of his songs in my life time. In “parda hai parda” quawaali the similar part is “kar doon to, Akbar mera naam”. In fact most of his songs will have these specialty as it was his natural ability to sing freely in a wide range at the same time giving that extra expression.
Whereas SPB takes us to heavens with “Idu oru pon maali”,”Ilaya nila” “bisiladarenu”(kannada), when he sings Rafi’s song it lacks the punch or expression, though it has the bass. But at least most agree that SPB does some justice to original, whereas most others murder the original.
One trivial point I would like to add is that singing in Hindi is harder. There are more “JHA”,”CHA”,”HA”,”THA”, “KHA”,”JA”,”FA”. These take away the breath faster. The more expressive you are the more air you are using up. Just singing from Nabhi will not help, your throat also needs to do a lot, for singing in Hindi, Bengali etc. SPB makes you fall in love with his south Indian songs but same cannot be said about his Hindi songs. If you just glide through words having these sounds, you will never be expressive. Doing this as well as reaching high notes is not easy. Rafi had this gift and that’s why it is difficult to imagine anyone else in his shoes. Song “Chalkaaye jaam” has so much expression that it is unthinkable how anyone can sing it. When Rafi switches to a high note with “Mitwaa” in the song “Chaahunga mein tughey” you cannot replicate it with bass. Most others will sound as if they are shouting in such cases. That man’s throat had the ability to freely sing at such levels.
Versatility is not just the ability to sing in various styles, more important is how good you are singing in those styles. You have lot of Ghazal singers today but when Rafi sings a Ghazal you will sit up and take notice. You don’t have to be part of the Ghazal listeners crowd. This is one important aspect. Whatever style you sing you should be able to pull the common man to listen and not just a particular crowd. Pick “parda hai parda” or any qawalli and it will stand tall among other qawalli’s.
Variety is amazing :
songs of Guru Dutt’s Khagaz key phool or songs like abhi naa jao chod key, Aaja teri yaad aayi, Aaj kal mein dhal gaya, Aaj kal terey merey pyaar, Aasmaan sey aaya farishta, Dil ney pyaar kiya hai, Deewana mujh saa nahi, Din dhal jaaye, Duniya paagal hai, Jaane walon jara, Dil joh na kaha saka, Dil key jharokon mein, Dil kaa bhavar, Chalkey teri aakkhon sey, Kar chaley hum fida, khilona jaan kar tum, Woh jab yaad aay, Woh hain jara khafa, Vaadian mera daaman, Pathar key sanam, Chaand mera dil, Main zindagi kaa saath, Mainey poocha chaand sey, sun sun jaalima, Koi jab raah na paay, hum to chaley pardes, badan pey sitaarey, laal chadi maidaan, Tum jo mil gaye, O meri shaahey, Sau baar janam lengey, Tum mujhey yoon bhula, Tumney mujhey dekha, Terey merey sapney, Tumny pukaara hum chaley aay
Name a situation/mood and Rafi’s song will be there on the top.
Swami
Post 2743.
Bhushanji whom you are fooling. You think rafi fans are idiots. Going by the post, it is so obvious that the story narrated by the “character” or the ‘story teller’ is full of fabrication only in order to glorify ghantasala. the mistakes in the story is so obvious and quite revealed and the plot is also not concealed. Any ordinary reader can fully understand that the story is written with an utmost hurry, what a joke, that the person is telugu man but he do not understand telugu. look at the words he is using for rafi sahab, great rafi sahib, die-hard fans of rafi sahab consider him the greatest, not great. than rafi sahab was going on a hajj pilgrimage but then he go to oryssa and start praising ghantasala.
Now the summary, ‘this person has initially praised rafi sahab but very miserly, after a brief gimmicks like these, he started praising ghantasala a lot. Rafi sahab coming on a rikshaw, showing that he was such a miser person that he did not spend money for the taxi.The story is very badly written ad these ghantasalans need better stories, fabrications and concosiions than this particular one. rafi fans can also narrate a hundreds of such stories but they do not need to, as Rafi superiority over other singers including ghantasala is so obvious. Atleast you people should have taken some time to write such type of false stories as you keep on exposing yourselves and now are completely nude and fully naked in front of the audience. the more falsehood you will spread the worse fame you people will be able to get for your unknown regional oddity rather anomaly.
his very few fans have only”defamed” him rather more than getting him some glory, which he does not deserve.
Friends,
Veteran actor shammi kapoor passes away – May his soul rest in peace. The beautiful song Yeh chaand sa roshan chehra by rafi ji in kashmir ki kali is one of my favourite songs for shammi kapoor by rafi ji.
Veteran actor shammi kapoor passes away – May his soul rest in peace. The beautiful song Yeh chaand sa roshan chehra by rafi ji in kashmir ki kali is one of my favourite songs for shammi kapoor by rafi ji.
RAFI SAHAB WILL ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST INDIAN SINGER OF ALL TIMES.
GHANTASALA WILL REMAIN A REGIONAL FREAK,
I AM ASKING FOR A AUTHENTICATED PROOF, AND A LINK TO THAT, NOT THE SAYING OF SOME DIE-HARD RAFI FAN, WHICH MUST BE IN SAME DISGUISE AS YOU AND FEW OF YOUR FRIENDS.
YOU WILL ALWAYS TRY TO GLORIFY YOUR UNKNOWN SINGER, BUT YOUR EFFORTS WILL BE ALWAYS FUTILE, YOU PEOPLE DON’T HAVE ANY SIGHT FOR GHANTASALA AS YOU KNOW THAT NOT EVEN 30 POSTS WILL BE WRITTEN IN THE WHOLE YEAR ON THAT SITE. GHANTASALA IS ONLY KNOWN TO HINDI MUSIC LOVERS BY THE DELIBERATE COMPARISON OF G.SALA WITH THE LEGENDARY RAFI SAHAB, AND THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET SOME RECOGNITION FOR HIM, AND TO SOME EXTENT YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED IN THAT. RAFI IS THE BENCHMARK, THAT’S WHY PEOPLE TEND TO COMPARE OTHERS WITH THE GREATEST SINGER OF INDIA RAFI SAHAB.
AND BY THE WAY THE CLASSICAL SONG OF G.S. TO WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN THE LINK HAS EXPOSED HIS PATHETIC SINGING AS HE IS SHORT OF BREATH THROUGHOUT THAT SONG, TRYING TO CONCEAL THAT DEFECT BUT THIS SHORT-COMING OF HIS IS SO OBVIOUS TO THE LISTENERS. HE SINGS ALL THE SONGS WITH THE SAME VOICE, A MAN SINGING AS IF HE IS ALWAYS GRIEVED.
FROM NOW ONWARD WHATEVER WAYS YOU’LL TRY TO IRRITATE ME, I WILL NOT RESPOND TO YOU AS BY DISCUSSING YOUR UNKNOWN REGIONAL SINGER, HERE IS GIVING HIM BIT OF A RECOGNITION.
NOW ANSWER OUR ONE QUESTION, WHY CAN NOT YOU AND OTHER SALA JI FANS LEAVE THIS SITE DEDICATED TO THE LEGENDARY MUHAMMAD RAFI SAHAB, AND SHOWER YOUR PRAISES ANYWHERE ELSE, ISN’T THERE ANY OTHER PLACE IN THIS VAST INTERNET WORD WHERE YOU CAN GO AND LEAVE US TO LIVE PEACEFULLY HERE, THAT SHOULD BE ALL, BYE, BYE, I AM SIGNING OFF. IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE US WE MAY, AS WE NO MORE LIKE SUCH FALSE ALLEGATION AGAINST OUR MOST RESPECTED SINGER, MODERATOR MUST INTERVENE AND DELETE THE COMMENTS MENTIONING SOME UNKNOWN REGIONAL JUNK OR RATHER MESS.
Music lovers,
These kind of arguments show lack of maturity specially in relation to two major poles northern and southern. The contribution of both legends was matchless in their respective industries, just know this. The fact rafi praising ghantasala as superior on two occasions has been narrated in many sites including newspapers, but that has nothing to do with rafi ji’s greatness who is a king of music in hindi playback singing similar to ghantasala in south and telugu film industry.
Comments on nagaiah by light music lover are wrong : nagaiah was himself a great fan of ghantasala and used ghantasala as playback singer for himself in many films as bhushan and abhishek state – one such famous film is lava kusa (even in tamil ghantasala sang for nagaiah)
I speak truth not false things and truth is always bitter and it is really difficult for ordinary mortals to follow and believe truth. Bhushan ji, good evidence I could not find such things
Just see post 11 in devotional rafi blog – A hardcore rafi fan has narrated about rafi mentioning about ghantasala as superior in a live programme of rafi in 1975.
This post is from devotional rafi written by a rafi fan
K Srinivas Says:
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 am
Hello Dear Rafi lovers and Mr.Biman Baruah
Nice article on devotional rafi. I am not able to stop putting my pen here after reading the nice article here. Though I am a born telugu man, I have spent most of my life from my childhood to current middle old age in orissa and grew listening to the great songs of the great rafi saab. It will be a surprise to note that despite my birth status, my knowledge of telugu films and songs is minimum and due to my environment I am much attached to the great rafi saab and his songs. When this article on devotional rafi was being read by me, I could think of the only great rafi who could render beautifully the hindu devotional songs, indeed bringing out the true potential of a really great singer and accomplished legend of bollywood. How beautifully rafi ji sings those devotional songs from baiju bawra and others. These numbers have given a turning point to the hindi film world in those days.
I specifically wanted to share one experience. In 1975 rafi ji had visited orissa on account of some programme related to Haj Pilgrimage and on that ocassion there was a concert conducted there in which rafi ji sang live. And, believe me, it was a fortune for me to behold the great rafi singing live. He was a humble and simple man who came in a white ambassador and came to the concert in a Rickshaw being pulled by a rickshaw puller. Such a great singer was such a simple man. Such was this great legend from bollywood. He sang extempore the songs requested by many of the people present there. One such song (i could not clearly remember) was a devotional song on Lord Krishna, which rafi ji sang for 25 minutes continuously and the applause was beyond imagination. This point I wanted to pen in this devotional rafi column. Few would have seen rafi saab singing live and it was no exaggeration that his voice was as beautiful as was in the film songs. Not only hindi, he sang other language songs also, one song being a telugu number rendered by him ( I could not remember). On that ocassion, though not much associated with telugu pride, but as a telugu born man, I felt much proud on the great rafi’s remarks on telugu industry. Rafi ji said that he sang in many languages, but the most difficulty he ever faced was in singing a telugu song and he said that singing telugu song is really a very difficult job. Rafi remarked that telugu song rendition is extremely difficult. Of course, telugu people remark on telugu as the greatest and toughest language at the same time. And he further stated that before singing telugu song, he met ghantasala master of the telugu industry at his house and learnt few tips to render telugu numbers. Rafi stated (I remember even now) – I have met Ghantasala master saab, my friend & whom I consider as the greatest ever singer I have ever met and specially telugus are blessed with such incomparable singer in such great language (recd. with large applause by telugu people) . He further said that With the support of ghantasala saab, I could fulfil my dream of singing telugu songs (though rafi saab had sung very few telugu songs) This was really a great tribute paid by rafi to ghantasala (as he had passed away an year before) Both rafi and ghantasala were great friends. As a oriya resident, my knowlege on ghantasala was very limited and strictly speaking, i came to the know the importance of ghantasala only after great rafi ji’s statement on ghantasala, though I could earlier hear from many of the telugus counting ghantasala as another incomparable divine singer like mohd. rafi in indian playback singing.
A very modest and humble, yet simple going man rafi ji was really great, as I saw him closely. Despite being such a great personality, his humbleness and gentle behaviour was beyond words. We were very fortunate to behold the greatest singer of bollywood, Shri Mohd rafi saab in 1975 in orissa.
Singers like rafi saab can be counted only on fingers. On the other day I was reading a column in true voice forum here regarding lata’s tribute to rafi ji. In my view, this is a sheer overhyped belated selfish natured tribute. Lata’s role as political lady in film industry is well known. When vani jairam rendered beautifully bole re pappi for the film guddi, it was understood that the three sisters, lata, usha and asha went to her house and threw away all her belongings and asker her to vacate bombay in those days, fearing that vani jairam would overtake her. That is so called Bharat ratna lata mangeshkar’s history. If she is really a great singer, why this jealousy on others and lack of self confidence.
In contrast, rafi ji never was such, otherwise mukesh, hemant, mahendra no body would have come up. Rafi ji was truly a great man as well as great singer. So the above tribute by lata on rafi, I feel is overhyped, though a great tribute was made by lata on rafi at least belatedly. But rafi saab is beyond such “things”.
ABHISHEK, RAFIFANI,AND SUCH TYPE OF OTHERS MUST TAKE THESE ONLY 3 SONGS OF GHANTASALA AND VANISH FROM THIS SITE, NOW YOU HAVE BEEN FULLY EXPOSED AS A G.S. FAN AND RAFI SAHAB HATER. GO AND FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO CRY FOR YOUR SINGER IN ORDER TO GET ATLEAST SOME GLORY FOR YOUR NOT SO KNOWN TELUGU”REGIONAL STUFF”
Nagaiah stopped singing for himself and utilised only ghantasala in many films as abhishek states i.e correct. Nagaiah wanted ghantasala to sing for him as he mentioned that he wanted to listen only ghantasala songs for him.
Now you will not remember anything because you are a loser and will never give us the link. give us the documentry prove. Your regional singer was never known to Legendry rafi sahab.
Always baseless comments wiyhout any substance.
2736 – Bharti
Why nagaiah asked ghantasala to sing for him in many films ? Can you tell, what happened to nagiah – he cannot sing i.e. ghantasala sang for him in many films – please shed ignorance which light music lover has displayed.
This abhishek is such a ‘dheet”, i would say, he is an irritant, bhai jao apne ghantesaley ke liye koi aur site talsh karlo, pese hem se lelo.
2730
If I remember correctly, 1993 August 2nd week (I could not remember the date) Eenadu telugu newspaper had written about rafi mentioning telugu version as superior (however, honestly I am unable to find the link) – adinarayana rao, music director said that rafi mentioned the same in kuhu kuhu.
Post 2734, light music loverji, truely said, Endaro Mahanubhavulu.
yes listening to him, people will forget ghantsala.
Now this is indeed a melodious voice, no doubt that he is better than gs.
2734
In many films nagaiah asked ghantasala to sing for him and ghantasala sang for nagaiah (where he acted) many times.
There was a was a great singer named Nagaiya who sang in the 40s & 50s in Telugu films. His voice quality was definitely better than Ghantasala’s any day. Please listen to him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWFqdYBtILI&feature=related
Ghantasalan fans are mannerless and gutless. they must post their eulogize about their regional singer in his barren site.
can dis singer come anywhere in ‘diction’ or ‘essaying’ songs as mohd rafi. he was regional and remain one language singer as always.
great singers need’nt be trumpeted.. they live in hearts like mohammad rafi saaheb.
Mohd. Rafi was, is and will be always the greatest singer. He is simply incomparable. This site belongs to Rafi sahab and his fans and not for the haters of rafi. The bunch of jokers here so called ghantasala fans are the greatest nuisance on this site. whatever greatness your singer has got you write volumes about him in ghantasala site.
Please leave this site and never come back here if you have some sort of gentlemanliness. The rafi fans are having all the rights to praise, talk and discuss about rafi. No one has any right to discourage us. So all ghantasala fans are hereby warned to leave this site peacefully, otherwise the hard core rafi fans will be forced to use abusing words against their idol. Mind it…..
How would have shri ghantasala sang the song : ‘Dil jo na keh sakha”???
would the great singer matched mohd rafi’s diction at least 20% is the thought coming to my mind.
Listen to this number ghantasalan’s by mohd rafi and draw your own conclusions. perhaps, all of you would get a great sleep as all your questions and worries will be answered – for ever.
please try this therapy.
THIS IS WHAT GHANTASALANS ARE ALL ABOUT, JUST LOOK AT THIS STATEMENT,”rafi acknowledged that the telugu version of chal ud ja re panchi was better than his version”
I CHALANGE THOSE PEOPLE WHO KEEP ON NARRATING THIS FALSE ALLEGATION, AN UTMOST LIE. IF THEY ARE TRUE, THAN THEY ARE CHALLENGED TO BRING A LINK WHERE RAFI HAS EVER SAID THAT. THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST LIERS AND IN ORDER TO GLORIFY THEIR SINGER THEY KEEP ON SAYING THAT. NOBODY BELIVE THEM. RAFI SAHAB NEVER EVER IN HIS WILDEST DREAMS SAID THAT BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW THE UNKNOWN SINGER.
rafi is unmatchable.
Post 2705 and 2706 of Mr. Bharti and 2714 of Hans ji,
Posts written with bias and incomplete knowledge and without knowing telugu language at all.
Madan – 2724
Good post and hope good sense prevails now.
stop this discussion on who is greater. I am a adore Rafi. I also adore Ghantasala. The fact is that both are terrific and dominated during their time. Even today they are revered world over. Music directors have acknowledged their talent. So have crores of people. Rafi acknowledged that the telugu version of Chal ud ja re panchi was better than his version. Does this make him lesser than Ghantasaala.They both are great.Hope u all out there stop this fighting and enjoy the lovely songs of these singers.
Hans
This song is a wonderful genre of harikatha, – in the picture the song was being sung for continuous 40 days and due to which the voice strength has depleted due to strain. The song hence needs to be sung in a strained voice. Ghantasala displays the strained voice (strained over a period of continuous 40 days) while maintaining the classical essence intact. change in voice culture can be clearly noted. Any such song from hindi in strained voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaXnm1EqNhY&feature=related
Ali
I have rated rafi highly and as mind blowing – my post 2702 and 2703 confirms that. I hope you can properly understand posts.
Dear Abhishek really I don’t know what is your problem with mohd rafi greatness because you lost your first war when you was comparing kishore da mohd rafi, the singer your speaking about him who is he because many of us don’t know who is he!? I was of one who was thinking that the singer Shaan is kishore da fan because he was mostly singing kishore da but at the end he said I sang kishore da songs because more easy to sing to compare ,hod rafi songs,singer like sbp said I feel I am not a singer when I listen to mohd rafi songs,manna da he said many thing about mohd rafi, naushad ji,Ravi,LP,SJ and many more,opn is one of the best music director in the history of bollywood music he said it was his biggest mistake to not giving songs to mohd rafi for two years,Shammi kapoor and the list is endless so give us such big names who say about Ghantasala greatness as said about mohd rafi by people who know about more than you and anyone else,I don’t know what is the problem with you with mohd rafi name?!so time you said manna da is better singer than mohd rafi some time kisnhore da and your list is endless i think if I said that I am better singer than mohd rafi you will going to agree with me that I am better singer than mohd rafi !?please be honest on 15aug…..
And filmy song (not in purely classical style as incomparable siva sankari of ghantasala) – which song can match the o duniya ke rakhwale song of rafi – a wonderful composition of naushad and gem of rafi
If link does not open for the incomparable song in previous post this may be listened to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Zi5Cxu4Gc
And which song in indian playback singing match this song of ghantasala
http://www.chimatamusic.com/playcmd.php
2710 – bharti
Please show a rafi song or any other singer in hindi composed in 3 octaves. Obviously, such type of ghantasala songs were discussed here many many times.
Hans
be true to your conscience at least as what you say is true or not.
I stand by my post 2702 and 2703 above – not only me, any genuine music lover has to say yes to my posts and that is truth – which cannot be changed and this is known to you and everybody else.
2704
tirwedi
Well., let pavan sing his own songs why he is singing ghantasala songs, we will then see how much popular he will become or liked, you are liking him because he is singing a song of the legendary ghantasala – remember that and not a pavan song.
Hans
You do not have proper knowledge of telugu or padyams, why do you want to propogate false facts, specially in areas which you have no knowledge ? Padyams are really difficult to sing, even classical experts fail there, that is true and many classical experts therefore, did not attempt them in telugu playback singing. Well, no body stops you from writing anything, you are free to write even false and wrong things, but be true to your conscience at least as what you say is true or not.
BTW, I do not know why you people are so excited, if some x says that y is a greater singer than z, – I have been to sites of many singers in indian playback singing – no other site any fan is so excited, even if provoked – save in only two sites one is ghantasala’s site (where you need to register to post a message) and where not even a single comment is allowed for any other singer – ghantasala is greatest ever singer in that site. And next is this site , where we can find hardcore fans who go to any extent to defend rafi, but yes, this site is a bit liberal which gives scope for more broader discussions and that is one of the reasons why so many people gather here. This has got advantages as well as diadvantages – more information is known and true bickerings and name callings also are incidental due to the comparison factors.
And I stand by my post 2702 and 2703 above – not only me, any genuine music lover has to say yes to my posts and that is truth – which cannot be changed and this is known to you and everybody else.
Regards,
A great song – mixture of two great singers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvO3MYzdOqA
Thank you Raam Krishna Bhartiji for the link you have provided through your post 2710. Through this link I have had the opportunity to listen to yet another immortal song of Rafi sahab in the film clipping, “Tujhe kya sunaoon aye dilruba, tere saamne mera haal hai, tere ek nazar ki faisala, mere zindagi ki sawal hai”. The heroine is Nutan. The amount of romanticism that Rafi has generated in the song proves again that he is indeed the greatest playback singer of all times. Once Manna Dey stated about Rafi in an interview with the bengali magazine “Shananda” of West Bengal that I have quoted in some of my posts sometime back,”Such a great artist was not born 100 years back nor shall be born in the forthcoming 100 years.Now going back to the song that I have mentioned one will notice that the although the hero who lip singed was not that handsome and was no match against the ever graceful Nutanji, Rafi’s magical voice nevertheless gave him the strength to convey the untold words of his heart. That was the quality of Mohammed Rafi who could create life to a song and was instrumental to popularize many actors.
Regards.
rafifan 1 [post 2678]
i am surprised that you have felt offended by my post, which does not contain anything against you. i only criticised the ways of the trimurti in their tirade against rafi. but, if you are one with them as suspected by ram krishna bharati and confirmed by your above post, then your anger against me is understandable. i had posted my comment much earlier than 31st july, so your so-called abstention from answering me is just hypocritical. you were free to answer earlier and are free to answer later.
i dont believe that anything is pure in this world. but the definition of pure may be different for different people. if i had praised ghantasala and the trimurti you would have taken that to be pure. but, now you take my thoughts as impure. also, i dont know how a name is either pure or impure.
in your above post, while replying to musharraf, you have referred to rafi as most popular hindi singer of india. this is not the language of a rafi fan. you have not even called him the best hindi singer, let alone using words like greatest etc. on the other hand you lapped up the hint from siva’s post and took opportunity of praising ghantasala, though siva was just referring to both hindi and telugu as sweet languages.
you went on with propagating the untruths like there are no padyams in any other language and that they cannot be rendered easily by even trained classical experts. you then go on to contradict your statement by saying that padyams have nothing to do with classical talent. if padyams are only in telugu then it can only be said that they cannot be rendered easily by telugu classical experts.
for your information there are a lot of padas in hindi and panjabi at least, which are rendered very easily by common people in accordance with local folk tunes. and that must be the case with telugu padyams. they became popular due to their simplicity and easy rendering by public.
I like to say before one it is zero and after one it is two,there are many stars but only one sun as human eyes we can see,superstar of his time Shammi ji ,all Indian top music directors they said mohd rafi is the best,1950’s Naushad ji,1960’s SJ,1970 LP and even today best ARR who think that mohd rag is the best and once RR said you people said that we are not giving good music,he said give me mohd rafi I will give you good music,even Rd mostly people said he like kishore da,rd said when i did my first song with mohd rafi after the listening the song it was only mohd rafi magic voice not my music,a great singer and a greater human you Indian should be proud of him,ask any one from Country where they know about Indian music do you have better singer than mohd rafi……….
siva [post 2674]
if you had posted only the first three and the last two lines of your post, then you would have been considered a good peace-maker. but, your three lines in between have exposed you as a ghantasalan, who seeks to bring down the status of rafi through wrong means.
you say rafi had competitors like kk. i would say that he had not only kk but also other competitors like talat, mukesh, hemant, manna dey, mahendra kapoor among his contemporaries, even if we leave aside minor players like durrani, chitalkar, batish, balbir etc. if there were so many competitors, then that is a pride of hfm. another good thing is that none of the male singers tried to undermine others in the true sense.
if ghantasala did not have competition, then that is the shame of telugu film industry. everybody knows that very few telugu films are made each year. so there are just a few mds, producers, directors, actors etc. at work simultaneously. lesser the shops easier it is to monopolise the trade is a business maxim. so if ghantasala could monopolise due to this reason, that is not a quality of ghantasala. monopolising is much easier in regional cinema.
even if he ruled telugu cinema how it is relevant to his status vis-a-vis rafi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ausKnkllbsM&feature=related
It is my challege to bring one song of ghantasala which is in more higher note than this amazing rendition by great rahat fateh ali khan.
But obviously rafi can.
From now onwards I will bring one rafi song and in competition, ghanata salas must bring a song in competition to Rafi songs, only talking and talking lot of lies does not make ghantasala any great singer even, forget that he in any wild dreams can be the greatest, “Yey Mun Aur Masoor Ki Daal.”
1.me ne chand or sitaronki tumunna kithee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nlOkIGpIYk
If you want to listen in real high pitch or notes or octaves, listen to this song. Even ghantsala can not reach such high notes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjzG_KrsmGg&feature=related
as some ghantasalans have reappeared, i want to post some comments in this regard. but, before that i want to highlight a few rafi songs.
1. meri zindagi men aate – kanyadan
rafi sings this song for shashi kapoor who is singing on the wedding anniversary of his friend, in the presence of his beloved asha parekh who was wedded in childhood(and who still honours it) to shashi’s friend, but shashi’s friend does not remember the marriage. shashi’s friend’s family do not know that shashi and asha were lovers.
rafi sings this in high rising voice because shashi is singing it in a big hall, and still brings out the pathos. in the first antara rafi brings out a subtle sigh when he utters ‘kuchh or baat hoti’. then in the second antara he inserts a subtle laugh to remove suspicion, because the sister of his friend had become suspicious by watching the body language of shashi and asha. rafi brings out all this as only he can.
2. jane kahan gayi – dil apna aur preet parai
this song is picturised on a street singer, singing with his group while dancing. on the other hand raj kumar is sitting on a stone on the beach in a pensive mood. the song is in fast rhythem. whenever camera moves on raj kumar [in most of the antaras] the tone changes into a sad one. you have to watch the song to notice the subtle changes in the moods.
only an md like sj could have created such a gem and only rafi could have brought out the different moods.
tell me which singer on earth, let alone in India, comes even near to his talent. has ghantasala or any other singer for whom their supporters are rooting had any such song.
Rafi is better than the very best. No body can reach his class. Comparing him with other minnows is just a childish idea.
In my village a folk singer is every body’s love and all the village like his voice, does that mean that a village singer can be compared with Maestro, legendry, singing giant Rafi Sahab. Noway. People who do try comparisons, only as Rafi is the benchmark in singing and also to get a certain recognition for a certain people or some unknown singer. This is their policy. As a saying goes, “Badnaam Jo honge to kia naam na hoga?” Hence they are earning budnaami or bad-name for their singer. Hence Rafi True Fans! Dont worry and never bother these very few futile jugglars, and enjoy the greatest playback singer of India, mohd. rafi sahab.
You know Rafi Sahab was nicknamed as”THE VOICE” by md’s.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….Mr hans in one of his previous posts said and i totally agree, i qoute him here,
“where have i said that kishore fans are commenting on sonu vs rafi. and who is running the sonu vs rafi campaign.
thanks for warning me. but, i would, on my part, like you to be careful in defending the so called civilised true music lovers. this trimurti is vomitting rotten garbage manufactured in their vitiated minds and indulging in demeaning rafi in his own site. on the other hand are the true rafi fans like swami and neel, of whom you are making fun. they have only used rough language, which is the best way they can deal with such people on the net, otherwise this trimurti deserves a few real punches in real life.
this frustrated trimurti is busy in belittling rafi in the garb of civilised debate. they have not only tried to show rafi inferior to ghantasala, but they have also claimed that he is inferior to every south singer. they say he is inferior to p.susheela in telugu duets and they also say he is inferior to lata in ‘kuhu kuhu’. so are they rooting for ghantasala or defaming rafi. they use words like fools and nuts for rafi fans with aplomb, but when rafi fans say something they come crying and get the support of people like you, who are in return called balanced rafi fans. they also say categorically that south music is better than hindi music.
and what mighty arguments they have in their support. they give examples of three songs. read the article of swaminath which triggered this dialogue. in the third last para he says that hindi songs are harder to sing because of ‘h’ factor, which is missing in south languages. he was a south indian and admitted the truth. listen to ’shiv shankari’ song and you will find that ghantasala sings ’siv sankari and sivanand’. in the same song to conceal the faults in singing of ghantasala, use has been made of multiple voices cleverly. now in the telugu versions of other two songs ‘chal ud ja re panchhi’ and ‘kuhu kuhu’ lyrics are not the same so how ghantasala and rafi versions are being compared. ghantasala’s songs have easier telugu lyrics without ‘h’ factor. if he had sung the hindi version he would have huffed and puffed midway through the song if he had sung that in hindi way. what would have happened to ‘chal ud ja re panchhi’ if ghantasala was allowed to sing in his own way. for example take the antara ‘barish men teree bheegee paankhen dhoop men garmi khaaee’. ghantasala would have sung it as ‘baris men teri beegee paanken doop men garmi kaaee’.
ghantasala is just monotonous in his songs he has hardly any variety. after so many years of singing he could not get rid of his telugu style, which was the reason he did not dare to enter hfm, where his limitations would have surfaced. he is far from a classical singer because a classical singer by constant practice loses this regional flavour.
this trimurti has never put forward his variety of songs in reply to the gems referred by rafi fans. they are circling around these 3 songs and specifically shiv shankari for his use of i dont know how many notes in how many octaves. we are not concerned with octaves and notes, what we care about is the output by these singers.
and what is the big deal in sonu fans comparing him with ghantasala. if ghantasala can be compared with rafi then why not sonu with ghantasala. all this talk of not being born is bullshit. tendulkar is being compared and declared better than numerous legends whose grandsons were born much earlier than him”.
Mr hans in one of his previous posts said and i totally agree, i qoute him here,
“where have i said that kishore fans are commenting on sonu vs rafi. and who is running the sonu vs rafi campaign.
thanks for warning me. but, i would, on my part, like you to be careful in defending the so called civilised true music lovers. this trimurti is vomitting rotten garbage manufactured in their vitiated minds and indulging in demeaning rafi in his own site. on the other hand are the true rafi fans like swami and neel, of whom you are making fun. they have only used rough language, which is the best way they can deal with such people on the net, otherwise this trimurti deserves a few real punches in real life.
this frustrated trimurti is busy in belittling rafi in the garb of civilised debate. they have not only tried to show rafi inferior to ghantasala, but they have also claimed that he is inferior to every south singer. they say he is inferior to p.susheela in telugu duets and they also say he is inferior to lata in ‘kuhu kuhu’. so are they rooting for ghantasala or defaming rafi. they use words like fools and nuts for rafi fans with aplomb, but when rafi fans say something they come crying and get the support of people like you, who are in return called balanced rafi fans. they also say categorically that south music is better than hindi music.
and what mighty arguments they have in their support. they give examples of three songs. read the article of swaminath which triggered this dialogue. in the third last para he says that hindi songs are harder to sing because of ‘h’ factor, which is missing in south languages. he was a south indian and admitted the truth. listen to ’shiv shankari’ song and you will find that ghantasala sings ’siv sankari and sivanand’. in the same song to conceal the faults in singing of ghantasala, use has been made of multiple voices cleverly. now in the telugu versions of other two songs ‘chal ud ja re panchhi’ and ‘kuhu kuhu’ lyrics are not the same so how ghantasala and rafi versions are being compared. ghantasala’s songs have easier telugu lyrics without ‘h’ factor. if he had sung the hindi version he would have huffed and puffed midway through the song if he had sung that in hindi way. what would have happened to ‘chal ud ja re panchhi’ if ghantasala was allowed to sing in his own way. for example take the antara ‘barish men teree bheegee paankhen dhoop men garmi khaaee’. ghantasala would have sung it as ‘baris men teri beegee paanken doop men garmi kaaee’.
ghantasala is just monotonous in his songs he has hardly any variety. after so many years of singing he could not get rid of his telugu style, which was the reason he did not dare to enter hfm, where his limitations would have surfaced. he is far from a classical singer because a classical singer by constant practice loses this regional flavour.
this trimurti has never put forward his variety of songs in reply to the gems referred by rafi fans. they are circling around these 3 songs and specifically shiv shankari for his use of i dont know how many notes in how many octaves. we are not concerned with octaves and notes, what we care about is the output by these singers.
and what is the big deal in sonu fans comparing him with ghantasala. if ghantasala can be compared with rafi then why not sonu with ghantasala. all this talk of not being born is bullshit. tendulkar is being compared and declared better than numerous legends whose grandsons were born much earlier than him”.
Post 2701@Vishal. Yes brother you are right, meraasi means a singer rather. Regarding the singer I may have misspelled, the name of the singer is actually Pavan and the link to the song is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsn8Sl9v1hI&feature=related
but I can not understand why people get annoyed if I like the voice of another singer more than the singer of their liking. Look! in this world there are millions of people, each one different from the other is some regard at least. Hence the liking are also different. For instance, if to my ears, the awaz of mr pavan sounds more sweeter, melodious and sureeli than the legendary ghantasala, whats the big deal. why everyone in this world is always trying to impose their liking on others. The life is very tough and we should try to make it simple at least at our end rather to create mischief. this mr pavan has sung the song siva sankari with such an utmost dedication that he won my heart. then he has made a few changes in the song which has beautified the song further which itself is a masterpiece. He has worked very hard and we should appreciate and encourage this.
To Shri Musharaff ji – 2700
Hats off to your post. People like you are genuine music lovers and music lovers of great musicians the country has ever produced. Posts of genuine music lovers like you really pour life in this musical site, and act as a way of behaviour to people who want to create mischief by using wrong words against legends. Please keep it up. Your way of approach is largely correct, similar to 2 more genuine music lovers posts, which I reproduce here under.
Ramakrishna says: (in earlier post)
“Rafi sahab represents the state of a cloudless sky on a full moon night when there is a soft breeze & Ghantasaala garu represents the state of a cloudless sky on a new moon night with billions & billions of twinkling stars smiling at us.
both these states are mindblowing.”
ericbana1987 wrote on Jul 29 (From zakaas 4u site)
Never compare them, and stop all the bickering. Both are incomparable. Ghantasala Sir was unmatched in classical singing as well as well versed in romantic types too and vice versa for Rafi Sahab, he was unmatched in nearly every facet of music and if not upto the mark with Ghantasala but certainly well versed in classical and at the same time sweetest. And please stop saying that Rafi Sahabs voice sounds feminine, he was a true soprano singer with adequate bass, to me Sonu nigam although a very good singer lacks bass. Listen to Na to caravan ki talash hai, when the song starts we see Manna dey literally dominating over SD batish and even the magnificent singing of Asha Bhosale but then enter Rafi and listen to the quick taan like movement Rafi performs, it questions why Rafi was never offered more true classical songs. I respect each and every singer that I mentioned and Ghantasala even more. But please guys have some respect before saying anything. Rafi sahabs range almost matches Ghantasala, listen to O duniya ke rakhwale and Shivashankari and listen to Ghantasala’s Payaninche O chiluka, he almost sounds sweet as much as rafi. They are opposite sides of the same coin. so no comparison
“I repeat Ghantasala and Rafi are opposite sides of the same coin. so no comparison”
Musharaff ji – 2700
Hats off to your post. People like you are genuine music lovers and music lovers of great musicians the country has ever produced. Posts of genuine music lovers like you really pour life in this musical site, and act as a way of behaviour to people who want to create mischief by using wrong words against legends. Please keep it up. Your way of approach is largely correct, similar to 2 more genuine music lovers posts, which I reproduce here under.
Ramakrishna says: (in earlier post)
“Rafi sahab represents the state of a cloudless sky on a full moon night when there is a soft breeze & Ghantasaala garu represents the state of a cloudless sky on a new moon night with billions & billions of twinkling stars smiling at us.
both these states are mindblowing.”
ericbana1987 wrote on Jul 29 (From zakaas 4u site)
Never compare them, and stop all the bickering. Both are incomparable. Ghantasala Sir was unmatched in classical singing as well as well versed in romantic types too and vice versa for Rafi Sahab, he was unmatched in nearly every facet of music and if not upto the mark with Ghantasala but certainly well versed in classical and at the same time sweetest. And please stop saying that Rafi Sahabs voice sounds feminine, he was a true soprano singer with adequate bass, to me Sonu nigam although a very good singer lacks bass. Listen to Na to caravan ki talash hai, when the song starts we see Manna dey literally dominating over SD batish and even the magnificent singing of Asha Bhosale but then enter Rafi and listen to the quick taan like movement Rafi performs, it questions why Rafi was never offered more true classical songs. I respect each and every singer that I mentioned and Ghantasala even more. But please guys have some respect before saying anything. Rafi sahabs range almost matches Ghantasala, listen to O duniya ke rakhwale and Shivashankari and listen to Ghantasala’s Payaninche O chiluka, he almost sounds sweet as much as rafi. They are opposite sides of the same coin. so no comparison
“I repeat Ghantasala and Rafi are opposite sides of the same coin. so no comparison”
Post 2699 – tirwedi ji
There is no person or singer by name maratab eisa in telugu. Hence, your last 2 lines relating to him are not correct. Remaining the essence is perfect, however I could not understand the word Meerasi – I assume the meaning as playback singer.