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
bhattacharya or/and sandeep
you have been playing up the question of rafi’s voice not being manly. you have been attributing this statement to the writer of article swaminath. in fact he has refuted the claims of such people and just stopped short of calling such people fools. par tumhari jalan aur kaminapan us para men se teen-char shabda uthakar unhen swaminath ke matthe madh raha hai.
this article was in reply to a thread in another site where there was a tussle between fans of spb and kjy. in that thread one or two fools like you had involved rafi unnecessarily and said such things. swaminath was replying to those fools. because their is no potency left in you or your arguments, you resort to such gimmicks time and again.
we agree that rafi’s voice was womanly. hundreds of mds and hundreds of actors used this womanly voice as manly voice. and millions enjoy it as the most beautiful manly voice. to kuchh ek hijdon ke bolne se kya hota hai.
here is a parody of your favourite singer’s song which fits you perfectly:
mere kameenepan ki bhi dawa nahin,
itne joote khaye fir bhi ye ghata nahin.
deepak kumar santoshi provided a link for ‘ye jo chilman hai’ by rafi on rajesh khanna. here is another romantic song ‘ye reshmi zulfen’ from ‘do raaste’ on rajesh khanna. compare this with ‘mere deewanepan ki’ – romantic song turned into sad song by the gala-fadu kaan-fodu kk. bhagwan bachaye aise singers se.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9aMSJGAkeY
Forgetting the phenomenal talent of Rafi? here is an article published in National daily ” The Hindu” dated 24-october-2009.
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/article38252.ece
for brushing up the memory which had been dust-laden.
3475 – Shalinder ji
SPB’s interview as posted here, spb states that rafi was not so good in lower notes as he was in higher notes, I think that is what is meant going by spb’s description
A classical film song which covers lower notes as well as higher notes by ghantasala for your hearing please.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgnzBat_u_o
Rafi and ghantasala both were great legends and hope music lovers understand this and stop unnecessary arguments.
Mr. Anees!
The way you have elaborated upon rafi saab is just amazing. i thoroughly enjoyed your two recent posts. hats off to you. now, when we ask people to give examples to their statements, they just run away.
actually the knowledge we have gathered about the singing of mohd.rafi is enormous as his singing is even now the most discussed out subject in the music arena. the other singers are not that much discussed, hence their fans have no choice, else to bend their tales and hide in the streets, as they are not able to prove their funny allegations.
actually no indian singer is known to sing in highest pitch the way rafi sahab does. he is the ultimate in this field unsurpassed or incomparable in this regard.there were few singers who could try singing in high notes, but in the process would loose the sweetness of voice, while rafi voice would sound even sweeter the higher he used to sing. moreover, rafi has the ability to shift notes so smoothly that while listening one would be astonished to find out that when did rafi went from the extreme low notes to the highest notes(only could be reachable by him). that’s why his high pitch singing got more famous and became his characteristic only.
Dear Shalinder ji
i did not mean that, I meant probably that is what people meant by lower notes, that I does not mean. I had already clarified that.
I am an admirer of ghantasala along with rafi and kishore and many other singers whom I listen to, and not a exclusive fan of ghantasala shalinder ji, nevertheless there was a good discussion on ghantasala in kishore forum some time back, wherein few songs were discussed across various ranges. I was also a participant to that discussion. The few songs which I came into contact in that forum, I can give you a link, where in you can guess. Here is one such song, it is in classical style sung in films.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgnzBat_u_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t9a-XLCByY
(this is the famous siva sankari, which has low as well as very high notes)
By the way, in my previous post too, in that melodious song, lower notes are visible. You have not come back on that.
Shalinder ji
i did not mean that, I meant probably that is what people meant by lower notes, that I does not mean. I had already clarified that.
I am an admirer of ghantasala along with rafi and kishore and many other singers whom I listen to, and not a exclusive fan of ghantasala shalinder ji, nevertheless there was a good discussion on ghantasala in kishore forum some time back, wherein few songs were discussed across various ranges. I was also a participant to that discussion. The few songs which I came into contact in that forum, I can give you a link, where in you can guess. Here is one such song, it is in classical style sung in films.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgnzBat_u_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t9a-XLCByY
(this is the famous siva sankari, which has low as well as very high notes)
By the way, in my previous post too, in that melodious song, lower notes are visible. You have not come back on that.
now listen to this rafi song ‘jata hoon main mujhe ab na bulana’ from film ‘dadi maa’, music given by roshan. an extremely popular song in its days and also super quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjUT5H7aAbw
In so many interviews yesudasji told about rafi saab.he is
worshiping three great personalities.they are rafi saab,sree
narayana guru and dr.balamurali krishna.
the following are some of his comments about rafi saab:
:god has been partial to rafi and most important is the comfort
level over ranges which makes you feel ‘god has been partial
to rafi.’
:once i sung rafi saab’s song from the film ‘jeene ki raah’
in front of him after garlanding my “manasik guru” rafi saab.
:my father translated the song “oh duniyaa ke rakwaale”
to malayalam language and asked me to sing when i was
young.
:i heard from so many people that rafi saab was a “true muslim”
who used to give “zakath” to the poor according to the islamic
law.also he helped so many people in the music cirlce without
advertising it.(kjy was giving utmost respect to rafi saab while
telling these facts.)
:i am sure india will not get another rafi saab.
: i have learned so many music lessons from rafi saab through
his songs from my childhood.in all aspects he is the correct
person to be treated as “manasik guru”.
:rafi saab was a very strict in each and every aspects of life
and the younger generation can learn so many things from him.
: i was so lucky that i could rehersal with him for a song of
ravindra jain.
Hello friends,
I had always been a Mohd. Rafi fan, since I was a kid. Like my parents and friends, I, obediently followed the tradition to listen and admire rafi and only rafi. His “Makhmali awaaz” was always a treat to my ears. I would sing his songs at the school and with friends. People liked me because I was eventually, if not easily, able to hit those “high surs”. I was admired.
But, then I had a chance to listen to Kishore da`s songs. I was moved! His voice was uniquely LARGE. The base in his voice was incredibly deep, unlike any other singer. His voice was inimitable. Such strong voice, reflected pronounced masculinity. His songs like ‘Hal Kya Hai Dilon Ka’, ‘Phoolon ke rang se’, ‘Aapke Anurodh Pe’ ‘Kuch To log kaheinge’ and many others, are great examples of his talent. You would see many singers singing Rafi`s songs, giving him a good enough tribute. There are sonu nigam, shabbir and many others who are fairly good at it. But Kishore Kumar was UNIQUE. No one in the world has such a tremendous throw and solidarity. AND now we can just IMAGINE what kishore da could have done if he was classically trained from his childhood. His voice would have broken the boundaries and CONQUERED the world!!
The khanak in kishoreda`s voice was a god-gift and the almighty has not given even one-tenth of that charismatic resonance that kishoreda was rewarded with.
Conclusively, I hope and pray that the rafi`s fans break their old bias for an hour and just listen to the songs I have recommended above! Do not banish kishore da`s talent without even weighing them fairly. And as for Rafi, he has been my guru, idol, teacher, god and always will be.
Thank you.
Contd………..
The fact is that songs of Rafi Sahaab have both high pitch and low pitch in one song itself. There are many such songs. For example, JAANE KYA DHOONDHTI REHTI HAIN… begins at low and ends in a high note. So also, YEH MEHLON YEH TAKHTON … Similarly the song AYE GULBADAN AYE GULBADAN is like a roller-coaster ride with highs and lows. One of the most difficult songs DUNIYA NA BHAAYE MUJHE likewise begins with a low Aalaap and goes on rising in crescendo. The result is: One enjoys all kinds of pitch in Rafi Sahaab’s songs.
Fortunately or unfortunately, it is not easy for one to completely fathom and understand ‘Mohammed Rafi’, what with such phenomenal quantity and variety of such mindboggling quality. I, for one, think that I know ‘quite a bit’ about Rafi Saab, but that ‘quite a bit’ has still not reached the 60% mark! In fact, discussions and polls of this type are possible only with Rafi Saab and no other.
On the current issue, for Normal/Low Pitch songs only because he seems to have a higher number of high quality songs in this variety than in the High Pitch variety.It is just that the MDs have given him a higher number of these N/L pitch songs. I know he is equally at complete ease on both kinds.
Incidentally, it is interesting to note that both O.P.Nayyar Saab and Khayyam Saab have told in interviews on Vividhbharati that they prefer the Normal/Low pitch songs of Rafi Saab in his subdued tone. OPN had even named “Man Re Tu Kahe Na” from Chitralekha (Roshan) as his great favorite. But, then again, it is their opinion. A Naushad may feel differently. Even OPN and Khayyam may fall in a dilemma if you play to them the High Pitch gems of Rafi Saab such as “Zindabad Zindabad” or “Jaane Kya Dhoondti” or a “Yeh Mahalon Yeh Thakthon”.
How can I dare to say Yes for this & No for that ???
Man Re, Tu Kahe Na Dheer Dhare…
Na Ja Ab Kahin Na Ja, Dil Ke Siwa…
One at the bottom of Ocean, the other one, at the top of Himalaya.
I like both styles. (of course depending on mood)
God have made everything for human being’s (specially for me) enjoyment,in the same line, like God, Rafi have sang each & every possible style of singing.
Rafi mastered all type of sound – Pashyanti, Madhyama, and Baikhari and above these…
Saptam-Sur Ke Upar ONLY Rafi Hi Surila Hai.
I will request all to elaborate ‘lovely’ Rafian Songs in..
1-Pashyanti (murmuring)
2-Madhayama(Low/Normal)
3-Baikhari (more than Normal)
4-Saptam Sur (above all possible (hearable)sound’s level)
The normal and low Pitch Rafi Songs are by far the larger in number than the H Pitch ones. But, the god-given high Pitch capability of Rafi Saab could be properly utilised only by a handful of MDs such as Naushad, SDB (occasionally), SJ (occasionally) and even Iqbal Quereshi, for that matter. Some MDs were just obsessed with somehow utilising his high-pitch capability and in the process did not do justice either to themselves or to the Great man. Actually, the best High Pitch songs of Rafi Saab also contain the low pitch for a large part.
Talking of unforgettable High Pitch songs of Rafi Saab, I will give some examples:
1. “Yeh Mahalon Ye Thakhthon” from Pyaasa (SDB). Starts quite low in pitch at the beginning and reaches the unreachable peaks at the ‘Jala Do Ise’ part. The result: the listener’s hairs literally rise and his soul stirs!
2.Yeh Duniya Ke Rakhwale (Naushad) is another well known example, combining extreme low and extreme high pitches.
3. I was listening to a recent from film:Shama Parwana (1954), “O Toone Mera Yaar Na Milaya”.This song starts in the normal pitch, but in the last Antara (Bahar Gham Ka Mere Daste Na Dawa Se Utha), Rafi Saab goes to the highest possible scale. In doing so, he expresses the great agony of the hero somewhat similar to an infant crying breathlessly! And someone like me becomes absolutely restless on listening!
4. Of course, we all know “Zindabad Zindabad” from Mughl-e-Azam, wherein the whole song is only on High Pitch. See how he makes you tremble when he sings in the last Antara, “Woh Pathhar Hai Insaan Kahaan Aa Aa Aa Aa Aa Aa Aa”
5. Of course, Iqbal Quereshi’s Oh Hum Na The and Subha Na Aayee from Cha Cha Cha are two more examples of starting with low pitch and reaching the peak before the listener realises!
6. In Duniya Na Bahye Mohe from Basant Bahar (SJ), the song again starts on normal pitch, but once he comes to “Dil Ke Yeh Tukde Kaise Bech Doon Duniya Ke Bazaar Mein”, he peaks in pitch and you just keep saluting him.
7. One more example is “Tu Shokh kali Main Mast Pawan” from Main Suhagan Hoon (Lachhiram). The last Antara starting with “Har Dam Aankhe Pyaar Karen”!
But, having said this and praising his High Pitch songs, I would still like his normal and low pitch songs. As this post is getting too long, I would give some noteable examples of the normal/low pitch category later.
{to be continued}
sHRI.Sandeepshrivastav!
THANKS FOR CONSIDERING ME FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP, ITS REALLY A GREAT HONOR FOR ME, TO BE FRIEND WITH LEARNED PERSONS, SUCH AS YOU ARE.
YOU WROTE,” i do not understand what people meant by rafi weak in lower notes. perhaps even more lower notes they mean”.
I AM A SLIGHTLY HURT AS I AM VERY SENSITIVE. IN REPLY TO YOUR STATEMENT I HEREBY QUOTE A SONG OF MADAM NOOR JAHAN,
‘KUCH BHI NA KAHA AUR KEH BHEE GAYE”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiN2kpMgVto
I REQUESTED YOU TO LEAVE OTHER PEOPLE’S COMMENTS, JUDGE THINGS YOURSELF AS WELL. WHAT ARE’ LOWER NOTES’. KINDLY GIVE A LINK OF YOUR FAVORITE SINGER GHANTASALAJI IN THIS REGARD WHO HAS SUNG A SONG IN NOTES LOWER THAN WHAT I HAVE QUOTED, SO THAT I MAY UNDERSTAND. MAY BE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT LOWER NOTES ARE. I MIGHT SOUND A BIT HARSH TO YOU BUT SINCE I AM A SIMPLE SOUL, I EXPRESS MYSELF AS I FEEL. I AM NO HIPPO CRATE.
WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM YOU AND LINK OF YOUR GURUJI IN LOWER NOTES.
Dear Raaj Shalinder ji, Namashkar,
I am happy to discuss with genuine persons like you, whose posts appear to be clear and concise. I would appreciate if you could kindly read my post which our friend Annes ji had referred for my views.
Next, the non filmi ghazal by rafi ji : It was good to hear that. to me, I did not find any flaws even in lower notes. I do not understand what people meant by rafi weak in lower notes. Perhaps even more lower notes they mean, I do not know. SPB too seems to have double sided talk, perhaps . I have not commented on rafi as a not manly voice (as I do not think like that) I was just hitting at “people resorting to similar languages” Hope you understand.
Dear shalinder ji,
You are a respected singer, can you just imagine for anybody to criticise this singer, he is the music composer as well for this song: ghantasala, just hear this and give your musical views on voice, melody, strength, technical capabilities etc.etc.
http://www.chitramala.in/audio-songs/pop_new.php?sid=8205&wid=1228
After this post, perhaps you will understand why i have retorted like that against “some people”. In fact many of my friends are rafi fans, now you too are included in that. Regards.
RAFI SAHAB SINGING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
AND IT SAYS THAT RAFI IS THE GREATEST SINGER OF HINDUSTAN.(FULL-STOP)
My friends,
So far the rafi fans have given the links of memorable and melodious songs to convince the anti-rafi brigade. Now I want to give links to all celebrities who talked about Rafi and praised him for his virutues and unmatched singing qualtiies. In that seriies the two links I have provided above are one SPB interview and the second one is K.J. Yesudas ji. I have plenty more links to support my view and to prove Rafi Sahab greatness.
shri.sandeepshrivastav.
sorry for my few clerical mistakes as i am not very conversant with typing and computership.
for ‘here’ read ‘hear’.one thing more, do you really feel the voice is unmanly.
Anil biswas had never been a leading md, he was a mere 3rd grade md.
furthermore, i think spb had a slip of tongue, how can you expect that a person who has suvh a gret regard for rafi sahab and praising him throughout suddenly says something against what he has been saying previously, or there is definitely a problem with the translation.
Shri.Sandeepshrivastav.
i am myself a singer. just hear this song. in low notes, one of the most difficult songs as i have tried it. i request you to be impartial and here this song, ‘mene socha tha’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5_XafNm-FA
throughout this song rafi has not made any single error. the singing is ultimate as far as surrs are concerned.there is very less music and its the voice of rafi which you will mainly here. forget others, if you understand music and its ‘barikiyaan’, does this song has any flaws. i can quote so many example.
please be honest, i’ll be waiting for your reply,
contd.. spb talking on rafi in the interview, overall I could understand that spb says rafi is the ultimate among other singers of hindi viz., kishore kumar, manna dey, he has made references only to hindi singers and not any other singers, this needs to be noted. But overall, I could guess that spb concluded rafi was unique. One need not wait for spb to say that, it is a fact that rafi was a priceless gem and the soul realises that when it hears rafi songs. One need not listen to any link for spb or others to know about the “greatness of rafi – the melody master”
Rafifan1 Ji (3466)
Here I quote what our friend Mr. Sandeep Shrivastav Ji said in his comment 2286 even on lower notes , read this:
Quote
=====================
I agree with you, medium and slow ranges songs perhaps no other hindi singer can be compared to mohd. rafi in any way, not even close. I think only lata in female category could come close.
The junglee film song of rafi is great, however paon choo lene do too is a great song of rafi. Have you heard man re by rafi – a medium range song but soulful and melodious.
Unquote
===================
Even for low and medium notes you can find plenty of songs in various threads if you go for it.
Your two way arguing is not upto the mark of good music lover.
now rafifan 1 has again jumped in with his evil intentions.
beware he is in disguise of rafi fan. actually he is the other way round.
Anees,
Agreed, no arguments on your views as they appear to be honest and in the right way. My points were aimed at so called people who were bluntly writing some nonsense points, which I felt I had to respond appropriately and will continue to do so against “such people”. I know you have carefully understood me (from my post 2286) and I stand by the same.
Anees ji 3453 – SPB talking on rafi in the link provided by anees seems to be double sided, on one side spb appears to be highly praising rafi and in another side also appears to be criticising rafi in between when he says some words “limitations lower notes, higher notes etc.. telugu people need to translate the same exacly what he meant there.
Sandeep Shrivastav Ji, (3461)
you said, “My contention is that if rafi has some strengths, ghantasala too had unique strengths, this has to be accepted and no other way”.
Sir Ji, why you force Rafi fans to accept the strengths of Ghantasala ji. is it the prerequisite to be a music lover to accept Ghantasala ji unique strengths which in your view are greater merits than what Rafi Sahab had. I simply do not accept certain logic presented by overjealous fans.
I read very carefully your comment 2286 wherein you have written so many things, that thing I appreciate a lot for your unbiased music lover. But now your views are mingled with other factors which are very much evident. I have one thing in common to say if Ghantasala ji is having unique strengths what you have said. Then at the same time Rafi Sahab too had many greater virutues and strengths which too can not be overlooked or ignored at any cost.
Mr Anees
Do not respond to these “shors” & “Sala’s”.
they have reached the terminal stages of their mental ailment. there is no hopes for the cure. they are jealous and suffering from inferiority complex. let them burn in their own jealousy. let them intrude our noble rafi site as their sites are barren as Sahara desert. we by discussing gems after gems of rafi sahab melodious singing, shall enjoy each and every song and they shall die their own death.
their heart have been blackened out by their utmost prejudices. they are sheer worthless clowns jumping like monkeys here and there. we will break the record of the most number of threads here.
Anees,
In the interviews spb talks on rafi, if I could understand spb clearly talks about limitations of rafi where in he states that rafi was weak in lower notes, I may be corrected by telugu music lovers here.
Rafi fans,
Please try to respect other singers and their strengths, this will automatically win you accolodaes. Mainly the problem is you all criticise others mainly if somebody says so and so singer has sung better than rafi, your blood pressure raises up. And in your impatience you write all disgusting comments which revert back to you again. Just be nice to others, automatically you will receive the same treatment. I told you many times, just visit kishore forum to see how beautifully discussion was carried on between ghantasala and kishore kumar fans : remember the dna between both does not match, but musical dna is one for music.
Good Anees,
Thanks for referring to my post 2286, I think what I had said in that post is quite clear and I fully stand by my words, you should have fully quoted points from my post there. Well, to clarify my immediate previous post was reply to your post when you said spb talks about rafi, spb talking about ghantasala too links were provided here, when you mentioned such point I reverted back with comments of illayaraja on ghantasala and anil biswas on rafi which too are correct. My contention is that if rafi has some strengths, ghantasala too had unique strengths, this has to be accepted and no other way. And I have repeatedly said, please understand that I quote only the views of rafi fans who have criticised rafi, for instance in my previous posts on this article.
Sandeep Shrivastav Ji
in post 2286 you said so many virtues and praising Rafi Sahab as melodious voice and now you are spitting fire against Rafi Sahab. Can I ask you WHY YOU DOING THIS NOW?
Sandeep Shrivastav Ji
Please remember your comment No. 2286 in this thread please recall what you have said, and now what are you saying. Just go back and read your own comment.
Thanks
Anees
Dear Music Lovers
K.J. Yesudas Ji talks about his “Manasika Guru” Rafi Sahab. Here is the link. I request Ahamad Kutty Sahab to translate this into English for the sake of Rafi lovers. Please watch this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQzEFsIzp7A&feature=related
Dear so called ignorant claiming rafi fans
It is confirmed that you do not have even little patience to read my post. I have mentioned that the esteemed author of this article says that many people feel rafi did not have a manly voice. Why such thought came up? Next, as earlier somebody wrote, despite numerous number of arguments rafi is not even nearer to ghantasala who sang songs such as siva sankari and others, most tougher ones in filmy playback singing only in one take, whereas rafi took some 30 and more takes for many of his songs, no comparison can arise between both, even in dream rafi cannot be nearer to ghantasala, you people need to die of jealousy, there is no other option to you, Illayaraja said in the hindu newspaper link here that only ghantasala is the singer who can give a guarantee that all songs in a film can be hit, whereas anil biswas said rafi is not a singer at all, and others said rafi was a ok singer. Similarly kishore kumar made rafi to sit in a position which cannot be forgotten by anybody, the 50’s and 60’s was just a dream for the OK singer.
anees post 3453 along with hans, devika ji and all…
let me tell u that “yeh galli ke chuhe salan aur yeh shor ke raja – ke do fans ko kabhi “akkal” naaam ka cheez nahin aane waala.
yeh jalange and tadpenge. hamem to anand lena hai. now let’s enjoy songs of rafi saaaheb as mentioned above and have a nice day.
Bhayya! 3454
Got this melody for the 1st time in my lifespan. It has indeed shed burst of tears from my eyes. What a magic Rafi sahab’s celestial singing has created, chanted exquisitely by the feminine foil.
God has in fact not blessed me with brothers & sisters. I am in truth obligated that you have associated such a dazzling melody with me.
Musharraf ji, once I read the annotation of ONE MR. Sandeepshrivastav POST 3406, I was staggered that in the animosity of Rafi sahib this grandee has gone so far, I WAS surely shocked. Such an unsubstantiated, rather I would say an inexplicable c& weird mention of the most stunning voice of India. I usually do not riposte to the adversaries of Rafi sahib. It is the similar bigotry against Rafi sahib which such folks can certainly not hide.
I am glad that some associates have firmly denounced such unfairness on numerous instances.
Rafi sahib vocals, as I usually refer to are just, “flawless”.
May their circumspection about such a dazzling voice turns into inordinate adoration for this delightful singing sensation, Muhammad rafi sahab.
regards & love from your’s,
————————-
maha behna
Devika behna,
I have dedicated this sweet song of Mohammed Rafi Sahab for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOoJt2RUMg4
Regards
Bhaiya
dear Friends,
Please listen what S.P. Balasubramaniam said about Rafi Sahab, though the interview is in Telugu language, what I understand some sentences he talked in English, he said” Rafi sahab is the ultimate in playback singing”. I request telugu fans to translate this inteview into english. Here is the link, just watch it.
Balasubramanyam talks about Mohd Rafi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCaPrzBYukk&feature=related
Dear Friends,
Please listen to this immortal legendary song of Mohammed Rafi whose fragrance is afresh even today. I wonder if there is any more manly voice which can render a song like this.
“Tu hindu banega na musalmaan banega, insaan ki aulad ho insaan banega’ from the film “Dhool ka phool”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G7aYWD4pBk&feature=related
Regards.
“sala” sung breathless all his songs, that’s why he cried in almost all his songs.
HAS “KIE?-SHOR KUMAR?” GOT ONLY 14 FANS LEFT, not a single ‘film-fare award’ GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR A SINGER WHO HAS SUNG SINCE 1948.
only 14 posts on the 80TH birthday of kishore kumar. shame on kishoreda fans.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
DHENCHU SINGERS SALA & SHOR
tHIS LOOSE CHARACTER FEELS THAT HE IS A SINGLE INTELLIGENT PERSON LEFT ON THIS EARTH WHILE ALL THE MUSIC DIRECTORS OF HINDUSTANI MUSIC INDUSTRY WERE SHEER FOOLS. THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT GOOD VOICE WAS.
Beside heart failure, he has also suffered excessive “character failure” along with dr chandershekar
plz pray for the mentally ‘sick’ person by the name of abhishek bhushan kishorefan Sandeepshrivastav.
we are very concerned for the most rapid deterioration of the psychiatric condition of this clown who after entertaining so many with his worthless jokes is on a verge of “nervous breakdown”
MR MODERATOR HAS JUST NOT PUBLISHED MY TOO IMPORTANT POSTS, I WROTE A COUPLE OF DAYS BACK WHERE I HAVE PROVED THAT NO OTHER SINGER CAN COMPETE WITH RAFI SAHIB.
Has HE ALSO JOINED ANTI-RAFI GROUP?
Listen to the 3 duets of rafi-lata.
In all these songs as well as all others, rafi clearly dominates.
If one listen carefully, not being subjective, prejudiced and leaving away religious bias, the fact is obvious to the true music lovers. The magic which rafi sahab’s mesmerizing voice is able to create is way beyond comparison.
1. “aja key intizar mey”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MazlcBpnfko
2.”tere bin sooney, nayan humarey’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6HLpvhXQqM
3. ‘yey hawa ye mastana mausam, dil ko phir qarrar ayya’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMqnEV_hb0A
In all these songs, rafi’s voice is much more powerful, melodious, soothing and dominating.
I can give lot more examples the whole day.
In the 3rd song, lata is sounding so boring. It is not that lata has sung badly, but the fact is that when rafi sahib sings, the standard goes to the highest zenith where others can’t even imagine reaching.
Sandeep Shrivastav Ji,
Please read my post when it is publish today or tomorrow and then respond to me. I will wait for your response.
Thanks
Anees
the song picturised on rajesh khanna won rafi sahab the filmfare award for best singer, i suppose
“yeh jo chilman hey”
look how rafi sahab voice is doing magic to the situation of the film and helping to express the deep love the hero wants to show for his heroine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I1cs6m8hcc&feature=related
with rafi sahab singing, the hero did not require to act, rafi sahab’s magical voice would do all the needful
leave these clowns burning in their own jealousy and enjoy this beautiful gem of rafi,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcCDQXjyy90