By: H.A.K. Walijah

Mohd Rafi, Laxmikant, Pyarelal

Praising Rafi Saab, Pyarelal ji once said: “What can I say about a man jo tareef se bahut hi oopar hai, and had countless golden qualities? I am only able to feel my deep regard for him, not to express it. Rafi Saab aisi sargam thi jisse koi bhi raag ban saktaa tha. He could sing in any range or octave. If today’s composers are to flower, the Almighty should create nine Rafis more! Can we find even a single song of his that is badly rendered? Of course, he had a major role in our career, and yet I would single out one song to show his greatness as a human being. Laxmi-Pyare have the honor of composing the maximum number of songs for the King of Melody, Rafi Saab. Their total output for Rafi is closely followed by S-J. Together the LP-Rafi combination gave us many treats and amongst Rafi saab’s best ever sung songs are those composed by L-P.  “Tere pyar ne mujhe gham diya” from Chaila Babu (1967) lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri was LP & Rafi saab’s first song together. It was recorded in 1961 but it got released in 1967. After the song was recorded LP gave Rafi saab 1000 rupees as that is what they could afford. (more…)

This article is written by: Zaheen Danish

Rafi Sahab with RD Burman

When we talk about the combination of Rafi Sahab and R.D. Burman and about their partnership,  some of the finest songs that were composed by RDB trying to resurface on the thin layer of memory instantly  such as – “Tum bin jaoun kahan”, “Ni sultana re pyar ka mausam aya”  “ kitna pyara wada” , “Arrey ho goriyan kahan tera desh re”,  “Chura liya hai tumne jo dilko”, “Yeh ladka hai alla kaisa hai diwana”,  “Hai agar dushman zamana gham nahi”, “Kya hua tera wada”,  “Chand mera dil”, “Pal do pal ka saath hamaara” and Maine poocha chand se. RD Burman started his journey with Chote Nawab in 1962 with the help of the man with the golden voice, Mohammad Rafi.

Major songs in the film was sung by Rafi and RD Burman commanded respect in the musical community of that period, who were still mesmerised with the classical compositions of Naushad, folk songs of SD Burman, western effects of Shankar Jaikishan, OP Nayyar, Salil Chowdhury, Ghazals of Roshan, Madan mohan. RD Burman had other skills like playing the mouth organ, tabla and other related instruments and he showed his skill while playing the mouth organ for Laxmikant Pyarellal in the film Dosti, 1964 where Rafi had galvanised the silver screen with his tragic andaz. (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi with Madan Mohan

It is known to the entire film world that Madanmohan Kohli was very close to both Mohammad Rafi and also Lata Mangeshkar.  When the spat took place between Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar over the issue of royalty, between 1963 to 1967, both of them did not sing any duet songs. Lata contended that singer should receive royalty for their entire life for songs sung in films. Rafi contended that if singers don’t share the losses suffered by the film industry, they should not also share the profits.

Composers in bollywood industry had to decide either to choose Rafi or Lata in respect of duet songs. It was a very difficult decision. Ghazal Ka Shezada Madanmohan Kohli handled the situation in his own royal style. He concentrated more of the solo songs where he could devote them to both Rafisahab and Lataji. In respect of duet songs, where the song required the treatment of female singer he asked Manna Dey or Talat Mehmood to sing the duet with Lata. When the song required the treatment of male singer he asked Suman Kalyanpur or Asha Bhosle to sing with Mohammad Rafi. (more…)

By Salim K

Anand Bakshi with Laxmikant, Amitabh and Rafi sahab during the recording

Rafi sahab is probably the only singer whose voice would suit all actors and stars irrespective of the decade and their age. Even though Raaj kapoor, Manoj Kumar, Amitabh Bachan and Rajesh Khanna were considered synonymous with Mukesh, Mahendra and Kishore , the songs Rafi Sahab has sung for them  occupy a special place in the careers of these actors and HFM in general.  For example who can forget eternal melodies like  “baazi kisene Pyar ki sung for RK in film Nazarana”, “ Bhari Duniya mein Akhir Dil” sung for Manoj Kumar in Do Badan and “Teri Bindiya Re” sung for AB in Abhiman. There are many more such beauties that Rafisahab has sung for these stars.  Needless to say all these  stars had and have the greatest love, respect and admiration for Rafi Sahab. (more…)

This article is penned by Mr.Biman Baruah,Goregan(E), Mumbai

Mohd Rafi with Verma Mallick, Devendra Goel, Ravi

Legendary music composer Ravi Shankar Sharma popularly known as RAVI expired on 7th March, 2012 due to cardiac arrest who celebrated his 86th birthday with friends three days before his death. He was survived by his separated son Ajay and daughter in law, actress Varsha Ushgonkar.

On his death, his filmmaker friend, A. Krishnamurthi remarked, “Ravi was noted for his heart-touching, soft, melodious tunes, which made his songs and music immortal and is hummed even today, decades after he composed them. As well as he was a very fine gentlemen and a great human being.” (more…)

By: H.A.K. Walijah

Mohd Rafi

The 60’s were probably Mohd. Rafi’s greatest years. The decade started off with him winning his first Filmfare award for the title song in “Chaudavi Ka Chand” (1961). Throughout the decade he produced many hits with many top music directors, such as Naushad, Roshan, Madan Mohan, Ravi, Shankar – Jaikishan and others.  Rafi’s prominence for the decade is the best it ever got for any singer in the history of Hindi Films and in the many of those movies he was the only male voice. The songs list goes as ~ Zindabad Zindabad e Mohabat Zindabad; Sangam Yeh Mera Prem Patra; Nain Lad Jaiye Hain; Tum Se Izhar-e-haal Kar;  Waqt Se Din Aur Raat; Yeh Reshmi Zulfe; Ek Tha Gul Aur Ek Thee; Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki; Baharon Phool Barsoo; Mast Baharon Ka Mein; Aap Ki Pehlu Mein; Ye Parda hata do; Rahe Manva Dukh ki Chinta; Chalkey Tere Aankhon Se; Ahsaan tera hoga;  Paon Chu Lene Do; Bade Miya Deewane; Janu kya Mere Dil; Kya Se Kya Ho Gaya; Madhuban main Radhika naache and many more. (more…)

By J.K. Bhagchandani
E-mail: jagdishkb@rediffmail.com

Mohd Rafi

Music and especially a song has been a very potent and perhaps most natural medium of expression of love and romance. Hindi films have very effectively used the songs at innumerable occasions to narrate the romantic facet of the story-line of the movie in a very creative and inspired way. The extent of depth, the passion or any other aspect of the romantic feelings that a 3 to 4 minute song can convey outshines the series of romantic dialogues lasting many-fold minutes.

A well known jazz vocalist Joe Williams once said, “I think that musicians should never forget about the intimacy of bringing two people together, and the aesthetic transference where you’re almost vicariously involved in a romance between other people.” This one sentence aptly signifies the nuance of a romantic song, the benchmark of ‘passion for performance’ that the performer (singer) needs to integrate in his/ her renderings. And at that benchmark Mohammed Rafi’s name will remain the foremost for not only achieving that but surpassing the same by many a mile. (more…)

Compiled by: Sri Biman Baruah, a resident of Gokuldham ONGC Colony, Film City Road, Goregaon(East), Mumbai-400063.

Mohd Rafi Sahab and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika

RAMZANORE  ROOZA  GOL
ULLAL  EIDAR  JOON
CHENEHARE  MEHFILATE  
BAHE  AAJI  KAUN…… 2

(Ramzan’s Rooza has Ended, Moon of EID is Spotted, Who will be seated in the Assemble of Worship)

It was the sole famous qawwali song from Assamese film, Lati-Ghati (1966), where two legendry singers, Mohammed Rafi and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika shared their golden voice with chorus. The song begins with voice of Rafi Sahab with chorus and in middle of song Dr. Hazarika joins them. The thesis of the song is the celebration of EID at the end of holy month of Ramzan by Hindu and Muslim together with communal harmony in a small village called Hajoo nearGuwahati,Assam. The lyrics and music of the song was penned by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika with direction of the film. Dr. Hazarika was the first person fromAssam who led the way of pioneering the Assamese cinema and culture in national and international cinema graph. (more…)

By IANS

Rafi Sahab and Dev Anand

Fans of Dev Anand woke up to a rude Sunday morning shock as the news of the legendary actor’s passing away in London unfolded here. His long-time driver has been unable to stop his tears.

The legend died of heart attack Saturday in London. He was 88.

A close aide of the deceased actor, Chandra Shekhar, (himself 89), said he was ‘shaken’ when he heard the news from a friend, the first thing this morning. (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar and Jaikishan

Mohammad Rafi is considered to be one of the greatest playback singer that India had ever produced. Right from the early 40s till 1980 when he died, he was the ruler of playback singing in bollywood films. 1960 was a very notable year for Mohammad Rafi.

Few of the films where he had sung landmark songs were probably masterpieces. The lyrics and the compositions were the best in the history of bollywood music. For example his song in the film Chaudavi Ka Chand had the landmark song “chaudavi ka chand ho ya aaftab ho job hi ho tum khuda ki kasam lajawab ho” composed by Ravi can be considered as one of the ten greatest songs, Rafi had ever sung. The song was picturized on Guru Dutt. (more…)