By Jagat Kant Choudhary

Filmfare

The Filmfare Awards, since its inception in 1953 has been one of the most coveted awards in the Hindi Film Industry. It was at the Regal Theatre in South Mumbai (then Bombay) on March 21, 1954, that the first awards were handed over to the winners. Hollywood star Gregory Peck, who was the guest of honour at the inaugural Awards ceremony, was delayed on a flight from Colombo and could only attend the banquet at Willingdon Sports Club later on.

Incidentally the Awards were called Clare Awards in the beginning, named after Clare Mendionca, the well known film critic of the Times of India in the 1940s and 50s. A couple of years down the line, however, the Awards began to be known as Filmfare Awards instead. (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Rafi Sahab with O.P.Nayyar

The musiclovers had remembered legendary composer Omkar Prasad Nayyar, popularly known as OP Nayyar on his birthday on 16^th January, 2011. He had died few years back, but his tunes had remained immortal for the audience of bollywood films for years. Whenever the name of OP Nayyar appeared in the minds of the audience, the name of immortal singer Mohammad Rafi had come together, without whom OP Nayyar was incomplete. OP Nayyar started his career with the film Kaneej in 1949.

Guru Dutt had created his image in bollywood films in different categories being a thoughtful director and producer, dynamic actor, good choreographer. One of the numerous reasons for which his films became super hit in the 50s and 60s included the brilliant songs sung by Rafi during the golden age. (more…)

By Mr. D.P.Bijoor & Mr. Milind Bijoor

Mohd Rafi and Madhubala

The Almighty has created 2 of the most wonderful & cherished personalities on this Universe, one with that ultimate velvet touch of voice which automatically became the Shehenshah of Taranum  and the other with that ultimate beauty who came to be known as the Mallika-e-Husna and above all both thy names starting with that magical alphabet M = Mohammed Rafi and Madhubala. Both these personalities contributed their individual credibility in the Hindi Film industry and by virtue became immortal legends.

Kudrat Ke Do Anokhe Shakahar aur do Anmol Ratn – Mohammed Rafi – Madhubala. “Zindagee bhar na bhulegi woh barsaat kee raat ek anjaan hasina se mulaqat kee raat” (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi and Johnny Walker

Rafi had a huge contribution in the success of Johnny Walker, the elegant comedian of the 50s and 60s. Most of the songs sung by Rafi for Johnny Walker were hits and caught public attention. Rafi even imitated the style of dialogue delivery of Johnny Walker. Johnny Walker acted both in lead roles in notable films as well as supporting roles in hit films of stars like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Dev Anand, and others and the different composers who composed music in those films including OP Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan, SD Burman, Salil Choudhury, Ravi, Naushad, Dattaram, Laxmikant Pyarellal and others composed catchy songs of Rafi which were picturised on the legendary comedian. (more…)

By J.K. Bhagchandani

Mohd Rafi

The name Mohammed Rafi is synonyms with versatility. This singing wonder has given us masterpiece songs of almost all genres. This write-up is dedicated to the patriotic songs sung by Rafi saab.

The patriotic songs even though considered as one genre, also have different moods, suiting to different situations and conditions that the nation is in. Rafi saab has sung patriotic songs all moods and situations.

‘Watan ki raah mein watan ke naujawan shahid ho……. (Shaheed- old version- Dilip Kumar starrer), Ae watan ae watan humko teri kasam…… (Shaheed- later version- Manoj Kumar starrer) are the great songs conceived to capture the time and moments of freedom movement. Rafi saab has sung Ghulam Mohammed and Prem Dhawan (respectively) composed songs so brilliantly that one gets the first hand account of a true freedom fighter. The ‘josh’, the conviction, the motivation to lay own life for the sake of motherland is craftily incorporated in the songs by the singer. Both songs have a second (and sad) part representing the moments before the execution of the death sentence of a freedom fighter. (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi with Dharamender

Dharmender  had a grand combination with musical maestro Mohammad Rafi which contributed the most in the major part of his acting career which glorified bollywood films for more than 40 years. Dharmender and Rafi’s combination was unique for a number of reasons. Firstly Dharmender was not attached to any big banner in the early part of his career like Dilip Kumar with Bimal Roy or Shammi Kapoor with Shakti Shamanta. Secondly Dharmender played prominent roles opposite senior actors in many films in the early part of his career like Balraj Sahani in Haqeekat, Rajender Kumar in Ayee Milan Ki Bela, Raj Kumar in Kajal, to name a few. For those reasons, different composers composed music in the films of Dharmender and most of them were sung by great Rafi Sahab. (more…)

This article is written by Bina Krishna – Rafi Saab Ke Charnon Mein

Mohd Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar and Jaikishan

I could never decide with certainty whether Rafi Saab sang better with Lata or with Asha. Everytime I hear a dulcet duet of Lata-Rafi I instinctively opine that it is Lata who is best suited for Rafi Saab and this twosome is matchless, Then when I hear a marvellous duad of Asha-Rafi and that perfect taal-mel between them I unabashedly change my opinion and my leanings and apologize to Lata Didi in my mind. (more…)

This article is contributed by Mr D.P.Bijoor

Mohd Rafi and Shamshad Begum

Shamshad Begum was born in Amritsar, Punjab on 14^th April 1919 and she was a very big fan of K L Saigal. Presently the singer is staying with her daughter Mrs Usha Ratra and her son-in-law in Powai, Mumbai ever since her husband Late Mr Ganpat Lal Batto died in the year 1955. She celebrated her 89^th birthday at her elder sister’s place.

Shamshad Begum made her debut on radio on the Peshawar radio in Lahore on 16^th December 1937, captivating the hearts of her listeners with the enchanting depth of her voice. In fact Shamshad was not so conscious of her not so beautiful face and she never posed for any pictures and not many people saw her pictures any where. (more…)

This article is written by Mr. D.P.Bijoor

Mohd Rafi with Dilip Kumar

Today when I look behind I remember those beautiful child-hood days and my mind suddenly flickers down the memory lane and slowly takes me some where around the year period 1965-1966. Those were the first impressions of my child-hood days where I tried to understand & know a little of myself & the small world around me. (more…)

This article is written by Mr. Anmol Singh

Mohd Rafi with Shammi, Hasrat, Jaikishan

We have been discussing so far songs which are generally sung on high scale mainly for patriotic, sad, romantic & devotional situations in films. But there is another unique quality of Rafi Sahab where he sings songs with masti at high scale effortlessly. It has been observed along with my colleagues that Rafi Sahab enjoys singing such songs as a result he matches the actor’s personality and body language perfectly. (more…)