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…)

Written by Mr. Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi

Roshan Lal Nagrath, better known as Roshan was born in Gujranwala on 14^th July, 1917. His lessons from Ustad Allauddin and Sarangi King Bundu Khan transformed himself into regular composer of All India Radio in the 40s.

He started his career as composer in bollywood films with the film Neki Aur Badi in 1949. In the early 50s Mukesh and Talat Mehmood featured in most of the films of Roshan. Some of the hit songs included “khayalon me”, “sun bairi balam” from Bawre Nain, “tare toote duniya dekhe” from Malhar. Although he had success in the films Shisham, Anhonee, Malhar, etc., his immense talent did not get recognition until he used the man with the golden voice Mohammad Rafi. (more…)

This article is written by Mr. Shrirang Nawathe

Mohd Rafi with Roshan and Asha

Rafi sahab’s songs are like rare gems to be discovered from the depth of the musical ocean and one gets immense satisfaction when one dives deep. Our life’s journey becomes smooth with these songs as these melodies give us true satisfaction and peace. The journey with these songs is nothing but the journey with the Master.

Today, I have selected  unforgettable classic gem of Hindi Film Music. This song is a milestone in many aspects. It has the beauty of the lyrics, melody of music, expressions through singing, depth of the subject, peace of the mind, philosophy of the life..I am sure that this song  itself can be a subject of research for many. (more…)

This article is written by Mr. Achal Rangaswamy.

Mohd Rafi

With Navratri round the corner my mind went to the Nava Rasas, though I wonder if there is any connection at all…except that there was a Tamil film by the name Navaratri which had the famous actor Sivaji Ganesan doing nine roles. Each of the roles displayed one Rasa each as embodied in the Nava Rasas described in the Natya Sastra. The same film idea found its way into Bollywood with the great Sanjeev Kumar in Naya Din Nayi Raat, an easily forgettable film, but with a lovely song by Rafi Saab.

Rafi Saab sang “mere liye to har din naya din, har raat nayi raat”. While remembering this song the other day I thought to myself- why not look at Rafi Saab’s songs that clearly underlined each of the Rasas. (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 shared by Mr D.P.Bijoor

Mohd Rafi with Mehboob Khan, Roshan

Today I just happened to log on to my childhood memories and the great music director Roshan suddenly appeared in front of my memory screen with his ever joyful smile & that always happy and blushing cute face.

Roshan was one of those very rare composers with great confidence who indeed had fascinated me a lot in my early childhood days. His all-time evergreen song from the Rajashri Productions film Aarti titled — Rahe na rahe hum maheka karenge ban ke kalee ban ke fiza — by Lata Mangeshkar still fascinates me. (more…)