By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi and Biswajeet

Bengali actor Biswajeet Chatterjee after acting in hit films in Bengali namely Mayamrigo in 1960 and Dui Bhai in 1961 went to Mumbai to pursue his acting career there. He made his debut in the film Bees Saal Baad where Hemant Kumar was the producer of the film and also the music composer.

In a short period of time Biswajeet got roles to play in films of different producers and directors namely Nasir Hussain, Satyen Bose, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and others. Mohammad Rafi played a very important role in the success story of Biswajeet’s films because most of the films ended up being musical blockbusters. (more…)

By Deepak Kriplani

Rafi Sahab with Shankar and Shammi Kapoor

I was renewing a fixed deposit at the bank when the Message Alert sounded on the cell. Do you know Shammi Kapoor died this morning? There goes my chance to meet him, I rued. It had been two years and more since my friend Girish and I had first talked about going over to meet him. Girish had gotten as far as speaking to him on the phone. We had discussed it again, as recently as a few days ago.

Strangely, Shammi Kapoor had cast his spell on me not through his performances, but through his music. I wanted to ask him how he worked with his (and mine too) favourite music team to create those memorable numbers. Over time, though, I realised that his unique screen persona added another dimension to the music that came to be identified with him. (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi with Shammi Kapoor, Hasrat, Jaikishan

Renowned poet and lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri was born on 15^th April, 1922 as Iqbal Hussain. In 1940, Hasrat Jaipuri came from Jaipur to Mumbai. Prithiviraj Kapoor heard him in a mushaira and recommended him to Raj Kapoor when he was making the film Barsaat.

The epic combination of Hasrat Jaipuri and Shankar Jaikishan started from Barsaat. The first 2 songs written by him became super hit namely “jiya beqarar hai” and “chor gaye balam”. The pen of Hasrat Jaipuri glorified RK Films and other bollywood films for the next 30 years. (more…)

By: Jagat Kant Choudhary

Kishore Kumar and Mohd Rafi

It was inevitable. The Comparison. With two phenomenal singers like Mohd Rafi and Kishore Kumar dividing the lion’s share of the male playback music industry between themselves, it was only a matter of time before the big question would crop up- who is the better singer?

The huge fan following, bordering on reverence for the two singers coupled with the alleged preferences of certain music directors for one over the other, often triggered this question. However and fortunately so, while the fans swore by their respective idols, and still do, there has never been a clear polarization either in the fan following or the music industry as a whole. (more…)

Written by: H.A.K. Walijah

Mohd Rafi and Dharamendra

Who could be from the Forties till the late Eighties charmed the film world with his scintillating lyrics in about 200 films and Rafi Saab had sung at least 225 songs out of 1800 recorded songs penned – guess whom I am referring, yes it is Hasrat Jaipuri, “The King of Romance”. Hasrat Jaipuri is one of the best lyricists in Bollywood who have been in the Indian film industry for a long time. The lyricist is now being considered as an iconic figure in the Bollywood music world. The verses which came out of his pen were realistic, rhythmic and touched the soul. He spread the fragrance of his poetry during 50’s & 60’s with his brilliant poetic genius comprising some of the sweetest melodies sung by “The King of Melody”, Mohammad Rafi Sahab – “Teri pyari pyari soorat ko” (Sasural), “Tu kahan yeh bataa” (Tere Ghar Ke Saamne), “Tu mere saamne hai, teri zulfein hai khuli” (Suhagan), “Ehsan tera hoga mujh par” (Junglee), “Teri zulfon se” (Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai) and “Tum mujhe yoon bhula na paaoge” (Pagla Kahin Ka). (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Rafi Sahab with SJ, Asha, Hasrat, Shailendra

Poet and lyricist Shailendra had glorified the world of bollywood with his romantic words. He had tremendous combination with legendary composer Shankar Jaikishan. Both of them in turn had magical relationship with immortal singer Mohammad Rafi.

The magic combination came together in the film Boot Polish with the song “nanhe munne bacche tere mutthi me kya hai” which had become immortal over the years. In the film Shikast, the combination came together in the song “gham me jal raha hai”. (more…)

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 Sarah Modi

Mohd Rafi

Rafi is certainly my sweetheart and I bet yours as well.  If you are a romantic at heart, Rafi saab’s voice is the eternal sound of love.  And if you are not a romantic, you will become one at the mere touch of his mellifluous voice.  His intoxicating and honey-soaked vocals can woo any hard hearted person.   The warmth in his voice can thaw and melt anything frozen — be it a thing, human being, thought or an emotion.  If you don’t believe me,  listen to the songs I have listed below and be prepared to be hypnotized by his mesmerizing and soulful renditions.

If you want to praise your girlfriend or wife, or express your love to them, or if you want to embark upon a beautiful journey of courtship, you can begin with any of these wonderful songs, and Lady Love will surely be your Valentine! (more…)

Compiled by: Mr. Biman Baruah

Rafi Sahab and Naushad Ali

Naushad Ali and Mohammed Rafi both were the legends of Hindi Film Music, former one is one of the greatest Music Directors of Indian Cinema and later one is one of the greatest playback singers of Indian Cinema who made for each other and born on 25^th and 24^th December respectively. Both the legends are almost forgotten man today. But the immortal songs created by them still continue to live on in the minds of all music lovers and the songs are the undying treasure of Hindi Film Music. On their birth anniversary in December, they were more or less ignored in Film Industry, to which both the maestro devoted their life.

Naushad Ali was born on 25^th December 1919 in Luchnow, a traditional city famous for refined North Indian Culture. From early childhood in Luchnow he was a keen listener to the live orchestras accompanying silent films. Before coming to Bombay, he used to repair harmoniums and composed for amateur theatricals such as the Windsor Music Entertainers. (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…)