A personal tribute to Mohd Rafi and Rajendra Kumar. Compiled by: Mr.Biman Baruah, Finance & Accounts Officer, ONGC Ltd., Assam Asset, Sivasagar

Mohd Rafi with Rajinder Kumar

Baharon Phool Barsaoo……… Mere Mehboob Aaya Hai………

At the age of eight, I became a reactionary fan of great Mohammed Rafi Sahab with this great romantic song from the 1966 film “SURAJ” which was very perfectly picturised on Rajendra Kumar showering with flowers to Vyjayanthimala in a natural location with Elephant and Peacock. The film was produced by S. Krishnamurthy & directed by T. Prakash Rao which considered one of the first highly commercially successful fantasy dramas of Hindi Cinema.

Shanker-Jaikishen’s chartbuster music and Mohammed Rafi’s singing played an important role in the film’s popularity. The film showed Rajendra Kumar as a blustering hero with swords, horses, elephant, etc. and the songs of the film are remembered till date considering all time evergreen hits. (more…)

This article is written by Mr. Souvik Chatterji

Rafi Sahab with Sharada on stage live singing Bakamma Bakamma

Rafi had sung many duets with all the leading female singers in the country during the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. He had sung around 440 duets with Lata Mangeshkar, who dominated bollywood music during the 50s, 60s and 70s. He sang duet songs with Shamshad Begum, Mubarak Begum, Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle, Suman Kalyanpur and others. During that period he sang many duets with Sharda as well, mainly in films composed by Shankar Jaikishan. Sharda won a number of filmfare awards for best singer for her performance in mainly the films of Shankar Jaikishan. Sharda is still alive and also has received the Rafi Memorial Award in 2007, from the Rafi Lovers Circle, Calcutta. (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. Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi with Rajendra Kumar

Rafi had a dream run in the 60s, mainly in the films of Jubilee Kumar, Rajender Kumar for more than a number of reasons. Firstly Rajender Kumar acted in the production and direction of biggest banners of bollywood in the 60s. Secondly from 1963 to 1966, all his films ended up in silver jubilee showing his immense popularity and strong presence in the box-office. Shankar Jaikishan was equated with God in the early 60s and the main reason of the box-office success of Jubillee Kumar’s films was the superlative music given to him by both SJ and Naushad. 

In the film Ayee Milan Ki Bela, all the songs of SJ, picturised on Rajender Kumar and sung  by Rafi became super hit The immortal songs include “mai pyar ka diwana“, “aha aye Milan ki bela“, “tum khamseen ho“, “to bura maan gaye“, “o sanam tere ho gaye hum“. Rajender Kumar and Saira Banu’s online chemistry in the film helped in the success of the film. (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…)

This article is written by Mr. Vinod Kapoor, ex Sr.Director-Doordarshan. Email: vinodkapoor5@rediffmail.com

He needs no introduction nor does one have to extol the greatness he possessed. Millions still get mesmerized by the unadulterated mellifluous renderings, Mohammad Rafi has left behind. I often wonder, what would have happened, had phonographic system not been invented? Generations would have not marveled the great sounds of well cultivated voices and sought eternal pleasure out of them. It would be big loss. Music lovers miss out on Mian Tansen, Bach and Mozart but that’s history. (more…)