It is impossible for anyone who grew up in Mumbai not to have heard of Mohammed Rafi, the legendary singer who has sung countless melodies. Rafi’s songs were always played on Vividh Bharati channel and my earliest memories are connected to hits like “Badan Pe Sitare Lapete Hue” (Prince, 1969) and “Kan Mein Jhumka Taal Mein Thumka” (Sawan Bhadon, 1969) – incidentally both these films were released in the year that I was born and were considered mega hits. Strangely 1969 was also the year when Rafi faced stiff competition from Kishore Kumar whose songs for “Aradhana” (1969) became a rage. With Aradhana, Rajesh Khanna, India’s first superstar was born.
Not one to give up, Rafi continued singing even for lesser known music composers like Sonik Omi (the ever popular qawwali Raaz Ki Baat Keh Doon Tho from “Dharma”, 1975), Shamji Ghanshamji (Apni Ankhon Mein Basakar Koi Ikrar Karoon from Thokar, 1974) and J P Kaushik (Sona Re Tujhe Kaise Miloon from Ankhen Delhi, 1978). By the time Rafi recovered from the lean period and was in full form, death snatched him away from us when he suffered a heart attack on 31st July 1980. It is no wonder that the month of July is always associated with memories of Rafi for legions of his fans for whom he was the God of music. Music was his passion and Rafi sang from his soul.
Mohammed Rafi – not much was known about him during the earlier days except for the fact that there was a war of words between him and Lata Mangeshkar over royalty issues. Today thanks to Google and content marketing, there is a lot more information dissemination about the legendary singer’s life and times. Radio station jockeys have enough information from the web about Rafi’s life to share with their audiences during musical programs and shows.
Rafi was a singer who always encouraged new singing talent. Whether it was Usha Timothy or Suman Kalyanpur or Sulakshana Pandit or Kamal Barot or Sharada, Rafi always lent his support to the newcomers. He helped them to improvise and proved to be an able partner when it came to singing duets. Of course, Rafi’s duets with Lata Mangeshkar are all-time favourites for millions of Indians – yet the spat between him and Mangeshkar only seemed to have opened the doors for budding female singers then. Singers like Shamshad Begum, Mubarak Begum and Sudha Malhotra got ample opportunities to sing with the legendary singer.
Mahendra Kapoor (he is another personal favourite) doted on him – considering Rafi as his guru. Composers had a unique chemistry with Rafi that created magic when the songs were played on the celluloid screen. Think of Rajendra Kumar, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Shammi Kapoor and you can hear the voice of Rafi echoing in the background. Rafi’s voice was perfect even for actor-turned-politician Baldev Khosa (he was Sunil Dutt’s relative) who did few films as a hero in Bollywood movies and is known more as a politician from the Andheri area in Mumbai. Remarkably, almost all of Shammi Kapoor’s hit songs were sung by Rafi so much that you cannot think of Shammi without thinking of Rafi (“ Jawaniyan Yeh Mast Mast”, “ Tum Ne Mujhe Dekha Hokar Meharban”, “ Yun To Humne Lakh Haseen Dekhe Hain”, “ O haseena zulfowali”, “Mujhe Kitna Pyar Hai Tumse” , “Hai Na Bolo Bolo”, “Is Rang Badalti Duniya Mein”, “Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche”, “Dil Ke Jharoken Mein Tujhko Bitakar”, “Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par”). Kishore Kumar sang for Shammi Kapoor only in Subash Ghai’s Vidhaata (1983).
Rajendra Kumar would not have been “jubilee kumar” without Rafi’s songs in his movies. Even for actors like Pradeep Kumar, Joy Mukherjee, Sunil Dutt and Shashi Kapoor, Rafi sang songs that became chart bursters. (Dil Lagakar Hum Yeh Samjhe, Jo Wada Kiya Who nibhana Padega, Oh mere shahe khuba oh meri janejanana, Yeh wadiyan Yeh Fisayen Bula Rahi Hain Tumhe, Theriye Hosh Mein aa loon).
Salman Khan’s father scriptwriter Salim Khan flirted with Bollywood for a brief while as a hero and as a character artiste. One of the movies where he played the lead was the 1964 release “Bachpan” that was produced by Farah Khan’s grandmother and also starred Menaka Irani, Farah’s mother. The movie tanked at the box office but Rafi’s soothing and soulful rendition – ‘Mujhe Tum Se Mohabbat Hai, Magar Main Keh Nahi Saktha’ – clearly stood out and was a highlight of the movie. Rafi’s range was amazing in that his voice suited actors like Manoj “Bharat” Kumar (who was known for his Mukesh-fixation) as well as Pran (the qawwali in Dharma).
Even though Dev Anand had a greater working chemistry with Kishore Kumar, many of his hit songs were sung by Rafi (Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hain, Dil Pukare Aa Re, Ek Ghar Banaoonga Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Dil Ka Bhawar Kare Pukar, Tu Kahan Yeh Batah). Nasir Hussain’s Caravan (1971) was one of the musical hits of the year and the film was Asha Parekh’s last outing as a leading lady. Songs in Caravan are popular even now – notably – Kitna Pyara Wada Hai, Goriya Kahan Tera Desh Re etc. Jeetendra was another star who benefited from Rafi’s voice in his super hit films – Baar Baar din yeh aaye, Baar Baar din yeh gaaye, Tumse oh haseena shararat na main ne karni thi (Farz, 1967) and “Aane Se Uske Aaye Bahar, Jaane Se Uske Jaaye Bahar” (Jeene Ki Rahi, 1969). The list is endless.
Bheegi Raat (1965) was a modest success at the box office and parts of the movie were shot in Jim Corbett National Park. The movie is still remembered for the Rafi hit – “Dil Jo Na Keh Saka, Wahi Raz E Dil”….How can one forget Raj Kumar and the Rafi songs that he lip synched to – “ Simti Hui Yeh Gadiyan Phir Se Na Bikhar Jayen”, “ Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil”, “Chalo Dildhar Chalo, Chand Ke Paar Chalo” and “ Aa ja Tujhko Pukare Mera Pyar”. Incidentally, Ghulam Mohammed who composed the music for “Pakeezah” the swan song of Meena Kumari did not live to see the success of his efforts.
Mention must be made of Naushad who gave Rafi his first break. “Baiju Bawra” the 1953 hit is still remembered for the melodious music and the chart bursters (Tu Ganga Ki Mauj Mein, Main Jamuna Ka Dhaara). Barely a few years prior to his death, Rafi numbers like “Kya Hua Tera Wada”, “Kahin Ek Masoom Nazuk Si Ladki” and “Dard E Dil Dard E Jigar” topped the music charts.
Neelkamal (1968) was one of the successful movies of Marwari producer-director Ram Maheswari. While singing a song for this movie, “ Babul Ki Duayein Leti Jhaa, Sasural Mein Itna Pyar Mile”, Rafi couldn’t control his tears as he thought of his daughter getting married and leaving her maternal home.
On all counts, Rafi was a family man deeply devoted to his family and children. Despite being such a bundle of talent, Rafi did not let success go to his head. He always remained humble and down-to-earth. He didn’t mind singing for lesser known actors or lesser known music directors.
How can one forget the association that Dilip Kumar shared with Mohammed Rafi? Dilip Kumar’s super hit songs were sung by Rafi – some of them laded with melancholy and pain that they move your heart – “Na Tu Zameen ke liye, hai na aasman ke liye” (Dastaan, 1972), “Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki Salaami Le” (Ram aur Shyam, 1967) and “ Saare Shahar Mein Aap Sa, Koi Nahin Koi Nahin” (Bairaag, 1976). Rafi’s songs in Ganga Jamuna (1967) and Naya Daur (1958) are still popular.
Singers like Mohammed Rafi may have been dead but their voices will continue to remain immortal.
