Mohammed Rafi

 

 

 Mohammed Rafi, 24-Dec-1924 to 31-July-1980

 

NOTE TO READER: There are YouTube videos embedded in this blog. By clicking on the play icon, you would be able to play the song within the blog itself. However, some of the videos do not open within the blog because of copyright (?) issues, but you, reader, will be able to open the video through the YouTube link that appears. I am sorry for this issue, but it has nothing to do with me, I assure you. I am unable to bypass this without avoiding the songs themselves, which I am loath to do because I like them so much. So bear with me please!  If you are opening this on your mobile and cannot see the embedded videos, please first scroll down and tap on "view the web version". Then the embedded videos can be seen.

As we come closer to the legendary singer's 96th birthday, I thought I should post some of the songs that I absolutely love and like to listen to multiple times. I will be only posting the YouTube links of those songs with a brief description of why I like that song. 

 
1. "Madhuban mein Radhika naachey re". The combination of music, lyrics and vocals make this song among the best. Dilip Kumar's expressions during the song add to the beauty and picturisation of the song. Right from my childhood, I used to love listening to this song when it was played on radio. This song is set to Hameer raag and the gati of the song is drut, which means it is sung in a fast tempo.

 

2. The next song in the list has to be another Dilip Kumar number from Ganga Jamuna. Nain lad jaihen to... The song is in Awadhi dialect and the whole film had characters speaking in that dialect. This was probably the first attempt by a film maker to produce a film in a dialect of Hindi rather than the Hindustani language that almost all films are made in. Rafi aced the song in that dialect. I almost forgot to mention that here!

 

3.  Rafi saab created a stir with Baiju Bawra. The songs composed by Naushad with lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni topped the popularity charts the year the film was released. Among the many songs that Rafi sang for Bharat Bhushan, the most famous song is "Bhagwaan, bhagwaan, O duniya ke rakhwaale". The song starts with a slow pace and pitch and goes to high pitch, which in my opinion no one else could have achieved. The story that Rafi had blood coming out of his mouth towards the end of the song, has been rubbished by Naushad in an interview. 

4.  A change of scene here. After a serious song, let us come to appreciate the range of Rafi's singing for Johnny Walker in Pyaasa. Sar jo tera chakraaye. This song was No. 2 in the annual list of songs in Binaca Geetmala, the unofficial ranking of songs of the year. Pyaasa had some really soulful songs including the iconic song, Ye duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai. Wonder why that song didn't hit the popularity charts that year, but this song did! Anyway, coming back to this song sung so wonderfully by Johnny Walker on screen, I always wonder how Rafi could modulate his voice for various actors, including Johnny Walker and Mehmood. 

 

5.  Next is a duet with Asha Bhosle for Kala Pani. The movie was released in 1958 and had that fantastic song with so much "nakhras" by both Rafi and Asha that the actors on screen - Dev Anand and Madhubala - had to only imitate the voice with their expressions. One of my favourite songs of the duo. Accha ji mein haari chalo maan jaao naa.

6. Still sticking with Dev Anand, the next song is from the film Kala Bazaar. Apni to har aah ik toofan hai. Dev Anand sings the song in the first class compartment while travelling from Bombay to Ooty (no direct train existed then, none does so now too; but for a movie, I suppose anything's possible). Dev Anand knows that Waheeda Rehman is in love with Vijay Anand, but he still serenades her and this song has a double meaning. Though on the face of it, it appears that Dev Anand is praying to the God above, he is actually requesting Waheeda Rehman in the upper berth to show some "mercy" towards him! Well picturised by the director Vijay Anand - the king of song picturisation. As for Rafi, his singing in a soft voice was just the voice that Dev needed.

7.  I will go to Pradeep Kumar next who had Rafi sing most of his songs. Among the songs that proved to be a big hit, this one is up there. Ab kya misaal doon mein teri... from the film Aarti.  The composer is Roshan and lyrics are by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

 

8. The next song is from the film, Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi. The film was produced by Guru Dutt films with Guru Dutt in the lead and this song would have been different if it was picturised on Guru Dutt. But unfortunately, Guru Dutt died without completing the film. After a while and with some difficulty in looking for another actor to play that role, Dharmendra was chosen. He performed very well in the film; though one question would always remain as to how would Guru Dutt have been! Lyrics by Anjaan and music by O. P. Nayyar. The song is Aap ke haseen rukh par aaj naya noor hai. Ignore Dharmendra's poor attempt at convincing us that he is playing the piano! Focus instead on the beauty of Mala Sinha and Tanuja. Both look ravishing in the movie.

9.  I cannot exclude this song from Mere Mehboob. Mere mehboob mujhe meri mohabbat ki kasam. The ghazal with inimitable poetry by Shakeel Badayuni and music composition by Naushad saw Rafi sing with such pathos that it is impossible to imagine anyone else singing this song - even today with all technical assistance available for the singers. 

10.  The song Din dhal jaaye, haaye from Guide is my next choice simply because it is a sad song and the first sad song in this list. I recall a comment by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, himself a popular and excellent singer, compliment Rafi's sigh when he says "haaye", and explains for us laymen how difficult it could be for a singer to bring out that expression in the song which would reflect the position that Dev Anand found himself in that situation.

11.  This romantic duet from Kashmir ki Kali with Asha Bhosle, Deewana hua baadal has always impressed me with the ease with which both singers bring the romance through their vocals and modulation! S. P. Balasubrahmanyam sings this on stage quite effortlessly and also comments about the range of Rafi while saying that he would listen to this song during his college days without understanding the meaning, but with tears in his eyes.

12.  Who can forget Dosti and the songs in that sleeper hit film (third highest grosser of 1964). Though 'Chahoonga mein tujhe' was more popular during the year it was released, I much prefer 'Jaanewaalo zara mud ke dekho mujhe'. The voice that attracted the crowd and made the two boys earn some money! One of the earliest films of Laxmikant Pyarelal duo, who finished with the  maximum songs sung by Rafi saab.

13.  A Qawwali  to bring some variation in the songs of Rafi. This song Parda Hai Parda from the film Amar Akbar Anthony brings out the fantastic ability of Rafi to sing qawalis with equal elan. There are a few other qawwalis which Rafi has sung in the company of Asha Bhosle or Manna Dey, but I am choosing a solo by Rafi.

14.  Next is a soft song by Rafi from Oonche Log (a remake of the Tamil original Major Chandrakant). An interesting story line. But the song is a romantic song by Rafi for Feroz Khan. Jaag dil-e deewana, rut jaagi...Music by Chitragupt and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Rafi's soft voice to welcome the dawn is so soothing!

15.  A patriotic song now. Hum laaye hain toofan se kashti nikaal ke from Jagriti. Lyrics by Kavi Pradeep and music by Hemant Kumar. This song used to be played on record players in our childhood during Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations in the township where I grew up. 

16.  A fun song to end this blog. Bade miyan deewaane, aise na bano. Joy Mukherjee in Shagird trying his best to make a gentleman and lover-boy of I.S. Johar. Some passages of the song bring out the fun very effectively. Lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri and music by Laxmikant Pyarelal.This is a duet by Rafi and Manna Dey! There was a toss up between this song or the other Duniya paagal hai, ya phir mein deewana. But my vote is for Bade miyan deewaane for its fun factor; and not for the slapstick!

 

 

17.  The best song that I like is a bit rare song, hardly played on TV or on radio nowadays, but I used to hear the quite frequently in my younger days on Vividh Bharati. Kahin ek maasoom naazuk si ladki from the film Shankar Hussain. Lyrics by Kamaal Amrohi and music by Khayyam. This soulful rendition of the nazm is among the favourites of Rafi saab also. 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed this collection. In case of any comments, please do write in.