Mohammed Rafi
Mohammed Rafi (December 24, 1924 - July 31, 1980) was one of the greatest Indian playback singers in Bollywood. Rafi still remains popular in the India and in many other parts of the world with people of Indian origin. His voice is referred to as "the voice of god". He continues to inspire new Bollywood playback singers like Sonu Nigam, Mohammed Aziz, Shabbir Kumar and Anwar.
Rafi sang many well known duets with Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt and Lata's sister Asha Bhosle.
His songs ranged from classical numbers to patriotic songs, sad lamentations to highly romantic numbers, qawwalis to ghazals and bhajans, and from slow melancholic tunes to fast fun-filled songs.
He has sung for Rajendra Kumar and Jeetendra, the tragic heroes Dilip Kumar and Bharat Bhushan, comedian Johnny Walker, and many more. His voice personified the rebellious image of Shammi Kapoor and also gave expression to emerging, younger heroes like Biswajit and Joy Mukherjee. Rafi has also sung for singer-actor Kishore Kumar in a few movies like Raagini, Baaghi Shehzaada, and Shararat.
Early years
Rafi was born at Kotla Sultan Singh near Amritsar in Punjab, to a middle class Muslim family. His family shifted to Lahore when he was still a baby. Every day, a fakir would come to their locality and sing. The young Rafi was fascinated by him, and would follow him around. His elder brother Hameed was aware of Rafi's love for music and encouraged it. In Lahore, Rafi started taking music lessons from Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan and he also learned Indian classical music from Ghulam Ali Khan. One day Rafi and his brother Hameed went to attend a performance by K. L. Saigal. But the legendary singer refused to sing because there was a power failure at the venue. Hamed went up to the organiser to ask whether his brother could sing to keep the audience quiet. That was Rafi's first public performance, at the age of 13. Among the audience sat noted composer Shyam Sunder, who invited Rafi to Bombay.
Rafi's first song was in Punjabi for the film Gul Baloch - it was a duet with the singer Zeenat Begum. The song was Soniye nee, Heeriye nee, composed by Shyam Sunder. Shyam Sunder was impressed with his voice and gave Rafi seven songs in another film Bazaar.
In 1944, Rafi decided to move to Bombay, where Naushad gave him a break in Pehle Aap (1944). Rafi made his mark with Tera Khilona Toota Balak in Anmol Ghadi (1946). Rafi's first hit was Yahan Badla Wafa Ka, with legendary songstress Noor Jehan, composed by Feroz Nizami. After listening to his voice, the producer of Amar Raj, J B Wadia, insisted that only Rafi was to sing songs for his film.
Rafi also had brief roles in movies like Laila-Majnu (1945) and Jugnu (1947). In Laila-Majnu, he was seen singing Tera Jalwa as a part of the chorus. The songs he sang for Neel Kamal (1968) are regarded as his best effort. He has sung over 26000 songs in Hindi and English.
Rise to Fame
Rafi's first song for late Naushad was Hindustan ke hum hain (We belong to Hindustan) for the film Pehle Aap in 1944. The first hit for the duo was the soundtrack of Anmol Ghadi. At the time, Naushad's favorite singer was Talat Mahmood. It is reported that once Naushad found Talat smoking during a recording. Annoyed, he hired Rafi to sing for Baiju Bawra. After the Partition of India, Rafi and Naushad decided to remain in India. Whenever Naushad required a male voice in the songs composed by him, he would approach Rafi and nobody else. Naushad used Rafi's voice for almost all actors of that time including Bharat Bhushan and Dilip Kumar.
Soon, Rafi became the favorite singer of other composers too, notably O. P. Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan and Sachin Dev Burman. Rafi became the voice of Dev Anand with soul-stirring songs composed by S. D. Burman. Rafi sang songs for Burman that ran the gamut of emotions - the romantic dil ka bhanwar, the drunk hum bekhudi mein, the free-spirited khoya khoya chaand. Rafi and S. D. Burman teamed up with Dev Anand's Navketan production house to produce hits in many movies - Kala Bazar, Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Guide among others. S. D. Burman also got Rafi to sing for Rajesh Khanna in Aradhana and Amitabh Bachchan in Abhimaan. Rafi and S. D. Burman also produced soulful songs for Guru Dutt's Pyaasa, C.I.D. and Kaagaz ke Phool.
O. P. Nayyar used Rafi and Asha Bhosle for most of his songs. Together they created music in the 1950s and 1960s. O. P. Nayyar was once quoted as saying "If there had been no Rafi, there would have been no O P Nayyar". He and Rafi created many songs together including the famous Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan. O P Nayyar was so impressed with Rafi that he got Rafi to sing for singer-actor Kishore Kumar - Man mora baawara for the movie Raagini. The team will be particularly remembered for the songs picturized on Shammi Kapoor. The song Jawaaniyan yeh mast mast and the title song Yun to humne lakh hansee dekhe hain, tumsa nahin dekha (Although I have seen a lakh beauties, but never saw one like you) of the film Tumsa Nahin Dekha became instant hits. They were followed by hits like Taareef karoon kya uski jisne tumhe banaya (How should I praise the one who created you), He Duniya Usi ki, zamana Usi ka both from Kashmir ki Kali.
Shammi Kapoor himself credited a large part of his success to Rafi. Shammi's image of the young, rebellious, carefree man can be attributed to the famous song Chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe sung by Rafi and composed by Shankar Jaikishan. The Shankar-Jaikishan and Rafi team will be remembered for the songs picturized on Rajendra Kumar - Baharon phool barsaao - for which Rafi won the Filmfare Award - and other innumerable hits like Dil Ke Jharokhen ke Mein (Brahmachari), Tumse Achha kaun Hain etc.
Rafi was also composer Ravi's first choice for playback singing. This team produced some award winning songs. Rafi's first Filmfare Award came for the immortal love song Chaudvin Ka Chand Ho (Chaudvin Ka Chand, 1961 ) penned by Shakil Budayuni. Ravi got Rafi to sing the famous Rock-n-Roll number from the movie China Town Baar Baar Dekho, picturized on Shammi Kapoor. Other songs by Ravi and Rafi included Choo Lene Do (Kaajal 1965), Raha Gardishon Mein Hardam and Naseeb Mein Jiske (both from the film Do Badan 1966), Aaja Tujhko Pukare and Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja (Neel Kamal, 1968, for which Rafi won the National Award) and Mujhe Ishq Hain Tumhise (Ummeed, 1972).
Madan Mohan was another composer whose favorite singer was Rafi. They teamed up to produce many ghazals including Teri Aankhon ke Siva, the sad Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil and the romantic Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho. Madan Mohan used Rafi's voice in many films like Chirag and Laila Majnu.
The famous composer duo Laxmikant Pyarelal ("L-P") also used Rafi as their male voice in 1960s and 70s. When L-P were new in the industry, Rafi sang for them, although he was the numero uno singer in Bollywood at that time. They got Rafi to sing for their first hit film Paarasmani. Both Rafi and L-P won the Filmfare Awards for the song Chahoonga main tujhe shaam savere from Dosti. The tune was originally meant to be sung by a female singer, but Majrooh Sultanpuri the lyricist suggested that it would sound better in a male voice, L-P agreed and had the song sung by Rafi.
In 1965, Rafi was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Sri award.
Rise of Kishore Kumar
In the year 1969, Bollywood witnessed the rise of a new superstar, Rajesh Khanna in the movie Aradhana. Aradhana was the beginning of the era of another great singer Kishore Kumar. SD Burman was the music director of this Shakti Samantha movie. His son RD Burman took over the project as he fell ill. RD used Kishore Kumar- his favourite singer, for the solo numbers Roop Tera Mastana and Mere Sapnon Ki Rani. The two songs were huge hits. This established Kishore as the singer for Rajesh Khanna. However Rafi delivered many hits during the time with L-P, Madan Mohan, RD and SD, like Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil (Heer Ranjha, 1970), Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho (Hanste Zakhm, 1973), Gulabi Aankhen (RD, The Train), Aaj Mausam bada Beimaan hai (LP, Loafer 1973), Jhilmil Sitaron ka (LP, Jeevan Mrityu, 1974) and many more.
In 1973, Nassir Hussain's Yaadon Ki Baarat ( RD Burman, Majrooh Sultanpuri) got released. The duet of Rafi with Asha, Chura Liya Hain Tumne, was a block buster. The song is still considered by many as the best duet that the industry ever produced.
Rafi concentrated on live music shows in the 1970s, which were huge hits. He performed in many places, in and outside India. He pioneered a trend which is still very prevalent amongst Bollywood actors and singers.
Return of the maestro
Rafi came back with a host of hit songs in the mid seventies. One of Madan Mohan's last film Laila Majnu was released on 1976. He used Rafi as the singer for newcomer Rishi Kapur. Tere Dar Pe Aaya Hoon and Barbad-E-Mohabbat Ki Dua were huge hits.
In 1977, Nasir Hussain released Hum Kisise Kam Nahin. RD used Rafi to sing for Rishi Kapur and others in the movie. Songs like Kya Hua Tera Wada, Chand Mera Dil, Hum Kisise Kam Nahin and Yeh ladka (with Asha) were chartbusters. The song Kya Hua Tera Wada gave Rafi his sixth Filfare Award, putting him right back on top. He also won the National Award for the song, his second National Award.
Hits continued, like Parda Hain Parda (Amar Akbar Anthony, 1977) by L-P and Pal Do Pal Ka Saath (The Burning Train) by RD. The L-P - Anand Bakshi team stuck with Rafi for the song Aadmi Musafir Hain in Apnapan (1978). It was followed by the Rishi Kapur films Sargam (1979) and Karz (1980) which saw L-P and Rafi.
Last Years
Rafi reigned along with Kishore Kumar in the early 80s. The film Dostana was a musical hit and songs like Mere Dost Kissa and Bane Chahe Dushman (with Kishore Kumar ) became very popular. In the film Abdullah, the solo Meine Poochha Chand Se was nominated for the Filmfare Award of that year. Rafi was nominated for three songs in 1980. Rafi continued to produce hit songs like the duet "Kya Dekhte Ho" in Kalyanji Anandji's Qurbani.
On Friday, July 31, 1980 after composing a song for the movie Aas Paas, Shaam phir kyun udaas hai dost with L-P, Rafi asked "Should I leave?". L-P were surprised because Rafi had never said anything like this before. While leaving, Rafi said once again "OK. I will leave." Rafi died at 10.50 p.m. on the same day due to a massive heart attack.
Personal life
When partition occured in 1947, Rafi chose to stay in India. Rafi married Bilquis and had four sons and three daughters. He was a religious teetotaller, and an extremely humble person. Once, when a lesser-known composer, Nisar Bazmi (who migrated to Pakistan in early 1960s), did not have enough money to pay him, Rafi charged a fee of one rupee and sang for him. He even helped producers financially. As Laxmikant (of the Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo - L-P ) once observed - "He always gave without thinking of the returns". It was Rafi who supported L-P during their initial days. Rafi was also famous for his various humanitarian efforts. Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar had a major debate over the issue of royalties in 1960s. Rafi believed that once a recording was over and a singer has been paid, he or she should not ask for more. Lata, on the other hand said that singers should be paid royalties for their works, over and above the amount given for the singing. This led to a fall out between them. They refused to sing songs together. At the insistence of Nargis they finally made up at a stage concert and sang Dil Pukare from the film Jewel thief, composed by S D Burman.
He encouraged and helped other artists all the time by all means including finance. It was he who suggested that Kishore Kumar conduct stage shows when he was in economic difficulties. He was very modest as well. When Kishore Kumar rose to fame on the strength of the Aradhana songs, originally to have been sung by Rafi, Rafi is reported to have said that "Kishore is singing well and the time is changing".
Trivia & Memoirs
- Rafi has sung the maximum number of songs for the music director duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal and also for the lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri
- He has sung the maximum number of duets with Asha Bhonsle (female) and Manna Dey (male)
- He has a record number of Filmfare Award nominations (23)
- He did playback for Kishore Kumar
- "The voice was a gift from God to Rafi, but what Rafi made of it was a gift to God" - Talat Mehmood.
Awards
Filmfare Nominations and Awards
- 1960 Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho (Film: Chaudhvin Ka Chand) - WON
- 1961 Husnwale Tera Jawaab Nahin (Film: Gharana)
- 1961 Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko (Film: Sasural) - WON
- 1962 Aye Gulbadan Aye Gulbadan (Film: Professor)
- 1963 Mere Mehboob Tujhe (Film: Mere Mehboob)
- 1964 Chahunga Mein Tujhe (Film: Dosti) - WON
- 1965 Choo Lene Do Nazuk Hothon Ko (Film: Kaajal)
- 1966 Baharon Phool Barasao (Film: Suraj) - WON
- 1968 Mein Gaaon Tum Sojaao (Film: Brahmachari)
- 1968 Babul Ki Duayein Leti Ja (Film: Neel Kamal)
- 1968 Dil Ke Jharoke Mein (Film: Brahmachari) - WON
- 1969 Badi Mastani Hai (Film: Jeene Ki Raah)
- 1970 Khilona Jaan Kar (Film: Khilona)
- 1973 Hum Ko To Jaan Se Pyaari (Film: Naina)
- 1974 Achha Hi Huva Dil Toot Gaya (Film: Maa Behen Aur Biwi)
- 1977 Parda Hai Parda (Film: Amar Akbar Anthony)
- 1977 Kya Hua Tera Vaada (Film: Hum Kisise Kum Nahin) - WON
- 1978 Aadmi Musaafir Hai (Film: Apnapan)
- 1979 Chalo Re Doli Uthao Kahaar (Film: Jani Dushman)
- 1980 Dard-e-dil Dard-e-jigar (Film: Karz)
- 1980 Maine Poocha Chand Se (Film: Abdullah)
- 1980 Mere Dost Kissa Yeh (Film: Dostana)
Ironically Rafi got National Award (from Govt. of India) only two times;
- 1968 Babul Ki Duayein Leti Ja (Film: Neel Kamal) - One of the best sad songs that hindi film Industry ever had. The song is made up of heart touching lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi with beautiful composition of Ravi.
- 1977 Kya Hua Tera Waada (Film: Hum Kisise Kum Nahin) - Mohd. Rafi's huge nation wide hit number with the great team of RD Burman and Majrooh Sultanpuri saab.
Playback Provided For
Hindi Actors
Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Manoj Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Guru Dutt, Ashok Kumar, Joy Mukherjee, Biswajit, Kishore Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Prithviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor,Bharat Bhushan, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Johnny Walker, Sanjay Khan, Feroz Khan, Pradeep Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Pran, Parikshit Sahni, Vinod Mehra, Vinod Khanna, Mehmood, I. S. Johar, Jagdeep, Gulshan Bawra,Navin Nischal,Tariq Hussain
Other languages
N T Ramarao (for Telugu films Bhale Thammudu, Aradhana), Akkineni Nageswara Rao(for Hindi Suvarna Sundari)
Popular songs
Hindi
- Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan (C.I.D., 1957), comedy
- Sar Jo Tera Chakraye, comedy
- Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe (Junglee, 1961)
- Main Jat Yamla Pagla
- Chadhti Jawani Meri
- Hum kaale hain to kya hua(Gumnaam, 1966), comedy
- Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (Hum Kisise Kum Nahin, 1977), qawwali
- Raaz Ki Baat Kah Doon, qawwali
- Yeh Hai Ishq Ishq, qawwali
- Pardah Hai Pardah (Amar Akbar Anthony, 1977), qawwali
- O Duniya Ke Rakhwale (Baiju Bawra, 1952), devotional
- Hum Laye Hain Toofan (Jagriti, 1954), patriotic song
- Ab Tumhare Hawale (Haqiqat, 1954), patriotic song
- Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawanon ka (Naya Daur), patriotic song
- Apni Azadi Ko Hum, patriotic song
- Nanhe Munne Bacche, Children's song
- Re Mama Re Mama Re, Children's song
- Chakke Mein Chakka, Children's song
- Man Tarpath Hari darshan Ko (Baiju Bawra,1954), Classical
- Sawan Aaye Ya Na Aaye (Dil Diya Dard Liya, 1966), Classical
- Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re (Kohinoor, 1960), Classical
- Man Re Tu Kaahe (Chitralekha, 1964), Classical
- Babul Ki Duayen Leti Ja, Wedding song
- Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Wedding song
Other languages
Marathi
- Shodisi Maanava (Non-filmi)
- He mana aaj koni (Non-filmi)
- Ha chhand jivala lavi pise (Non-filmi)
- Virale geet kase (Non-filmi)
- Ga pori sambhal - Daryageet (Non-filmi; with Pushpa Pagdhare)
- Prabhu tu dayalu (Non-filmi)
- Hasa mulanno hasa (Non-filmi)
- Ha rusawa sod sakhe (Non-filmi)
- Nako bhavya waada (Non-filmi)
- Majhya viraan hridayee (Non-filmi)
- Khel tujha nyaara (Non-filmi)
- Nako aarati ki nako pushpmaala (Non-filmi)
Songs in Telugu
- Yentha Varu Kani Vedantulaina Kani (film: Bhale Thammudu)
- Na Madi Ninnu Pilichindi Ganamai (film:Aradhana)
- Taralentaga Vecheno Chanduruni Kosam (film:Akbar Salim Anarkali)
- Sipaaee o Sipaaee (Duet with P. Susheela)