A tribute: Mohd. Rafi month Day 30

Celebrating Mohammad Rafi month from 1st July 2020 – 31st July 2020 : Death Anniversary of Rafi saheb – A tribute 💐
Mohd. Rafi month Day 30 : 30 July 2020

10 interesting facts about Mohammad Rafi Saab’s Hindi film music !!

1) First film song of Rafi Saab and First Hindi film song of Rafi Saab , both came under same composer Shyam Sundar.

https://youtu.be/eNMY3kP0tE8?t=12

2) Rafi Saab sung a song with Saigal Saab in film Shahajahan, ‘Mere Sapno Ki Ruhi Ruhi’. However Noorjahan, Lata, Mukesh or Kishore nobody has sung with Saigal Saab.

3) Though Mukesh was voice of Raj Kapoor, Rafi sung 7 songs ( duets) for RK in one film Do Ustaad.

https://youtu.be/RPZR7yFb55I?t=5

4) G M Durrani was Rafi Saab’s one of the idol singer in early 40’s. Later in Film Lal Pathhar of late 60’s, he gave voice for G M Durrani’s small role on screen in song ‘Unake Khayal Aaye To’

5) Though Kishore Kumar always sung his songs himself for his roles on screen, Rafi has sung for Kishore Kumar in few films in songs like 1)Man Mora Bawara, 2)Ajab Hai Dastan Teri Aye Jindagi, 3)Hame Koi Gham Hai, 4) Masiha Banke Bimaron Ke, 5)Apani Adat Hai Sabko Salam Karana, 6)Main Is Masoom Chehre Ko, 7)Mera Kam Fatafat Mera Naam Zatapha and may be few more too.

6) Rafi sung for family of 3 generations like for Prtiviraj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor and Rishi/Randheer Kapoor. This is achieved only Lata ji by singing for Shobhana Samarth, Nutan and Kajol.

https://youtu.be/pMo4ljzJBpA?t=41

7) First Lata-Rafi duet happened in film ‘Shadi Se Pahle’ with song ‘Chalo Ho Gayi Taiyyar’ is first duet of Lata-Rafi. Composer is named as Paingankar-Karnad. But actually C Ramchandra was composer and due to his Filmalaya company agreement he gave names of his two assistants here !

https://youtu.be/4cAMigD8Tq8?t=39

8) Rafi sung for Shammi Kapoor under RD in just 2 films…Teesari Manjil and Shalimaar.

https://youtu.be/uf9oSzZdJWI?t=32

9) In song ‘Thodasa Dil Laga Ke Dekh’ in film Musaphirkhana by OPN, Rafi sings just ‘Tara Ram Pam Pam’ in entire song and rest of the song is by Shamshad Beghum

10) ‘ Humko Tumase Ho Gaya Hai Ke Pyar Kya Kare’ is the only song which Rafi sung along with three other stalwarts Lata, Kishore and Mukesh!

( Compiled – Hemant Kothikar ) Stand corrected for any info above)

The demise of Rafi Sahab was a shocking news not only for the film fraternity but also for his millions & millions lovers.
Some sentiments shared by the various stalwarts in film Industry & others about pious Rafi Sahab. Compiled by Suresh Savaiya

Have a look on –

‘The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is also a great fan of Rafi Sahab. His favorite song is “Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhaata Chalaa Gayaa…” He quoted a few lines of song in Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament. Rafi is indeed immortal and always feel he is around & in our hearts and soul. I admire his voice and range”

“Kishore Kumar seated at the feet of Rafi Sahab for hours together weeping & crying inconsolably like a child after the death of Mohammad Rafi”.

* Comments by the Times Of India –
Rafi Sahab has given so much to the Nation, his funeral procession reflected this with thousands on the streets on that heavy rainy day.

* लता मंगेशकर –
मैंने लगातार 32 साल तक उनके साथ गाया है. उनकी मृत्यु से जो क्षति पहुंची है वह कभी पूरी नहीं हो सकेगी. सचमुच संगीत का एक युग समाप्त हो गया है. ईश्वर उनकी आत्मा को शांति दे.

* Dilip Kumsr, Actor –
“Kabhi kisi ne Rafi Sahab ko kisi par naaraz hote nahi dekha. Unme koi ahankar nahi tha, wo Har-Dil-Aziz aur Sada-Mizaz insan the.”

* R. D. Burman, Music Director –
“Jab bhi mere geet ki recording hoti to RAFI sahab Bhindi Bazar se Halwa laate aur ham sab ek sath baith ke khate the.”

* Ravindra Jain, Music Director –
“Ab tak hai zamane pe jis aawaz ka jadu,
uske mere upar upkar bade the.
Kahna hai Rafi ke liye bada mushkil,
Insan bade the ya Kalakaar bade the.

* Amin Sayani, Radio announcer –
Rafi sahab ne apna sab kuchh Sargam ki Devi par nyochhavar kar diya tha, Shayad tabhi badle me unhone paya tha Suron Ka Samundar.

* Manna Dey, Singer –
I, Kishore & other singers fought for No. 2 position, becoz No.1 position is already occupied by Rafi Sahab, even till today.
Rafi was such a gentleman. He was better singer than me. Rest were all great singers, but had their limitations, but Rafi has no limit.

* Sonu Nigam, Singer –
Rafi Sahab AFI ki mahanta koi subjective cheej nahi hai, Jo ye kahte hain ki unhe Rafi Sahab pasand nahi hain, to unhe music ki samajh nahi hai.

* Amit Kumar, Son of Kishore Kumar –
Rafi Sahab was a very good human being.
I feel so lucky & honored that I had the privilege of singing with him.

* Usha Timothi, Singer –
“Maine dekha hai ki Rafi Sahab Jis raaste se guzarte the log us raaste ki dhool apne maathe par lagate the.”

* Devanand, Actor –
“Rafi a quiet & fine person (sic),” wrote Dev Anand on Twitter, as he recalled the songs from films like Jewel Thief (1967), Man Pasand (1980) and Guide (1965). “Dil pukare aa re…” from Jewel Thief & I think “Logo ka dil…” in Man Pasand was his last song for me.”

* Amitabh Bachchan, Actor –
Rafi Sahab was a man full of aura and serenity. He always had his trademark smile on his face and was very spiritual”

* Vasant Desai, Music Director –
“स्वर्गलोक से कोई फ़रिश्ता मृत्युलोक में चला आया था… शायद कोई प्रायश्चित करने.”

* ओम पुरी जी (अभिनेता) –
“रफ़ी साहब को शायद अपने बड़प्पन का एहसास ही नहीं था, उनकी नेक-दिली उनके गानों में साफ़ झलकती है.”

* Leena Chandavarkar, wife of Kishore Kumar –
Kishore Kumar told me “In the Industry there is No One like Rafi Saheb, we must respect him.

* O. P. Nayyar, Music Director –
I loved Mohammed Rafi. His death was a big loss to me. When I composed for Shammi Kapoor or Johnny Walker, he managed to sound like them. He sang so many wonderful songs for me. Rafi miyan was a wonderful person. Nobody can ever be compared to him.”

* Asha Bhonsle, Singer –
“His greatest ability was that he could sing at a high pitch and shift to a low pitch immediately. He could manage that very well. One of his songs which I love is “Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki, Naa Jaane Tum…”

* Johny Walker, Comedian, Actor –
“Rafi Sahab was such a dedicated singer that he would take time to meet with the actors & to study the actors’ personalities so that he could match his singing style with the actors’ style, accent and pronunciation. Jab Rafi Sahab mere liye gaate, tab aisa lagta ki main khud ga raha hoon (When Rafi Sahab sang for me, it seemed like I was singing)”.

* Laxmikant (Pyarelal), Music Director –
“He was a great human being. He would never ask what he was going to be paid for a song. Apart from waving off payments, he even helped producers financially. He’d help out the needy. He always gave without thinking of the returns.

* Naushad, Music Director –
Tu Hi Tha Pyar Ka Ek Saaz
Nafrat Ki Is Duniya Mein
Ganimat Thi Teri Awaz
Nafrat Ki Is Duniya Mein.

Mehra hai koi dil gaya,
dilbar chala gaya
Saahil pukarta hai,
samundar chala gaya
Lekin jo baat sach hai,
woh kehta nahin koi
Duniya se mausiqui ka
paembar chala gaya.

* Jagjit Singh, Ghazal Singer –
“Rafi sahab had immense versatality and an ability to take on the personality of the hero on whom the song was picturised. Every time you hear a Rafi song, you see the hero, you can vividly put in place the situation and correctly access the mood.”

* Raj Kapoor, the showman of Indian Cinema –
“In the world of music, the uncrowned king of singing has left us”

* Shammi Kapoor, Actor
“I felt as if my own voice had been lost and could not utter a word for hours, when I heard this shocking news of Rafi Sahab’s death.”

* Anand Bakshi, Lyricist –
“Even today when I write something, I imagine how it would sound if Rafisahab had sung it. His place can never be filled again.”

* Khayyam, Music Director –
“Rafisahab was the pride of India. His voice and his memories are still with us even though his body has left us.”

* Dharmendra, Actor –
“Mohammad Rafi’s contribution to my career is immense. From numbers like ‘Jaane kya dhoondti rehti hain yeh aankhen mujh mein… (Shola Aur Shabnam) right till ‘Main jat yamla pagla deewana, itti si… (Pratigyaa) have remained evergreen. The other singers have also made huge contributions to my career. I can never forget that. But Rafi saab is my personal favourite.”

And many many more on tomorrow the 31st July 2020 – the death anniversary day of Rafi Sahab. Compiled by Suresh Sarvaiya