Hi Readers ! It's Rafi's Day, 31st July the death anniversary of great singer of Indian Cinema, Mohd. Rafi. A special stamp was issued by India Post on 15 May 2003 alongwith three other stamps and a M/S on Golden Voices of Yesteryears. The other three famous singers are Kishore Kumar, Mukesh and Hemant Kumar.This post is dedicicated to the great singer of Hindi Cinema whose melodious voice will remain favourite in the hearts of Music Lovers for ever. While writing this Post, I also remember Ishmeet Singh, the young upcoming singer of Ludhiana who recently became winner of Star Voice of India Contest, met with a premature death at a young age of 19 years. I pay my tributes to him. Ishmeet is not with us but his velvety voice will always be remembered by the lovers of music.In the sweet memories of these great singers I just can say..... Have a Nice & Melodious Day ! Till Next Post.... Happy Collecting !.....
Ishmeet, we will always miss you !
Golden Voices of Yesteryears
Mohammad Rafi
Mohammed Rafi was one of the greatest Indian playback singer. He sang in many Indian languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Putjabi, Marathi, Sanskrit, Bhojpuri, and Telugu, but he is primarily remembered for his songs from Hindi cinema . His songs are very popular in the Indian subcontinent and also amongst the emigrant Indians globally. Along with Mukesh and Kishore Kumar, he was one of the three leading male Bollywood playback singers from the 1950s to the 1970s.Mohammed Rafi was born at Kotla Sultan Singh (or Kotla Sultanpur), a town near-by Amritsar in Punjab . Rafi established himself as the number one playback singer in Bollywood with the songs of Baiju Bawra (1952) The songs from Baiju Bawra, O duniya ke rakhwale and Man tarpat Hari darshan ko aaj established Rafi's credentials.
In 1950s and 1960s, Rafi became the favorite singer of other composers too, notably O. P. Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan and Sachin Dev Burman. S D Burman patronized Rafi as the singing voice of Dev Anand in 1950s and 1960s. Rafi's notable songs with S. D. Burman included songs from the movies Tere Ghar ke Saamne (1957), Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Guide (1965), Aradhana (1969) and Abhimaan (1973). O P Nayyar was so impressed with Rafi that he got Rafi to sing a song Man mora baawara for singer-actor Kishore Kumar, in the movie Raagini. Rafi sang for Kishore Kumar in many other movies such as Baaghi, Shehzaada and Shararat. O. P. Nayyar used Rafi and Asha Bhosle for most of his songs. The team created many hit songs in early 1950s and 1960s for movies such as Naya Daur (1957), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) and Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). Rafi sang a total of 197 numbers (56 solo) for O P Nayyar. The team of Shankar Jaikishan and Rafi is noted for the songs picturized on Rajendra Kumar. Rafi sang a total of 341 numbers (216 solo) for Shankar-Jaikishan.
Rafi got his first Filmfare Award for the title song of Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), composed by Ravi. He got his first National Award for the song Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja from the film Neel Kamal (1968), also composed by Ravi. Ravi and Rafi produced several other hit songs, in the films such as China Town (1962), Kaajal (1965), and Do Badan (1966). Madan Mohan was another composer whose favorite singer was Rafi. Rafi's first solo with Madan Mohan in Ankhen (1950) "Hum ishq mein barbad hain barbad rahenge" was a great hit.They teamed up to produce many hit songs including Teri Aankhon ke Siva, "rang aur noor ki baraat", Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil and Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho. The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal also patronized Rafi as one of their leading singers since their first released film, Parasmani (1963). Both Rafi and L-P won the Filmfare Awards for the song Chahoonga main tujhe saanjh savere from Dosti. Rafi sang a total of 369 numbers (186 solo) for LP. In 1965, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Sri award and got most prestigious Filmfare awrard six times for best male playback singer.
In 1950s and 1960s, Rafi became the favorite singer of other composers too, notably O. P. Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan and Sachin Dev Burman. S D Burman patronized Rafi as the singing voice of Dev Anand in 1950s and 1960s. Rafi's notable songs with S. D. Burman included songs from the movies Tere Ghar ke Saamne (1957), Pyaasa (1957), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Guide (1965), Aradhana (1969) and Abhimaan (1973). O P Nayyar was so impressed with Rafi that he got Rafi to sing a song Man mora baawara for singer-actor Kishore Kumar, in the movie Raagini. Rafi sang for Kishore Kumar in many other movies such as Baaghi, Shehzaada and Shararat. O. P. Nayyar used Rafi and Asha Bhosle for most of his songs. The team created many hit songs in early 1950s and 1960s for movies such as Naya Daur (1957), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) and Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). Rafi sang a total of 197 numbers (56 solo) for O P Nayyar. The team of Shankar Jaikishan and Rafi is noted for the songs picturized on Rajendra Kumar. Rafi sang a total of 341 numbers (216 solo) for Shankar-Jaikishan.
Rafi got his first Filmfare Award for the title song of Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), composed by Ravi. He got his first National Award for the song Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja from the film Neel Kamal (1968), also composed by Ravi. Ravi and Rafi produced several other hit songs, in the films such as China Town (1962), Kaajal (1965), and Do Badan (1966). Madan Mohan was another composer whose favorite singer was Rafi. Rafi's first solo with Madan Mohan in Ankhen (1950) "Hum ishq mein barbad hain barbad rahenge" was a great hit.They teamed up to produce many hit songs including Teri Aankhon ke Siva, "rang aur noor ki baraat", Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil and Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho. The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal also patronized Rafi as one of their leading singers since their first released film, Parasmani (1963). Both Rafi and L-P won the Filmfare Awards for the song Chahoonga main tujhe saanjh savere from Dosti. Rafi sang a total of 369 numbers (186 solo) for LP. In 1965, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Sri award and got most prestigious Filmfare awrard six times for best male playback singer.
From Se-tenant Album of Shrikant Parikh
Music
Golden Voices of Yesteryears- 15 May 2003
Golden Voices of Yesteryears- 15 May 2003
1 comment:
Mohammed Rafi still continues to entertain millions around the world everyday. That makes Rafi heritage, his perfect voice evergreen and his unique legacy immortal. He was above religious, race, cast, sect, political, national and even commercial differences. He politely refused to imitate other singers in case they get offended. "Kehta hai koi dil gaya, dil bar gaya. Sahil hai pukarta, samandar chala gaya. Jo baat sach hai kehta nahin koi, keh es dunya se museeqi ka payambar chala gaya," according to one tribute to Rafi sahib by the great lyricist Gulzar. That sums up the late great singer Mohammed Rafi. So, is it fair to compare him with others, alive or dead? As a Rafi-family friend, and neighbour in London, for over 50 years, I am honoured to have met the most humble, honourable and modest man that I ever knew in my whole lifetime. Some of his best songs are available subscription free at http://www.youtube.com/spsyed – a website dedicated to the entertainers and their fans. Enjoy, comment, rate, provide feedback, subscribe, join as friends, and share it far and wide.
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