In 1994 It was the first time when I had a brakeup with my girlfriend. I got very sad after that. Meanwhile I used to start listening Ghazals and Old Sad songs of Hindi Movies. When I heard the song Kya Hua Tera Wada from the film Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin I found another world of music. Listening that song I felt that this song is only for mine. That song changed my life, my definition of music and my knowledge of music.
After sometime when I became normal and mature in life I came to know that versatile singer’s name as Mohammed Rafi. Till then I listened 500-600 of songs of Mohammed Rafisaab like Hum Tumse Juda Hoke, Sau Bar Janam Lenge, Dil Ke Jharoke Mein Tujhko Bithakar, etc. As the time passed I became a big fan of Mohd. Rafi. I was often eager to know everything about his life, his singing. I found that now this Farishta is no more in this world. Thanks to my girlfriend who became the mediator between us to discover the great Indian Music World.
Here I have created this blog for I want to share the informations about Mohd. Rafi I have gathered throughout the world via books, internet, his fans etc. My intention is only to give a tribute to Late Mohammed Rafisaab.
Background Information of Mohd. Rafi
He was born on 24th December 1924. He was the youngest among six sons of Haji Mohammed at Kotla Sunltanpur (British India/Amritsar). He used to imitate the sufi fakir’s chant in his early days. His brother in law recognized his talent of singing and advised him to learn the classical music. Despite of parental objection Rafisaab learned Indian Classic music from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Jiwanlal Matto and Firoz-e-Nizami.
Starting of Career
When he was 17, he went to a concert where the famous singer K. L. Saigal was performing, due to power cut audience went restive. To keep the audience quiet Rafisaab roped into sing a couple of songs. Famous music director Shyam Sunder who was in the audience, was highly impressed by this youngster. After finishing concert he appreciated the young boy for his great singing in at that age. Later he gave a break to Rafisaab in a punjabi film Gul Baloch (1942) with a duet Soniye nee, hiriye nee with Zeenat Begum. The Movie was released later in 1944.
Coming to Bombay (Now Mumbai)
In 1944 Rafisaab shifted to bombay and was introduced to some of the leading music directors of that era. Then he contracted with music maestro Naushad, who initially used Rafisaab as a chorus singer. Rafisaab’s first song with Naushad was hindustan Ke Hum Hain in the film Pehle Aap (1944). Rafi sang another song aji dil ho kaboo mein for Shyam Sunder in the film Gaon Ki Gori (1944). Rafisaab considered that song as a first Hindi Language Song playbacked by him. He was first noted for the song Tera Khilona Toota Balak from the film Anmol Ghadi (1946) directed by Mehboob Khan. After that Rafisaab gave a first huge hit Yahan Badla Wafa Ka with Noor Jahan from the film Jugnu (1947).
Rafi sang Suno Suno Aye Duniyawalon Bapuji Ki Amar Kahani written by Rajendra Krishna in 1948, which became a huge hit. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited him to sing at the latter’s house. He received a Silver Medal from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1949. Rafi sang many solo songs with legend music directors like Naushad (Chandni Raat, Dillagi and Dulari), Shyam Sunder (Bazaar) and Husnalal Bhagatram (Meena Bazaar).
Naushad who used to favor Talat Mehmood, began to favor Mohd. Rafi. In association with Naushad Rafisaab gave beautiful songs like O Duniya Ke Rakhwale and Mann Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj from the film Baiju Bawara (1952). Rafisaab sang almost 150 song for Naushad (81 of them Solo).
In the late 1950s and 1960s Rafisaab found favor with other notable music directors like Shankar Jaikishan, S. D. Burman, O. P. Naiyar. S. D. Burman Burman patronized Rafi as the singing voice of Dev Anand Rafi worked with Burman in movies like Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1957), Pyasa (1957), Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), Guide (1965), Aradhana (1969), and Abhiman (1973). O. P. Nayyar was so impressed byRafi 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 Baaghi, Shehzada and Shararat also. O. P. Naiyar created a singer duo of Rafi and Asha, and with them he gave many hit songs in 1950s and 1960s for the film Naya Daur (1957), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) and Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). Rafi sang almost 200 songs (50-60 solo) for O. P. Naiyar. For Shankar Jaikishan Rafisaab sang almost 340 songs (210 solo).
Achievement
Rafisaab got his first Filmfare Award for the title song of the film Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960). Beautiful composition by Ravi. He got his first National Award for the song Babul Ki Duwayen Leti Ja from the film Neel Kamal (1968) which was 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, "RangAaur Noor Ki Baraat", Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil and Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho. The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal ("L-P") also patronized Rafi as one of their leading singers from their very first 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 Laxmikant Pyarelal. Rafi sang for many lesser-known composers as well. Once, when a minor 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.
1960s witnessed the straining of relations between Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar. Later, though at the insistence of S.D.Burman the two decided to make up and sing duets, on a personal level there was tension till the end. During his last years Rafi was involved in a controversy over Lata Mangeshkar's introduction in to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Between 1950 and 1970, Rafi was the most sought after singer in Bollywood. He sang for all the major male stars in Hindi films. In 1965, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Sri award. Rafi recorded two hindi songs in English on 7" release in 1968. He also sang a song in Creole language, while on his visit to Mauritius in the late 1960s. Rafi recorded two English albums as well. One of them is Pop Hits. In Bollywood, yodeling is generally associated with Kishore Kumar. But Rafi also used yodeling in some of old songs, such as Hello sweety seventeen (duet with Asha Bhosle), O Chale ho kaha, Dilke Aine main, Unse Rippy Tippy Ho gayee (duet with Geeta Dutt).
Last years The 1970s saw the rise of Kishore Kumar, who made a remarkable debut with the film Aradhana (1969). The music for Aradhana was composed by S. D. Burman, and he had used Rafi as the male playback voice for the first two recorded duets,
Baaghon Mein Bahaar Hai and
Gunguna Rahen Hain Bhanwre. After these two recordings, S. D. Burman fell ill and his son and assistant, R. D. Burman, took over the recordings. R. D. Burman got Kishore Kumar to sing the solos Roop Tera Mastana and Mere Sapnon Ki Rani, which led to Kishore Kumar's popularity. Kishore Kumar's rise and R D Burman's patronage of him sidelined Rafi's career in the early 1970s. During 1971-1976, Rafi's output was less; however he did deliver several hits. Some of Rafi's popular songs of the early 1970s were with music directors like L-P, Madan Mohan, R D Burman and S. D. Burman. These include
Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil from Heer Ranjha (1970),
Chura Liya Hain Tumne from Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973),
Yeh Jo Chilman Hain and
Itna to Yaad Hain Mujhe from Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1971),
Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho from Hanste Zakhm (1973),
Gulabi Aankhen from The Train,
Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan hai from Loafer (1973), and
Jhilmil Sitaron Ka from Jeevan Mrityu (a duet with Lata Mangeshkar, 1974).
Rafi made a comeback in the mid-1970s. In 1974, he won the Film World magazine Best Singer Award for the song
Teri Galiyon Mein Na Rakhenge Qadam Aaj Ke Baad (Hawas) composed by Usha Khanna. In 1977, he won both Filmfare Award and the National Award for the song
Kya Hua Tera Wada from the movie Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin, composed by R. D. Burman. Rafi sang for Rishi Kapoor in films like Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Sargam (1979) and Karz (1980). The Qawwali
Pardah Hai Pardah from Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) was a superhit. Rafi notable renderings in the late 1970s and early 80s include Laila Majnu (1976), Apnapan (1978), Qurbani, Dostana (1980) The Burning Train (1980) Naseeb (1981) Abdullah (1980) Shaan (1980) and Asha (1980)
On Thursday, July 31, 1980, Rafi died following a massive heart attack. The Padma Shri Mohammed Rafi Chowk in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai is named after Rafi.
Mohammed Rafi had 4 sons (Saeed Rafi, Khalid Rafi, Hamid Rafi, Shahid Rafi) and 3 daughters (Parveen, Nasreen, Yasmin) residing in London, UK and Mumbai, India. He was a grandfather to 18 grandchildren.
The above informations are belonging to Wikipedia website
