All Great Mds' Preference For Rafi Saab!, Some Widely-reported Stories On This Options

[parag_sankla]

Since we are talking about OPN, Rafi sahab and Guru Dutt, here is another lesser talked about song.

For the film Baaz (1953), which was jointly produced by actress Geeta Bali and Guru Dutt, OPN composed memorable music. All the female songs were sung by Geeta ji and there is a melodious solo by Talat sahab (Mujhe dekho hasrat ki tasveer hoon main). In the same film there is an absolute gem of a song of Rafi sahab. "Joh dil ki baat hoti hain jubaan par aa hi jaati hain".

What a song! Perfect words, great situation and what a singing by Rafi sahab! A must listen!

Cheers
Parag

[parag_sankla]

Same actor, same composer, same singer, another film and what a great song! Yes I am talking about another lesser talked about song of Mohd Rafi sahab composed by O P Nayyar for Guru Dutt's film Mr and Mrs 55 (1955). The song is filmed in the background.

Meri duniyaa loot rahi thi
aur main khaamosh thaa
Tukade tukade dil ke chunata
kis ko itnaa hosh thaa..

Another must listen!

By the way, this film is a classic example where Mohd Rafi sahab sang for the hero (Guru Dutt - Aji dil par hua aisa jaadoo), comedian ( Johny Walker - Jaane kahan mera jigar gaya ji (with Geeta ji)), unknown actor siging on the street (Meri duniyaa loot rahi thi).

This post has been edited by parag_sankla: Oct 23 2008, 03:12 AM

[princeali]

C. Ramachandra was a great composer, highly respected by many of the legendary MD's of HFM, and was one of Rafi-saab's early supporters.

If you take a look at the period between 1946-1952, a time when Rafi was breaking in as a singer (and reached the top of the field within no time), CR gave him excellent songs.

[venkat]

There are many MDs who used Rafi Saab for Raj Kapoor in some Films.

1. Naushad in Film:Andaz (1949) in Rafi-Lata duet, "Yun To Aapas Mein Bigadte Hain, Khafa Hote Hain", and three Rafi-Suraiya duets in Film:Dastaan(1950), including the famous "Tarari Arari Tarari"

2. Lesser-known Music Director, Krishna Dayal, in Film:Baawra(1950), in solo, "Sahil Jo Dubo De Kashthi Ko"

3. Madan Mohan in Film:Dhun (1953) in solo, "Gori Ki Ankhiyan---Nazar Mila Le O Dilruba"

4.S.Mohinder in Film:Paapi (1953) in two solos and one famous Rafi-Asha duet, "Meri Zindagi Hai Tu, Mujh Ko Teri Justaju"

5. Ghulam Mohammed in Film:Amber (1952) in three Rafi-Lata duets, including the famous and peppy "Ham Tum Yeh Bahar, Dekho Rang Laaya Pyaar, Barsaat Ke Maheene Mein"

6.O.P.Nayyar in Film:Do Ustaad (1959) in one solo ("Worli Ka Naakaa") and five lovely Rafi-Asha duets, including "Ruk Ruk Ruk Kahan Chali Deewani".

But, Shankar Jaikishan have one unique speciality to their credit.

They not only used Rafi Saab in their very first Film:Barsaat (1949), but are also the first MDs to have used Rafi Saab even for Raj Kapoor in the very same Film:Barsat (1949), in a solo, "Main Zindagi Mein Hardam Rota Hi Raha Hoon".

Shankar Jaikishan then went on to use Rafi Saab for Raj Kapoor in two more Films, Ek Dil Sau Afsaane(1963) and Mera Naam Joker (1970).

In Ek Dil Sau Afsane, it was an ever-green Rafi-Lata duet, "Tum Hi Tum Ho Mere jeewan Mein".

In Mera Naam Joker, it was the soul-stirring solo, "Sadke Heer Tujh Pe Ham Fakir". Now, knowledgeable music fans who know this song would admit that only Rafi Saab could ever render it so effectively, no matter who was actually Raj Kapoor's voice. Sure enough, Shankar Jaikishan and even Raj Kapoor knew it and that is why all Raj Kapoor rules were waived and Rafi Saab was chartered for this great song.

Why I mentioned SJ's use of Rafi Saab for even Raj Kapoor is because it shows SJ's utmost bullishness on Rafi Saab.

I will present the part II on SJ in my next post.

Venkat

Part II on SJ:

Before we attempt to understand SJ's preference for Rafi Saab, we need to understand the career progression of SJ themselves.

SJ's career during the fifties was yet to take off. All that they had then were the captive RK films in addition to a handful of other Films, such as Pooja, Rajhat, Yahoodi, Seema, Basant Bahar, Halaku, Daag, Patita, etc. This was only to be expected as SJ during fifties was a regular for only RK, whereas the other two successful leading men of that time, Dilip and Dev used to have Naushad and S.D.Burman+others respectively as their regular MDs.

However, with Love Marriage(1959) ,Jab Pyar Kisse Se Hota Hai(1961) Asli Naqli(1962), etc., SJ have proved that their combo with Dev Anand could be a great hit too. Similarly, with the onset of sixties, newer leading men such as Shammi Kapoor (Junglee, College Girl, Dil Tera Deewana) and Rajendra Kumar (Sasural) have come into SJ fold.

Thus, it can be said that SJ's dominance in HFM was mainly a sixties phenomenon.

SJ' association with Rafi Saab dates back to SJ's association with Husnlal Bhagatram for whom they both were musicians/assistants for some time. And, HB themselves were committed Rafi-users for 90% of all their songs!

As we discussed earlier in another thread, SJ had made about 350 songs with Rafi Saab, of which about 225 (two thirds) were solos!! No other MD has such a large proportion of solos with Rafi Saab.

And most of these songs came in the sixties when Raj Kapoor Films were few and far between and when Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Joy Mukherjee, Biswajeet, Jeetendra were ruling Filmdom.

SJ probably made more songs only with Lata Mangeshkar, as Lata was a regular for SJ even for RK films, besides, of course, the Jaikishan factor!!

SJ seems to have made less than 200 songs with Mukesh, less than 75 with Manna Dey and less than 25 with Talat Mehmood. (subject to correction).

Further, SJ is one of the three or four MDs who made Rafi Saab sing for Kishore Kumar too. That was in Film:Shararat (1959) for one famous and great solo, "Ajab Hai Dastaan Teri Yeh Zindagi" and for one Rafi-Lata duet too.

In my earlier post above, we discussed how SJ made Rafi Saab sing for even Raj Kapoor in three Films, namely Barsaat (1949), Ek Dil Sau Afsaane(1963) and Mera Naam Joker (1970). But, additionally, in all RK Films, Rafi Saab was given by SJ a song or two for other actors. Some of these, such as "Ramaiya Vastavaya" from Shri 420 and "Yeh Mera Prempatr Padh kar" from Sangam (1964), have joined the ranks of all-time greats.

While on the subject, we cannot forget the excellent rapport SJ and Rafi Saab had shared and also the tens of live musical concerts that these three participated in, all clad in spot-less dark suits!!

Shankar had once said in an interview, "Rafi Saab's voice had Atma in it! There will never be another singer like him".

Venkat

Here is the excerpt from a press interview with Shankar.




Even Manna Dey Ji goes out of his way many a time, in many an interview, to say the same thing as Shankar. I have heard Manna Dey say so candidly many times, "Ham Sab Bhi Gaate Thhe, Lekin Rafi Saab Ke Nazdik Nahin Aa Sakte Thhe!"


Venkat

This post has been edited by venkat: Oct 23 2008, 08:01 PM

[suhana_safar]

Here is the excerpt from a press interview with Shankar.




I have heard Manna Dey say so candidly many times, "Ham Sab Bhi Gaate Thhe, Lekin Rafi Saab Ke Nazdik Nahin Aa Sakte Thhe!"


Venkat

Mana Day is a exceptional singer and a amazing person who is so couaregous and unashamed to state the truth.

Hats off to him.

Cheers
SS

This post has been edited by suhana_safar: Oct 24 2008, 01:11 PM

[venkat]

Here is the excerpt from a press interview with Shankar.




I have heard Manna Dey say so candidly many times, "Ham Sab Bhi Gaate Thhe, Lekin Rafi Saab Ke Nazdik Nahin Aa Sakte Thhe!"


Venkat

Mana Day is a exceptional singer and a amazing person who is so couaregous and unashamed to state the truth.

Hats off to him.

Cheers
SS

SS Ji,

Fully agree that Manna Dey Ji himself is an exceptional singer. I love the way he emotes the song, "Tu Pyaar Ka Sagar Hai" from Film:Seema--MD:SJ. In one of the Antaras, there is this line, "Jidhar Jhoom Ke Gaaye Zindagi". At that part, my hairs literally rise!!

Venkat

[nasar]

This is what HF is really about, great info on the md`s and there dealing with the greatest singer of all time.
Would have love to know how there music would have been if Rafi Saab was not there.
Thanks for this wonderful thread.

[venkat]

Once I heard another interview of Ravi on Vividhabharati.

One senior female interviewer was doing the interview. She was asking many general questions on his beginning, first film, his training, etc. Ravi was replying to all in some detail and there was no context at all for discussing individual singers.

Then, after about 10 minutes of the interview, the interviewer had just asked one question, "Ravi Saab, Aap Ke Career Mein Kabhi Aise Mehsoos Kiye, Jaise Aap Ne Kisi Cheez Ko Kho Diye Thhe?". As far as the interviewer was concerned, it must have been a very general, time-filling question!!

But, Ravi immediately replied in Hindi something to mean this. "Yes, I have indeed lost something very very precious. And that is Rafi Saab. After his passing away, I have lost interest in composing. Ab Kya Gaana Bana Sakte Hain Ham?"

For the next 10 minutes, he went on narating the special relationship he always had wih Rafi Saab, how Ravi used to visit Rafi Saab's house and have delicious food, how Rafi Saab used to narrate to Ravi about his recent and highly successful concerts abroad, etc.

Ravi also mentioned that there are two songs of his with Rafi Saab that are heard on Band or Shehnai in almost every marriage till this day. One is "Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shadi Hai" fom Film:Aadmi Sadak Ka (1977) and the other is "Babul Ki Duaen Leti Jaa" from Film:Neel Kamal (1968).

He also narrated one moving incident. When Ravi first showed Rafi Saab the lyrics of 'Babul Ki Duaen Leti Jaa", Rafi Saab was in tears. Ravi gently enquired with Rafi Saab's brother-in-law why Rafi Saab was getting so emotional and got the reply that Rafi Saab had just fixed up the date for the marriage of his daughter too!!

Ravi loved Rafi Saab just as all the other great MDs did.


Venkat

[nasir]

Here is the excerpt from a press interview with Shankar.




I have heard Manna Dey say so candidly many times, "Ham Sab Bhi Gaate Thhe, Lekin Rafi Saab Ke Nazdik Nahin Aa Sakte Thhe!"


Venkat

Mana Day is a exceptional singer and a amazing person who is so couaregous and unashamed to state the truth.

Hats off to him.

Cheers
SS

SS Ji,

Fully agree that Manna Dey Ji himself is an exceptional singer. I love the way he emotes the song, "Tu Pyaar Ka Sagar Hai" from Film:Seema--MD:SJ. In one of the Antaras, there is this line, "Jidhar Jhoom Ke Gaaye Zindagi". At that part, my hairs literally rise!!

Venkat

Praises by an ordinary person with little sense of music and the praises by a giant such as Manna Dey in the field of playback singing is starkly different. That's what lend credence to Rafi Sahaab's position as the great legendary singer. As for me, the first song of Manna Dey that I had picked up was NIRBAL SE LA.RAAI BALWAAN KI, YEH KAHAANI HAI DIYE KI AUR TOOFAN KI... Among my favourties are: KAUN AAYA MERE MANN KE DWAARE; TUM BIN JEEVAN KAISA JEEVAN; CHALE JAA RAHEN HAI KINAARE KINAARE; APNE LIYE JIYE TOH KAYA JIYE; SUR NAA SAJE; among others.
Didn't Rafi Sahaab once say to a reporter: You listen to my songs I listen to Manna Dey's songs.

[Anupama]

Once I heard another interview of Ravi on Vividhabharati.

One senior female interviewer was doing the interview. She was asking many general questions on his beginning, first film, his training, etc. Ravi was replying to all in some detail and there was no context at all for discussing individual singers.

Then, after about 10 minutes of the interview, the interviewer had just asked one question, "Ravi Saab, Aap Ke Career Mein Kabhi Aise Mehsoos Kiye, Jaise Aap Ne Kisi Cheez Ko Kho Diye Thhe?". As far as the interviewer was concerned, it must have been a very general, time-filling question!!

But, Ravi immediately replied in Hindi something to mean this. "Yes, I have indeed lost something very very precious. And that is Rafi Saab. After his passing away, I have lost interest in composing. Ab Kya Gaana Bana Sakte Hain Ham?"

For the next 10 minutes, he went on narating the special relationship he always had wih Rafi Saab, how Ravi used to visit Rafi Saab's house and have delicious food, how Rafi Saab used to narrate to Ravi about his recent and highly successful concerts abroad, etc.

Ravi also mentioned that there are two songs of his with Rafi Saab that are heard on Band or Shehnai in almost every marriage till this day. One is "Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shadi Hai" fom Film:Aadmi Sadak Ka (1977) and the other is "Babul Ki Duaen Leti Jaa" from Film:Neel Kamal (1968).

He also narrated one moving incident. When Ravi first showed Rafi Saab the lyrics of 'Babul Ki Duaen Leti Jaa", Rafi Saab was in tears. Ravi gently enquired with Rafi Saab's brother-in-law why Rafi Saab was getting so emotional and got the reply that Rafi Saab had just fixed up the date for the marriage of his daughter too!!

Ravi loved Rafi Saab just as all the other great MDs did.


Venkat

Awesum thread!

Here is a piece of that interview:

[suhana_safar]

When i began hearing songs of Rafisaab initially, I realised one comon factor and that he enriched the comp0istions that he sang for. Now this is an exceptional and rare achievement. He did not require a great composition to create a a great song.
There is a school of thought which is right and that is good compositions and lyrics make a good song. However this adage falls head down when it comes to Rafisaab who has proved that his vocals used to drive his songs and not the compositions and lyrics.

This incredible fact first dawned on me when I began hearing his songs at an early age and realised that I liked just about everything he sang. I also realised that mundane and ordinary compositions were enriched and enhanced by his unmatched vocals. This fact is magnified in his songs of the 50's and 70's.

I also realised that Rafisaab was also a king of entry (duets), i mean when singing duets and he sings after the other singer. I realised later when I heard several MD;s say that Rafisaab was the only singer that was comfortable in singing duets which is much harder than singing solos.

Naushad saab once told that he never liked composing duets as they were very time cosuming and required many re takes but he says with Rafisaab it was a very easy excersise as he knew exactly how and when and with what note to enter the song. Ravi once said that just about every singer struggles in duets but Rafisaab was a genius in all forms of singing and made duets a wonderful exprience for the Music Directors. Madan Mohan who disliked duets has maximum duets with Rafisaab, so does LP, Sonik Omi, OP Nayar, Naushad, Ravi and many more.

No singer male or female has sung more duets than Rafisaab till 1980. I also strong belive that if there was no Naushad then my vote of the guru of all MD's would go to the duo of Husanlal Bhagatram, whose every song that Rafisaab (and Lata and Suriaya) have sung are matchless and much a mile above in standard compared to most MD's of that era.

Regards
SS

This post has been edited by suhana_safar: Oct 26 2008, 04:45 AM

[nasir]

When i began hearing songs of Rafisaab initially, I realised one comon factor and that he enriched the comp0istions that he sang for. Now this is an exceptional and rare achievement. He did not require a great composition to create a a great song.
There is a school of thought which is right and that is good compositions and lyrics make a good song. However this adage falls head down when it comes to Rafisaab who has proved that his vocals used to drive his songs and not the compositions and lyrics.

This incredible fact first dawned on me when I began hearing his songs at an early age and realised that I liked just about everything he sang. I also realised that mundane and ordinary compositions were enriched and enhanced by his unmatched vocals. This fact is magnified in his songs of the 50's and 70's.

I also realised that Rafisaab was also a king of entry (duets), i mean when singing duets and he sings after the other singer. I realised later when I heard several MD;s say that Rafisaab was the only singer that was comfortable in singing duets which is much harder than singing solos.

Naushad saab once told that he never liked composing duets as they were very time cosuming and required many re takes but he says with Rafisaab it was a very easy excersise as he knew exactly how and when and with what note to enter the song. Ravi once said that just about every singer struggles in duets but Rafisaab was a genius in all forms of singing and made duets a wonderful exprience for the Music Directors. Madan Mohan who disliked duets has maximum duets with Rafisaab, so does LP, Sonik Omi, OP Nayar, Naushad, Ravi and many more.

No singer male or female has sung more duets than Rafisaab till 1980. I also strong belive that if there was no Naushad then my vote of the guru of all MD's would go to the duo of Husanlal Bhagatram, whose every song that Rafisaab (and Lata and Suriaya) have sung are matchless and much a mile above in standard compared to most MD's of that era.

Regards
SS

SS, let alone the facfs, but I wanna say this: We are lucky to have your comments that point out the information which is rare. In other words, precious gems from you SS.
Thanks for your efforts and time in bringing out those facts to our atention.
We appreciate a lot SS.

[suhana_safar]

SS, let alone the facfs, but I wanna say this: We are lucky to have your comments that point out the information which is rare. In other words, precious gems from you SS.
Thanks for your efforts and time in bringing out those facts to our atention.
We appreciate a lot SS.

Thanks Brother for your appreciation.

Regards
SS

This post has been edited by suhana_safar: Oct 28 2008, 08:40 AM

[venkat]

Continuing on the theme of "All Great MDs' Preference For Rafi Saab", today is the turn of another great MD, Chitragupta.

Can anyone believe that this uncelebrated MD had the third highest number of songs with Rafi Saab, among all MDs!! Only LP with about 370 songs and SJ with about 350 songs are higher than Chitragupta in the count of Rafi songs.

Chitragupta, at third place, had composed around 250 songs with Rafi Saab and stands way above the likes of SDB, OPN, Roshan, MM, etc., on this count!

Also, about 60% of all Chitragupta songs are estimated to be Rafi songs.

Coming to quality of Chitragupta-Rafi songs, there are tens of excellnt ones. Unfortunately, as Chitragupta never got in his fold many high-profile Films, some of his great compositions with Rafi Saab did not get their due.

When one talks of Chitragupta and Rafi Saab, one tends to recall only the handful of popular ones such as "Chal Ud Jaa Re Panchhi" from Bhabhi (1957), "Jaag Dil-e-Deewana" from Oonche Log (1965), picturised on Firoze Khan and "Mujhe Dard-e-Dil Ka Pata Na Tha" from Akash Deep(1965), picturised on Dharmendra.

But, there are many more divine, excellent Rafi solos under Chitragupta such as:

1. "Chand Kitni Door Thha, Sitare Kitni Door Thhe"--Film:Afsana (1966), picturised on Pradeep Kumar

2. "Kaaton Pe Chalke Paon Ke Chalon Se Kya Gila---Kahin Se Maut Ko Lavo Ke Gham Ke Raat Kate"--Film:Mera Qusoor Kya Hai (1964), picturised on Dharmendra

3."Itni Badi Duniya Jahan Itna Bada Mela, Magar Main, Han Hhan Haan, Kitna Akela"--Film:Tufan Mein Pyar Kahan (1966), picturised on Ashok Kumar

4. "Aate Ho Sataane Ko, Jaate Ho Rulaane Ko---Abhi Na Phero Nazar Zindagi Sanwar To Len"--Film:Biradari(1966), picturised on Shashi Kapoor

5. "Bahar Nazar Karoon, Apna Pyaar Nazar Karoon, Jo Tum Kaho To Nazar Ka Khuar Nazar Karoon"--Film:Baaghi (1964), picturised on Pradeep Kumar.

The list is endless. Only, the above five are my great personal favorites.

Chitragupta also had excellent duets of Rafi-Lata, Rafi-Geeta, Rafi-Suman and Rafi-Asha.

But, it must be said that, unlike most other MDs, Chitragupta seemed to have patronised mostly Lata Mangeshkar with MK and others during the Rafi-Lata misunderstanding of 1963-67. He has replaced Lata with other female singers only fewer times, during that period.

All in all, Chitragupta has a proud record with Rafi Saab!

Venkat

[venkat]

Friends,

We all know O.P.Nayyar is probably the only MD who never made Lata Ji sing even one song for him!!!

When asked for reasons for the same, he always used to say her voice did not suit his compositions. Well, we do not know whether that is the actual reason or there was some other real reason!!!

Coming to Rafi Saab, there is one MD who almost had the same attitude to Rafi Saab as did O.P.Nayyar to Lata! And that MD is Anil Biswas.

Currently, Vividhbharati is carrying a daily series featuring Tushar Bhatia's interview with Anil Biswas and Meena Kapoor, as a repeat broadcast. So far, it has run for 23 days, of 10 minutes each day. Daily, at least 4 to 5 songs/clips are being played in the course of this interview, as per Anil Biswas's choice. But, so far, just two Rafi songs were mentioned by Anil Da. Even while discussing Naushad Saab's work, he did not recall any Rafi song!!!

It appears even Anil Biswas had gone on record saying that Rafi is not suited to his compositions, just the same way OPN said of Lata!!

But, there is a small difference. OPN never had even once recorded with Lata Ji , but Anil Biswas had some 15 to 20 songs with Rafi Saab!! Some consolation!!

In this context, some of you may remember that there used to be a very nice program on Zee TV called Saregama, anchored very ably by Sonu Nigam. In one of the finals of that program, one US-based singer called Ramabhadran reached the finals. On the way to the final, he sang beautifully such great Rafi songs as "Jaane Kya Dhhondthi Rehti Hai Yeh Aankhen Mujh Mein" from Film:Shola Aur Shabnam(1961).

The Judge in the finals happened to be Anil Biswas. In that connection, Ramabhadran had close interaction with Anil Biswas. He chose to share the details in an article at the following link. You may find it interesting.

http://www.angelfire.com/film/anilbiswas/m...es_sanjeev.html

Venkat

This post has been edited by venkat: Oct 12 2009, 12:46 PM