This BLOG is about the Past of Hindi Films Specially Black and White Cinema We will refresh your memories by bringing out forgotten or unseen songs and clippings of film scenes We will try to give you as much information as we gather from our research.
This Blog was started as a one-man’s passion for film history but has now become an addiction for many music lovers who are equally passionate about Hindi films
According to Dharmendra, it was Rafi Sahaab’s voice that gave a boost to his film career. Mohammad Rafi sang 104 songs for Dharmendra. The first song Rafi sang for Dharmendra was 'Jane Kya Dhoondti Rehti Hain Yeh Ankhen Mujhme' for the film 'Shola Aur Shabnam released in 1961. This was Dharmendra's second film. In his first film, no song was picturized on him.
There were 2 songs that were picturized on Dharmendra in Shola Aur Shabnam, this was a duet with Lata Mangeshkar'Jeet Hi Lenge Baazi'. These songs are popular even today.
Song of Shola Aur Shabnam 1961
Song of Shola Aur Shabnam 1961
The next song Rafi Saab sang for Dharmendra was a duet from the 1964 film 'Pooja Ke Phool', in the same year Rafi sang 4 songs for Dharmendra inAap Ki Parchaiyan, recall the song 'Main Nigahen Tere'
Song of Aap Ki Parchaiyan 1964
Rafi Sahaab did have a typical style while singing for Dharmendra too so that one always identified the performer and the singing voice as one. He always sang for him in a very soft voice
In an interview in the seventies when asked for his favorite song sang for Dharmendra, he mentioned 'Kahin se maut ko laao ke gham ki raatkate '(Film: Mera Qusoor Kya Hai, Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna, Music: Chitragupt Srivastav, 1964). He also mentioned that there were quite a few songs that were close to his heart like “Mujhe dard-e-dil ka pata na tha” (Akashdeep, 1965, Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri and music: Chitragupt),
What a strange that Rafi Saab's last recorded song was for Dharmendra for the 1981 film 'Aas Paas'
Song of Akashdeep 1965
Song of Aas Paas 1981 Rafi's last recorded song
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It is well-known fact that Rafi and Lata stopped singing together for three or four years. The reason for their tiff was for charging the royalty fee by the singers. Lata wanted Rafi to back her in demanding a half-share from the five percent song royalty that the film’s producer conceded to select composers. Rafi was not in favor of that.Lata stopped talking to Rafi and stopped singing duets with Rafi.
The actual seeds of differences between them started while recording this romantic song from Maya(1961). The song was a hit and still a favorite of many. Lata rejected the original start of the song, She wanted to start with 5th scale while Rafi was not in agreement but Lata insisted, the composer Salil Chowdhary agreed. When the recording started Rafi made the last improvisation to his lines. Lata noticed it and got upset. While rendering her lines Lata’s voice tended to sound shrill especially while rendering “…NAINON KA KAJRA…,” while Rafi Sahaab’s rendition of the ‘Antara’ was controlled.
To make the matter worse, the music director, Salil Chowdhry sided with Lata. Rafi Sahab who had been gaining greater ascendency in the early Sixties felt aggrieved. What happened thereafter is the differences went down to the bottom of the hearts of the two great singers.After this recording they sang duets together in many films but tried to avoid singing together.
Salida had already made the tune in Bengali, even got it recorded prior to this Hindi version as a solo song in the voice of Lata It was released in 1960.Mukhada of the Benali song is ‘ Ogo aar kichhu to naai ‘This Bengali song was written by Salil Da and composed by him.The Hindi version was written by Majrooh Sultanpuri. If you listen both the songs simultaniously you will see the difference Mohmmad Rafi's voice made this song to a different level. The song was picturized on the King of Romance Dev Anand and the elegant looking Mala Sinha. made this as one of the immortal romantic duets of Hindi films.
Lata Mangeshkar had a tiff with S D Burman also both stopped working together (1957-62), she had a tiff with Shankar (of Shankar-Jaikishen duo),and Raj Kapoor too (for whom she did not sing for his Mera Naam Joker.
Bengali Version, Solo by Lata
Song of Maya 1961
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Madan Mohan worked with all the legendary male playback singers of the time, including Talat Mahmood, Mukesh, Manna Dey, Kishore Kumar, and Hemant Kumar, the maximum songs were sung by the great Mohd. Rafi Saab. Between solos and duets, Rafi Saab sang almost 170 songs for Madanji.
Madan Mohan scored his first big break with the film Aankhen in 1950, which marked the beginning of a long-lasting collaboration with Mohammed Rafi. The song was 'Hum Ishq Mein Barbad' was a serious song. Next few years were the testing time for Madan Mohan, he gave more songs to Talat mehmood and one or two songs to Rafi. The song 'Basti Basti Parbat Parbat' from Railway Platform (1955) was the first hit song of this combination.The next memorable song was'Tujhe Kya Sunaun Mein Dilruba' from Aakhri Dao (1958). In the 1960s they gave many memorable songs. Here are a few of the great songs of this combination.
Mohammad Rafi, who delighted us for over three decades by his golden voice rendered to almost every actor of his time. Singing more than 30 thousand songs were not restricted only in cinema halls but was a household name all over the country. It is unbelievable that there was no one who did not sing or hum his songs. That was the magic of his voice.
His voice could be heard in cities, towns or the countryside. His voice could be heard in temples or mosques, in a 'Mela' or in a garden, in a social gathering or a Govt. function, the festival of Holi- Diwali or Eid. He was the voice of all occasion and seasons. He was at ease in all genre, Bhajan or Sufi, Classical or western, sad song or romantic song,
His songs captured the maximum space of Radio broadcasting. Every hero of that era wanted to have his voice for his songs on the screen. He was the voice of Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukharjee, Shashi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Rajendra Kumar and Dev Anand.
Mohammad Rafi had a unique quality of replicating with the style and mannerism of the hero for whom he is singing. One could close his eye and can guess who is singing this song on the screen. Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Biswajeet and Pradeep Kumar were the heroes of that era insisted producers take Mohammad Rafi as their playback singer.
Rafi sang for a whole bunch of stars, character actors and comedians from the late 1940s right up to the time of his death. In this blog. I am including one song of every actor sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Dilip Kumar
Rafi sang 75 songs for Dilip Kumar.The first song Rafi sang for Dilip Kumar was a duet with Noorjehan from the 1947 film Jugnu. The song was composed by Naushad, with this song Mohammad Rafi was noticed.The next song was from 'Shaheed', 'Watan Ki Rah Hame Watan'. In 1951 film Deedar, Rafi sang 7 songs for Dilip Kumar, all the songs were hit from here Rafi became the voice of Dilip Mumar. Recall the solo songs 'Hue Hum Jin Ke Liye Barbad' and ' Meri Kahani Bhoolne Wale' from Deedar. The last time Rafi gave voice in a song from 'Kranti'
Song of Jugnu 1947
Raj Kapoor
Rafi sang 32 songs for Raj Kapoor. Mohammad Rafi sang for FRaj Kapoor in the 1947 film Dil Ki Rani after that he sang for him in 1949 film Andaz, interestingly in this film Mukesh sang for Dilip Kumar and Mohammad Rafi sang for Raj Kapoor. He again sang for Raj Kapoor in the 1950 film Sargam, in this film Rafi sang 2 songs for him. In 1952 released two film 'Amber' and 'Dastaan' Rafi sang 3 songs for him in each film.
Song of Andaz 1949
Dev Anand
Dev Anand’s films were best known for their great musical richness and melodious songs. It is a myth that Kishore Kumar was the voice of him but this is a fact many melodious songs of Dev Anand were sung by Mohammad Rafi. In fact, Mohammad Rafi sang for Dev a year before Kishore sang for him. It was in Dev Anand's second film 'Aage Badho' released in 1947, Rafi sang for the first time. This song was penned by Amar Verma, composed by Sudhir Phadke and sung by Mohammed Rafi and Khursheed. After that, he sang in Birha Ki Raat 1950 and Sanam 1951. It was the song 'Aankho Hi Aankho Mei' from CID(1956), Md Rafi sang a hit song for him. S D Burman used his voice for the first time in Nau Do Gyarah (1957), 'Aankhon Mein Kya Jee' became the first super hit song of Rafi.Rafi sang 97 songs for Dev Anand
Song of Hum Dono 1961
Shammi Kapoor
When Mohammad Rafi died, Shammi Kapoor said that I have lost my voice of screen. There was a magic of Rafi and Shammi combination. Do you know that he became his voice only after Tumsa Nahin Dekha, though Rafi sang two songs for him in his first film 'Rail Ka Dibba', after that Talat Mahmood gave playback for him in many films. In the 60s Mohammad Rafi became his permanent voice.Rafi sang 180 songs for him. The last time he sang was in Shalimar (1978)
Song of Teesri Manzil 1967
Joy Mukharjee
Rafi sang 80 songs for Joy Mukharjee. Mohammad Rafi and Joy Mukharjee's association starts from his first film Love In Simla released in 1960. He sang all the songs for him, the film and its music was hit, after that this combination gave one hit song after another. The prominent films of this combination are Ek Musafir Ek Hasina, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Ziddi, Love In Tokyo, Shagird, and Humsaya
Song of Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon 1963
Rajendra Kumar
Rafi was also the playback voice of Rajendra Kumar He sang 124 songs for him including duets, the first song he sang for Rajendra Kumar a duet in the 1957 film 'Duniya Rang Rangilee;.The first solo hit song for him was from the 1959 film 'Goonj Uthi Shehnai'.The next super hit solo song was 'Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko' from 'Sasural' and another solo song 'Husn Wale Tera Jawab Nahin' from Gharana(1961), another super hit songs from Dil Ek Mandir(1963). Rafi sang 6 songs in Hamrahi. In 1964 he sang the immortal 'Yeh Mera Prem Patra' from Sangam, the same year he had 5 songs in Mere Mehboob, all were hit. Aarzoo(1965), and Suraj(1966) were important films.
Song of Dil Ek Mandir(1963)
Shashi Kapoor
The golden combination starts with the film 'Holiday In Bombay'(1963), though the film went unnoticed,its songs were hit. After the release of 'Jaj Jab Phool Khile' 1965, this combination gave us many memorable songs. Rafi sang 121 songs for Shashi Kapoor
Song of Jaj Jab Phool Khile' 1965
Dharmendra
Rafi sang 104 songs for Dharmendra. The first time he gave playback for him was the 1960 film 'Shola Aur Shabnam'. In this film he sang 2 songs for him, one solo 'Jaane Kya Dhoondti' and another a duet with Lata 'Jeet Hi Lenge'. After that Rafi sang many songs in Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964) . Mamta (1966) , Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966), Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966) , Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) .and Pratigya (1975). The last recorded song was in Mera Karam Mera Dharam released in 1987
Song of Pratigya (1975)
Jeetendra
Mohammad Rafi sang 104 songs for Jeetendra. The first time he sang for Jeetendra was in 1967 film 'Farz', all the song of this film were hit. ' Baar Baar Din Yeh Aaye' has become an immortal Birthday song. After this he sang 2 hit solo songs in Mere Huzoor(1968).In 1969 film Jeene Ki Rah Rafi sang all the songs for him. All the 6 songs were hit. The last song for him was in the 1987 film 'Madadgar'
Song of Caravan 1971
Johnny Walker
Rafi was also the voice of Johnny Walker, he sang 145 songs for him, many of his songs were hit. The first song Rafi sang for him was a duet from 1954 film 'Aar Paar'. The first super hit song was ' Jane Kahan Mera' from 1955 film Mr & Mrs 55. After this, another super hit songs were from CID(1956) 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', 'Sar Jo Tera Chakraye' from Pyaasa(1957) and 'Laal Laal Gaal' from Mr X(1957). The last song on Johnny Walker was in Sanjog(1972)
Song of Pyaasa(1957)
A Tribute to Mohammad Rafi on his Death Anniversary
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Who can forget the 20-feet-tall Rocky sculpture and the massive "human eye" visual in the "O Haseena Zulfon Wali" song with Helen and Shammi Kapoor? This super hit song from Teesri Manzil has a story behind it. The creator of this song was R D Burman. Four films ahead of him, none of these a hit, looking for a big break was not the first choice of the producer Nasir Hussain and hero Shammi Kapoor. Both of them were keen on Shankar Jailishan or O P Nayyar. It was only the director Vijay Anand and lyricist Mazrooh Sultanpuri who persuaded both the producer and the hero to listen to his tunes then decide.
Pankaj in an interview once said that he had already prepared six tunes for this film and was sure that these will be approved by them. In the first sitting he started with the first two lines of a Nepali tune, which was later remade as ‘Deewana mujhsa nahin’, when Shammi interrupted him, completed the rest of the lines ‘Deotara mattali oina’, Shammi Kapoor told him he knew the full Nepali song and heard it before, he liked the tune since then. After this Pancham played the tunes he had reserved for this occasion. The first tune he presented was O Haseena Zulfon wali, listening to this Shammi Kapoor jumped from his seat. The next tune Pancham played was of the song Aaja Aaja Mein Hoon Pyar Tera. Shammi Kapoor stopped him abruptly and said, ‘I don’t want to hear any more songs.’ He rose and made for the exit. ‘You’ve passed. You are my music director,’ This is a duet of Asha Bhosle and Mohammad Rafi in which Pancham used a big orchestra of more than 80 musiciansof whom close to forty were violinists.Pancham laid out a variety of instruments ranging from the drums and the violins for the main course of dominant sounds, the triangle and the trumpet for the side dishes of supporting sounds, and the acoustic guitar and sax in the Bossa nova-style interludes. . Filmed in multiple crane shots with fleeting close-ups and cuts introduced only when switching between characters, Manohari Singh the right-hand man of RDB said that this song was recorded well before Shammi Kapoor reaching the studio. In the song, the Saxophone was played by Manohari Singh and in the film, Shammi Kapoor plays Saxophone. When Shammi Kapoor heard the recorded version of this song, he said it would set the standard for the portrayal of lively music and dance in Indian cinema.
This iconic foot-tapping song from film Junglee introduced a freestyle dancing by Shammi Kapoor. His sky-breaking scream ‘Yahoo!’ depicts a freedom-seeking soul. This song became a cult song. The idea of "Yahoo" itself was Shammi Kapoor's who had used it earlier in "Tumsa Nahin Dekha" (1957) and "Dil Deke Dekho" (1959). You would be surprised to know that the iconic yell "Yahoo!!" in this song was not rendered by Mohammad Rafi. In fact, Jaikishan the music director of this film had planned on using his voice for the scream but when he couldn't pull it off, he asked the writer Prayag Raj who happened to be in the. studio and gave that memorable shout. Shammi Kapoor once said it was only Rafi saheb who could sing on such a high scale. Shammi Kapoor hurt himself while picturizing this song. He badly bruised his knees when he came hurtling down a snow-covered hill while shouting his signature call -- "yahoo" - This song was picturized at Pahalgam in Kashmir. It is this musical number alone that solidified Kapoor's reputation as an untamed screen presence (in the style of Dean and Presley) and set the tone for his future movies. After picturizing this song, when Rafi saheb saw the song, he hugged Shammi Kapoor and said that he thought of him while singing this song and you have exactly done that. After this song Rafi became his voice in films. Junglee was 1961 film which was in color, it was an attraction to those days. Shammi Kapoor was not sure that this film would be such a hit, especially this song. This song became a craze and Shammi Kapoor became a Superstar after this film. Kapoor steadily amassed a huge following that reached its zenith with this film. This movie was first offered to Jagdeep before played by Shammi Kapoor. Jag deep 'Surma Bhopali' from Sholay fame famous for the comic role did some serious role in his early movies
Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) is considered as one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent.He was known for his ability to mold his voice to the persona and style of an actor, lip-syncing the song on screen in the movie. He has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in various regional Indian languages as well as foreign languages, though primarily in Hindi-Urdu and Punjabi over which he had a strong command. In this blog, I plan to divide Rafi’s very long career into 10-year slots, look for a film that has his first association with the music director, and then pick up one solo song that seems to slip from our memories. 1944 to 1953 Rafi moved to Bombay, Maharashtra in 1944. His first recorded song in a Hindi film was a duet with G M Durrani "Aji dil ho kaabu mein to dildar ki aisi taisi...," for Gaon Ki Gori, As can be expected the first five-year period of Rafi had a very large number of music directors who deployed Mohammad Rafi first time.
Song of Gaon Ki Gori. 1944
Pandit Govindram, one of the then leading music director, teamed up with lyricist Ramesh Gupta for Hamara Sansar with what may be termed as a full-fledged 1st solo song. The experts may see that youthful rawness in Rafi’s voice but not in his singing prowess.
Muhammad Rafi 1st solo Song from Film Hamara Sansar 1945
Song of Hamara Sanar 1945
In 1946 S Quereshi another popular composer of that era composed a slightly fast-paced tune which is essentially in the nature of a traditional prayer. Shevan Rizvi has made required changes in the lyrics to suit the song to probably a 78-RPM
record singing length duration. In the years to come, Mohammad Rafi developed a special
forte for this genre.
Song of Arab Ka Sitara 1946
Song of Shahjahan (1946)
Composer Naushad took Rafi for the first time in a chorus with Shyam Kumar, Alauddin and others from the film" Pehle Aap." in 1944. In 1945, he appeared on the screen for the song "Tera Jalwa Jis Ne Dekha" in the film Laila Majnu. He sang a number of songs for Naushad as part of the chorus, including "Mere Sapnon Ki Rani, Roohi Roohi" with K. L. Saigal, from the film Shahjahan (1946). Rafi sang "Tera Khilona Toota Balak" from Mehboob Khan's Anmol Ghadi (1946) and a duet with Noor Jehan in the 1947 film Jugnu, "Yahan Badla Wafa Ka".
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Song of Anmol Ghadi (1946)
Song of Jugnu 1947
C Ramachandra has scored a double solo in Safar. Kehke Bhi Na Aaye Tum can be treated as one of the popular among Mohammad Rafi’s early songs.C.Ramchandra went onto
compose 22 more songs of Mohammad Rafi by 1949
Song of Safar 1946
Song of Safar 1946
S D Burman also opens an account with Mohammad Rafi solo in Do Bhai. Raja Mahendi Ali Khan’s lyrics have been done a very fair justice by Mohammad Rafi in the way the song has been rendered. S.D. Burman used Rafi as a singing voice of Dev Anand and Guru Dutt in the years to come.
Song of Do Bhai 1947
In 1948 composer Ram Ganguly had used Mohammad Rafi in the maiden Raj Kapoor film Aag, but that is a duet with Shamshad Begum – Solah Baras Ki Bhayee Umariya.
Song of Aag 1948
Hans Raj Behl has used Mohmmad Rafi for one solo and one duet (with Geeta Dutt) for Chunariya. This can be taken as first of the signature HRB-Rafi song, which seems to pave for fairly qualitative combined work in the years to come.
Song of CHUNARIYA 1948
Rafi's partnership with Shankar Jaikishan was among the most famous and successful in the Hindi film industry. Rafi sang his first song under Shankar Jaikishan in their Debute film Barsaat in 1949. This was the only song he sang in his movie
By the end of the year 1949, Mohammad Rafi became very popular among music directors and the public. The overall tally of Mohammad Rafi’s songs for the year 1949 is 121 songs, with 21 music directors, spread over 49 films.
Song of Barsaat 1949
In 1950, Mohammad Rafi had had 29 solos out of 108 songs He became a favorite of Naushad. This year another great music director Madan Mohan gave Rafi his first solo with him in the 1950 film Aankhen
Song of Aankhen 1950
The year 1951 has 26 solos from a total of 72 Mohammad Rafi songs. The year had Naushad switching over to Mohammad Rafi for background voice of Dilip Kumar and we have some of the top Mohammad Rafi songs in Deedar. Husnlala Bhagatram also has a twin solo for Mohammad Rafi in Afasana – Duniya Ek Kahani Re Bhaiya – which also was quite popular. Shankar Jaikishan has used Mohammad Rafi for special songs in RK’s Aawara, which is also going to be a very notable trend in itself.
Song of Deedar 1951
Another song by Mohammad Rafi for the film Janam Janam Ke Phere 1951 became very popular. The year, on the whole, seems to be the game turner in the career path of Mohammad Rafi.
Song of Janam Janam Ke Phere 1951
The year 1952 was the year of Baiju Bawra, Naushad gave a slew of Rafi hits in Aan and Baiju Bawra. For Deewana, Naushad had one of Rafi’s immortal "Tasweer Banata Hun Teri Khoon-e-Jigar Se."
The year 1952 had 80 songs to Mohammad Rafi’s account, of which 32 songs were solos.
Song of Deewana 1952
Song of Baiju Bawra 1952
The year 1953 had 31 solos songs of Mohammad Rafi out of a total of 71 songs. This year Salil Chaudhary made his debut with Do Bigha Zameen, Rafi was given one song in this film. Rafi also sang for O P Nayyar for the first time in Baaz.
Here is the song that can be said to be one more defining step in Mohammad Rafi’s career.
Jal Jal Ke Shama Ki Tarah Fariyad from the film Fariyadi 1953 composed by Baldev Nath Baali
The song is cast in what we know as Mohammad Rafi’s signature style for the songs of sad mood.
