Rafi saab's speciality was his versatility and a very vast range. In his
38-year career, he rendered more than 28,000 songs, which include the whole range sung in
Hindi films. Take the classicals like O Duniya Ke Rakhwale, Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re, or thumris like Aye Na Baalam Wada Karke and Gori Tere Nainva
Kajra Ban. There were folk songs like Nain Lad Jai Hain
and Tan Rang Lo Ji Aaj Man Rang Lo, bhajans like Mujhko Shiv Shankar Mil Gaye and Duniya Na
Bhaaye Mujhe, and geets and ghazals like Suhani Raat Dhal
Chuki, Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar, Chaudvin Ka Chand Ho and Ai Mere
Shah-e-Khooban.
The incredible variety of the man encompasses ghazals like Tere Kooche Mein Armanon Ki Duniya, Teri
Zulfon Se Judaai To Nahin Maangi Thi, and the evergreen Tumse
Se Izhaar-e-haal Kar Baithe, patriotic songs like Watan Ki
Raah Mein Watan Ke Naujawan Shaheed Ho, sentimental songs like Mayoos To Hoon Wade Se Tere and Tukde Hain
Mere Dil Ke. There were light songs like Sar Jo Tera Chakraye,
Aye Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahan, and Jangal
Mein Mor Naacha Kisi Ne Na Dekha, and non-filmi ghazals like Na
Kisi Ki Aankh Ka Noor Hoon and Lagta Nahin Hai Dil Mera.
He sang fast numbers like Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe, Aji Aisa Mouka Phir Kahan Milega, and qawwalis like Meri Tasveer Leke Kya Karoge, Chaandi Ka
Badan and Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai...
The list is practically endless and to include every variety of song that
Rafi saab sang would be a Herculean task if not exactly an impossible ne. There probably
wasn't a single hero through almost three decades for whom Rafi saab did not playback.
From Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor, Biswajit, Joy Mukherjee, Rajendra
Kumar, Raj Kumar, Guru Dutt, Dharmendra, Sashi Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Sanjeev Kumar, down the
ages to Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor and other youngsters, the list of
heroes for whom Rafi Saab sang is virtually endless. Then there were others like Johnny
Walker, I.S. Johar and Mehmood. The vast variety of songs that Rafi saab sang can well be
imagined.
I still remeber, as if it were yesterday, meeting him backstage for an
interview during one of his last performances in Bombay. That was in May 1980. He seemed
greatly disillusioned with the deteriorating standards of film music. He seemed visibly
pained that the emerging trend among music directors of signing films by the dozen -- and
at the overwork contributing towards deteriorating the quality of the music in films.
Lapsing into a flashback, Rafi saab had said Film-making
wasn't merely a business proposition during those days when institutions reigned supreme
and freelancing hadn't become popular in the film industry. Believe it or not, I used to
be paid Rs.75/- in those days for a song! That was a fortune in those days. When I entered
the line, there were, of course, popular singers like Saigal saab, G.M. Durrani and Khan
Mastana. Instead of considering me as competition, they encouraged me to give my best.
In fact the first time I met Saigal saab was at
Lahore, where he had come to give a concert. The mike had failed at the last minute. While
it was being set right, I was asked to keep the audience engaged by singing a couple of
songs. I was only 15 then. I had not yet met Nasir Khan or Shyam Sunder. Saigal saab
blessed me that day and predicted that a day would come when I would be a much
sought-after singer.
How true Saigal's prediction came to be! Mohammed Rafi was one of the most
popular playback singers for Hindi films till he breathed his last |