The great Mohammed Rafi is certainly one of the most influential and commanding singers in the Indian subcontinent. He was classically impec...
The great Mohammed Rafi is certainly one of the most influential and commanding singers in the Indian subcontinent. He was classically impeccable, versatile, and had an enviable range. He has sung thousands of songs spanning almost six decades, yet we invariably associate him with his 1950s or 1960s songs. While it’s true that these two were the decades when he was the most active, it must be noted that his amazing vocals continued to enthrall the listeners throughout the 1970s and even after he died on July 31, 1980. Yes, he sang fewer songs in the 1970s due to a serious throat infection, but he gave his golden voice to some significant numbers that didn’t enjoy the same popularity as many of his 1960s or 50s songs, a fact which is criminally ignored.
I have attempted to enlist some of the lesser-heard numbers sung by him
as a tribute to the maestro on his 44th death anniversary today.
While choosing the songs, I kept in mind two things - whether the song stands
the test of time and whether the songs bear the stamp of his unmatched
versatility.
Tauba Yeh Adayein (Film: Ehsaan, Music: R.D. Burman, Lyrics: Majrooh)
A breezy, slightly impish solo picturized on the fading 60s star Joy
Mukerji and Anjana Mumtaz, this number gets your feet tapping from the word go.
R.D. Burman uses the playfulness in Rafi’s voice to great effect in this song,
especially in its antaras.
Dil Ki Kali (Film: Inkaar, Music: Rajesh Roshan, Lyrics: Majrooh)
Although Rajesh Roshan’s association with Kishore Kumar is more well-known
and prolific, Mohd Rafi has also sung great numbers for this talented composer.
This solo certainly takes the cake among them. It is a typical Rajesh Roshan
composition, with high and low notes and Rafi Saab does full justice to it with
his “buland” yet dulcet vocals.
O Humdum Jhoom Le Zara (Film: Haiwaan, Music: Bappi Lahiri, Lyrics: Pradeep
Roychowdhury)
Now, this one will probably be mistaken as an O.P. Nayyar or Shankar
Jaikishen composition, but the startling fact is that it was composed by the
“disco king” Bappi Lahiri for Mukerji Brother’s thriller Haiwaan. It is a 60s-style
rock n roll number, which Rafi Saab sings with aplomb. It is a sheer delight to
note how he pronounces the lines, “jahan ki fikr kyun karein, jo tera dil
hai meherbaan” with utmost precision and feelings.
Mere Liye Aati Hai Shaam (Film: Raaton Ka Raaja, Music: R.D. Burman, Lyrics:
Majrooh)
Filmed on the debutant Dheeraj Kumar, who later switched to villainous
roles, this pulsating, racy number was quite popular then but unfortunately
faded from the public memory since the film fizzled out fast at the box office.
It is notable for the sheer ease with which an almost middle-aged Rafi Saab
adjusts his vocals for a young debutant. This number has recently got a
newfound popularity after the recreated version was used for a Dream 11IPL ad
in 2021.
Koi Phool Na Khilta (Film: Paise Ki Gudiya, Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal,
Lyrics: Varma Malik)
Mohammed Rafi and the Laxmikant Pyarelal combo has given us many
delectable numbers from the mid-60s but people tend to forget this excellent
romantic number while mentioning their hits. Filmed on the debonair Navin
Nischol and pretty Saira Banu, this song is pleasant on the ears and deserves
some airtime on retro radio stations even now.
Phool Ka Shabab Kya (Film: Farz Ki Jung, Music: Bappi Lahiri, Lyrics:
Anjaan, Naqsh Lyallpuri)
It is hard to imagine that a fresh Rafi Saab number would be heard in a
film released nine years after his demise, but that’s what exactly happened
when this pre-recorded song was used by Bappi da in the film Farz Ki Jung
(1989). Filmed on the popular pair of Govinda and Neelam, it is a slow love
ballad that kind of grows on the listener and stays with him. The richness, the
romance in Rafi’s voice is almost unmatchable here especially in the lines, “Aap
Toh Bas Aap Hain, Aap Ka Jawab Kya”.
Aa Zara Mere Humnasheen (Film: Poonam, Music: Annu Malik, Lyrics: Hasrat
Jaipuri)
Although Annu Malik made his debut in Hunterwali 77, it was Poonam
(1981), which made him a known name in the music circuit. I have often wondered
how both Rafi Saab and Kishore da, both teetotalers have captured the feelings,
the slight slur of the inebriated songs after songs. This song, filmed on a
drunk Raj Babbar also fits the bill. Superlative vocals by Rafi along with a
brilliant composition by Annu Malik and pathos-laden lyrics by his uncle Hasrat
Jaipuri make this number a true rare gem.
Apni Ankhon Mein Basakar Koi (Film: Thokar, Music: Shamji Ghanshamji, Lyrics: Sajan
Dehlvi)
Picturized on the actor-turned-politician Baldev Khosa and Alka, this
ditty was very popular in the mid-70s but has somehow become quite rare with
time. A song with a strong 60’s flavour, Rafi Saab’s vocals will surely tug the
listener's heartstrings even now. This film has another great Mukesh number,
Main Dhoondta Hoon Jinko, but the Rafi number scores over the latter in terms
of pathos.
Duets
Sanso Mein Kabhi (Film: Parchhaiyan, Music: R.D.Burman, Lyrics: Majrooh)
A largely forgotten dulcet duet picturized on the handsome Vinod Khanna
and popular vamp Bindu’s sister Reshma, it’s in every way a brilliant
composition with some lovely lyrics by the great Majrooh Sultanpuri. This song
is a gentle reminder to those naysayers who believe R.D. Burman’s music is
equivalent to big orchestration. It’s minimally orchestrated, has an extremely
soft tune, and has Rafi and Asha’s vocals complementing each other beautifully.
Patta Patta Boota Boota (Film: Ek Nazar, Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal, Lyrics:-
Majrooh)
Ek Nazar is one of the earliest films of the Amitabh Bachchan- Jaya
Bhaduri “jodi”, and their onscreen chemistry is ably aided by this wonderful
duet by Mohd Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar ji. Majrooh saab took the initial lines
from a ghazal of Mir and wove an exemplary lyrics set to tune by the prolific
Laxmikant Pyarelal. To top it all, it is the soft, romantic vocals of both singers which transport the listeners to another world.
Is Ishq Mohabbat Ki (Film: Zulm Ki Pukar, Music: Sonik Omi, Lyrics: Verma
Malik)
It happens quite often that a film doesn’t get a thumbs up from the
audience but it’s music or a particular song remains etched in their memories
and this amazing duet most definitely belongs to the second category. Sonik Omi
have composed some fine tunes for Rafi Saab throughout the 70’s and this number
is no exception. With some brilliant wordplay by popular lyricist Verma Malik,
Rafi and Chandrani Mukherjee (who had a
shortlived but fruitful career in the film music industry) infuse romance and
passion in the song. A rare gem for sure.
Bheegi Bheegi Waadi Mein ( Film: Dil Hi Dil Mein, Music: Mandheer Jatin,
Lyrics: Aish Kanwal)
Not many people know that Jatin Pandit teamed up with his elder brother
Mandheer much before he made a popular pair with his other brother Lalit. They
composed some notable numbers for the 1982 Vinod Mehra starrer Dil Hi Dil Mein,
out of which this Rafi Sulakshana Pandit duet is still a pleasure to the ears
because of its melodious composition and brilliant renditions. Rafi Saab again
doesn’t fail to show his enviable range complemented well by Mandhir Jatin’s
sister the famous actress-singer Sulakshana who has also performed on this song
onscreen.
By Ayushmaan Mitra
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