His first notable performance was singing in the chorus as the
legendary K.L Saigal warbled "Mere Sapnon ki Rani" ("Shahjehan"), but
Mohammad Rafi soon himself became Bollywood's most recognised playback
singer. Blessed with an amazing versatility in bringing to life
everything from soulful ghazals to exuberant qawwalis to heartfelt
bhajans to romantic songs - both understated and jaunty, laments on
human deceptions, classically-tinged songs and patriotic works, he would
have gone much further had his over three-decade-long career not
abruptly ended this day in 1980.
Rafi once or the
other sang for several generations of Bollywood's leading men - Dilip
Kumar, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Bharat Bhushan and Rajendra Kumar down
to Dharmendra, Jeetendra, and even Amitabh Bachchan ("Teri Bindiya Re"
in "Abhimaan"). Though some of his most enduring work was with composer
Naushad Ali and song-writer Shakeel Badayuni, he worked with almost
every music director and lyricist of the Hindi film industry to create
some of the most unforgettable film songs - songs which are still heard
with pleasure today and sung (In the song section of the Aftab
Iqbal-hosted Pakistani TV show "Khabarnaak", the most popular are his
hits reprised by Khalid Beg).
Of his thousands of songs for
Hindustani films from "Gaon Ki Gori" in 1945 to "Zamaane ko Dikhane Hai"
in 1982, it is difficult, if not impossible, and highly objective in
any case, to draw up a list of Rafi's 10 top songs. But to mark his 35th
death anniversary, let's give it a try by compiling a list of popular
songs across varied genres.
Romantic songs are the staple of
Indian films, and Rafi essayed a lot of them in his career but among
those that stand out can include the softly haunting "Chaudhvin ka
chaand ho ya", picturised on Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman in "Chaudhvin
ka Chand" (music Ravi, lyrics Shakeel Badayuni), and the wildly
imploring "Akele Akele Kahan Jaa Rahe Ho" (Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila
Tagore, "An Evening In Paris", music Shankar-Jaikishan, lyrics Hasrat
Jaipuri) especially when he goes up in pitch to ask "Khushamad karega to
phir kya karoge..".
A third in this category can be the
mildly-questioning "Main Shayad Tumhe Pahle Bhi Kahi Dekha Hai", again
in chaste Urdu, (Bharat Bhushan in "Barsaat Ki Raat", music Roshan,
lyrics Sahir Ludhianvi).
Another which stands out is one of his
earliest hits - "Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki Hai" from "Dulari" picturised on
Suresh. The music was by Naushad and lyrics by Shakeel.
Rafi was
Dilip Kumar's primary voice (after Talat Mahmood) and almost all their
songs are a hit. But if choosing out of the extensive ouevre, then they
can easily include "Madhuban mein Radhika Naache" ("Kohinoor", music
Naushad, and lyrics Shakeel Badayuni) for the classical touch
effortlessly rendered and the plaintive "Sukh Ke Sab Saathi Dukh Mein Na
Koi" ("Gopi", music: Kalyanji-Anandji, lyrics Rajinder Krishan).
And
following from the last, "Man tadpat Hari darshan ko aaj" (Bharat
Bhushan, "Baiju Bawra", music Naushad and lyrics Shakeel Badayuni) is
one that can't be left out for the virtuosity of Rafi's performance -
the range and amount of pathos he can inject.
Rafi's versatility
was legendary - as he proved in this "children's song". Picturised on
character actor Yaqub, "Chun Chun Karti Aai Chirya" is from "Ab Dilli
Door Nahin" (music Duttaram, lyrics Shailendra Singh).
Not
easily categorised is the haunting "Chahunga Main Tujhe Saanjh Savere"
(Sudhir Kumar in that touching film "Dosti", music Laxmikant-Pyarelal,
lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri).
And finally, who can forget that
mildly philosophical, even existential "Main zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata
Chala Gaya", with that casual cigarette flick and smoke exhalation by a
nonchalant Dev Anand ("Hum Dono", music Jaidev and lyrics Sahir
Ludhianvi).
Some voices can never fade from memories!
(Vikas Datta can be contacted at [email protected])
