August 7th, 2010

Mohammad Rafi – Part 2

S.D. Burman was another composer who exploited the awesome versatility of The Virtuoso. Rafi Saab’s sweet soft vocals could create mood magic. S.D. Burman has him expressing disillusionment, with a fast changing, crass world in `Dekhi zamane ki yaari’ and then roaming free in the green valleys and open skies of freedom in ‘Khoya khoya chand’.

Teetotaller Rafi, under Sachin Da’s baton is the smitten, intoxicated lover in ‘Hum bekhudi mein tum ko pukare chale gage’, which he renders with absolute conviction and is the restrained, gentleman lover in `Dil ka bhanwar kare pukar’.

S.D. and Rafi wrought mega hits like Naushad and Rafi. Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, and Navketan’s Guide, Kala Bazar, Tere Ghar Ke Samne. For Guide it is said Burman da insisted on the vocals of Rafi, though by that time, Kishore Kumar had practically become the singing voice of Dev Anand. And what a landmark score that decision produced.

Ghazal Badshah Madan Mohan probably found the perfect male voice in Rafi. That wonderfully memorable Ghazal from Chirag `Teri aankhon ke siva, duniya mein rakha kya hai’ could only have been composed by Madan Mohan and sung by Rafi and even that heartrending song of despair and frustration sung by the desperate Ranjha ‘Yeh duniya, yeh mehfil’.

Madan Mohan was also responsible for resurrecting Rafi Saab’s career. At a time when Kishore Kumar was the most sought after playback artiste, Madan Mohan insisted on Rafi’s vocals for Laila Majnu. The songs `Tere dar pe aaya hoon’ and `Barbad-e-Mohabbat ki dua’ went on to become huge hits, wiping out the stigma of non-success on Rafi Saab’s impeccable career – graph.

Laxmikant Pyarelal will always remember Mohd. Rafi with affection and sadness. After recording his last song for Aas Paas composed by them. Rafi Saab said ‘Main chaloon?’. The surprised L – P didn’t reply because Rafi had never said this before. Again before leaving he said ‘To main chalta boon’. He passed away that evening on July 31, 1981 at 7.30 p.m. after a massive heart attack. Some premonition of his impending end had perhaps prompted the sensitive Rafi to speak so.

Rafi Saab was special to L – P. Dosti had proved to be a turning point in their career. And the song `Chahoonga main tujhe’ had won Rafi Saab a Filmfare award and Laxmi – Pyare an award for the score. Other awards including the Padmashri followed but to Rafi, this award was special. The song had been originally written and composed for Laxmikant Pyarelal’s mentor and godmother Lata Mangeshkar. When they were informed that Rafi Saab would be singing it, they were more than alarmed. However Rafi won them over with his enthusiasm and dedication.

Once Mohd. Raft recorded as many as six songs for Laxmikant Pyarelal in one day. That too without the dubbing techniques that are used today. Laxmikant also reveals that Rafi Saab always spared time to record L – P’s songs even if he had four other recordings on the same day.

O.P. Nayyar, along with Asha Bhosle and Mohd. Rafi created the hummable tunes of the late fifties and early sixties. O.P. Nayyar’s compositions, in Rafi’s voice were used to delineate the young, rebellious Shammi Kapoor’s image. There’s the soft, ebullient ‘Jawaniyan yeh mast mast’ from Tumsa Nahin Dekha and the jumpy, `Taarif karoon kya uski’ from Kashmir Ki Kali.

O.P. Nayyar and Rafi created many other lovable hits. There’s `Aaanchal mein sajaa lena kaliyan’ from Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon which had Ustad Amir Khan marvelling at the musically unlettered Nayyar’s prowess. And then Anjaan‘s immortal ode to love in `Aap ke haseen rukh pe aaj naya noor hai’. Even R.D. Burman, largely responsible for promoting Kishore Kumar, used Rafi in his hugely successful Teesri Manzil where Shammi Kapoor wowed an entire nation with his antics. Ironically it was R.D’s rise to fame and patronage of Kishore that eclipsed Rafi Saab’s own career.

One thing that cannot be denied is Rafi’s huge contribution to the success of a whole host of heroes, included among them, Thespian Dilip Kumar, Jubilee Hero Rajendra Kumar, Evergreen Dev, Junglee Shammi, Tragic Bharat Bhushan.

Bollywood