Mohammed Rafi, who passed away on 31 July 1980, aged 55, at
Kotla Sultan Singh, near Amritsar, Punjab,
British India, was a legendary playback singer who recorded more than 25,000
songs in a career spanning almost 40 years.
Rafi studied music with eminent Hindustani singer
Chhote Gulam Ali Khan. He eventually came under the tutelage of composer and
musical director Feroz Nizami. A public performance that Rafi gave in Lahore
when he was about 15 proved to be a turning point in his life. In the audience
was Shyam Sunder, an acclaimed composer who was impressed with Rafi’s talent
and invited him to Bombay (now Mumbai) to sing in films. Rafi recorded his
first song in Lahore for the Punjabi film Gul Baloch (1944).
In Bombay Rafi had his first physical role in Laila Majnu (1949).
His earliest recordings in Hindi, also in Bombay, were for films such as Gaon ki gori (1945), Samaj ko
badal dalo (1947), and Jugnu (1947).
The composer Naushad recognized the budding singer’s potential and gave Rafi
his first solo song assignment, “Tera khilona toota balak” in Anmol Ghadi (1946), and later the song “Is duniya
mein ae dilwalo” in Dillagi (1949),
which proved to be a milestone in his singing career.
Rafi voiced songs for all the top stars of the day.
His greatest gift was his ability to match his voice to the persona of the
character played by the actor. Thus, he sounded the part for the romantic Dilip
Kumar when he sang “Tere husn ki kya taarif karun” in Leader (1964), the soul of Guru Dutt in such
songs as “Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai” in Pyaasa (1957), the irrepressible Shammi Kapoor
singing “Yahoo” in Junglee (1961),
and even the mischievous Johnny Walker offering a “Tel malish” (oil
massage) in Pyaasa. His duets with
other leading playback singers of Hindi cinema were equally memorable and
popular.
Rafi’s voice had a phenomenal range that composers explored to
great advantage. His oeuvre included such classical songs as
“Madhuban mein radhika nache re” in Kohinoor (1960)
and “O duniya ke rakhwale” in Baiju Bawra (1952),
such ghazals as “Suhani raat dhal chuki” in Dulari (1949)
and “Chaudhavin ka chand” in the eponymous 1960 film, stirring patriotic
songs including “Jahan daal daal par” in the 1965 film Sikandar-e-azam, and such light numbers as the
rock-and-roll-inspired “Aaja aaja main hoon pyaar tera” in Teesri Manzil (1966). His last recording was “Tu
kahin aas paas hai dost” for the 1981 film Aas paas.
In 1965 Rafi was awarded the Padma Shri, one of the Indian government’s highest
civilian honours.
