This year on 31^st July , it will be 43 years since the great singer Mohammad Rafi, always Rafi Sahab for his countless admirers,  departed from this world at the age of 55 , leaving behind a rich legacy of immortal songs. Even after more than 4 decades  of his demise, he is still alive through his immortal songs.

If we look at Rafi’s  songs, approximately 6000 in number, around 50 % of them , he sang for those music directors , who were not among the top dozen in the Hindi film industry. This  reflects his great  personality. He was always there to help  the upcoming, lesser-known music directors, many-a-times even singing for a very low remuneration or even a token one rupee.

In this article I am going to focus on some of his great songs that he had sung for those composers , who may fall into a unique category. These composers  fall into a category which is neither consisting of the topmost, very successful and well-known  dozen   nor were totally obscure or unknown.

They were  extremely talented , composed excellent songs and many-a-times were commercially successful also, but only few discerning listeners might  have heard their names. Now this could be a contentious topic  as many discerning  music lovers may not agree  when they see the names of some great composers included by me in this category. I am making it very clear that this categorization   is not in any way  reflecting on the quality of their music. In fact, some of them like Jaidev and Vasant Desai deserve to be among the top most, but it is a bitter fact that somehow they could not get the fame they richly deserved . Only the very serious Hindi film music lovers would be able to identify these composer’s names after listening to their songs.  

A common factor that cuts across all these categories is our dear Rafi Sahab. The reason why Rafi sahib’s name is remembered with respect is that he never bothered much about  whether he is singing for a leading composer, actor or for some relatively unknown composers or actor. He gave his best even for a debutant music composer. The passion and dedication with which he rendered his songs remained the same .

On his 43^rd anniversary, let us look at some of his great songs ,some very popular, some may not be so popular , which he sang for some of those  composers.

I am sequencing them in the alphabetical order of the music composer’s name , with a very brief sketch about them. Due to the constraint of making the blog reasonably short, I am giving only a very brief sketch of the composers -some of them will be covered in detail in my future blogs.

In  these songs you will be able to listen to the multiple tones/genres in which Rafi showcases his immense variety is singing , making him one of the most versatile singers ever.

Song name-Film-Year-Lyricist -Any co-singers are mentioned in that order.

1. Dattaram Wadkar( 1929- 7^th June 2007)

Chun chun karti aayee chidiya-Ad Dilli Door Nahin-1957-Shailendra-Rafi solo

Dattaram Wadkar  was the man behind those fabulous percussion in the songs of  famous duo Shankar-Jaikishan. Even after composing as an independent composer , he continued to work for Shankar-Jaikishan. In his long association with Shankar-Jaikishan, he gave that  special touch to the  percussion in SJ’s music,  which later became a byword as “ Dattu theka.” His first film as an independent composer was  Ab Dilli Door Nahin. Rafi’s Chun Chun Karti Aayee chidiya is a beautiful song that appears to be tailor-made for Rafi . In such songs, Rafi becomes a child himself and literally “ lives” the song. Note  the way he modulates his voice throughout the song. That was his trademark.

2. Datta Naik -Popularly known as N Dutta-( 12^th Dec 1927-30^th Dec 1987)

Maine chaand aur sitaron ki tamanna-Chandrakaanta-1956-Sahir Ludhianvi-Rafi solo

Datta Naik was born in 1927 in Aroba , a small village in Goa. At the age of 12, he ran away from his family and came to Mumbai. His talent was noticed by  Sachin Dev Burman and he  employed him as his assistant. N. Datta also developed a notable career as an independent composer. His compositions were a beautiful mix of  melody and excellent orchestration. The noted  lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi was  his close friend & associate and the songs both created  together are among some of the masterpieces of Hindi Film Music. The iconic song Maine Chand Aur Sitaron ki tamanna kee thi , sung soulfully by Rafi remains one of N Dutta’s landmark songs. If you hear this song just after listening to the one listed in # 1, you can only wonder at the voice modulation of Rafi Sahab—he was well known for the extraordinary way he could emote the song.

3. Ghulam Mohammad ( 1903-17^th March 1968)

Hum tum yeh bahaar dekho rang-Amber-1952-Shakeel Badayuni-Rafi with Lata

Hai Baski Har Ek Unke Ishare-Mirza Ghalib-1954-Mirza Ghalib-Rafi solo

Ghulam Mohammed was born in Bikaner, Rajasthan, into a family of musicians.

He first became an assistant, to music director, Naushad in Kardar Productions, and worked with him and the veteran film composer Anil Biswas, for over 12 years, before composing independently, in the film ‘Tiger Queen’ (1947). Even after becoming an independent composer, he continued working as assistant to Naushad .

Despite being a very accomplished music composer, commercial success eluded him always, and it was more tragic that he could not live to see his last film Pakeezah becoming a super hit mainly for its immortal music. In honour of this veteran , I have selected two songs of Rafi-one a lilting melodious duet with Lata and the other  , a solo from the film   Mirza Ghalib the music of which has been considered among the best of Ghulam Mohammad.

4. Hansraj Behl ( 19^th Nov 1916-20^th May 1984)

Mohabbat zinda rehti hai-Changez Khan-1957-Qamar Jalalabadi-Rafi solo

Hansraj Behl was born on 19 November 1916 in Shaikhpura (near Rawalpindi,  Pakistan) to Nihal Chand Behl. Like any other artist of that time , he  came to Bombay in the year 1944  to try his luck in Hindi film industry, along with his younger brother Gulshan Behl and Verma Malik, ( Varma Malik would go on to become a prominent lyricist) . His first film  as an independent music director was in 1946 with Ardeshir Irani’s film -Pujari. In a career spanning 33 years,  he went on to give music for about 70 films up to Badshahon Ka Badshah (1979), composing approximately  530 songs.

The patriotic hit, “Jahan Daal Daal Pe Sone Ki Chidiya Karti Hai Basera..” sung by Mohammed Rafi in the film Sikandar-e-Aazam (1965), starring Prithviraj Kapoor remains  one of his last memorable numbers and is an integral part of any Independence day / Republic day celebrations in our country.

Rafi had sung many songs for him and the song Mohabbat Zinda Rehti Hai from the film Changez Khan is a classic example for the skills of Hansraj Behl and Rafi , who , as usual goes to the highest notes with so much of ease.

5. Husnlal-Bhagatram ( Husnlal-8^th Apr 1920-28^th Dec 1968; Bhagatram-1914-29^th Nov 1973)

Beqaraar Hai Koi Aa Mere Dildar Aa-Shama Parwaana-1954-Majrooh Sultanpuri-Rafi with Suraiya

Husnlal-Bhagatram are the ones who became the first well-known duo music composers in Hindi film music. Husnlal was fond of  violin, and could also sing while  Bhagatram was an ace harmonium player. Though Bhagatram initially composed alone, it was only after  the brothers formed the duo Husnlal-Bhagatram,  they got their success. They scored some of the best songs for the great singer-actress Suraiya  in the period  1948-51 . Duets were their forte  and

I have selected a rare Rafi-Suraiya duet from the film Shama Parwana. The unique aspect of this song is the exquisite alaap that both Rafi & Suraiya perform, almost breathless, in one go.

6. Jaidev Varma ( 3^rd Aug 1918-6^th Jan 1987)

Kabhi khud pe kabhi haalat pe-Hum Dono-1961-Sahir Ludhianvi-Rafi solo

Jaidev Varma , always known by his  mononym  Jaidev , was born on  August 3, 1918 in Nairobi Kenya. His initial  fascination was to become an actor and so he ran away at the age of 15 to Bombay. Luckily for his numerous fans , he was not successful and it was then he realised  music was his real forte. Once he joined as assistant to SD Burman, he made his name.

As an independent music director, he got his break with Joru Ka Bhai (1955), but it was the Dev Anand-starrer Hum Dono that made the world notice  him.  The music of Hum Dono remains a classic  till today and may survive for years to come. One can understand how quality was predominant in his music , when we see that in a career spanning three decades, he scored music for just under 40 films!. A unique achievement of Jaidev was to bag three National awards for best music with a repertoire of just 40 films- a feat no one has been able to match.

Kabhi Khud Pe, Kabhi Halaat Pe Rona aaya remains one of my personal favourites. Once shall definitely get mesmerized with  Rafi rendition of   the phrase  “ ronaaaaaa aaya” , in a way only he could do.

7. Khayyam ( 18^th Feb 1927-19^th Aug 2019)

Aur Kuchh Der Thehar -Aakhri Khat-1966-Kaifi Aazmi-Rafi solo

Kahin Ek Masoom Nazuk Si Ladki -Shankar Hussain-1977-Kamal Amrohi-Rafi solo

Mohammad Zahoor Khayyam Hashmi was born on 18^th February, 1927 in Rahun, Punjab. Like most of the artists of those times, he initially tried his hand in becoming an actor , but failed. Later he got his musical training under Pt Amarnath ( elder brother of Husnlal-Bhagatram) . He became an assistant to music director Baba Chisti . In 1953, with the film Footpath , he got fame for the evergreen Talat Mehmood ghazal Shaam-E-Gham ki kasam.  He was one of the few music composers who started off as early as the late 40’s and went on to compose even as late as  2014, a career of almost 66 years!! His last memorable music was for the 1983 film Razia Sultan.

In the early days of his career, he composed fantastic music, especially with Rafi . I have chosen two  songs; one from the early years and one from the latter.

Aur Kuch Der Tehar mainly for the superb modulation by Rafi with the word “ Tehar.” In the early days of Rajesh Khanna, Rafi had sung some superb melodious songs for him  and this is one of them, though many may not be aware of  this.

Kahin Ek Masoom Nazuk si ladki is one of those songs that one can say,  were composed or created only for Rafi. They take you into a different world, with Rafi’s  impeccable Urdu diction and intonation and a honey-laced voice.

8.. Prem Dhawan ( 13^th June 1923-7^th May 2001)

Ae watan ae watan humko-Shaheed-1965-Prem Dhawan-Rafi solo

Allah Hi Allah Kar Pyare Bhai-Pavitra Papi-1970-Prem Dhawan-Rafi solo

Prem Dhawan was born on 13 June 1923 at Ambala, Haryana  to a Jail Superintendent working for the British government. Starting off as an assistant to the  composer Khwaja Khurshid Anwar in Khwaja Ahmad Abbas’s film Aaj Aur Kal, his association the renowned classical musician, Ravi Shankar enabled him to  learn classical music. He started off as a lyricist in 1946 with the movie, Dharti Ke Lal,  and went on to become a very successful lyricist.. A real multi-talented artist , apart from being a music composer & lyricist , he was also a successful choreographer. It is very rare to see such a bundle of talents.

One of the most famous patriotic songs that is played everywhere during our Independence and Republic days is Rafi’s Ae watan, Ae watan Humko Teri Kasam and this is bound to be my first choice. Incidentally, Prem Dhawan had composed many patriotic songs as a lyricist.

The second song , Allah Hi Allah , Kar pyare bhai I have selected is rarely heard, reason for which I am not able to comprehend as it is a superb one with very profound lyrics written by Prem Dhawan himself. Whenever I watch this song, I get a feeling that Rafi must have been inspired by  that fakir , behind whom he used to keep walking when he was a child. Note the tone in which he sings is exactly like that of a fakir!

9.Sajjad Husain ( 15^th Jun 1917-21^st July 1995)

Phir Tumhari Yaad Aayee Ae Sanam-Rustom Sohrab-1963-Qamar Jalalabadi-Rafi with Manna Dey and S D Batish

Sajjad Husain is a name that is well known among the serious music lovers and could be the only one , whose name is taken with so much reverence even by his peers and competitors despite having composed music for just about 14  films in a career of 34 years!  He was born in 1917 in Sitamau, a village  Madhya Pradesh  as the youngest child among nine. The young Sajjad  got an exposure to music at the durbar of the Rajah for whom his father was a tailor and soon he  started learning music. By the time he was in his teens, he could play the sitar , violin, flute ,  piano and was also an accomplished mandolin player. He is considered to be one of the most original music composers in Hindi film music.

Among his  early films , Sangdil’s songs like Yeh hawa yeh raat yeh Chandini , Dil mein sama gaye sajan  became very popular and are liked even today. His magnum opus was Rustom Sohrab released in 1963 and the intricate compositions of this film are without any parallel. This one film is enough to retain his name among the glorious composers of Hindi film music. Rafi had just a handful of songs with him , but as everyone knows, he could grab whatever little is given to him and make it into classics. The triad song Rafi had with Manna Dey and S.D Batish in Rustom Sohrab has all the three singers at their best and is a classic example of the unique style of Sajjad.

10. Shri  Nath  Tripathi, known as S.N.Tripathi ( 14^th Mar 1913-28^th Mar 1988)

Parwar Digar-E-Alam Tera Hi Hai Sahara-Hatimtai-1956-Akhtar Romani-Rafi solo

Na kisiki aankh ka noor hoon-Lal Quila-1960- Bahadur Shah Zafar ( Muztar Khairabadi?)** -Rafi solo

SN Tripathi was born on 14^th March 1913 ,  in a traditional Brahmin family in Banaras.  His strong  grounding in Hindi literature and Sanskrit  was a legacy from his family . After his primary education in  Marris College, Lucknow (now known as Bhatkhande Music Institute) , he was noticed by Saraswati Devi, the famous music director with the Bombay Talkies. Soon after he began his career as  a violinist assisting music director Saraswati Devi at Bombay Talkies. His music was an eclectic mix of Classical and folk music. Apart from being a music composer he also acted in few films in his early days and even directed few films.

Rafi sang some excellent songs for him . I have selected two gems-one from the 1956 film Hatimtai that is an excellent Na’at and the eternal Na Kisi Ki Aankh Ka Noor Hoon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rad2gbRFY8w

** The actual lyricist is  debated between the two-since I am not an authority , I have mentioned both names.

11. Sonik-Omi ( Manohar Lal Sonik:1925- 9^th Jul 1993  &  Om Prakash Sonik: 1937-   7^th Jul 2016)

Kaliyon ne ghoonghat khole-Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya-1966-G L Rawal-Rafi solo

Donon Ne Kiya Tha Pyaar Magar-Mahua-1969-Qamar Jalalabadi-Rafi solo

Sonik–Omi were a music  composer duo consisting of Manohar Lal Sonik, who was blind  and his nephew Om Prakash Sonik.  Manohar Lal, later, initially worked with composer Pt. Amarnath, as an assistant. Om Prakash was a chorus singer and then assistant to music director Roshan before branching off as a music director. The uncle-nephew duo debuted with Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya in 1966 and almost all the songs in this film were great hits.  Few other films like Mahua and Sawan Bhadon also had good songs , but still they were mostly relegated to low budget films. With the death of Manohar Lal Sonik in 1993, their career almost ended with  Om Prakash mostly restricting himself certain non-film and private albums, religious music, and other genres of music.

Rafi, in his usual style, always gives his best  for all music composers, be it top-notch composers or debutants. I am listing the peppy “ Kaliyon ne ghooghat khole” and pathos-filled “ Donon ne kiya tha pyaar magar.”  One unique aspect of the song Donon Ne Kiya is that it has a two-minute postlude …normally songs have elaborate preludes . An excellent orchestration of Sonik -Omi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBGyzMUTPJk

12. Usha Khanna( Born 7^th Oct 1941)

Maine Rakha hai mohabbat-Shhabnam-1964-Javed Anwar-Rafi solo

Usha Khanna (born 7 October 1941) is the  third female music director to enter the Hindi film industry, after Jaddan Bai and Saraswati Devi  and is the most famous female music composer as the earlier two belonged to the vintage era ( pre-1940’s) . A heartening fact is that she is one of the most commercially successful music directors in the male dominated music industry. She remained active in film music for more than 3 decades from 1960s to 1980s and even later was active with some non-film albums, appearance as judge in TV music shows.

She was  born in Gwalior, and her father, Manohar Khanna, was a lyricist and singer, and was also working as Assistant Superintendent in the Water Works Department in the then Gwalior State. He had also written few songs under the pseudonym Javed Anwar, in collaboration with another lyricist Anwar. Usha Khanna herself also sang a few songs as a playback singer.  Rafi renders a scintillating Arabian style melody “ Maine Rakha hai mohabbat.” The opening lines with Rafi elaborating the phrase “ Ya Habibi” is just something out of the world!

13. Vasant Desai ( 9^th Jun 1912-22^nd Dec 1975)

Jeevan Mein Piya Tere Saath Rehe-Goonj Uthi Shehnai-1959-Bharat Vyas-Rafi with Lata

Kehdo Koi Na Kare Yahan Pyaar- Goonj Uthi Shehnai-1959-Bharat Vyas-Rafi solo

Vasant Desai was born 9^th  June 1912 into a wealthy family in Sonawade village, Savantwadi , near Goa . His music interest was influenced by his mother Mukta Bai and her father , Baba Bhaskar Parulekar , who was a Kirtan singer . Not much interested in studies , he started playing some small roles in the Marathi folk theatre . After shifting to Kolhapur, which was a centre for great music , he learnt classical music from many gurus.

Vasant Desai’s association with V. Shantaram continued for many years , with many hit songs  till they had some mis-understanding in the ‘50s. Later , Vasant Desai continued his journey with many others. He was active till 1975, when in a very sad , freak accident while getting into the lift in his apartment , he passed away on 22^nd Dec , 1975.

He was one of the very few composers who had begun their career in early 40’s and continued till the late 70’s. He will always be remembered for bringing to the film world , the legendary singer Vani Jayaram, with her song in Guddi             ( 1971) , Bole Re Papihara , making her famous all over India overnight. One of these days, I will write a separate blog on him and his music as it cannot be restricted to few paragraphs.

Once Vasant Desai had commented that Rafi was a Gandharva ( celestial singer) , who was sent to the earth! He had composed around 35 songs for Rafi , prominent among them being ‘ Jeevan Mein Piya Tera Saath Rahe” , Keh Do Koi Na Kare Yahan Pyaar” , Teri Shehnai Bole -all from the film Goonj Uthi Shehnai and Pyaar Ki pyaas ( Kya Dharthi Aur Kya Aakash) from the film Pyar Ki Pyaas. The songs I have selected here are :

Rafi’s superb rendition in Kehdo Koi Na Kare Yahan Pyaar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzyXdC8kFpQ

          A scintillating duet by Rafi and Lata-Jeevan Mein Piya Tera Saath Rahe-the way Vasant Desai composed the initial alaap by Rafi and Lata is something very unique and just a handful of songs might have had such a fantastic start.

Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
The songs mentioned are from the popular , public domain and  have been mentioned or embedded  only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights. .I sincerely thank the publishers of following  Internet sources & book  for the information that I could gather for this article:

1. You Tube
2. Wikipedia
3. Book: Yesterdays Melodies , Today’s Memories by Manek Premchand