Exactly two years ago I started this  blogsite,  www.musicunrestricted.in . I could complete around 30 different blogs on various legendary artists in both Hindi & Tamil film music. Writing about the great contribution to Hindi and Tamil music by these legends  has given me immense satisfaction and I feel it is the blessing from the Almighty and encouragement from my friends and family that keeps me motivated  to  write.

In the last two years, it has indeed been an enriching experience for me to listen to the excellent songs by various artists. I have now realised what a challenging task it is going to be for me as I have a huge list of artists to be covered in my blogs, both in Hindi and Tamil films music. However, on the birth and death anniversaries of Rafi sahab, I always make it a point to write about  few of his songs and pay my humble tribute  and so this 24^th December 2023,  the 99^th birth anniversary of Mohammad Rafi Sahab  the blog is about him.   

We are just   a year away from celebrating his birth centenary. The immense variety in Rafi’s singing will keep all his fans mesmerized for many years to come. And so, for  bloggers like me there can never be a dearth of topics on which I can write about as Rafi sahab has left behind a huge legacy for us.

So far I have focussed more on Rafi’s solos in my blogs and for a change I thought why not look at his excellent duets with so many singers . Before I go further , let us look at some interesting statistics:

Out of the approximate 5400 odd songs that Rafi had sung, his solo songs  are around 2900 , and the rest 2500 are with other singers. Now if we look at those 2500 songs , roughly 2000 are duets with female playback singers duets , 300 are duets with other male playback singers and around 200 are songs with multiple singers .

Doing a further analysis of his 2000 duets with female playback singers  , we have some interesting  observations:

Maximum duets are with Asha Bhonsle( 43%) , followed by Lata Mangeshkar (22%) , Suman Kalyanpur( 8%), Geeta Dutt (7%)   and Shamshad Begum (6%) , together consisting of 86% of his duets. Rest , around  14%  have been with various female playback singers numbering around a whopping 70 different singers!! Of course, some of  these 70 may not be truly singers as there are some songs in which the heroine just hums  few lines . Even if we discount those which can be just a handful , the numbers show how Rafi sahab was  so humble and accommodating to sing with many junior  and upcoming singers. 

One more reason for understanding these numbers for me is to segregate the article into two parts: the first one is about  his fabulous duets with the five major playback singers , i.e Lata , Asha, Suman, Geeta and Shamshad. In the next blog  I will continue  on some of his best duets with the other female playback singers; of course, it will be  impossible to cover all the other  female playback singers , but at least I shall highlight some of the best from that list.

As much as Rafi’s solo songs are great hits, his duets are also equally fascinating. The popular perception is that he had sung most of his  best duets with Lata , which is true to some extent in terms of the highest quality & popularity  of the songs. But as we will discover in this blog, his duets with other singers are equally good and provide a different tonal feel. Each listing has the , song, film ,year , music director and lyricist in that order.   I am starting with the seniormost Shamshad, followed by Lata Mangeshkar, Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhonsle, and Suman Kalyanpur. Within each section, I have listed the songs in the chronological order of the film’s release.

Departing from my usual format of writing about each song, I am only giving a brief about Rafi’s association with each singer and doing away with describing each song . This is to ensure I cover maximum songs. Also, I am not giving any biography of the female singers as I shall be writing about them in detail individually , in future blogs. Of course, Lata Mangeshkar has already been covered int two of my blogs.

Shamshad Begum

( 14^th April 1919-23^rd April 2013)

Shamshad was quite senior to both Lata and Rafi and it was said that when newcomers Lata, Rafi were getting around Rs 250-300 per song, Shamshad was commanding a princely  Rs 5000 per song. Her voice had a very unique timbre and was compared to the sound of a  temple bell. She had a truly resonating voice and when she sang, all other singers sounded feeble.

Rafi-Shamshad duets have an earthy, Punjabi flavour and when you listen to the song “ La de more baalma aasmani chudiyan” you can understand what a great peppy feel they could bring to the song.

1. Solah Baras K Bhai Umariya-Aag-1948-Ram Ganguly-Behzad Lakhnavi

2. La De Mohe Balma Aasmaani Chudiyan-Rail Ka Dibba-1953-Ghulam Mohammad-Shakeel Badayuni

3. Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar Bharke Aankhon-C.I.D-1956-O.P.Nayyar-Majrooh Sultanpuri

4. O Gaadiwale Gaadi Dheere Hank Re-Mother India-1957 -Naushad-Shakeel Badyuni

5. Bheega Bheega Pyaar Ka Sama-Sawan-1959- Hansraj Behl-Prem Dhawan.

Lata Mangeshkar ( 28^th Sep 1929-6^th Feb 2022)

If there was one pair that has given the most memorable duets it has to be Rafi-Lata. Although in terms of numbers , her sister , Asha Bhonsle had sung almost double the number of duets with Rafi, the innate melody and the manner in which Lata & Rafi matched each other , make their duets immortal. It has always been my personal belief that God took the best vocal cords while creating  Lata & Rafi and that is why when they sang together it is sheer bliss to listen. It was really unfortunate that between 1963-67 , both of them did not sing together due to that infamous spat they had over the royalty issue. It is said that in the film Jewel Thief that came in 1967, both ultimately patched up ( Lata was losing out more opportunities than Rafi as Asha & Suman were singing with him!) and the song Dil Pukare Aa Re Aa Re kicked off  their second innings.

I have listed some of the best 14 duets of this golden pair that would give the readers a feel of the immense variety in their singing.

1. Aaja Ke Intezaar Mein-Halaku-1956- Shankar Jaikishan-Shaliendra

2. Chali Chali Re Patang-Bhabhi-1957-Chitragupt-Rajendra Krishan

3. eevan mein piya tera saath-Goonj Uthi Shehnai-1959-Vasant Desai-Bharat Vyas

4. Dheere Dheere Chal Chand Gagan Mein-Love Marriage-1959-Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri

5. Main Chali Main Chali -Professor-1962- Shankar Jaikishan-Shaliendra

6. Baar Baar Tohe Kya Samjhaye Payal -Aarti-1962-Roshan-Majrooh Sultanpuri

7. Mujhe kitna pyaar hai tumse-Dil Tera Deewana-1962- Shankar Jaikishan-Shaliendra

8. Paaon Choo Lene Do-Taj Mahal-1963-Roshan-Sahir Ludhianvi

9. Yaad Mein Teri Jaag Jaag Ke Hum-Mere Mehboob-1963-Naushad-Shakeel Badayuni

10. Kabhi raat din hum -Aamne Saamne-1967-Kalyanji Anandji-Anand Bakshi

11. Bekhudi Mein Sanam-Haseena Maan Jayegi-1968-Kalyanji Anandji-Akhtar Romani

12. Ni Sultana Re Pyar Ka Mausam Aaya-Pyar Ka Mausam- 1969-R.D Burman-Majrooh Sultanpuri

13. Meri Duniya Mein Tum Aayee-Heer Ranjha-1970-Madan Mohan-Kaifi Azmi

14. Mujhe Teri Mohabbat Ka Sahara Mil Gaya Hota-Aap Aaye Bahar Aayee-1971-Laxmikant Pyarelal-Anand Bakshi

Geeta Dutt ( 23^rd Nov 1930-20^th July 1972)

Most of the Guru Dutt films had his wife Geeta Dutt as the lead female playback singer and of course Rafi was the most preferred singer for Guru Dutt. Geeta Dutt’s voice had a very unique quality that could suit the entire gamut of emotions-playful, soulful, pathos, sensuous . She was truly versatile and many of her duets with Rafi are super hits even today. She had a very sad personal life and passed away at a very young age of 42. Her marriage with Guru Dutt failed and that made her severely depressed leading to alcohol, and  ultimately ruining her life.

1. Sun Sun Sun Sun Zaalima -Aar Paar-1954-O.P.Nayyar-Majrooh Sultanpuri

2. Udhar Tum Haseen Ho-Mr & Mrs 55-1955-O.P.Nayyar-Majrooh Sultanpuri

3. Ankhon Hi ankhon mein Ishara-C.I.D-1956-O.P Nayyar-Jaan Nissar Akhtar

4. Hum Aapki Ankhon Mein Is Dil-Pyaasa-1957-S.D.Burman-Sahir Ludhianvi

5. Tum Jo Mile Mere Humsafar-12 ‘O’ Clock-1958-O.P. Nayyar-Majrooh Sultanpuri

6. Rim Jhim Ke Tarane Leke-Kala Bazaar-1960-S.D.Burman-Shailendra

Asha Bhonsle ( Born 8^th Sep 1933)

The living legend , Asha Bhonsle needs no introduction. One of the most versatile and prolific singers, she  has sung the maximum number of duets with Rafi. Her early career was shaped to a great extent by O.P Nayyar, S.D Burman and Ravi , and to a lesser extent by many other music directors. However, the popular name that a majority know is that of  R.D Burman. Many duets of Rafi and Asha are astounding, showcasing their amazing skills in rendering intricate tunes with so much of ease.

1. Hum Safar Saath Apna Chhod Chale-Aakhri Dao-1958-Madan Mohan-Majrooh Sultanpuri

2. Deewana Mastana Hua Dil-Bambai Ka Babu-1960- S.D Burman- Majrooh Sultanpuri

3. Abhi Na Jao Chodkar-Hum Dono-1961-Jaidev-Sahir Ludhianvi

4. Mein Pyar Ka Rahi Hoon-Ek Musafir Ek Haseena-1962-O.P.Nayyar-Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

5. Khanke To Khanke Kyun Khanke Jab Raat Ko Chamke-Vallah Kya Baat Hai-1962-Roshan-Prem Dhawan

6. Ye Khamoshiyan Ye Tanhaiyan-Yeh Raaste Hain Pyarke-1963-Ravi-Rajendra Krishan

7. Deewana Hua Badal, -Kashmir Ki Kali -1964-O.P.Nayyar-S.H Bihari

8. Ek Chameli ke mandve tale-Cha Cha Cha-1964-Iqbal Quereshi-Makhdoom Mohiuddin

9. Roka Hai Kai Baar Maine Dil Ki Umang Ko-Mere Sanam-1965-O.P Nayyar-Majrooh Sultanpuri

10. Phir Miloge Kabhi Is Baat Ka Wada Kar Lo-Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi-1965- O.P.Nayyar-S.H Bihari

11. Saawan aaye ya na aaye, -Dil Diya Dard Liya-1966-Naushad-Shakeel Badayuni

12. In Baharon Mein Akele Yu Na Phiro-Mamta -1966-Roshan-Majrooh Sultanpuri

13. Panchi Re O Panchi Ud Ja Re O Panchhi-Hare Kanch Ki Chudiyan-1967-Shankar Jaikishan-Shailendra

14. Raat Ke Humsafar,-An Evening in Paris -1967-Shankar Jaikishan-Shailendra

15. Hum Intezaar Karenge Tera Qayamat Tak-Bahu Begum-1967-Roshan-Sahir Ludhainvi

Suman Kalyanpur (Born: 28^th January 1937)

Sometimes , for an artist , one single quality becomes both a boon and a bane. Suman Kalyanpur’s voice resembles that of Lata so closely that many a times a song actually sung by Suman is wrongly attributed to Lata. For many years even I had thought of the song “ Mera Pyar Bhi Tu Hai” -a duet sung by Mukesh and Suman in the film Saathi as a Mukesh-Lata duet!

Suman has a very strong training in classical music and she has a wide repertoire of songs in Marathi. The period 1963-67, when Lata did not sing with Rafi became her most prolific time in Hindi films and one can observe that by looking at the years in the songs that I have listed below. I would prefer not to write about any controversies on how her career was supressed as I always prefer to talk about the artist ‘s music only. Rafi, as usual , had a very good association with Suman and had sung many romantic and classically acclaimed duets with her.

1. Dil Ek Mandir Hai-Dil Ek Mandir-1963- Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri

2. Ajhoon Na Aaye-Saanjh Aur Sawera-1964-Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri

3. Tujhe Pyaar Karte Hain-April Fool-1964- Shankar Jaikishan- Hasrat Jaipuri

4. Itna  Hai Tumse Pyaar Mujhe -Suraj-1966- Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri

5. Dil-E-Betaab Ko Seene Se-Palki-1967-Naushad-Shakeel Badayuni

6. Tujhe Dekha Tujhe Chaaha-Choti Si Mulakat-1967-Shankar Jaikishan- Hasrat Jaipuri

7. Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar-Bramhachari-1968- Shankar Jaikishan-Hasrat Jaipuri

Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:

I sincerely thank the publishers of following blogsites & Internet sources  for the information that I could gather for this article:

1. You Tube
2. Wikipedia
3. www.geetmanjusha.com

The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been mentioned  & embedded here   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.