Part 2-Some male solo songs of rare combinations
In continuation of my earlier blog on few fabulous songs by female singers in the music direction of certain composers with whom they worked very rarely, I am now listing out few songs with the same logic by male playback singers.
My off the cuff recall for male singers seems to be much higher! Among male singers, Rafi had not only sung for almost all the top music composers of the golden era , he had sung almost 50% of his songs spread over a huge number of what we call obscure or lesser-known music composers. There were three music directors who used Rafi sparingly-Anil Biswas, Salil Chowdhury and Chitalkar Ramachandra. Among these, C Ramachandra had utilised his vocal extensively in his early career and only later on started singing the songs himself or used Talat Mehmood whose voice closely resembled that of Chitalkar himself.
Mukesh, Manna Dey, and Talat Mehmood had some fabulous rare associations . We shall look at some of these in this second part. There is no particular order and I have arranged them randomly, with the song, film, year and lyricists mentioned in that sequence.
Some of the songs may not be popular or truly ‘fabulous’ but I have included them as they are good to hear , especially for their rare combination.
- Mukesh and Madan Mohan
Preet Laga Ke Maine Yeh Phal Paaya-Aankhen-1950- Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
One of the very early songs of Madan Mohan and I find the style somewhat similar to Naushad . Mukesh , as we will see in this blog further, had that uncanny ability to come out great songs even in the compositions of those music directors who had given him very limited songs.
Bhooli Hui Yaadon Mujhe Itna Na Sataao-Sanjog-1961-Rajendra Krishan
One of the most famous songs of Mukesh and this is vintage Madan Mohan. Mukesh, in his inimitable style brings out the pathos so well. The same film had one fabulous duet of Mukesh with Lata-Ek Manzil Rahi Do Phir Pyar Na Kaise ho.
2. Mukesh and O P Nayyar
Chal Akela Chal Akela -Sambandh-1969- Kavi Pradeep
After that infamous episode of O P Nayyar banning Rafi for few years as he “ supposedly’ come late for a recording , he started using the vocals of Mahendra Kapoor, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar. This song is among the top songs of Mukesh and had a rare association of Kavi Pradeep and O P Nayyar.
3. Mukesh and C Ramachandra
Jap Jap Jap Jap Japre-Sharada-1957-Rajendra Krishan
Not only Mukesh singing in C Ramachandra’s composition was a rarity, this film had an unusual Raj-Kapoor and Meena Kumari acting together.
4. Mukesh and Sachin Dev Burman
For Sachin Dev Burman, Kishore Kumar and Rafi were the most preferred singers and only for few songs he had utilized Manna Dey, Mukesh and Talat Mehmood. However, as I mentioned earlier these two songs of Mukesh are so great and can be easily counted among Mukesh’s top twenty songs.
Oh Jaanewale Ho Sake To Laut Ke Aaana-Bandini-1963-Shailendra
Chal Ri Sajni Ab Kya Soche-Bambai Ka Babu-1960-Majrooh Sultanpuri
5. Mukesh and Ravi
Like many other music directors , for Ravi also , Mukesh seems to have been a less-preferred singer. He had always worked more with Rafi and Mahendra Kapoor. These two solos from the same film are the best from this rare combination.
Sada Khush Rahe Tu-Pyar Ka Sagar-1961-Prem Dhawan
Wafa Jisne Ki Bewafa Ho Gaye- Pyar Ka Sagar-1961-Prem Dhawan
6. Manna Dey and Naushad
Among all the rare combinations, Manna Dey and Naushad is one of the most glaring omissions as both were masters of the classical genre. Despite being an ardent fan of Rafi, I myself sometimes feel Naushad did not do justice to the great talent of Manna Dey. This is the only ‘ judgemental’ comment made by me in this blog!
There are only a handful of solos for Manna Dey by Naushad and two of them are listed here. Of them only the Mother India song is somewhat known-the other song , I found out only while searching for this blog!
Bhagat Ke Bas Mein Hai Bhagwan-Shabaab-1954-Shakeel Badayuni
Chundariya Katati Jaaye Re, Umariya Ghatati Jaaye Re-Mother India -1957-Shakeel Badayuni
7. Manna Dey and Sachin Dev Burman
Both S D Burman and Manna Dey learnt music from Manna Dey’s uncle K C Dey among other gurus. That makes it a bit surprising that despite this bonding , they worked for relatively few songs. However I should not be strictly categorizing this as a rare combination as they had given some memorable songs like Upar Gagag Vishal, Tere Naina Talash Kare Jise Who Hai and of course the most famous Poocho Na Kaise Maine Rain Bitaayee.
Many-a-times the compulsions of commercial aspects of films create a situation where only certain voices are preferred. Manna Dey , unfortunately was not preferred much to playback for leading heroes- with the exception of Shankar Jaikishan who proved his voice was equally good for Raj Kapoor. The most unfortunate aspect in our film industry was to use very good classical based songs, that Manna Dey was capable of , on comic situations and on comedians like Mehmood!
Poocho Na Kaisa Maine Rain Bitaaye-Meri Surat Teri Aankhen-1963
Tere Naina Talash Kare Jise Woh Hai-Talash-1969-Majrooh Sultanpuri
8. Mohammad Rafi and Anil Biswas
In the entire Hindi film music industry of there was a music director who specifically avoided the greatest playback singer-Mohammad Rafi, it was Anil Biswas. C Ramachandra also used him sparingly in later years , but in the mid 40’s and early 50’s CR had composed many duets and solos . Salil Chowdhury also used Rafi sparingly, just around 20 songs only but many of them became evergreen , including the famous Tasveer Teri Dil Mein song , with an ‘infamous’ episode attached to that song.
In case of Anil Biswas , he has been quoted as saying that for his , soft , emotional style of songs , Rafi’s ‘open-thorated , Punjabi style of singing’ was not suitable and so he preferred Talat Mehmood , Mukesh more.
However , when it came to the songs of the film Heer -1956, he did utilize the vocals of Rafi and Mohammad Rafi-the gentlest soul to have worked in the music world , never bothered about what any music director said or felt and always gave his best!
Le Ja Uski Duayein Ho Jo Tera Ho Na Saka-Heer-1956-Majrooh Sultanpuri
Allah Teri Khair Kare- Heer-1956-Rajendra Krishan
9. Mohammad Rafi and Salil Chowdhury
Salil da preferred Talat Mehmood, Mukesh mostly and some times Manna Dey also , and towards his later years even Kishore Kumar for some of the excellent songs in KK’s career like Koi Hota Jisko Apna and Guzar Jaye Din Din . However for some specific songs Salil da utilized Rafi’s vocals , especially when it was for typical Bhangra style songs like Oh Aiven Duniya Deve Duhayee in Jagte Raho or a Persian/Arabic flavour in O Ya Qurbaan song in Kabuliwala-1961 film.
Zindagi Hai Kya Sun Meri Jaan-Maya-1961-Majrooh Sultanpuri
The famous theme music from Charlie Chaplin for the film Limelight , that won the only Oscar award for Charlie Chaplin, was used in many Hindi and Tamil film songs. But among all “ Zindagi Hai Kya” by Salil da-Rafi combination was the best. I am giving a link to Charlie’s composition also.
Limelight-Chaplin film theme music
Toote Hue Khwabon Ne Humko Yeh-Madhumati-1958-Shailendra
This poignant song from Madhumati remains one of the best ever by this rare combination. Rafi shows his versatility in the same film by singing this immensely sad song and then an out and out comical Jangal Mein Moar Nacha Kisine Na Dekha for Johnny Walker!
10. Mahendra Kapoor and Shankar Jaikishan
Kho Gaya Hai Mera Pyaar-Hariyali Aur Raasta-1962-Hasrat Jaipuri
For Shankar Jakishan, Rafi was the most preferred singer except for the Raj Kapoor songs in which Mukesh was their obvious choice along with few for Manna Dey. In their early years they used Talat Mehmood and in those films where Kishore Kumar was the hero, they had composed some songs for him also . As a result , they never had much opportunities for Mahendra Kapoor. Apart from duets and triad songs , this one seems to be the only solo song for Mahendra Kapoor , but definitely became a popular song.
11. Mahendra Kapoor and O P Nayyar
The story about how Rafi got late for O P Nayyar’s recording and hence got “ banished” from his recording room ( only to patch up after 3-4 years , with Rafi taking the initiative to meet OPN ) is well-known. I would not go much into the merit of the story as some points are not logical in that. Anyhow the fact was that for that period, many other male singers like Mahendra Kapoor , Mukesh and Kishore Kumar got the chance to sing for OPN and those were mostly fabulous songs.
Mahendra Kapoor had a voice and style similar to Rafi ( incidentally he always considered him as his guru ) and so there were quite a few songs of OPN & MK that became quite popular. Two of them are listed here, from the same film-Kismet.
Aankhon Mein Qayamat Ke Kajal-Kismet-1968-S H Bihari
Lakhon Hai Yahan Dilwale- Kismet-1968-S H Bihari
12. Mahendra Kapoor and Lakshmikant Pyarelal
Mahendra Kapoor had sung many duets and triads for L-P but solos were relatively very rare. This is a powerful rendition by MK for the famous film Roti Kapda Aur Makan.
Aur Nahi Bas Aur Nahi-Roti Kapda Aur Makaan-1974- Santosh Anand
13. Kishore Kumar and O P Nayyar
As mentioned earlier , that brief separation between Rafi and OPN gave many songs for MK, KK & Mukesh. Both the songs I have listed here are good ones from this rare association.
Savera Ka Suraj Tumhare Liye-Ek Baar Muskurado-1972-Indeevar
Roop Tera Aisa Darpan Mein – Ek Baar Muskurado-1972-Indeevar
14. Kishore Kumar and Madan Mohan
Madan Mohan’s soft & emotional ghazals made him turn to Rafi & Talat most often and few rare classical ones for Manna Dey. Kishore , whenever he got an opportunity , made the best of it and these two songs are popular even with later generations , with even re-mixes made out of them.
Zaroorat Hai Zaroorat Hai-Man Mauji-1962-Rajendra Krishan
Simti Si Sharmayee Si-Parwana-1971-Kaifi Azmi
15. Kishore Kumar and Roshan
Till the time I could do some serious digging in the Internet, I was under the impression that KK did not sing much for Roshan senior, though for his son, Rajesh he had sung hundreds of songs!
Dil Ho Gaya Shanty Flat-Shisham-1952-Nazim Panipati
16. Talat Mehmood and Ravi
One more surprising rarity was Ravi & Talat as the latter’s vocals perfectly suited Ravi’s style of music. Maybe his strong preference for Rafi resulted in very few songs for Talat. As such Talat sang just around 600 songs only , but whatever he sang were of the highest quality. I conclude my humble attempt to showcase some of the rarest combinations with this superb ghazal by the Ghazal king for the melody king.
Sab Kuch Lutake Hosh Mein -Ek Saal-1957-Prem Dhawan
Acknowledgement & Disclaimer
I sincerely thank the publishers of following blogsites & Internet sources for the information that I could gather for this article:
- You Tube
- Wikipedia
The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been embedded here only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. The photograph is taken from the internet, duly recognizing the full copyrights for the same to the original creator or the site where they were originally displayed .This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights.
Music Unrestricted 