Weekend

In today’s weekend blog, I am writing few interesting facts and incidents related to the life of the greatest male playback singer ever graced the Indian Film music scene. He was the most humble person of Hindi film industry, who had never spoken ill about any of his colleagues in the industry. He never  had a fixed fees for singing song, whatever producer gave him he accepted with thanks. He was never money minded, and when in 60s there was demand by singers that producer should share part of royality  received for the songs with playback singers, he refused to be part of that group saying that once producer has paid our fees for singing song, then our job is over. On that issue one great female playback singer refused to sing duet songs with him, but he never reacted in bad manner. Friends, you must have guessed by this time now I am referring to which male playback singer. Yes, I am talking about the great Legendary singer MOHD RAFI.

Few interesting incidents/facts related to Mohd Rafi:

1 BR Chopra, who started his career as writer in late 40s and later turned Producer/Directed in early 50s became very famous with his films like Afsana, Ek Hi Raasta, Naya Daur, Sadhana, Dhool Ka Phool and many more, once said to Mohd Rafi in early 60s that he should exclusively sing for BR Films banner, but Rafiji politely refused and said this is not possible. BR Chopra thought how a singer can refuse  producer/director like him, and replied to Mohd Rafi what he think of himself, I can make another Rafi who will sing better than you. Rafjij kept quiet and walked away. After this  for next few films of BR banner, BR Chopra started using Mahendra Kapoor as male playback singer and the songs of Gumrah, Waqt, Humraaj sung by Mahendra Kapoor became very popular. Here also there is one incident when music director Waqt Ravi insisted that  the title song of the film “Waqt  Se Din Aur Raat, Waqt Se Kal Aur Aaj” should be sung by Mohd Rafi, but BR Chopra was not ready for this, as a last resort Ravi said to BR Chopra, if you are not agreeing in that case I am ready to leave this film. So BR Chopra reluctantly agreed, and on the request of Ravi, Rafiji recorded this song, but on the day of recording BR Chopra never came to recording studio. After few years BR Chopra conceded that Mohd Rafi is the greatest singer, and with all his efforts he was unable to make another Rafi.

2 Shammi Kapoor was known as singing stars of 60s, and Mohd Rafi sang most of his songs. Shammi had a great musical mind, and secondly Shammi never used choreographer for his dance movements, after listening the tune he used to make up his mind in what way he is going to perform this song. Generally he used to be present at the song recordings and used to discuss with Rafi the way he wants  to sing the song on screen, and Rafiji should sing accordingly in that mode. Once it so happened Shammi Kapoor had to go out of Bombay for some work and during that time one of the song of ‘ An Evening in Paris’ was to be recorded. Shammi requested producer/director of film Shakti Samanta to postpone the recording. But due to some reasons  recording could not be postponed, and the song was recorded in Rafiji’s voice. When Shammi came back, he got very angry saying how could you record the song in my absence, then Shakti Samanta said to him, Shammi you first listen the song and if you do not like it we will re record the song the way you want it. Shammi listened the recorded song and he was astonished, Rafiji had sung the song exactly the way he had envisaged. Shammi rushed to Rafiji’s house and hugged him and said how you could visualise that I am going to sing the song on the screen in this way. Rafjii replied that when he came to know that this song is going to be picturised on you, and in the beginning of song you will be hanging from helicopter which will slowly come down, then you will go into speed boat,  I  could visualise that you will perform in which way and sung the song accordingly .Such was his greatness. The song was  ‘Aasmaan Se Aaya Farishta’, composed by Shankar Jaikishan.

3 There is more incident involving same team of Rafi, Shammi Kapoor and Shankar Jaikishan. The time was recording of a song of film Brahamchari, and the song was ‘Dil Ke Jharokhe Mein Tujhko Bithake, Yaadon Ko Teri Main Dulhan Banake, Rakhoonga Main Dil Ke Paas, Mat Ho Meri Jaan Udaas’. If you have heard this song, then you must have realised this song is totally  sung at very high pitch. Shammi Kapoor said to Rafi in a very casual manner, Rafiji I challenge you to sing Mukhda and Antras of the song without any pause ( means Ek saans mein). Rafiji smiled and said nothing. At the time of recording Rafiji sang the song the way Shammi Kapoor had challenged him. Seeing that Shammi was tongue tied and thought how Rafiji could sing the song at such a  high pitch without pausing even. When Rafiji came out of recording room, he smiled and said “ Shammi Aise challenge mat diya kar yaar, ek din meri awaaz chali gayi to tumhare liye kaun gayega”  When you see this song even now, you will realise that it was even more difficult for Shammi Kapoor to lip sync this high pitched song.

There are so many incidents about Mohd Rafi’s greatness, which I may describe in my future weekend blogs.

Waiting for your views/comments/feed backs.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

16^th Oct 2020