Mohammed Rafi was an Indian playback singer and musician. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent.
Muhammed Rafi, (born December 24, 1924, Kotla Sultan Singh, near Amritsar, Punjab, British India and died July 31, 1980), 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.
Where is Mohammed Rafi from?
Kotla Sultan Singh village
Kota Sultan Singh village
His voice suited any genre of music be it a moving ghazal like Aap Ke Pehloo Main Aakar Ro Diye, a plaintive bhajan like O Duniya Ke Rakhawale, or a wild and whacky Shanker-Jaikishan composition like Chahe Koi Mujhe Jungle Kahe. Mohammed Rafi added his delectable nuances to the melody and made it immortal.
His voice had this unique feature of screen adaptability and when it merged with his intelligence as a singer it helped him to tailor his voice across an array of faces that remain entrenched in our memory books. Comedian Johnny Walker had a voice that was queerly rounded.
Mohammed Rafi's take on him was phenomenal in songs like Sar Jo Tera Chakraye under S D Burman in Pyasa and Aye Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yaha from CID. Mohammed Rafi managed to sound exactly like Johnny Walker would if he sang the song himself. Rafi summoned Johnny Walker a day or two prior to the song picturization and then contributed his bit to add to the character Johnny Walker played on screen.
Honestly speaking it would not be in any way an overstatement to say that heroes like Biswajit (Pukarta chala hoon main), Bharat Bhushan (Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat), Joy Mukherjee (Bade Miyan Deewane) are remembered more for the songs that were picturised on them with Rafi lending his golden voice to their average acting abilities.
Mohammed Rafi was known for his altruistic behavior, which was exhibited on several occasions. He has been known to charge just a token amount as his fees for singing songs of Music Directors who could not afford his regular charges.
Many a times Mohammed Rafi has sung songs without charging a single penny to the Music Directors. A case in point is the film Aap ke Deewane with which actor Rakesh Roshan began his phase as a Producer Director.
Rafi sang the title song of the film but did not charge any money because he felt that he liked the song a lot and after all it was only a line, which he had to render. Very few singers were known to be so good at heart. This innate goodness in him came to the fore when he sang most of his songs.
Where is Mohammed Rafi from?
Kotla Sultan Singh is a village near Amritsar city in the Amritsar district of Punjab, India. It is the birthplace of playback singer Mohammed Rafi. There have been many attempts by his fans to get a memorial to him built in his native village.
When was Mohammed Rafi born?
Muhammed Rafi, (born December 24, 1924, Kotla Sultan Singh, near Amritsar, Punjab, British India and died July 31, 1980), legendary playback singer who recorded more than 25,000 songs in a career spanning almost 40 years.
Why Mohammed Rafi died so early?
Died: Mohammed Rafi, 55, of massive heart attacks on July 31, in Bombay. Rarely has a singer held such complete sway over the Indian film music scene.
Who is better Kishore or Rafi Quora?
Mohammad Rafi sang the Lyrics were more powerful then the music. The time when Late Sh. Kishore Kumar came actively sang the Music was more powerful then the lyrics. By powerful i mean better & strong part of a song.
Why is Rafi great?
He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and range of voice; his songs varied from fast peppy numbers to patriotic songs, sad numbers to highly romantic songs, qawwalis to ghazals and bhajans to classical songs.
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