Singers

The evolution of Mohammad Rafi: PART ONE (1944-55)

Thumbnail image for The evolution of Mohammad Rafi: PART ONE (1944-55) February 25, 2025

Guest article by Hans Jakhar extending the centenary celebrations of Rafi (b. 24 Dec 1924 – d. 31 July 1980) (Hans Jakhar, an SOY regular, is an avid Rafi fan and a Master of Data. Therefore, when I decided to celebrate 2024 as Rafi’s centenary year, my thoughts first went to him whether he would […]

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Some Less Heard Gems of Mohammad Rafi – The Sad Romantic Solos: 1940s through 50s

Thumbnail image for Some Less Heard Gems of Mohammad Rafi – The Sad Romantic Solos: 1940s through 50s February 14, 2025

Guest article by Ashok M Vaishnav wishing everyone a very Happy Valentine Day with Rafi’s sad romantic solos, extending his centenary celebrations (Ashok M Vaishnav had sent this article for Rafi centenary celebrations in the calendar year 2024. But with series on Kalyanji-Anadnji and Usha Khanna added in, I could not squeeze this article in […]

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Rafi’s duets with different music directors over the years

Thumbnail image for Rafi’s duets with different music directors over the years December 24, 2024

A tribute to Rafi with his duets concluding his centenary celebrations (24 December 1924 to 31 July 1980) and wishing Merry Christmas to all Rafi would have been a hundred years old today. His life was cut short at a young age of 56 years, but in this short span he gave joy to millions […]

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SAFARNAMA: In Pursuit of Two Iconic Lives

Thumbnail image for SAFARNAMA: In Pursuit of Two Iconic Lives December 11, 2024

A Journey with Dilip Kumar (11th December 1922 – 7th July 2021) and Mohammed Rafi (24th December 1924 – 31st July 1980) Guest article by N Venkataraman in the series of Centenary Celebrations of Rafi with his songs for Dilip Kumar on his 102nd Birth Anniversary (Dilip Kumar is the undisputed thespian of acting. Rafi […]

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Kalyanji-Anandji 2.0: Their best songs for ‘other’ male singers

Thumbnail image for Kalyanji-Anandji 2.0: Their best songs for ‘other’ male singers November 20, 2024

After I had covered the best songs of Kalyanji-Anandji for Mukesh and Rafi, I once browsed through their songs for ‘other’ male singers for a lark. I was amazed to find an enormous variety of singers they had chosen. Though all the songs were well-known it had not registered in my mind instantly. The result […]

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Kalyanji-Anandji 2.0 and Kishore Kumar: Made for each other

Thumbnail image for Kalyanji-Anandji 2.0 and Kishore Kumar: Made for each other November 10, 2024

I had written my first post on Kalyanji-Anandji about ten years ago on their best songs for Mukesh and had titled it “Made for each other”. I used that phrase studiedly because that was my instinctive feeling. Nudging by a reader made me explore their more songs – for Rafi, Other male singers, and Lata […]

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Usha Khanna’s best songs for Lata Mangeshkar, and other female singers

Thumbnail image for Usha Khanna’s best songs for Lata Mangeshkar, and other female singers October 31, 2024

Concluding the series of tributes to Usha Khanna with her best songs for Lata Mangeshkar and other female singers Usha Khanna’s debut score in Dil Deke Dekho (1959) sounded so much OP Nayyar-ish that you may get the impression that she too would exclude Lata Mangeshkar completely and her female singer would be predominantly Asha […]

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Usha Khanna’s best songs for Mukesh and other male singers

Thumbnail image for Usha Khanna’s best songs for Mukesh and other male singers October 19, 2024

Continuing the tribute for Usha Khanna, her best songs for Mukesh and other male singers The last post was on Usha Khanna’s best songs for Rafi on her 83rd birth anniversary (b. 7 October 1941). This was also a tribute to Rafi as a part of his centenary celebrations. How does she do with other […]

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Kalyanji-Anandji’s best songs for Lata Mangeshkar and other female singers

Kalyanji-Anandji and Lata Mangeshkar September 28, 2024

Kalyanji-Anandji were extremely melodious composers. But in a crowded field at the top comprising Naushad, SD Burman, Shankar-Jaikishan, OP Nayyar, Roshan, Madan Mohan, etc. they were not among the elite at the High Table. But 70s onwards the gods were kind to them. Kalyanji-Anandji showed amazing talent to adapt themselves to the new voices (read […]

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Some Hidden Gems of Mohammad Rafi: The Romantic Solos

Rafi August 23, 2024

Guest article by Ashok Vaishnav continuing the centenary celebrations of Mohammad Rafi (24.12.1924-31.7.1980) (Among many romantic solos of Rafi there are several gems hidden under the layer of superhit songs. Some of the hidden gems are more melodious than superhit songs. Our SOY regular and guest author today, Ashok Vaishnav, throws the spotlight on some […]

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