Rafi’s best songs by Kalyanji-Anandji

Continuing the series on Rafi with a tribute to Kalyanji (30 June 1928-24 August 2000) and Anandji (2 March 1933-) on Klayanji’s 96th birth anniversary.

When you think of Kalyanji-Anandji’s main playback singers, Mukesh comes to mind first. They seemed to be made for each other, and there is already a post on KA-Mukesh combination on this blog with this title. They composed the most songs for Mukesh, a little more than Shankar-Jaikishan. What was remarkable was that while SJ-Mukesh were generally regular for Raj Kapoor, KA had Raj Kapoor as the hero for only two films, their Mukesh songs were widely spread over many actors.

I was a little intrigued about their songs for Rafi; I did not count them under top music directors for sure as far as Rafi songs are concerned. But when I looked at the list of Rafi songs it was a revelation that they have given close to 190 songs for him, and some of them have long been great favourites.

The elder brother Kalyanji Virjee Shah debuted solo in 1958 with the film Samrat Chandragupta which had superb Rafi-Lata duet Chaahe paas ho chaahe door ho mere ankhiyon ki tum tasveer ho. He did a few more films solo, but the very next year his younger brother Anandji joined him to form he famed duo Kalyanji-Anandji and continued their musical journey with great success. K-A were not from a music family. They were born in a business family in Kutch, their father ran a grocery store in Girgam. A customer in their father’s shop introduced the brothers to basics of music. Deeply attracted to music Kalyanji made a music band and performed at different places. At the same time he continued his efforts to get a foothold in Bombay film music. He became assistant to Hemant Kumar. Kalyanji has entered the Hall of Fame as the person who created the been tune of Nagin (1954) on clavioline.

1970s was the era of Rajesh Khanna-Kishore Kumar and 80s of Amitabh-Bachchan-Kishore Kumar. KA adapted to the new requirements admirably and were counted in the Big Three along with RD Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal. From Mukesh’s Tumhein zindagi ke ujaale mubarak to Kishore Kumar’s Khaike paan Banaraswala is a massive transformation which shows the talent of Kalyanji-Anandji. Many great music directors could not negotiate the change. Alongside K-A continued composing excellent songs for their favourite Mukesh, and also other singers including Mahendra Kapoor, Manna Dey and Rafi.

Some readers have requested for a series on Kalyanji-Anandji, who were in any case next in line for greater coverage on SOY. I am celebrating Rafi’s centenary year. It is clear KA composed far more songs for Rafi than they did for Mukesh. In the continuing series on Rafi’s centenary celebrations I post his songs composed by Kalyanji-Anandji on Kalyanji’s 96^th birth anniversary. I am not distinguishing between Kalyanji solo and Kalyanji-Anandji duo.

1. Chaahe paas ho chaahe door ho by Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi from Samrat Chandragupta (1958), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Kalyanji Virjee Shah

In his very first film Kalyanji composes a superb Lata Mangeshkar-Rafi duet. Picturised on Bharat Bhushan and Nirupa Roy, it is in the mould of Chitragupta/SN Tripathi.

2. Main yahan tu kahan mera dil tujhe pukare by Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar from Bedard Zamana Kya Jaane (1959), lyrics Bharat Vyas, music Kalyanji Virjee Shah

Continuing solo Kalyanji composes another great Rafi-Lata Mangeshkar duet, now in a different mould.

3. Saaz-e-dil chhed de kya haseen raat hai by Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar from Passport (1961), lyrics Farooq Qaiser, music Kalyanji-Anandji

Now the brothers have joined to form a duet, and they continue their melody with another Rafi-Lata duet.

4. Govinda ala re zara matki sambhal brijbala by Rafi from Bluff Master (1963), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Kalyanji-Anandji

KA have composed a cult Rafi song, picturised on Shammi Kapoor, which is a must on every Dahi-handi (Janmashtami).

5. Himalay ki bulandi se suno awaz hai ayi..Watan pe jo fida hoga by Rafi from Phool Bane Angare (1963), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Kalyanji-Anandji

Patriotic songs are synonymous with Rafi. KA have composed a superb song.

6. Dil beqaraar sa hai humko khumar sa hai by Rafi from Ishara (1964), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music Kalyanji-Anandji

One word to describe tis song is masti – Mausam nashi mein choor hai; Kuchh pee ke ayi hai ghata/…Ab maine jana pyar kya hai teri aankhon ki kasam. This song also has a twin version sung by Lata Mangeshkar, and my preference between a is well-known.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD4GVCV7IUQ

7. Ae jaan-e tamanna ae jaan-e-baharan Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur from Ji Chahta Hai (1964), lyrics Hasrat Jaipuri, music Kalyanji-Anandji

On the one hand I find Mukesh’s Hum chhod chalein hain mehfil ko out of this world, on the other I am no less fond of this Suman Kalynapur-Rafi duet.

8. Ek tha gul aur ek thi bulbul by Rafi from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), lyrics Anand Bakhshi, music Kalyanji-Anandji

The video is self-explanatory. Nanda interjects from time to time with some words. But to my mind it retains the character of a solo. A superhit song from a superhit film of its time.

9. Aji aisi nazar ko kya kahiye jo yaar na apna pahchaane by Rafi and chorus from Johar Mahmood in Goa (1965), lyrics Farooq Qaiser, music Kalyanji-Anandji

Johar Mahmood In Goa had superb songs by Mukesh, such as Dheere re chalo meri baanki hiraniya, and also by Rafi. Here is an excellent song in qawwali style.

10. Nain milakar chain churana kiska hai ye kaam by Rafi from Aamne Saamne (1967), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music Kalyanji-Anandji

KA got to compose for many films of Shashi Kapoor for whom Rafi was a most suited singer. Many of these songs were chartbusters. Here is a superb club dance song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDn_olsGqiQ

11. Akele hain chale aao jahan ho by Rafi from Raaz (1967), lyrics Shamim Jaipuri, music Kalyanji-Anandji

12. O dilbar jaaniye tere hain hum tere by Rafi from Haseena Maan Jayegi (1968), lyrics Prakash Mehra, music Kalyanji-Anandji

There was a short period when Shashi Kapoor meant the singer would be Rafi and music director Kalyanji-Anandji. Shashi Kapoor plays a typical naughty person whom Babita finds irritable. Rafi brings invests full energy in the song to bring out its fun.

13. Sukh ke sab sathi dukh mein na koi by Rafi from Gopi (1970), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Kalyanji-Anandji

In film world you are as good as your last hit. By this time Naushad-Dilip Kumar connection was broken. KA got to compose for some films of Dilip Kumar. In my anniversary post I had mentioned Rafi’s devotional songs. Here is a superb bhajan devoted to Ram.

Kalyanji-Anandji continued to compose for many years more for Rafi. Among later songs I particularly like is this street song from Zanzeer (1973). This superhit film created a new persona of ‘Angry Young Man’ for Amitabh Bachchan.

14. Deewane hain deewnon ko na ghar chahiye by Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar from Zanjeer (1973), lyrics Gulshan Bawra, music Kalyanji-Anandji

‘Angry Young Men’ do not sing. This street song is picturised on Gulshan Bawra himself and an extra Sanjana, but the lead actors watch it from the window. Quite a delight.

We have some interesting information, courtesy Sivanandamji, about this song: On the day of recording Rafi was suffering from high fever. Though he had come for recording, he was thinking of cancelling it. Gulshan Bawra was greatly disappointed to hear this. When he requested Rafi that the song was to be picturised on him, Rafi obliged and sang this beautiful song even with a high fever. Great man.

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
The songs links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog has no commercial interest and it claims no copyright over these songs which vests with the respective owners.