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 such gems. Ashokji is a is a prolific writer for SOY on a variety of themes. He is a known Rafi-fan, and it was unthinkable that he would not join in his centenary celebrations
As a retired engineer and now a management trainer Ashokji brings analytical rigour to his articles. He is based out of Ahmedabad. Thank you Ashokji for this interesting write-up. – AK)
The spectrum of Mohammad Rafi’s songs through his entire career contains innumerable hues and shades, even within a given genre. Moreover, every historian or an analyst or a fan of him who have been writing, or airing the views, about his songs have had their own context or view. As such, every piece has always come out as a totally different view under the kaleidoscope. It would, perhaps, be a very safe bet to say that anything written or said about Mohammad Rafi’s songs will start repeating if, and only when, human imaginations and interests (or even those of AI in the future 😊) will reach their limits. The occasion of celebration of Mohammad Rafi’s birth centenary year has made the viewing of the spectrum of Mohammad Rafi’s songs more intense and more microscopic, and hence, much more interesting.
Hindi films have produced something like 80,000+ songs by the end of second decade of the present century. It can be safely assumed that the share of ‘above average’ – whether in terms of parameters like quality of composition, lyrics singing, or popularity, or being evergreen – would be inverse of (the famous) 80:20 rule.
The typical normal distribution curve usually has around 10% ‘Excellent’, around 15% ‘above average’, around 50% ‘meets expectations’ (average), further 15% ‘below expectations’ and the last 10% or so of ‘serious under performance’ results.
As can be expected, Mohammad Rafi’s songs too would have had had its ‘normal’ share of what can be universally termed as ‘all time greats’, ‘very good, ‘good enough’ and ‘just average’ or ‘mere commercial’ songs. However, when we see more deeply, we observe that, within each of these patterns, there are several songs that have been ‘eclipsed’ behind the some or other factor.
Presently, I have chosen to explore such ‘hidden’ gems of Mohammad Rafi’s solos from within the broad canvas of ‘all time greats’ and ‘very good’ categories. I set my filter to one music director who would be considered to have done major work with Rafi at a time. In the process, at the first cut my selection threw up more than one song under this filter. Since, the aim is to present as many as possible songs of Mohammad Rafi during his birth centenary year, I have picked up all these songs and then further filtered the one that I consider as THE HIDDEN GEM’.
1950s is generally considered as Rafi’s best period in terms of his benchmark setting voice quality and range of genres. ‘60s is considered to be the period where Hindi film music leaned more towards popularity. 1969 (Aradhana) is considered to be the end of Rafi’s almost solo domination. As such, I have remained within the period of the two decades of ’50 and ‘60s for the purpose of this article.
For arranging the songs here, I have followed the ascending order of the year in which Mohammad Rafi sang the first ever solo for that music director (mentioned in the bracket after the name of the respective music director).
1. Ishq deewana husn bhi ghayal dono taraf ek dard-e-jigar hai – Sanghursh (1968) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni – Music: Naushad (1946)
Deedar (1951) was a major milestone in Mohammad Rafi’s career, as it not only marked his long-term association with Dilip Kumar as unquestionably his playback voice, but also as a stepping-stone to the virtual domination in the field of male playback singers, in the face of some of the finest competition.
Naushad did give music beyond Dilip Kumar ambit since then – for Bharat Bhushan (Baiju Bawra, 1952; Shabab, 1954 and Sohni Mahiwal, 1958; for Rajendra Kumar (Mere Mehboob, 1963, Palki, 1967 and Saathi, 1968 and for Joy Mukherjee Saaz Aur Awaz, 1966). Of these, Palki – the film as well as music was as much an abject failure as Mere Mehboob was a grand success. Saathi had Mukesh as male playback. Also, success of the music Saaz Aur Awaz can be considered as ‘just average’.
In so far as male songs of Dilip Kumar films is concerned, every film, by and large, followed a template of at least one happy and one sad song. The songs within this pattern also seemed to be further cast in Naushad’s own mould for these types of songs. Nonetheless, each of the song can be said to have been able to stand on its merit. However, when my search reached Sanghursh (1968), it involuntarily stopped.
The songs in the film were eclipsed behind the story line and the acting of all the actors in the film. Even the other romantic male solo song from the film, Jab dilse dil takarata hai mat pucchiye kya ho jaata hai seemed to me to overshadow the present song, even though the present song is more pleasing, more romantic, and more Rafi-like.
2. Dil mein ek jaan-e-tamanna ne jagah payi hai, aaj gulshan mein nahin ghar mein bahar aayi hai – Benazir (1964) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni – Music: S D Burman (1947)
Even though technically Mohammad Rafi’s association with S D Burman commenced as far as back in 1947 with Do Bhai, Rafi can be said to have been the centrepin of S D Burman’s music with Pyasa (1957), till Guide (1965). In this period, almost all songs for Dev Anand invariably remain etched in the memory of the HFM listeners. In films like Solva Saal or Baat Ek Raat Ki, Rafi songs on Dev Anand were essentially secondary songs. Even Akela hun main is duniya mein (Baat Ek Raat Ki, 1962 – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri), otherwise a very pleasing song remains overshadowed by Na tum hamein jaano (Hemant Kumar).
However, the case of present song is very unique. I rate the present song as one of the finest SD Burman’s Rafi solo, from any angle. But Benazir itself did not do well on the box office. Moreover, it was a woman-centric film, and the character of Ashok Kumar was more important male character. Shashi Kapoor and Tanuja were essentially in relatively minor side roles. S D Burman’s music, for a Muslim social drama was well acclaimed. But it was natural that Lata Mangeshkar songs will get more prominence. All these factors were more than enough to script the total eclipse of the present song.
3. Teri pasand kya hai ye mujhko khabar nahin meri pasand ye hai ki mujhko hai tu pasand – Ek Din Ka Badshah (1964) – Lyrics: Jugal Kishore – Music: Hansraj Behl (1948)
What is typically classified as B or C films in the film industry were made on shoe-string budgets. Therefore, it lacked many attractions of the A class films. However, these films invariably had most gifted music directors of the industry. As such, even if the films were targeted to specific audiences, the music of the film had had universal appeal. There are many cases where the songs have lifted the films to box-office successes.
In such a peculiar scenario, one can write an independent article on Mohammad Rafi’s best-of-class romantic songs in B or C grade films that have been eclipsed behind the box-office failures of these films.
I have maintained one song for each music director for the present article. However, Shankar-Jaikishan’s association with Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra has led me to make an exception.
4. Chaar dinon ki chhutti hai aur unse ja ke milna hai – Aas Ka Panchhi (1961) – Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri – Music: Shankar-Jaikishan (1949)
I had an alternative song, too, for consideration – Phool sa chehra chand si rangat chaal qa yamat kya kahiye (Raat Aur Din, 1967- Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri – Music: Shankar-Jaikishan).
However, I finally selected the present song because it is hidden behind multiple shadows.
Rajendra Kumar struggled for success in the early films, before the 1961 hits Gharana and Sasural sent him into orbit of ‘jubilee star’. Gharana and Sasural were released within one month of each other. Both were produced by the famous production houses of South. And both had used almost similar template for Rajendra Kumar – be his roles, be his acting style, be songs filmed on him and all that.
Aas Ka Panchhi was released almost a month earlier. This film seemed not cast in this success formula template. Shankar-Jaikishan had used three playback singers – Subir Sen, Mukesh and Mohammad Rafi for him, as can also be seen in early Rajendra Kumar films. Subir Sen and Mukesh solos from the film are more in the SJ styles, whereas the present song is totally different.
It seems that ‘jubilee star’ style or SJ’s own styles have overshadowed the present song not falling into any of these known patterns.
5. Kahan ja rahe the kahan aa gaye hum, kisi ki nigahhon se takara gaye hum – Love Marriage (1959) – Lyrics: Shailendra – Music: Shankar-Jaikishan (1949)
The song is as much a Shailendra or a Shankar-Jaikishan song as a refreshingly different song. It fits Dev Anand style like a T.
However, it seems that two other towering songs from the same film – Dheere dheere chal chand gagan mein (Rafi, Lata – Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri) and Kahe jhum jhum raat ye suhani (Lata – Lyrics: Shailendra) have simply overshadowed the present song.
6. Masti mein chhed ke tarana koi dil ka, aaj lutayega khazana koi dil ka – Haqeeqat (1964) – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi – Music: Madan Mohan (1950)
Madan Mohan’s songs for Lata Mangeshkar have remained high point of his repertoire, and consequently his work with Mohammad Rafi has remained under the shadow of those songs. The list of films with Madan Mohan’s songs for Mohammad Rafi itself far too big to narrate here.
Even the shortlist of Madan Mohan’s romantic songs that I would prefer to classify as hidden gems too turned out be quite stunning. The songs like Main nigahein tere chehre se hataun kaise (Aap Ki Parchhaiyan, 1964 – Lyrics: Raja Mehndi Ali Khan), Meri mehboob milakar kahin aur mujhko (Ghazal, 1964 – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhiyanvi), Tu mere saamne hai (Suhagan, 1965 – Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri), Kuchh aisi pyari surat mere dilruba ki hai (Naya Kanoon, 1965- Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri), Tere kuche mein tera diwana (Heer Ranjha, 1970 – Lyrics: Raja Mehndi Ali Khan) seemed to make my choice of the song for the present article quite formidable.
However, the present song made my job so easy. Here is the song that obviously had no chance at all in the comparison of any of the other songs from the film. Filming of the song on Vijay Anand did not help.
When all is said and done, this is the song that easily ranks very high from among the songs that I have presented in this article.
7. Abhi na phero nazar zindagi sanwaar to lein ke dil ke sheeshe mein hum aapko utaar to lein – Biradari (1966) – Lyrics: Prem Dhawan Music: Chitragupta (1950)
Chitragupta’s initial career was buried under litany of B and C grade mythological films. Success of Bhabhi turned the leaf of his career. Since then, he is credited with many outstanding Lata Mangeshkar, and quite a few ‘very good’ Mohammad Rafi songs. These songs took him into the orbit of ‘successful’ music directors but could not take him into the ranks of ‘the top’ music directors.
8. Main kho gaya yahin kahin, jawan hai rut saman haseen – 12 O’ Clock (1958) – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri – Music: O P Nayyar (1953)
O P Nayyar is one of those music directors who were instrumental in making Mohammad Rafi as ‘THE’ common man’s singer. In fact, one may not have to work very hard to find his Mohammad Rafi songs that were far above average and very popular as well.
The Mohammad Rafi songs that he composed for Guru Dutt’s light /thriller movies before Pyasa (1957) were successful enough to easily overcome the not-so-romantic screen image of Guru Dutt, the actor.
However, the present song is perhaps too romantic to have become the exception to this formula. The fact that the song is quite difficult to sing for the viewer of light, easy films, perhaps, also has not helped.
https://youtu.be/BVdw5hVWpjI?si=RSHEaiRbbKeNO6nr
9. Tum ek baar mohabbat ka imtihaan to lo, mere junoon meri vahshat ka imtihaan lo – Babar (1960) – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhiyanvi – Music: Roshan (1954)
Roshan and Rafi came together in 1954, however it was Barsat Ki Raat (1960) that literally went on to flood with some of the most remembered songs for this combination. Barsat Ki Raat went on to open floodgates of profusely successful relationship between Roshan and Sahir.
However, that outpouring of success has simply left dry the excellent music score of maiden film – Babar (1960) in which Roshan and Sahir came together.
https://youtu.be/JSmeq0fqA50?si=9kdD-p9lHNDq33bY
10. Jaane kahan dekha hai tumhein, kahan dekha hai tumhein, jaagi jaagi annkhiyon ke sapano mein jaane kahan dekha hai tumhein – Biwi Aur Makaan (1966) – Lyrics: Gulzar – Music: Hemant Kumar (1954)
It would be nobody’s fault if one would not expect a Mohammad Rafi romantic solo composed by Hemant Kumar! That too, in a comedy film wherein Mahmood is leading the show!
However, for the records, Hemant Kumar has composed one more such song, too – Tera husn rahe mera ishq rahe (Do Dil, 1965 – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi).
11. Mere mehboob mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe, roshni leke andhere se nikalna hai tujhe – Gyarah Hazar Ladkiyan (1962) – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi – Music: N Dutta (1955)
Bharat Bhushan was one of the heroes who had enviously successful songs in Mohammad Rafi’s voice, even when films did not do well on the box office.
Here is an undoubtedly N Dutta composition that seems to have been hidden behind more successful duet version of Dil ki tamanna thi masti mein manzil se bhi dur nikalate.
12. Mujhe tum se mohabbat hai magar main kah nahin sakta, magar main kya karun kahe bina rah nahi sakta – Bachpan (1963) – Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri – Music: Sardar Malik (1957)
Sardar Malik is rated as a music director who was ‘talented but could not succeed’. Here is a song that perhaps may not find place among Saradar exceptional songs like Saranga teri yaad mein (Saranga, – Mukesh – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas).
13. Teri tasveer bhi tujh jaisi haseen hai lekin, is pe qurbaan mei jaan-e-hazeen hai lekein, ye meri zakhmi umango ka madaawa to nahin – Kinare Kinare (1963) – Lyrics: Nyay Sharma – Jaidev (1957)
Most of the tasveer songs, in general, and rendered by Rafi, in particular, have been well accepted. Why would this song have turned out be an exception? Because of being filmed on Chetan Anand? Being too difficult to sing? Or hidden behind other gems from the same film?
14. Zara sun haseena-e-nazneen mera dil tujhi pe nisar hai … tere dam pe hi mere dilruba meri zindgi mein bahaar hai – Kaun Apna Kaun Paraya (1963) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni – Music: Ravi (1957)
After hesitant initial beginning, Ravi seemed to have found the proverbial Midas touch in Chaudhavi Ka Chand (1960). Since then, one would find very few songs that would not have been in ‘above average’, or in at least ‘average’, category of public acceptance.
The present song is indeed a very good a composition of Ravi, very well versed by Shakeel Badayuni and rendered so majestically by Rafi. So, it was perhaps summary disapproval of the lead actor, Vijay Kumar, by the public that seems to have eclipsed the ease-of-recall value of the song.
15. Meri nigah ne kya kaam lajawaab kiya, unhin ko lakhon haseeno mein intkhab kiya – Mohabbat Is Ko Kehte Hain (1965) Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri – Music: Khayyam (1958, in his own name)
Here is a song that is hidden behind my own dilemma of making a choice between this song and Aur kuchh der thehar aur kuchh der na ja (Aakhari Khat, 1966 – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi).
If this was not enough, each of these films had more than one song to overshadow these two songs individually. Mohabbat Is Ko Kahate Hain had – Thahariye hosh mein aaun to chale jaaiyega (Rafi, Suman Kalyanpur), Jo hum pe guzarti hai tanha kise samajhayein (Suman Kalyanpur) and Itna husn pe huzur na guroor kijiye (Mukesh). Aakhari Khat (1966) had – Baharo mera jivan bhi sanvaaro, Mere chanda mere nanhe (both Lata solos) and Bhupinder’s Rut jawan jawan raat meharbaan.
16. Dil ke aaine mein tasveer teri rahti hai … main ye samjha koi zannat ke pari rehti hai – Aao Payar Karien (1964) – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna – Music: Usha Khanna (1959)
With 5 solo songs and one duet, Rafi was the dominant singer in Aao Pyar Karein. Of all these songs, the present song is certainly a very melodious composition, with very rich and yet soothing orchestration, rendered so caressingly by Rafi.
While working for this post, I could not recall the song easily from its short mukhada. So, I chose to listen to the song. I now keep wondering how this song would have thinned out so much from my memory.
17. Humne dekha hai tumhen aisa guman hota hai .. aankh milti hai to kyon dard jawan hota hai – Ji Chahta Hai (1971) – Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri – Music: Kalyandji Anandji (1959)
The general impression is that, given a choice, Mohammad Rafi would not be the first choice for Kalyanji Anandji. Without attempting any way to check this hypothesis, it needs to be noted that this film had two solos, two duets and one duet that had Mohammad Rafi solo twin, but the song that may carry the icing-on-the-cake credit was a Mukesh solo (sad mood) song – Hum chhod chale hain mefil ko yaad aayein kabhi to mat rona.
The fact that the present song is at the border of pensiveness and poignancy transition zone of the romantic mood. Even the prelude solo saxophone and interlude shehnai pieces, too, seem to be ambivalent between these two moods As such, the song requires worth repeated listening to really get to the mood that it manifests.
https://youtu.be/ks-6FrwWz2U?si=m84N6ebIbyrRnd0s
18. Tumhein dekha hai maine gulistan mein ke zannat dhoondh li hai maine jahan mein – Chandan Ka Palna (1967) – Lyrics: Anand Bakshi – Music: R D Burman (1961)
Opinions remain sharply divided about R D Burman’s songs for Mohammad Rafi. Without getting embroiled in that quicksand, it would not be out of place to note that RD had almost a third of his all-time Rafi solos till 1970. When I was exploring the songs for this post, I noticed that except two or three of these songs I was aware of all.
However, here is the song that I find difficult to recall even now. Be that as it may, it is a good composition on standalone basis and is quite different from RD’s typical style template.
19. Abhi kamsin ho nadan ho .. kya karogi mera dil tod dogi mera dil, pahle sikho dil lagana – Aaya Toofan (1964) – Lyrics: Asad Bhopali – Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Here is one of those lovely songs that LP had composed in their first three B grade low-budget films. Unfortunately for the present song, it seems to have been sandwiched between roaring success of songs from Parasmani (1963) and Dosti (1964).
As I look back at these songs list, the first thing that strikes me is that all the songs belong to the ’60s. I wonder even when I have certainly run through all songs of Rafi from the beginning, why did I not choose any song from the 50s? Were the songs of the ‘50s too good to be qualified as hidden gems? Or, were some of those songs, comparatively, not so popular enough? Or is it that my personal bias has chosen more songs of the ‘60s as compared to ‘50s within the logical filter I seemed to have applied for selection of the songs for the present article?
I do not really have any clue, at least for now.
Would you have any?
Credits and Disclaimers:
1. The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of music lovers. This blog claims no copyright over these songs, which vests with the respective copyright holders.
2. The photograph is taken from the internet, duly recognising the full copyrights for the same to the either original creator or the site where they were originally displayed.
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
Ashok ji
My compliments on bringing out this lovely post. The format chosen by you plus your spectacular thought process , make this post worth reading again and again. The songs in the post are excellent songs (actually many of them are among my favourite Rafi solos).
Thank you sir.
Hidden gems of Rafi is the appropriate name of topic for this selection ! This can be seen from just two examples here : The song from Aas Ka Panchi was really hidden since it was Mukesh and to some extent Subir Sen all the way in this movie. Then same with the case of Love Marriage song. Kahan jaa rahe the was a lovely refeshing song which was hidden by several songs like Dhire Dhire Chal and Kahe jhoom jhoom and teen kanaster . In fact, She ne khela he se was also a hidden gem from the same film ! There are several songs from films in this catagory and we have to search them out .
Similarly, in Kinare Kinare also there were hidden gems like O pagale, der na hogi pal chin (Rafi and Usha Mangeshkar ) which was literally overshadowed by several mind boggling numbers from Lata , Mukesh, Talat Mahmood and Mannadey !
Ashok Kumar Tyagi #1 | KB #2 and #3
The ocean of Mohammad Rafi’s song has so many gems that every dive brings up a new find.
I am happy that my find meets your taste too.
In my collection I have some 60 songs that I consider some of the best solos of Rafi. The below are the hidden gems among them, excluding what you have already picked. All are from early 60s, which I think was the peak of the golden era of Hindi movie songs. Some of these gems are from relatively lesser known MDs, such as Lachhiram, Kohli and Duall Sen.
1. Jaag Dil-E-Deewana Rut Jaagi Vasl-E-Yaar Ki – Oonche Log(1965) – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri – Music: Chitragupt
2. Jaan-E-Bahaar Husn Tera Bemisal Hai – Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya(1963) – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni – Music: Ravi
3. Maana Mere Hasin Sanam Tu Rashq-E-Mehtab Hai – The Adventures of Robinhood(1965) – Lyrics: Yogesh Gaud – Music: G S Kohli
4. Nigaahen Na Phero Chale Jaayenge Hum (Male) – Black Prince(1960 unrleased) – Lyrics: Upendra – Music: Dulal Sen
5. Sab Jawan Sab Hasin Koi Tumsa Nahi – Main Suhagan Hoon(1964) – Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi – Music: Lachhiram Tamar
6. Ab Koi Gulshan Na Ujde Ab Watan Azad Hai- Mujhe Jeene Do(1963) – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi – Music: Jaidev
7. Deewana Keh Ke Aaj Phir Mujhe Pukariye- Mulzim(1963 – Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni – Music: Ravi
8. Ghoda Pishori Mera Taanga Lahori- Pyar Ka Bandhan(1963) – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi – Music: Ravi
9. Mujhe Dard-E-Dil Ka Pata Na Tha – Aakash Deep(1965) – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri – Music: Chitragupt
10. Na Jaane Kyun Hamaare Dil Ko – Mohabbat Zindagi Hai(1966) – Lyrics: S H Bihari – Music: O P Nayyar
11. Phir Woh Bhooli Si Yaad Aayi Hai – Begana(1963) – Lyrics: Shailendra – Music: Sapan – Jagmohan
12. Pyar Ki Raah Dikha Duniya Ko – Lambe Haath(1960) – Lyrics: Anjaan – Music: G S Kohli
13. Yeh Baat Hoti Hai Paida Janab – Majboor(1964) – Lyrics: Anand Bakshi – Music: Kalyanji – Anandji
Ashok ji,
Agree with the selection except for 6 n 14.
Rafi version of the SARANGA title song is a lesser known song. Also, the immense popularity of the Mukesh version with another gem Haan deewana hoon main eclipsed 2 other nice Rafi solos _ Yehi yehi jaadoo bhari n Na jaa mere Saathi na jaa.
Sameer Pandya,
You have given an excellent list. In its long journey this blog has mentioned several of these songs in different contexts, generally that music director-Rafi combination.
Not agreeing with 6 n 14 means they are fairly popular.
Ashok Vaishnavji,
Congratulations for the excellent tribute to Mohammad Rafi on the occasion of his centenary year. A brilliant theme, meticulously analysed and well executed. Kudos for bringing to light 19 ‘hidden romantic solos’ rendered by Md.Rafi and composed by 18 different composers. Glad to find songs composed by Hansraj Behl, Chitragupt and N Dutt. Thanks also for providing links for those songs that you have considered before arriving at your final selection of song of each of the composers.
I will add to your list, songs of Rafi composed by Bipin-Babul /Babul. I hope these songs will go with the theme of this post.
The first solo song rendered by Rafi for Bipin-Babul was “Rukh se parda to hata zara najre to milao mere dilruba” for the 1955 film Shahi Mehmaan. It seems to be a romantic song, but I would prefer to post another song from the 1959 film Raat Ki Raahi. Composed on OPN’s style, this song ‘Aaha ek nazar ek ada’ by Muhammad Rafi penned by Vishwamitra Adil filmed on Shammi Kapoor from the film ‘Raat Ki Raahi’ (1959) can be quoted in this regard. The songs of this duo were less heard, perhaps because Shankar Jaikishen, S D Burman, Naushad, O P Nayyar and alike were ruling the Indian film music scene in those days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XF8rH3zobE
Rafi also rendered a solo for Babul when he was independently composing music for films. “Tum puchhate ho Ishq bhalaa hai ke nahin hai”, penned by Kaif Azmi for the film Naqli Nawab (1962)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf0HPe2Jxus&list=TLGGrNxGEvt6oLoyMzA4MjAyNA
Sameer Pandya # 5
Thank you for enriching the subject.
Dr Pradeep K Shetty # 6
These two songs were certainly popular, even though hidden behind some or other reason.
N Venkataraman # 9
Thank you for your generous appreciation.
I had studiedly sidestepped the songs composed by music directors who were quite talented but were not successful in the traditional sense, because this subject had been specifically covered @ SoY, viz> Rafi’s songs with some unrecognised composers (July 31, 2022)
It has been a grand feast for Rafi lovers this year with AK ji dedicating many blogs on the centennial birth anniversary of the legend. Thanks to him first.
Ashok Vaishnav Ji-Brilliant article with a finely curated collection of hidden gems of Rafi solos in the romantic genre. I am sure that if we renove the ” romantic genre ” tag there will be even more such songs. Maybe AK Ji would have reserved it for future blogs!!
It may please be not considered as a nitpicking but only one sentence I would like to comment upon. You have mentioned the music of Paalki as ” abject failure”-maybe commercially the film and its music would not have been successful; but Rafi renedered superb songs: Chehre Se Apne Aaj to parda uthaiye & Kal Raat Zindagi Se Mulaqat Ho gayee. Both are simply superb songs-typical Naushad ‘s laid back style , slow and meandering pace with only Rafi being capable of throwing life and soul into the songs.
Sivanandam # 11
Thanks for appreciating the subject and the songs selection.
Your observation about music of Paalki is certainly not nitpicking, as music. per se, certainly had Naushad stamp.
In fact, I had made an omnibus covenant that the scope of the article was ‘Excellent” and ‘Above Avergae Songs”, thereby excluding (commercially) average of ‘just passable’ songs.
You have also rightly observed that if ‘romantic’ word is removed, several other genres open up, like Sad songs, Background songs, Beggar songs, street performance songs etc.
Sivanandamji,
Thanks a lot for your generous words. Rafi’s centenary celebration is turning out to be a grand affair. In the current year of centenary there are already six posts with some more forthcoming. Prior to this he was the most widely covered artiste with 20 articles on him. I am feeling very happy. Some known Rafi fans, including you, have made a big contribution. While paying my tribute to the great man, I thank all the readers and contributors.
The evergreen classics from MERA NAAM JOKER by Mukesh, Manna Dey have eclipsed the above average Rafi song
Sadke Heer tujhpe…
# 14….Dr Shetty- absolutely true. One can never pardon RK for deleting this gem from the movie. Of course all Mukesh songs were masterpieces in that movie . Only due to Youtube I came to know about this song few years back. I think I might have mentioned this in this forum earlier..the last lines in the song Tere dar pe hain aakhri baar aaye…might have been prophetic ..I think after this Rafi never sang in any RK Banner film after this…though he might have sung in some other films that might have had RK as an actor …pl correct me if I am wrong ( I am very poor in cinema history/statistics).. also I do not knwo how far this is true..they say Rafi was kept as a ” backup” in case Shailendra Singh was not approved by RK for Bobby! What an insult to the gentle soul Rafi!!!
Sorry for typos…’after this’ repeated twice…know instead of knwo
Dr Pradeep K Shetty #14 | Sivanandam # 15
For obvious reasons Mohammad Rafi was never ‘major’ singer for RK banner. Whatever songs he got for films like Awara, Shree 420, Jagte Raho, Ab Dilli Door Nahi, Boot Polish and even Sangam were dictated by the needs of the given situation situation in the film.
In case Mera Naam Joker too it was singing of Heer (Sadke Heer Tujhke) that would have compelled calling in of Rafi. The film had gone so long that some songs had to be chopped off. Unfortunately, thse happened to be from third part.
A fine write up on “some hidden gems ” of Rafi sahib. Just want to mention two sngs.
1 Humne jafan na siki…….Film Zindagi ….. Music SJ
2 Khabi na khabi kahi na kahi ………. Sarabi……. Music Madan Mohan
Vaishnav ji
Romantic, solo, hidden and known composer; even after applying do many filters you have come up with an outstanding list of Rafi songs.
I add here one from Ishq par jor nahi
Mehbooba Teri tasveer – AB- SDB
It was not a hit film and this song was overshadowed by the duet Ye dil diwana hai.
One doesn’t usually associate Rafi with Bappi Lahiri. They have worked together for several movies ( about 22 songs. )
The lovely song
Sathi re gam nahin karna..
IQRAAR, 1979.
With a caveat, though.
Technically a solo except for 2 lines at the end by an unknown voice, Savita Suman.
R Vasudevan # 18
Thank you for presenting two songs – one by SJ and the other by Madan Mohan.
SJ had developed a very special template for sad songs for Rajendra Kumar’s ‘Jubilee Star formula’ films.
Songs of Sharabi are class of its own – top rung of the finest of all-time best
Rahul Bhagwanrao Muli #19
Thank you so much for so generous appreciation.
Post-Aradhana (1969), most of the songs that Rafi rendered can be said to be as good as any of his popular and critically acclaimed 60s songs. Of course, Ishq Par Jor Nahin was in 1970, so SDB would have perhaps chosen Rafi out-of-pre-Aaradhana momentum.
I personally like this song very much, and would not hesitate to put it in the best of SDB-Rafi combination
Dr Pradeep K Shetty #20
Indeed, one would hardly ever try to search a noteworthy Rafi song by Bappy Lahiri.
So much so, that I have even not heard this song.
Thank you for enriching the subject.
Vaishnavji and others
After all the comments above, mine would be very modest because of my lack of skill in filmography and identifying songs. Either memory or serendipity has come to my rescue.
Your concept is original by itself and if I were to apply my limited grey cells I interpret your basic intent is to dig out Rafi’s songs great as they were but overshadowed by other songs from the same film or a host of films which were released simultaneously. The tough part is to identify the villain in the piece. I very much like the way you have gone about presenting your thoughts with songs as you consider great. The subject is full of subjectivity and would vary from presenter to presenter. It is really a fathomless ocean you have stirred.
I too have a song to add from the film Ek Saal (1960),, Prem Dhawan/
Ravi.
Kis keliye rukha hai
A pensive Ashok Kumar does not board the train as he is overcome by feeling of guilt in trying to run away from a sick Madhubala. It is a grand song in typical Rafi fashion. Please listen
https://youtu.be/IaCNVExE2s0?t=23
This was kept in the back burner by the Talat Mahmood/Lata Mangeshkar versions of – sub kuch lutake hosh mein aaye
As an aside I add a song featuring Johnny Walker and Minu Mumtaaz
Diltho kisi ko dege – https://youtu.be/XoC1wRz83vM
Kis keliye rukha hai
Vaishnavji,
Thanks for a comprehensive write up on a topic which has been always at the back of Rafi fans’ minds as the problem of plenty in his case resulted in a number of gems remaining less popular. I am a big fan of your writing style as this brings out the total thought process of your write up as it was created. And the best thing in your write-ups is the frankness and sincerity with which they are presented.
Of the songs you have selected those which lagged behind in popularity, Dr. Shetty mentioned songs at 6 and 14, but they became well known to us on SOY because this blog brings out such songs into limelight either from the writers’ side or in comments. I think ‘mere mehboob mere sath hi chalna hai’ and ‘abhi kamsin ho’ were popular for a short period of time in radio days.
I would here give an example of the song ‘tum ek baar muhabbat ka’ from Babar. This song I never heard on radio, though it may be sheer coincidence. I got job in 1977 and got my first record player in the next year. I found this song in one of the casettes I bought from the footpath of Chandni Chowk and I was immediately stunned when I listened it. It is one of the songs when one says ‘where was it till now’. Since the advent of youtube I have discovered hundreds of songs not only of Rafi but also other great singers. HFGK has been helpful in making lists and seeking out songs. These two have been a boon for music lovers.
Before giving my views on some points made by you, first I would try to answer your question at the end of your article, namely ‘why most of the songs selected belong to the 60s’. That is a valid question as only two songs (no 5 and 8) belong to 50s, and if I include no 9 – because I am using stats for songs decade wise – the number becomes 3. If we look at figures from 1961 to 70, there were a total of 1578 male solos during this period. Rafi alone had 832 of these songs accounting for 52.7 per cent, while the remaining six golden era singers (Mukesh, Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor, Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar and Talat Mehmood) combined sang only 641 songs, which was 40.6 per cent of total solos. Other singers sang 105 i.e. 6.6 per cent. This in addition to the sudden increase in romantic songs created a situation where Rafi romantic solos were floating all around. So it became a problem of plenty for him and it can safely be said that Rafi gems were buried under the load of other Rafi gems.
I agree with your view on Naushad in general as he was quite reluctant in using too many romantic songs. About Saaz Aur Awaaz and Palki it may be said that the success of music was not in proportions with his general successes. In Saaz Aur Awaaz the two Rafi solos ‘saaz ho tum awaaz hoon main’ and ‘dil ki mehfil saji hai’ were big hits and Rafi-Asha duet ‘pyar ki raah bahar ki manjil’ was well received. So far as Palki is concerned I agree with Sivanandam that its music was quite good. In addition to the songs he mentioned there were songs like Lata’s ‘jane wale tera khuda hafiz’, the Rafi-Suman duet ‘dile betab ko seene se lagana hoga’. ‘Mere ghar se pyar ki palki chali gayi’ and the qawwali ‘main idhar jaun ya udhar jaun’ were also good songs.
I also do not agree to your statement that the Rafi solo ‘akela hoon main is duniya mein’ was a huge hit and very regularly played in radio days and in no way a lesser hit than ‘na tum hamen jano’. I also do not agree that one good song in a film can overshadow the other good song. In fact both or more than two can succeed. In this film the Manna Dey solo ‘kisne chilman se mara’ was also a great hit.
In case of Rajendra Kumar you need to have a look at some of his hit films in the 50s. Goonj Uthi Shehnai and Dhool Ka Phool were very big hits. Even in 1958 he had jubilee hits in Ghar Sansar and Talaq. In fact he was rated as jubilee star, because he got silver jubilees for quite innocuous looking films like Do Behnen and Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan – both from 1959. In 1960 Kanoon and Patang were jubilee hits before he embarked on 1961.
You wrote “he is credited with many outstanding Lata Mangeshkar, and quite a few ‘very good’ Mohammad Rafi songs” about Chitragupta. Chitragupta was one of the few MDs who had more than 100 solos for Rafi. In fact he sang more songs for him than Lata. Of course Lata had more solos but females solos were always more than male solos. Being a Rafi fan, could you believe that Rafi had just a few very good songs and Lata many outstanding songs. Did Chitragupta become a different MD when composing for Lata or Rafi was a lesser singer than Lata. I think you need to revisit Rafi songs by Chitragupta.
Songs I would add in another post, because this has already become too long.
D P Rangan # 24
Thank you for your very generous appreciation.
I have not touched Rafi’s background songs as it is subject that is beteer addressed as separate post.
Hans # 25
Your responses are not only very valid but also add depth and breadth of the perspective on the subject.
First, I take the case of Akela HuN Main. There were many songs of Rafi which were as popular on radio as were the other songs from the same film. It also can be argued that SDB had specifically given this song to Rafi while choosing Hemant Kumar and Manna Dey for those respective songs. Other than these two, all other Dev Anand and Jhonny Walker songs have Rafi That itself was putting Rafi in shadow of second choice. For me, Akela Hun is very special, especially for the very innovative use of accordion in the counter melody support.
In case of Rajendra Kumar, I have limited my choice to the films that were made to a given template. And of course, my filters of choosing happy mood songs too had left out many songs.
I deeply appreciate your analysis why the post has more of 60s songs. I would hold back my own response till you come up with songs of your choice.
Ashokji @26
The Ek Saal song I posted begins as a background song but as it proceeds one can see Ashok Kumar standing in the railway platform and not catching the train. I have seen the movie and this song depicting this scene is present. I think it is Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminal. So it cannot be concluded it is solely a background song when titles are displayed at the beginning.
D P Rangan # 28
The song is best included in Credit Titles song.
Normally and song not being lip synced by any actor on the screen is classified as a background song. Credit titles is considered as a very important sub-category of this genre
The decade from 1951-60 had films on a variety of subjects like religious, mythological, historical and films based on stories like arabian knights. Such films continued later too but their number came down drastically as compared to the 50s. Even in those films male solos were, particularly in the first part of 50s, were very low in count as compared to female solos. In such situation there was not likelihood of romantic songs being found in large numbers.
I went through the list of songs of this decade with me and found that about 80 songs could be (as per my filter) termed as romantic. Of these there were many filmed on comedians like Johny Walker and others. So there were about 50 songs left. Of these about 35 became hits. Of the remaining 3 have been covered by Vaishnavji. I present here some songs. I will give one group here which I feel which in there time did not became famous and another group in the next post which though were popular when they were released but after a short period went out of public memory or from radio.
O gwalan kyun mera man teri chitwan le gayi – Champakali – Hemant Kumar – Rajinder Krishan. As sweet as any of romantic songs of Rafi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mon8asL1Wpo
Yahi to hain wo from Solvan Saal is a song which I could not believe was not a hit, but I never heard it till I saw the film very late and immediately became its fan. SDB set to music the great lyrics by Majrooh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdoY45IRy6A
Pyar kiya nahin jata ho jata hai – Barkha – Chitragupta – Rajinder Krishan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4RPnNW-qNI
Ruk ruk chamke jhuk jhuk chamke – Pehli Raat – Ravi – Majrooh. This gem I did not even found in any casette. This was the discovery of youtube age and I became immediately its fan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_5z4x_Nm7I
Dhokha khayegi na yaron ki najar – Singapore – SJ – Shailendra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFpU93KZz0w
This is the second instalment of 50s. These songs were initially popular as per my knowledge and later went in the background.
Rahun kaise main tumko nihare bina – Tulsidas – Chitragupta – GS Nepali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtYk4R3CNB0
Rahi mil gaye rahon mein – Dil Deke Dekho – Usha Khanna – Majrooh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BTFGhpx6Lk
Jara man ki kiwadiya khol – Kohinoor – Naushad – Shakeel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbwNI5NxPu8
Gaal gulabi kiske hain – Love In Shimla – Iqbal Qureshi – Rajinder Krishan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVGVv3Qz0jc
Dil tham chale hum aaj kidhar – Love in Shimla
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLvlfFgyJ5k
Hans # 30 and 31
Your analysis of number of romantic songs in 50s is quite revealing. Combined with your first and second list, I feel self-vaildated why my selection does not contain songs of 50s.
From the outset, I had set the filter of 1951 to 1969, so the songs mentioned by you got relegated to lower priority of preference in the whole universe of songs available for review.
In the conext of the film subject, Rahun kaise main tumko nihare bina – Tulsidas – Chitragupta – GS Nepali, is a devotional song . However, if it been used in a social drama, it can certianly be romantic song.
Also, I would chosen Dil tham chale hum aaj kidhar over Gaal gulabi kiske hain in terms of popularity.
Here is a strange case of song overshadowing! Ye to kaho kaun ho tum is the song from AASHIQ ( 1962) by Mukesh for Raj Kapoor which became a popular hit although the film didn’t. Then next, another song by Rafi and Lata with the same first line was used in another movie AKELI MAT JAIYO (1963)
and filmed on Rajendra Kumar and Meena Kumari which was also a very melodious song but was completely overshadowed by Raj Kapoor song of AASHIQ and really became a hidden gem of Rafi !
KB # 33
Indeed a good finding, which also may provide food for thought to someone for a future article.
Vaishnavji,
I had already said in my reply to your write up that there were much more romantic songs in the 60s and supported your thinking. I have no quarrel with your selection, because every one selects songs as per one’s own perception and your bouquet was great.
Regarding ‘rahun kaise main tumko nihare bina’, I think there is no logic in your statement that all songs in a devotional film should be termed as devotional. I dont know if you have seen the film. Even if you have not seen the film, you must have heard the story of Tulsidas. He was extremely fond of his wife and became Saint when he chided him when due to extreme love he made her the laughing stock in her maika. This song was addressed to his wife and is certainly a romantic song. I have seen the film with this song though at present the films available do not contain this song.
Also, regarding the two Love In Shimla songs, we ourselves cannot decide which song is more popular. It is decided by general public. There have been a lot of better songs losing out to lesser songs in popularity.
I now move to the period from 1961-70. During 1951-60 Rafi had 553 solos out of which about 80 were romantic, which meant less than 15 per cent of his solos. The next decade saw as drastic a change in this regard as could be possible. After moderate number of 25 and 26 in the first two years of 1961 and 62, there were on an average about 50 romantic songs per year. The total as per my filter stands at about 440 for this decade, which is more than 50 per cent of his solos. This number has much less number of solos belonging to comedians in comparison with the earlier decade.
Of these romantic marvels hundreds became big hits and hundreds also did not travel far in popularity. There were songs like ‘paas baitho tabiyat bahal jayegi’ and ‘mana mere haseen sanam’ which were filmed on non entities and also part of flop films. So there was no one to make propaganda for them. There were many such songs romantic or otherwise which would have died calmly if youtube had not surfaced. There was another phenomenon. Take the case of ‘itni haseen itni jawan raat kya karen’. This was filmed on a famous actor and the film was not altogether a failure. But, the problem here seems to be that the MD Ravi in this year composed 90 songs for 13 films in 1963. When we write on some topic we naturally look for variety. Similarly, the people who selected songs may also have set the limit for considering songs of an MD. This phenomenon helped composers like Naushad who did music for limited films, resulting in most of their songs becoming famous. This also happened with OPN when he chose to limit his number of films in the early 60s. Propaganda always helped in bollywood. Anil Biswas was always in the news though he hardly did anything of note in the 50s or 60s. I have seen many songs which were very popular initially but later disappeared. I could not locate the reason. Was there some hidden hand in such matters which worked against such songs. In Door Ki Awaz there were a number of romantic songs which were all popular initially. Of these there was this song ‘husn se chand bhi sharmaya hai’ which was to me better than other romantic songs in the film and a real gem. This song in radio days used to be played two three times daily and suddenly it disappeared from all programs.
These were my views on this phenomenon. Now I proceed with songs from the 60s.
Ankhiyan sang ankhiyan laagi aaj – Bada Aadmi – Chitragupta – Prem Dhawan. Lesser known hero failed film. This film also had Rafi solo ‘agar dil kisi se lagaya na hota’ which was better known and also Lata, Mahendra Kapoor duet ‘jara sambhaliye adayen aapki’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdb_JAvmHK4
Dheere chal dheere chal ae bhigi hawa – Boy Friend – SJ – Hasrat. This is a pure romantic song well written tuned and sung at a faster pace. There are two other romantic solos in the film greatly rendered. The best known is ‘mujhe apna yaar bana lo’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oy9Yo38nqA
I am giving also the second romantic song ‘salaam aapki meethi nazar ko salam’ which is also picturised with a sleeping Madhubala as in the earlier song, which must have been unique occurrence. The lyricist is again Hasrat. This song is slow paced.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYWVQWUXNro
Raaz e dil unse chhupaya na gaya – Apna Banake Dekho – Ravi – Asad Bhopali. This song was also very popular initially but suddenly disappeared like the one from Door Ki Awaz I mentioned above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUZZ_Mrr90g
Aap maujood yahan phir hamen hosh kahan – Baghi – Chitragupta – Hasrat. This film also had ‘bahar nazar karoon apna pyar nazar karoon’ by Rafi in the same category.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SOI9U5qIdA
This absolute gem filmed on Manoj Kumar in a train, got lost in the flood of the 60s. ‘Ab muhabbat mein jo pehle thi wo taseer nahin’ – Banarasi Thug – Iqbal Qureshi – Akhtar Warsi Lucknawi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf9CKng5TeA
I talked about 1963 being an year of Ravi. Similarly, 1964 was a bumper year for Madan Mohan when he composed 57 songs for 8 films. MM made a great impact on music lovers in that year and they perhaps never could get out the net he wove of the sublime music he gave later. I was also introduced in real terms to film music through his patriotic song in Haqueekat. Everybody knows and is mesmerised by ‘main nigahen tere chehre se’ from Aap Ki Parchhaiyan. This film has two more romantic songs ‘ik matwala aaj chala apni manjil ko’ and ‘yahi hai tamanna tere dar ke samne’. I am giving here ‘yahi hai tamanna’ in which you can have a look at a couple of rare ‘thumkas’ from Dharmendra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf29PZ8bHFg
Sun ae mahjabeen mujhe tujhse ishq nahin – Dooj Ka Chand – Roshan – Sahir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SccZNfAEHq0
Nainon wali tere naina jadoo kar gaye – Beti Bete – SJ – Shailendra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1njKnwyweNo
Another absolute gem in praise of the eyes ‘jane wo kaun hain kya naam hai un ankhon ka’ from Bheegi Raat. There were hits like ‘dil jo na keh saka’ and mohabbat se dekha khafa ho gaye hain’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXRQukzsQTY
Hans# 35
I am aware of Tulsidas’s love for his wife. However, not having seen the film, I mistook it for a devotional song.
We used to stay in government servants’ colony im my school /college years, We used to scree on film every moth then. I have seen Love in Simla in those days and very distinctly remember how well the song Dil Tham Ke Baithe The was received . But that may not truly reflect on the overall popularity of other songs.
#36 and #37 very exhaustively cover the subject for 60s. Thank you for enriching the article.
Mr, Vishnav
As AK writes in his introduction,
“Ashokji is a is a prolific writer for SOY on a variety of themes. He is a known Rafi-fan, and it was unthinkable that he would not join in his centenary celebrations”
I was expecting your post on Rafi’s centenary celebration for a long time. Living up to the expectations! Thanks.
As Rajaji and Hans have appreciated you work so well I think I should just echo their words.
You have nicely distributed songs in categories.
I think Rafi was at his prime in 50s, Only ifBaiju Bawra had done for Rafi what “Aayenga aanewala” did for Lata and MDs and producer had lined for him, Rafi would have had 10s if not hundreds of romantics songs in 50s as well both popular and not so popular. But as it is said Jab jab jo jo hona hai tab tab so so hota hai”
Luckily O.P. Nayyar got into Guru Dutt’s camp through Geeta Dutt, and Rafi got entry in Guru Dutt production. Pyasa’s album did what Baiju Bawra could not,
Rafi. As per data, given by Hans 60s songs, reveals that most of the movies in 60s had couple of his romantic songs.
You have picked two songs for Shankar Jaikishan; I would like to add one song from few more MDs
I will start with Khayyam.
I agree with you that “ aur kuchh der thahar aur koochh der an ja” cannot be ignored. The irony is that, this movie was released in 1969 same as Aradhana and the similar Rajesh Khanna song from Aradhana became an all-time hit. Can one fathom Khayyam’s and Kaifi azmi’s agony.
Coming back to my choice, it is from a movie that was a flop as well but most of songs were popular. This song was not in that list.
Tum chale jaongi ranya rah jayengi
https://youtu.be/dm9jbBrvnAk
Next Madan Mohan, song if from Sharabi, once again a flop with good songs some of them were hits too but this remained hidden from masses.
Mujhe le chalo aaj phir us gali mein Sharabi.
https://youtu.be/6U7owR3xPtM
In Roshan’s Barsaat Ki Raat this song was sort of drowned in flood of remembered songs.
Mayoos to hoon wade se tere. Barsaat Ki Raat
https://youtu.be/MDR3s62YF08
Next is Usha Khanna. With her Rafi has number of hidden jems. I was impressed by this one from a B grade movie.
Mere dil pe andhera sa chhane laga Ek phool ek bhool
https://youtu.be/OresfGEFV6o
Next Naushad, my favorite Naushad Rafi romantic songs and is from 50s
Movie Sohni Mahiwal song Teri Mehfil tera jalwa dekh li
https://youtu.be/8XRd4OGwwAw
My list of Rafi would not be complete without SDB song. For me 95% of this combo would fit in top two categories
SDB’s Ek Ke Baad was big flop with very good songs. One manna Dey song and Two Rafi duets are outstanding, this typical Dev Anand song deserved attention too.
Thumak thumak thumak hai chali ti kidhar
https://youtu.be/hT_m3EYS7oE
Now I would like to add couple MDs you have not considered.
C. Ramchandra is one music director that I think could have done wonders with Rafi romantic songs in 50s had he not dropped him after couples of great romantic songs in 40s. In 1957 he had two great romantic duets and one solo in Nausher Wan E Adil . Two duets got some popularity in spite of movie’s debacle but the solo was lost.
Yeh hasrat thi ke is duniya me do kaam karjat. Nausher Wan E Adil.
https://youtu.be/5t9zzhAPDQM
Another MD I would like to mention is Husnlal Bhagatram. They had big hits with Rafi in late 40s but one of their best work Shama Parwana with Suraiya and Shammi Kapoor failed miserably, later in 1957Shammi Kapoor and Rafi broke all records in Tumsa Nahin Dekha
Shama Parwana (1954) – Tune Mera Yaar Na Milaya Mai Kya Janu Teri Ye Khudayi (तूने मेरा यार ना) Difficult to sing. His singing capability was really challenged in this song.
https://youtu.be/GoT7YHYKL9E
mumbaikar8 # x39
Thank you very much for very generous appreciation.
The songs suggested by yo indeed enrich the subject,
BTW, Pyasa was certainly a game tuner for Guru Dutt. However, it did not have OPN. Of coruse, Pyasa did changes the professional relationship between Rafi and SDB.
I have not included C Ramchandra and Hansraj Behl because I could not finally select their happy mood songs that could fit into the boundaries that I had drawn for tis article
Vaishnavji, @ 38
Nice to know that you got to watch films in that era regularly when film watching was taboo at least in our area. In 1966 Mera Saya was released. We were in Rohtak in Haryana which was at that time the largest city in the state other than the industrial city Faridabad. My parents went to see that film telling us that they are going to meet some acquaintance. They came after about 4 hours and then on query told about the movie. I watched the first movie in the same year with my brother in law after my elder sister’s marriage.
Your experience with movies is reflected in the accuracy with which you have presented the songs. So far as ‘dil tham chale’ is concerned, I am with you and I like this one better than ‘gaal gulabi’. This is perhaps the only song filmed on the toy train to Simla. In the same year in the Dev Anand film Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai the title song was filmed on the Darjeeling toy train. There are quite a few songs on this toy train filmed in our films. The Aradhana song ‘mere sapno ki rani’ situation was copied from this Dev Anand film.
Kajal wale nain mila ke – Devar – Roshan – Anand Bakshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLpPBcWIUIk
Chand kitni door tha – Afsana – Chitragupta – Majrooh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEAs6Lb14Cg
Deewan hoon deewana ae maahilata – Sarhadi Lutera – Iqbal Qureshi – MA Taaj
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t_WvgatUyc
Sab mein shamil ho magar – Bahu Beti – Ravi – Sahir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXo7my4zo14
Kanton mein fansa anchal – Do Dil – Hemant Kumar – Kaifi Azmi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JMUVXhvBm8
Kuchh aisi pyari shakl mere dilruba ki hai – Naya Kanoon – Madan Mohan – Hasrat Jaipuri
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ssGyVkyDNA
Tumko hum pe pyar aaya – Jab Jab Phool Khile – KA – Anand Bakshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeTtI4IklZQ
Ek ladki hai jisne jeena muskil kar diya – Gumnam – SJ – Hasrat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h2xTvS42Uk
Abke bahar aayi hai tumhare naam se – Aulad – Chitragupta – Majrooh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_whA1rvGwk
Phoolon se mukhde wali – Aaye Din Bahar Ke – LP – Anand Bakshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5vBZbxZ3bo
The songs I posted for the sixties were mostly – except a couple – on important heroes of our films. Now I would post songs on actors who were not so famous.
‘Main to tere haseen khyalon men kho gaya’ is a song filmed on Randhawa for the film Sangram. Rafi immortalises everybody connected with this gem the MDs Lala-Asar-Sattar as well as lyricist Aish Kanwal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCRVXVyGeBk
Feroz Khan is well known and has quite a good number of Rafi songs, but he is not known as a mainstream hero. ‘Ankhon pe palkon ke ghunghat’ was filmed on him for film Main Wohi Hoon. Usha Khanna-Asad Bhopali pair at work again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KApagNMNnrY
Usha Khanna and Indivar combined to produce a gem to be filmed on Sudhir in the film Ek Phool Ek Bhool. Mukhda is ‘mere dil pe andhera sa chhane laga’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3vmIIsqLIY
Usha Khanna now combines with Gulshan Bawra to produce a gem ‘haseen wadiyo’ for Sujit Kumar – hero of Bhojpuri fame – in Lal Bangla. Note the contribution of Usha Khanna in creating gems for these lesser known heroes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzzJbCcnFfY
‘Meri padosan hai dil ki dushman’ is again a creation of the combo of Usha Khanna and Asad Bhopali, this time filmed on Dev Kumar in Simla Road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai0u4vvi6Is
Chand jaisa badan – Rustam e Baghdad – N Datta – Asad Bhopali
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2vQyuiIP1I
Ik jhalak dikha gayi – Roop Sundari – Sardar Malik – Bharat Vyas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehdu3C9_J78
Apne anchal ki jara mujhko hawa – Namasteji – GS Kohli – Anand Bakshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2KTzx0kspw
Tera rang sunehra – Mahua – Sonik Omi – Qamar Jalalabadi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ3YKVTT13c
Rahoge kab tak humse door – Wohi Ladki – V Balsara – Prahlad Sharma. The song is perhaps filmed on the unknown hero Sharvendra. The Director of the film is the lyricist Prahlad Sharma.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBAZ1O2KIIE
Ashok Ji,
The fact that even the list of hidden gems can be endless perfectly highlights the greatness of Rafi as a singer. There was perhaps no music director who did not work with him. For him the song was important; the film and its cast or budget was immaterial.
Thanks a lot for this lovely list of songs!
Anita
Hans #40
My taste of Hindi film song is entirely developed by what I would get to listen on the radio. Here, too, my associations with different people who had their own sets of preferences had a major influence what I had initially picked up to listen on the radio.
My own choice and preferences consciously came up only when I started purchasing records, after I started earning.
#42, 43, 44 and 45 are very interesting and valuable additions to enrich the subject of the post. In fact, Usha Khanna – Rafi do need a special article.
Anita # 46
Thank you so much for so generous appreciation.
Listening to Rafi songs was always a great pleasure. Now that Blog World explores that universe with different lenses, the listening to his songs also has become even more intersting.
Vaishnavji,
I placed so many of Usha Khanna songs in one group to highlight her special bonding with Rafi. In fact she had a mastery in producing male solo gems. She gave more than half a dozen of them for Mukesh too and Manna Dey’s ‘apne liye jiye to kya jiye’ is among his most iconic songs. This despite the fact that after getting initial support from Shashdhar Mukherjee’s Filmalaya and huge success with it, she did not get any big banner films. She had a lot of films with strongmen like Dara Singh, Dev Kumar, Sheikh Mukhtar etc. which had very few male songs as they did not relish lip syncing songs.
#47 & #48-Vaishnav Ji & Hans Ji
Yes-Usha Khanna & Rafi had a special association-Teri Galiyon Mein Na gave Rafi a big break during the 70’s. She is one music director whose style is very difficult to make out-what I mean is mostly one can identify a Naushad/SDB/S-J/Roshan/MM / OPN etc tunes as they have a clear style. Usha Khanna’s songs have different styles and so it is very difficult to identify. Her name truly deserves a place in the right hand side panel of SOY!!
I am new to this community as I am in my early 20s. But the magic of rafi sahab knows no bounds and spans generations. While searching for some of his hidden gems I have ended up on this wonderful forum. I would like to share two more songs which I consider to be the hidden gems of Rafi sahab’s discography.
The first is a soothing melody crafted by Chitragupta, penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri and embellished by Rafi Sahab’s mellifluous voice.
Chand kitni door tha, sitare kitni door the -Afsana(1965)
The second one is composed by Usha Khanna, a haunting, cerebral composition.
Abhi toh raat baaki hai- Bandish(1969)
Aman Vats,
Welcome to Songs Of Yore. You have really added some hidden gems.