Tum mujhe yun bhula na paoge

Truly, the legend of the legend of the legends - the magical voice, the guru of versatility - Rafi sahab, you can never be forgotten. You are the forever burning flame of our music's golden era, the soul of the melodies that many of us have grown up on.

Mohammad Rafi's heart was set on singing at a tender age of 10. The young lad would listen to fakirs and saints singing to their Gods and he was enchanted by these songs. His family realized that God had bestowed a special talent of singing on him. After listening to this young boy's voice, a fakir once blessed him 'तुम्हारी आवाज़ क़ायनात पर हुक़ूमत करेगी' - translated as 'Your voice will rule the world'.

In devout muslim families, singing was then considered taboo and his father could not allow or encourage him to pursue his passion. His brother though decided to do everything to help this child prodigy and there started Rafi sahab's training under stalwarts such as Barkat Ali Khan, Chote Ghulam Ali sahab, Bade Ghulam Ali Sahab, Abdul Waheed Khan Sahab, Jeevan Lal Mutto and his son, Jawahar Lal Mutto and Feroz Nizami.

After singing Punjabi songs for a few years, Rafi sahab moved to Bombay (city we now know as Mumbai) in 1942 and his years of struggle began then. During these years, he met Naushad Ali sahab who gave him a chance to sing a few lines with his chorus. This movie was Pehle Aap and the song was 'Hindustan ke hum hain, hindustan hamara'. This was his first major breakthrough and he was now acknowledged as a playback singer. His contemporaries were acclaimed singers such as K.LSaigal who never shied away from lavishing praises on him. Noorjehan, who was already established at this time, further encouraged and helped build his career by agreeing for as many rehearsals as required to sing with this new singer. He never forgot this generosity.

He was yet to achieve the status of an established singer, when he got the opportunity to sing for three minutes at Red Fort on August 15th, 1947. India's first Prime Minister Sh. Jawahar Lal Nehru had invited many singers for this great moment of celebration of our Independence and Rafi sahab was delirious with joy on singing 'Lahrao Tiranga Lahrao'. Even the thought of this great moment brings goosebumps, who wouldn't be delirious.  Crowds kept on cheering for him, asking for more and there started his golden sojourn that went unchallenged for next 24 years until 1971.

Music director Ravindra Jain referred to him as 'Tansen' - how apt is that for a singer as versatile as Rafi sahab.  He was the voice of Bharat Bhushan, the famed tragedy king - Dilip Kumar and later Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Dharmendra. He worked with many music directors and his partnership with Naushad sahab was unparalleled. A gentle soul, he was a highly spiritual and religious man.

In 1971, Pancham da dominated the Hindi film music scene with Aradhana. The phenomenon, who we know as Rajesh Khanna happened and Kishore Kumar became his voice. In an industry that runs behind the successes of the moment, time started turning difficult for Rafi Sahab. Being asked by many to sing like Kishore Kumar, he, who had always established his own style could not bring himself to do that. A gentle soul that he was, this was very hurtful for him and despite his command on music and classical music training, he started losing movies and songs. I have though preferred Rafi sahab's version over Kishore Kumar's, for songs that were sung by both; listen to both the versions of 'Tum Bin Jaoon Kahaan' and share your opinion.

Naushad sahab aptly wrote for his favourite singer:

'अभी साज़-ए-दिल में तराने बहुत हैं, अभी ज़िन्दगी के बहाने बहुत हैं

दर-ए-ग़ैर पे भीख मांगो न फ़न की, जब अपने ही घर में ख़ज़ाने बहुत हैं '

(there are many melodies in my heart, many excuses to live life, 

Let us not beg for talent from anyone else, when there are vast treasures within our home)

And I? I started learning music with the immensely soulful 'मन तड़पत हरी दर्शन को आज'. Even though I am less than a novice when it comes to the knowledge of Indian Classical music, I truly believe that this one bhajan is a perfect starting point for beginners. The impact of individual sounds such as 'अ' in 'मन-अ' or bringing your heart and soul into your music is something that I learnt from his singing. That a devout Muslim sang this bhajan or a complete teetotaler sang 'chalkaaye jaam' is something that can only come with devotion and mastery over one's craft and tireless 'रियाज़'.

On Rafi sahab's birth anniversary on December 24th, here is my tribute to this limitless and boundless singer:

Ye ishq ishq hai - Barsaat ki Raat, 1960

This qawwali is a milestone in the world of Hindi film music. Lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi, music by Roshan and Rafi sahab's 'buland' voice has given us a cult classic. His voice expresses the myriad of emotions ranging from softness of love to complete devotion towards one's lover with effortlessness and grace. I have previously included this in my post on 'Charm of Qawwalis'. Ably supported by stalwart singers such as Asha Bhonsle, Manna Dey, Sudha Malhotra, S.D.Batish and troupe, this qawwali is the perfect representation of Hindi film music's golden era. Rafi sahab's aalap and ease of singing sends shivers down the spine leaving the listener mesmerized.  

इश्क़ आज़ाद है, हिन्दू न मुसलमान है इश्क़ 

आप ही धर्म है और आप ही ईमान है इश्क़ 

जिससे आगे नहीं शेख़-ओ-ब्राह्मण दोनों 

उस हक़ीक़त का गरजता हुआ ऐलान है इश्क़

Ye duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai - Pyaasa, 1957

Very pertinent even in today's India, Sahir's 'kalam' literally created magic and fire. The composition is a masterpiece by Burman dada and sung with such pathos that the listener goes through the journey of rising angst against the system starting with this song's low notes rising into a crescendo. 

ये महलों, ये तख़्तों, ये ताजों की दुनिया 

ये इंसान के दुश्मन समाजों की दुनिया 

ये दौलत के भूखे रवाज़ों की दुनिया 

ये दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाए तो क्या है 

हर एक जिस्म घायल, हर एक रूह प्यासी, 

निगाहों में उलझन, दिलों में उदासी 

ये दुनिया है या आलम-ए-बदहवासी,
ये दुनिया अगर मिल भी जाए तो क्या है 

Tum Ek baar - Babar, 1960

The versatility of Rafi sahab is well known. He had immense talent to modulate his voice according to the situation of that song. For romantic songs, he brought a different level of depth to the poetic masterpieces of the time. There have been many singers who tried adopting that style but no one else has reached that zenith. The effortless, honey laced voice was a gift of God to him and his listeners and thus he was also given the title of 'शहंशाह-ए-तर्रनुम', translated as 'King of melody'.  This song, not heard much these days, is one of my top favourites and I think the smoothness of Rafi sahab's voice is beautifully evident in it. Sahir Ludhianvi's lyrics and the simplicity of Roshan's composition weave magic together. A very interesting part in this song is the usage of word 'वहशत'. Mostly used for describing negative behaviour, Sahir has used it very delicately in this song to express the intensity of love.

तुम एक बार मोहब्बत का इम्तेहान तो लो
मेरे जुनूँ, मेरी वहशत का इम्तेहान तो लो
मैं अपनी जान भी दे दूँ तो ऐतबार नहीं,
के तुमसे बढ़के मुझे ज़िन्दगी से प्यार नहीं
यूँ ही सही, मेरी चाहत का इम्तेहान तो लो

Kisi ki yaad mein duniya ko hain bhulaye hue  - Jahaan Ara, 1964

Rajinder Kishen's lyrics and a supremely melodious composition by Madan Mohan ji is a perfect company for those sombre moments when all you want to do is lose yourself in thoughts of your loved one.

किसी की याद में दुनिया को हैं भुलाये हुए 
ज़माना गुज़रा है अपना ख़्याल आये हुए 
हज़ार पर्दें हो, पहरे हों, या हो दीवारें 
रहेंगे मेरी नज़र में तो वो समाये हुए 

I have a long list of his songs and after being thoroughly perplexed on what to include and what to leave out, I have chosen a beautiful duet with Lata Mangeshkar as my last song in this post:

Jeet hi lenge baazi hum tum - Shola aur Shabnam, 1961

Khaiyaam sahab's unique and melodious composition and Kaifi Azmi sahab's lyrics have stayed fresh in my memory since I first heard this song as a young girl. My elder brother had brought home, a cassette recorded with some masterpiece songs and this was one of those. There is a sweet playfulness in this song that stays with the listener for days. The humming by Lata accompanied in parallel by words sung by Rafi sahab sounded different from the usual duets composed during those days.

जीत ही लेंगे बाज़ी हम तुम, खेल अधूरा छूटे ना 
प्यार का बंधन, जनम का बंधन, जनम का बंधन टूटे ना 

मिलने की ख़ुशी ना मिलने का ग़म 
ख़त्म ये झगड़े हो जाएँ 
तू तू न रहे, मैं मैं न रहूँ 
इक दूजे में खो जाएँ, इक दूजे में खो जाएँ 
मैं भी न छोड़ूँ पल भर दामन
तू भी पल भर रूठे ना 
प्यार का बंधन, जनम का बंधन, जनम का बंधन टूटे ना 

Some words, one post is not enough as a dedication to him. I hope you will enjoy my feeble attempt at sharing a few of his songs. And at this point, I wish that we, his fans could tell Rafi sahab - 'अभी ना जाओ छोड़कर, के दिल अभी भरा नहीं'

Credits: 

www.mohdrafi.com
Book: Mohammed Rafi - Golden voice of the silver screen by Sujata Dev
Book: Mohammed Rafi My Abba - A memoir by Yasmin Khalid Rafi