All Great Mds' Preference For Rafi Saab!, Some Widely-reported Stories On This Options

[Anupama]

Once I heard another interview of Ravi on Vividhabharati.

One senior female interviewer was doing the interview. She was asking many general questions on his beginning, first film, his training, etc. Ravi was replying to all in some detail and there was no context at all for discussing individual singers.

Then, after about 10 minutes of the interview, the interviewer had just asked one question, "Ravi Saab, Aap Ke Career Mein Kabhi Aise Mehsoos Kiye, Jaise Aap Ne Kisi Cheez Ko Kho Diye Thhe?". As far as the interviewer was concerned, it must have been a very general, time-filling question!!

But, Ravi immediately replied in Hindi something to mean this. "Yes, I have indeed lost something very very precious. And that is Rafi Saab. After his passing away, I have lost interest in composing. Ab Kya Gaana Bana Sakte Hain Ham?"

For the next 10 minutes, he went on narating the special relationship he always had wih Rafi Saab, how Ravi used to visit Rafi Saab's house and have delicious food, how Rafi Saab used to narrate to Ravi about his recent and highly successful concerts abroad, etc.

Ravi also mentioned that there are two songs of his with Rafi Saab that are heard on Band or Shehnai in almost every marriage till this day. One is "Aaj Mere Yaar Ki Shadi Hai" fom Film:Aadmi Sadak Ka (1977) and the other is "Babul Ki Duaen Leti Jaa" from Film:Neel Kamal (1968).

He also narrated one moving incident. When Ravi first showed Rafi Saab the lyrics of 'Babul Ki Duaen Leti Jaa", Rafi Saab was in tears. Ravi gently enquired with Rafi Saab's brother-in-law why Rafi Saab was getting so emotional and got the reply that Rafi Saab had just fixed up the date for the marriage of his daughter too!!

Ravi loved Rafi Saab just as all the other great MDs did.


Venkat

Awesum thread!

Here is a piece of that interview:

[suhana_safar]

When i began hearing songs of Rafisaab initially, I realised one comon factor and that he enriched the comp0istions that he sang for. Now this is an exceptional and rare achievement. He did not require a great composition to create a a great song.
There is a school of thought which is right and that is good compositions and lyrics make a good song. However this adage falls head down when it comes to Rafisaab who has proved that his vocals used to drive his songs and not the compositions and lyrics.

This incredible fact first dawned on me when I began hearing his songs at an early age and realised that I liked just about everything he sang. I also realised that mundane and ordinary compositions were enriched and enhanced by his unmatched vocals. This fact is magnified in his songs of the 50's and 70's.

I also realised that Rafisaab was also a king of entry (duets), i mean when singing duets and he sings after the other singer. I realised later when I heard several MD;s say that Rafisaab was the only singer that was comfortable in singing duets which is much harder than singing solos.

Naushad saab once told that he never liked composing duets as they were very time cosuming and required many re takes but he says with Rafisaab it was a very easy excersise as he knew exactly how and when and with what note to enter the song. Ravi once said that just about every singer struggles in duets but Rafisaab was a genius in all forms of singing and made duets a wonderful exprience for the Music Directors. Madan Mohan who disliked duets has maximum duets with Rafisaab, so does LP, Sonik Omi, OP Nayar, Naushad, Ravi and many more.

No singer male or female has sung more duets than Rafisaab till 1980. I also strong belive that if there was no Naushad then my vote of the guru of all MD's would go to the duo of Husanlal Bhagatram, whose every song that Rafisaab (and Lata and Suriaya) have sung are matchless and much a mile above in standard compared to most MD's of that era.

Regards
SS

This post has been edited by suhana_safar: Oct 26 2008, 04:45 AM

[nasir]

When i began hearing songs of Rafisaab initially, I realised one comon factor and that he enriched the comp0istions that he sang for. Now this is an exceptional and rare achievement. He did not require a great composition to create a a great song.
There is a school of thought which is right and that is good compositions and lyrics make a good song. However this adage falls head down when it comes to Rafisaab who has proved that his vocals used to drive his songs and not the compositions and lyrics.

This incredible fact first dawned on me when I began hearing his songs at an early age and realised that I liked just about everything he sang. I also realised that mundane and ordinary compositions were enriched and enhanced by his unmatched vocals. This fact is magnified in his songs of the 50's and 70's.

I also realised that Rafisaab was also a king of entry (duets), i mean when singing duets and he sings after the other singer. I realised later when I heard several MD;s say that Rafisaab was the only singer that was comfortable in singing duets which is much harder than singing solos.

Naushad saab once told that he never liked composing duets as they were very time cosuming and required many re takes but he says with Rafisaab it was a very easy excersise as he knew exactly how and when and with what note to enter the song. Ravi once said that just about every singer struggles in duets but Rafisaab was a genius in all forms of singing and made duets a wonderful exprience for the Music Directors. Madan Mohan who disliked duets has maximum duets with Rafisaab, so does LP, Sonik Omi, OP Nayar, Naushad, Ravi and many more.

No singer male or female has sung more duets than Rafisaab till 1980. I also strong belive that if there was no Naushad then my vote of the guru of all MD's would go to the duo of Husanlal Bhagatram, whose every song that Rafisaab (and Lata and Suriaya) have sung are matchless and much a mile above in standard compared to most MD's of that era.

Regards
SS

SS, let alone the facfs, but I wanna say this: We are lucky to have your comments that point out the information which is rare. In other words, precious gems from you SS.
Thanks for your efforts and time in bringing out those facts to our atention.
We appreciate a lot SS.

[suhana_safar]

SS, let alone the facfs, but I wanna say this: We are lucky to have your comments that point out the information which is rare. In other words, precious gems from you SS.
Thanks for your efforts and time in bringing out those facts to our atention.
We appreciate a lot SS.

Thanks Brother for your appreciation.

Regards
SS

This post has been edited by suhana_safar: Oct 28 2008, 08:40 AM

[venkat]

Continuing on the theme of "All Great MDs' Preference For Rafi Saab", today is the turn of another great MD, Chitragupta.

Can anyone believe that this uncelebrated MD had the third highest number of songs with Rafi Saab, among all MDs!! Only LP with about 370 songs and SJ with about 350 songs are higher than Chitragupta in the count of Rafi songs.

Chitragupta, at third place, had composed around 250 songs with Rafi Saab and stands way above the likes of SDB, OPN, Roshan, MM, etc., on this count!

Also, about 60% of all Chitragupta songs are estimated to be Rafi songs.

Coming to quality of Chitragupta-Rafi songs, there are tens of excellnt ones. Unfortunately, as Chitragupta never got in his fold many high-profile Films, some of his great compositions with Rafi Saab did not get their due.

When one talks of Chitragupta and Rafi Saab, one tends to recall only the handful of popular ones such as "Chal Ud Jaa Re Panchhi" from Bhabhi (1957), "Jaag Dil-e-Deewana" from Oonche Log (1965), picturised on Firoze Khan and "Mujhe Dard-e-Dil Ka Pata Na Tha" from Akash Deep(1965), picturised on Dharmendra.

But, there are many more divine, excellent Rafi solos under Chitragupta such as:

1. "Chand Kitni Door Thha, Sitare Kitni Door Thhe"--Film:Afsana (1966), picturised on Pradeep Kumar

2. "Kaaton Pe Chalke Paon Ke Chalon Se Kya Gila---Kahin Se Maut Ko Lavo Ke Gham Ke Raat Kate"--Film:Mera Qusoor Kya Hai (1964), picturised on Dharmendra

3."Itni Badi Duniya Jahan Itna Bada Mela, Magar Main, Han Hhan Haan, Kitna Akela"--Film:Tufan Mein Pyar Kahan (1966), picturised on Ashok Kumar

4. "Aate Ho Sataane Ko, Jaate Ho Rulaane Ko---Abhi Na Phero Nazar Zindagi Sanwar To Len"--Film:Biradari(1966), picturised on Shashi Kapoor

5. "Bahar Nazar Karoon, Apna Pyaar Nazar Karoon, Jo Tum Kaho To Nazar Ka Khuar Nazar Karoon"--Film:Baaghi (1964), picturised on Pradeep Kumar.

The list is endless. Only, the above five are my great personal favorites.

Chitragupta also had excellent duets of Rafi-Lata, Rafi-Geeta, Rafi-Suman and Rafi-Asha.

But, it must be said that, unlike most other MDs, Chitragupta seemed to have patronised mostly Lata Mangeshkar with MK and others during the Rafi-Lata misunderstanding of 1963-67. He has replaced Lata with other female singers only fewer times, during that period.

All in all, Chitragupta has a proud record with Rafi Saab!

Venkat

[venkat]

Friends,

We all know O.P.Nayyar is probably the only MD who never made Lata Ji sing even one song for him!!!

When asked for reasons for the same, he always used to say her voice did not suit his compositions. Well, we do not know whether that is the actual reason or there was some other real reason!!!

Coming to Rafi Saab, there is one MD who almost had the same attitude to Rafi Saab as did O.P.Nayyar to Lata! And that MD is Anil Biswas.

Currently, Vividhbharati is carrying a daily series featuring Tushar Bhatia's interview with Anil Biswas and Meena Kapoor, as a repeat broadcast. So far, it has run for 23 days, of 10 minutes each day. Daily, at least 4 to 5 songs/clips are being played in the course of this interview, as per Anil Biswas's choice. But, so far, just two Rafi songs were mentioned by Anil Da. Even while discussing Naushad Saab's work, he did not recall any Rafi song!!!

It appears even Anil Biswas had gone on record saying that Rafi is not suited to his compositions, just the same way OPN said of Lata!!

But, there is a small difference. OPN never had even once recorded with Lata Ji , but Anil Biswas had some 15 to 20 songs with Rafi Saab!! Some consolation!!

In this context, some of you may remember that there used to be a very nice program on Zee TV called Saregama, anchored very ably by Sonu Nigam. In one of the finals of that program, one US-based singer called Ramabhadran reached the finals. On the way to the final, he sang beautifully such great Rafi songs as "Jaane Kya Dhhondthi Rehti Hai Yeh Aankhen Mujh Mein" from Film:Shola Aur Shabnam(1961).

The Judge in the finals happened to be Anil Biswas. In that connection, Ramabhadran had close interaction with Anil Biswas. He chose to share the details in an article at the following link. You may find it interesting.

http://www.angelfire.com/film/anilbiswas/m...es_sanjeev.html

Venkat

This post has been edited by venkat: Oct 12 2009, 12:46 PM

[swaminathan63]

Hi Venkat

Thanks for this lovely thread.

I think, except Anil Biswas Rafi sahab was the favorite singer of all MDs, with a few abberations here and there, especially in the post Aradhana period, when everyone graviated towards Kishore Kumar.

But even in that era of the 70s, there was one pair, who still showed remarkable preference for Rafi Sahab, and that is the reason why they are one of my favorites i.e. Sonik Omi. (Their music may not have been great, despite the promise shown in Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya, and great numbers in Mahuva, Aabroo, Dharma to name a few). The visually challenged Sonik, and his nephew, Omi, presumably due to the gratitude of their first hit movie (Dil ne Phir Yaad Kiya), and the rapport they had with Rafi Sahab (Presumably since Sonik was from Sailkot, as per mohdrafi.com) never were swept in the Kishore wave, and most of their numbers were by Rafi Sahab. I think that despite a relatively short period (mid 60s to 1980), they must have had 100 plus numbers with Rafi Sahab. (If one does cricket like stats, the % must be as high as Chitragupta, if not LP or SJ).

Gratitude is one admirable quality in a human being.

I know that there is a thread of Sonik Omi, but very little is known about them, and their great rapport with Rafi Sahab.

So I request Venkat (or any other member) to share some anecdotes. Also am curious to know the number of songs of Rafi Sahab by this duo (100 is a wild guess).


Thanks and Regards


Swaminathan

[venkat]

Swaminathan,

According to Salim-ul-Haq's listing, Sonik Omi had 104 Rafi songs in all. In addition, there is one other song credited to just Sonik!

Chitragupta is highly deceptive in his appearance!

Mind you, he ranks as high as third among all MDs in the number of songs composed with Rafi Saab!


LP had 369 songs, SJ had 350 songs and Chitragupta, with 260 songs, ranks third, ahead of the likes of Ravi, OPN etc.!!!!!!!


Venkat

[swaminathan63]

Swaminathan,

According to Salim-ul-Haq's listing, Sonik Omi had 104 Rafi songs in all. In addition, there is one other song credited to just Sonik!

Chitragupta is highly deceptive in his appearance!

Mind you, he ranks as high as third among all MDs in the number of songs composed with Rafi Saab!


LP had 369 songs, SJ had 350 songs and Chitragupta, with 260 songs, ranks third, ahead of the likes of Ravi, OPN etc.!!!!!!!


Venkat

I agree Venkat, but Sonik Omi had 100 plus in just around 10-12 years compared to SJ (and even Chitragupta who had around 25-30). As regards Laxmikant Pyarelal, they are way ahead of others, by any comparison or yardstick right from Parasmani to Aas Paas.

But it was a nice and great surprise that Chitragupta was a clear third, and I think you mentioned that he used Rafi Sahab in 60% of his entire compositions (BTW does 260 include bhojpuri, I presume so). I was also reading in Geetadutt.com that he is one of the highest in terms of using Geeta Dutt, specially in duets with Rafi Sahab.

All said and done I have a very soft corner for Sonik Omi, and am glad that my wild guess of 100 was not way off the mark.

BTW where can I get Sailm Ul Haq's listing? (PSPO nahin janta!)

Thanks and Regards

Swaminathan

[Sharad]

i am having so much fun reading this thread
thank you venkat uncle and everyone.

[venkat]

Swaminathan,

According to Salim-ul-Haq's listing, Sonik Omi had 104 Rafi songs in all. In addition, there is one other song credited to just Sonik!

Chitragupta is highly deceptive in his appearance!

Mind you, he ranks as high as third among all MDs in the number of songs composed with Rafi Saab!


LP had 369 songs, SJ had 350 songs and Chitragupta, with 260 songs, ranks third, ahead of the likes of Ravi, OPN etc.!!!!!!!


Venkat

I agree Venkat, but Sonik Omi had 100 plus in just around 10-12 years compared to SJ (and even Chitragupta who had around 25-30). As regards Laxmikant Pyarelal, they are way ahead of others, by any comparison or yardstick right from Parasmani to Aas Paas.

But it was a nice and great surprise that Chitragupta was a clear third, and I think you mentioned that he used Rafi Sahab in 60% of his entire compositions (BTW does 260 include bhojpuri, I presume so). I was also reading in Geetadutt.com that he is one of the highest in terms of using Geeta Dutt, specially in duets with Rafi Sahab.

All said and done I have a very soft corner for Sonik Omi, and am glad that my wild guess of 100 was not way off the mark.

BTW where can I get Sailm Ul Haq's listing? (PSPO nahin janta!)

Thanks and Regards

Swaminathan

Swaminathan,

Salim-ul-Haq's telephone no. is as below:

91-40-23514979

His email id is: mohdsaleemulhaq@yahoo.com

Venkat