An article by Anmol Singh
For the jumping jack called Jitendra, Rafi Saab has given some mid blowing performances in the form of solos and duets with Lata and Asha under LP. To name a few solos €" €œEk Banjara Gaaye€, €œAane Se Uske Aaye Bahaar€, €œO Meri Mehebooba€, €œMast Baharon Kaa Mein€, €œMere Des Mein€, €œJane Ham Sadak Ke Logon Se€ and duets €œAa Mere Hamjoli Aa€, €œAashavon Ke Sawan Mein€, €œTumse O Haseena€, etc. In the duet €œDhal Gaya Din Hogayi Sham€ the badminton beats are very well coordinated with rhythm of the song. Rafi and Asha give a super performance. Rafi Saab sings with great enthusiasm, perhaps badminton is his favorite sport. Another duet with Asha €œTere Hathon Mein Peh Nake Chudiya€ is also a classic from €˜Jaani Dushman€™.
For the Bollywood He-Man called Dharmendra (Paaji), apart from other singers Rafi has made the maximum contribution in the 60s & 70s. The solos sung for the Dharmendra are €" €œAaj Mausam Bada€, €œMaa Tujeh Dundun Kahan€, "O Maajhi Chaal", €œHuyi Sham Unka Khayaal€, €œNa Jaa Kahin Ab Na Jaa€, €œChalkaaye Jaam Aayi Yeh€, €œKya Miliye Aise Logon Se€ and later in the early 80s €œKahaniyan Sunati Hai Pawan€. The song that defines Dharmendra the best is €œMein Jat Yamla€. Here Rafi Saab matches Dharmendra€™s body language the perfectly than any other singer. There are some great duets sung by Rafi & Lata under LP for Dharmendra €" €œSaathiya Nahin Jaana€, €œBadra.. Ke Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke€, €œAaja Teri Yaad Aayi€, €œJhilmil Sitaron Ka€, €œKuch Keheta Hai Yeh Sawan€, €œYeh Dil Tum Bin€, €œChanda Mama Se Pyaara€ a duet with Usha Mangeshkar, etc. Paaji appeared very disturbed at Rafi Saab€™s dismissal during the tribute given at the Mumbai Doordarshan in 1980.
For the super star of early seventies Rajesh Khanna, Rafi Saab has delivered some mind blowing performances under LP. This was during the Kishore Kumar dominated era, where Rafi could create such an impact through hit songs picturized on Rajesh Khanna €" €œChup Gaye Saare Nazaare€ based on Raag Tilang, €œYeh Reshmi Zulphen€, €œRang Rang Ke Phool Khile€, €œYeh Jo Chilman Hai€, €œEtna To Yaad Hai Mujhe€ based on Raag Tilang. But there is one song from the film €˜Haathi Mere Saathi€™, €œNafrat Ki Duniya€ where Rafi Saab puts great emotions into the mind-blowing lyrics provided by Anand Bakshi. This song is a tribute to animal cruelty and is considered as the signature tune by animal rights organizations and activists. Anand Bakshi has been awarded by the RSPCA for his excellent lyrics.
LP have been instrumental in some great compositions sung by Rafi Saab for none other then the Star of the Millennium, The Big B i.e. Amitabh Bachchan. Kishore Kumar perhaps is more suited for Big B, but Rafi Saab provides a different dimension. This can be seen from the song €œJohn Johnny Janardhan€ where he matches Big B€™s personality perfectly. For the song €œMere Dost Kissa€ Rafi gets a film fare nomination. Other songs include €œAtrah Baras Ki Tu Hone€, €œTeri Rabh Ne Banaadi Jodi€, €œMere Desh Premiyon€, €œAye Yaar Sun Yaari Teri€, €œPatta Patta Buta Buta€ and about all a devotional number based on Gujarati folk music €œKaal Ke Panje Se Maata Bachavo€ can be heard through most of the Dandia festivals in Mumbai. Big B does an excellent job on screen.
Another star of the 1970s the handsome Rishi Kapoor, Rafi Saab provides his youth full voice through the songs (Duets & Solos) which were great hits €" €œParbat Ke Is Paar€, €œDafli Wale Dafli Baja€, €œHum Tho Chale Pardes€, €œRamji Ki Nikli Sawaari €, €œDard-e-dil Dard-e-jigar€. In the song "Koyal Boli Duniya Doli" the singing of the birds is perfectly co-ordinated. Rafi Saab sings along with his favorite actor Amitabh Bachchan in Naseeb for Rishi €" €œChal Mere Bhai Tere Hath Jod€. It is believed that Rafi Saab was the most exited during the recording. Who can forget the unforgettable Qawaali from Amar Akbar Anothny €œPardah Hai Pardah€ and the devotional song €œShirdi Wale Sai Baba€, both picturized on Rishi Kapoor. In the history of Indian Music there is only one song where the three icons of music Rafi-Kishore-Mukesh along with Lata have sung together €" €œDekh Ke Tumko Dil€. Again Rafi sings for Rishi here. Full credit goes to LP for this unique creation.
For the multi dimensional Sanjeev Kumar again Rafi Saab provides some great numbers under LP €" €œAaya Re Khilonewala€, €œKhush Rahe Tu Sada€, €œShaadi Ke Liye Razamand Karli€, €œTere Naam Ka Diwana€ and €œO Firki Wali Tu Kal€. For the song €œKhilona Jaan Kar€ Rafi Saab sings for the mentally challenged character played by Sanjeev Kumar. Both get Film Fare nominations here.
In the mid 60s and early 70s LP have given some great numbers sung by Rafi Saab for many other actors. To name a few €" €œNazar Na Lag Jaaye€, €œBa-Hosh-o-hawas Mein Diwana€, €œVoh Hein Zara Khafa€, €œPatthar Ke Sanam Tujeh€, €œSaajan Saajan Pukaarun€, €œHam Tumhare Liye€, "Reshman Ki Dori", €œMujeh Teri Mohobbat Ka€, €œAap Aaye Bhaar Ayee€, €œMein Ek Raaja Hoon€ based on Raag Bhairagi Bhairav, €œNa Tu Zameen Ke Liye€. Later in the mid and late 70s €œAadmi Musaphir Hai€, €œYeh Khidki Jo€, €œKaali Ghata Chayi€, €œChalo Re Doli€, €œTere Sang Jinaa Tere Sang Marnaa€, etc. SJ were compelled to change their music orchestra, due to LP€™s remarkable compositions in the 60s.
LP have composed few marvelous Kishore-Rafi duets. To name a few €" €œEk Rasta Do Rahi€, €œChal Shuru Ho Ja One€, €œHum Premi Prem Karna€, etc. Perhaps the most memorable is the song €œBane Chahe…Salamat Rahe Dostana€ is a tribute to both Rafi-Kishore association with Bollywood. From the film €˜Badalte Rishte€™ in the song €œNa Jane Kaise Pal Mein€ the duet sung with Kishore & Suman K, Rafi Saab makes a late entry and turns the song towards a positive node. Full credit goes to LP here.
The last song, which Rafi Saab sang for LP, was €œTu Kahin Aas Paas Hai Dost€ for the film Aas Paas. The very same evening Rafi Saab leaves us forever. Since then and for many centuries to come Rafi will always be €˜Aas Paas€™ – €˜Some Where Near Us€™.
A tribute from Pyarelal
"What can I say about a man jo tareef se bahut hi oopar hai, and had countless golden qualities? I am only able to feel my deep regard for him, not to express it. Rafisaab aisi sargam thi jisse koi bhi raag ban saktaa tha. He could sing in any range or octave. If today's composers are to flower, the Almighty should create nine Rafis more! Can we find even a single song of his that is badly rendered? Of course, he had a major role in our career, and yet I would single out one song to show his greatness as a human being – Kalyanji-Anandji's 'Sukh ke sab saathi…' (Gopi). How much apnapan is there in the rendition of this bhajan though Rafisaab belonged to a different mazhab!"
A tribute from Shailendra Singh
"A matchless singer, he was an even greater human being. He would call me 'Kaka', and I had the privilege of singing so many hits with him in films like Chacha Bhatija, Suhaag, Parvarish, Dada, Humse Badhkar Kaun and others. There was a qawwali that we recorded in which I felt that I could simply not match the high note he was taking, but he coaxed me and I did it! Since my father was working for a film company, I had the privilege of attending his recordings from my school days." "I remember the recording of "Hum premee prem karnaa jaane…" from Parvarish where he was amused that Laxmikant-Pyarelal had made me sing for his hero Shammi Kapoor and he sang for Vinod Khanna! He said, "They have made you sing for an old man and me for the young one!
Cricket
Kumkum Bhagya
