Tribute to eternal voice of Cinehistory on his 94th birth anniversary: Mohammed Rafi
Mumbai, December 24: A person who gave such songs to the cinema industry which were written with golden words in Cine history. A person who dedicated his whole life to singing, He is none other but Mohammed Rafi. Rafi is primarily noted for his songs in Hindi, over which he had a strong command. He sang around 7,405 songs in many languages. He sang in other Indian languages including Konkani, Bhojpuri, Odia, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, Sindhi, Kannada, Gujarati, Telugu, Magahi, Maithili and Urdu. Apart from Indian languages, he also sang songs in English, Farsi, Arabic, Sinhalese, Creole and Dutch.
From bhajans to qawwalis and ghazals to romantic songs, Rafi explored every music genre under the sky and with absolute perfection. In 1944, Rafi moved to Mumbai. He and Hameed Sahab rented a ten-by-ten-feet room in the crowded downtown Bhendi Bazar area. Poet Tanvir Naqvi introduced him to film producers including Abdur Rashid Kardar, Mehboob Khan and actor-director Nazeer. Shyam Sunder was in Mumbai and provided the opportunity to Rafi to sing a duet with G. M. Durrani, "Aji dil ho kaabu mein to dildar ki aisi taisi...," for Gaon Ki Gori, which became Rafi's first recorded song in a Hindi film.
Rafi has also sung many hit songs like “Shirdiwale Saibaba” which is echoed during religious functions. "Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil" from Heer Ranjha (1970), "Kaan Mein Jhumka" from Sawan Bhadon; "Jhilmil Sitaron ka" from Jeevan Mrityu, "Yeh Jo Chilman Hain" and "Itna to Yaad Hain Mujhe" from Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1971). Rafi made a comeback as the leading singer in mid 1970s. In 1974 he won the Film World magazine Best Singer Award for the song "Teree Galiyon Mein Na Rakhenge Qadam Aaj Ke Baad" (Hawas, 1974).
Even after 37 years of death, people still feel his presence through his voice. Mohammed Rafi Academy was launched in Mumbai on 31 July 2010 on the 30th anniversary of the singer's death, started by his son Shahid Rafi to impart training in Indian classical and contemporary music. After his death, seven Hindi movies were dedicated to Rafi: Allah Rakha, Mard, Coolie, Desh-Premee, Naseeb, Aas-Paas and Heeralal-Pannalal. Rafi is one of the recording artists mentioned in the 1997 hit British alternative rock song "Brimful of Asha" by Cornershop.