Seems like I started doing regular reviews only yesterday and now I am at my 25th review? I am very proud of this fact as 22 of my 24 reviews so far have been rated?Vey Useful? and the remaining 2 as useful. Of these 2, 1 was my very fist review and I myself am ashamed of that one.
To celebrate the Silver Jublee, I have picked up a person, who is very close to my heart? The person, whose voice attracted me to Hindi Film songs and I became a fanatic aftar that.
In this list, I won?t be ranking the songs? I?ll try and go in a logical sequence, covering the wide range of songs that he sang. The numbers against the songs indicate the serial numbers, not ranking.
The Early Stage:
Afte a very less noticeable deview in Pehle Aap, Mohd Rafi did not have a vey exciting beginning. However, in the early era too, he had given a few memorable songs. In fact, these two songs in the late forties made him a heartthrob of India and till date these songs remain as hot favourirtes.
1. Insaaf ka Mandir hai yeh, bhagwaan ka ghar hai(Amar): Only male song in the movie
2. Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki, Naa Jaane Tum Kab Aaoge(Dulari): The song that is said to bring the maximum popularity for this legend.
Songs that tested his singing ability
The next two decades to follow brought unprecedented success to Mohd. Rafi. Dulari had put him at the top of charts and Baiju Bawra made him an icon for next 20 years. In this period, he sang many songs. But when we talk of him, the fist thing that comes to our mind is?difficult to sing sings?. I have picked up 3 songs that belong to this category.
3. O duniya ke rakhwaale(Baiju Bawra): Do I need to introduce this song? Definitely NO.
4. Madhuban mein Radhika naache re(Kohinoor): The song that probably remains as the most popular semi classical song till date.
5. Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye to Kya Hai(Pyasa): I find it hard to come out of the mood that this number creates.
Sad Songs
This?Sur ka Rahi? is known for the emotion that he brought to sad songs. His voice could be adapted for any kind of songs and he adjusted them accordingly. Some memorable sad songs are?.
6. Aaj puraani raahon se, koi mujhe aawaaz na de(Aadmi): A tragic voice befitting the tragedy king.
7. Ehsaan tera hoga mujhpar(Junglee): Both Lata and Rafi had sung solos of this number.
8. Yeh Duniya Ye Mehfil(Heer Ranjha): Probably one of the last Madan Mohan Gems.
9. Yaadein naa jaaye beete dinon ki(Dil Ek Mandir): A song, that is capable of bringing in depression at any point of time!
Romantic Songs
He was equally good in romantic numbers. Especially for Shammi Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar, he has given some songs that are as popular today as they were at the time of their release.
10. Kaun hai jo sapnon mein aayaa(Jhook Gaya Aasmaan): Very high on mood and melody.
11. Pukarta Chala(Mee Sanam): Can we call it as the?Most Popular Rafi Number Today? It looks like a hot fevourite of evey one I have met.
12. Lakhon Hai Nigahon Mein(Phi Wohi Dil Laayaa Hoon): One of the great romantic songs that he sang for Joy Mukherjee.
13. Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhulegi(Barsaat ki Raat): A beautiful soft romantic song that had made to the top of Binaca Geet Mala that year.
Duets
His ability to sing duets with any female singer was uncanny. Some of my favourite duets are,
14. Dil Ek Mandir Hai(Title Song): A beautiful sad duet song with Suman Kalyanpur(Yes, it is Suman Kalyanpur, not Lata Mangeshkar)
15. Abhie Na Jaao Chhod Kar(Hum Dono): Perfectly pasteurized love duet with Asha Bhonsle, that remains as evergreen as it ever was.
16. Jo Wada Kiya Woh(Taj Mahal - Corrected from what I wrote originally): A beautiful hunting melody with Lata Mangeshkar that had again topped the Binaca Geet Mala.
Ghazals
Talat Mahmood was popularly known as the?King of Gazals?. But Rafi was not far behind. Most of his great Gazals were non filmi and hence did not catch much attention that time, 9That was not the era for private albums!). My favourites include,
17. Rang Aur Noor Ki Baaraat(Gazal): A very favorite among the film Gazals.
18. Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismet(Non Film): I must have heard some 5-6 vesions of this Ghalib Ghazal by various singers, but Mohd. Rafi?s version is THE BEST.
The Last Decade
Unfortunately this singer did not have a great ending to his caree. 1970s saw him playing second(or even third) fiddle to other singers. There are not many great gems to pick up from his last 10 years, but still my favourites are.
19. Parda Hai Parda(Ama Akbar Anthony): Probably the most popular qawaali by mass choice.
20. Kya Hua Tera Wadaa(Hum Kissi se Kam Nahin): Not a hot favourite of mine, but a lot of sentimental value is attached to this song as he got a National Award as well as Film Fare Award for this song after his death.
Hope you liked this review?.