Waqt Se Din Aur Raat 1965 Waqt Sahir Ludhianvi Ravi
Rafi brings alive the predicament of a person who has lost his entire family in an earthquake. The rendition of this song is nearly flawless as he goes about propagating the dominance of time over us, the mortals. One actually finds the voice of the victim in his tenor.
Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache 1960 Kohinoor Shakeel Badayuni Naushad
The UNMATCHABLE CLASSICAL.Rafi weaves together the complex knots of hindustani classical in this All Time Great.
Man Tadapat Hari Darshan Ko 1952 Baiju Bawra Shakeel Naushad
An Equally Wonderful Classical. The voice of Ram & Rahim.
Pukarata Chala Hoon Mein 1965 Mere Sanam Majrooh OP Nayyar
Just listen to this one whenever you are stressed & I bet you’ll find yourself in a different land. Such is the flow of verses from his vocal chord that even nature bows before this Genius. The variation in the pitch overshadows the accompaniment. Check the inflection at’Gali Gali bahar kiBus ek chhaon zulf ki’ and you will be spellbound.
Aaj Purani Raahon Se 1968 Aadmi Shakeel Naushad
Redemption Personified.Atonement sings. This song is so effective that even the ordinary people like us can identify themselves with the scenario. As one proceeds along the stanzas, reality actually dawns on the mindset. A guilty conscience w’d definitely get solace amidst the divine ambience that brightens when’.Pahooncha hoon wahan, door nahin Bhagwaan bhi meri nigahon se’
Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera asha bhosle 1966 Teesri Manzil Majrooh RD Burman
This one is worth a jig. Shammi kapoor cavorting wildly to Monica’O’ my Darling Helen’s enchantment. Rafi’s tenor virtually performs a roller-coaster ride that has been enthralling the listeners since time immemorial. It’s an evergreen solo that can be plugged in at any time, especially when one is at the top of his excitement.
Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe 1968 Kanyadaan Neeraj ShankarJK
Oh My Goodness, forget about the SMS/MMS/E-mails or even the telephone. What’s more charming than writing your sweetheart a letter full of love. Poetry in Motion finds indeterminate applause as Rafi literally woos Asha Parekh in the form of the other Kapoor(Shashi). The symbolic overtures holds one in awe especially when Rafi sings’Savera jab hua to phool ban gaye, jo raat ayi to sitare ban gaye.’. So, the loverboys, sit up & take notice of the power of letters. listen to this one when you are going to propose to your heart.
Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil 1970 Heer Ranjha Kaifi Madan
In one of the immortal saga of love, Rafi throws sarcasm at the prevailing society. His voice delivers the message of rejection as Heer a la Raj Kumar renounces the world after the death of ranjha aka Priya rajvansh. One can feel the pain of an injured heart through Rafi’s rendition of this masterpiece. This one provides succour when one is at war with the outside world.
Chirag Dil Ka Jalao Bahut Andhera Hai 1969 Chirag Majrooh Madan
This is one of the best songs I have ever listened to. It leaves one speechless as to the style of depiction. The broken exposition and the seemingly booming sighs add irrevocable charm to it. Rafi’s style of delivery adds a touch of mystery to it. Listen to it whenever you are in a dark room with no one around at the dead of night & you’ll get a chilling shiver down your spine.
Din Dhal Jaaye Hai 1965 Guide Shailendra SD Burman
A masterpiece per se, only Rafi could have done justice to this one. The voice of a rejected individual conveys as to what happens all around. The Genius provides his FAMOUS RAFIsh TOUCH at the points’Tu to naa aaye teri, Yaaaa.D sataye. Pyar mein tere.Hum to huye badnaam’. This one gives us a vital message’Never run after anything material, surrender to the Almighty’ & hence can be enjoyable whenever we’re under depression.
Kaun Hai Jo Sapnon Mein Aaya 1968 Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan Hasrat ShankarJK
I have been enjoying this one eversince I was a kid. When Rafi chants’O Priya’ at the highest pitch & glides down effortlessly, I still get the same thrill ride. Really Rafi Sahab, pura aasmaan aap ke aage jhuk gaya. Any youngster w’d love to prance around to the tune of this song.
Akele Akele Kahan Ja Rahe Ho 1967 An Evening in Paris Hasrat ShankarJK
Paris celebrates the arrival of snow and what else could provide the heat to ward off the shiver other than Rafi’s seductive voice that Jerks and Slides on the top of the Alps and the Cable Cars & then Rafi decides to break free by assuming a thunderous disposition’Akele Akele.Kahan Ja Rahe Ho’. All the HoneyMooners planning a trip to The Alps Carry Rafi with you.
Khoya Khoya Chand 1960 Kaala Bazaar Shailendra SD
It’s as immaculate as the moon itself, Imagine bathed in Moonlight and listening to this mushy tune, I doubt whether you’d ever want to see the day light again. A silent moonlit evening, your sweetheart & Rafi’s serenade. Is that Paradise?
Chura liya hai Asha Bhosle 1973 Yaadon ki Baarat Majrooh RD
The dazzle of brilliance and the mellifluous voice speak for themselves. Check the breathless disposition in’Tum mere ho.wada karte jaana.chura liya’.Just Stupendous.
Choo Le Ne Do Nazook Hoton Ko 1965 Kajal Sahir Ravi
Rafi never touched wine in his entire life. He was an absolute tee-totaller abiding by the verses of Quoran. But after one listens to this one, he’s undoubtedly going to sign on a blank sheet of paper claiming that Rafi must have been a heavy drinker. Such was his mastery over the styles of singing that even Meena Kumari must have been bowled over.
Yeh Jo Chilman Hai 1971 Mehboob ki Mehndi Anand Bakshi Laxmikant
This one is a real gem. Catch the velvety perfection of his voice when he pronounces’Chilman’ in the song. It sounds as if a kid was clutching on to it’s mother’s saree.
Main Kahin Kavi Na Ban Jaaon 1969 Pyar hi Pyar Hasrat ShankarJK
The mother of all love songs. Catch the seductive enactment of his voice, when he spells’mein KAHIN ., tere Pyar mein eh kavita’.
Aaj Ki Raat Meri Dil Ki 1967 Ram aur Shyam Shakeel Naushad
This was sung to the tune of an Italian Piano. Rafi seemed to calibrate the pitch, treble, & flow of the sounds as evident in the vocal mannerisms he put forth while singing the classics, especially when he sung’Aaj ki.dil ki SALAAMI le le.kal tere Bajm mein DEEWANA chala jaaega.’ The SALAAMI and DEEWANA parts have been exectued so brilliantly that it gives us the appearance of a ballerina curving with ease on the dance floor.
Ek Banjara Gaye 1969 Jeene Ki Raah Anand Bakshi Laxmikant
Rafi’s soft as feather presentation of this ballad scales new heights of panache as he renders’Hum sab jeene waalon ko.’ as innocently as the chuckle of a newborn.
Patthar Ke Sanam Tujhe 1967 Patthar ke Sanam Majrooh Laxmikant
One of the memorable Rafi songs, this one throws light on how Rafi expresses sentimentality through his voice. By listening to’Badi Bhool Huyi.’, one can easily understand why Rafi has long been proclaimed as the Master of Human Emotions.