Meri Awaaz Suno ~ Mohammed Rafi AT|*Centenary Countdown P.11 - Page 12

# 2 Rafi centenary Countdown

Hum jab chalein toh

Film: Hum Hindustani (1961)

Music: Usha Khanna

Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4aqSXwyHkI

I cannot say how much I love this song! The title track became the most popular in this album, at the cost of this gem falling by the wayside. Such a shame! Usha Khanna has always spoken highly of Rafi stating how he was always deferent to her requirements even if she was a junior when she entered and could not dream of telling an established singer like Rafi how to sing. But he was firm about wanting her to teach him! Do listen to this one if you haven't already.

Movie : Kohinoor 1960

Song : Chalenge Teer Jab Dil Par

Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi

.Lyrics by : Shakeel Badayuni

Music : Naushad Ali

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0EmOAYQ57A

Every song in this movie is really melodic and musical.

# 3 Rafi Centenary Countdown

Phir miloge kabhi (duet with Asha Bhosle)

Film: Ye raat phir na aayegi (1966)

Music: O.P. Nayyar

Lyrics: S.H. Bihari

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZwbXA2jsPU

I have been listening to this song on loop ever since I heard it on the Javed Ali tribute show and I'm awestruck by its beauty. What a beautiful tune by OPN and such gorgeous lyrics by his staple partner, S.H. Bihari! Add to that Rafi saab's voice like molten chocolate. The decadence! You know, Asha Bhosle might have felt Rafi didn't improvise as much as she did and usually delivered just what was required of him but sometimes less is more. The beauty of his voice is enough. The way he caresses the tune and the lyrics! Goosebumps!

# 4 Rafi Centenary Countdown

Dil ki tamanna thi masti mein (duet with Asha Bhosle, though there's a solo version too)

Film: Gyarah hazaar ladkiyaan (1963)

Music: N. Dutta

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jAEfxe9hyU

I just heard this on my Rafi playlist so decided to post it. N. Dutta is one of those under-rated MDs from that era that never fails to surprise me with how tuneful his songs are. And he's one of those that's hard to recognize - I can't tell if he has a signature. For eg. This one sounds like it might be an OPN or a Madan Mohan tune. Lovely song!

This is a rare Rafi song, just listen...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JMUVXhvBm8

#5 Rafi centenary countdown

Ke jaan chali jaye

Film: Anjaana (1969)

Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal

Lyrics: Anand Bakshi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_S9e0Dc0F0

Such a beautiful tune by LP - if anyone knows what raag this is based on, please let me know. Sounds like some offshoot of Bhairav (but what do I know)

I've listened to this so many times today, I have earworm (in a good way!). Rafi's voice is sublime as usual but Suman Kalyanpur complements him so well! Rimjhim ke geet sawan gaaye is the more famous song from this film, and I like that one too but this one is something else!

# 6 Rafi Centenary Countdown

Sanam tu chal diya rasta

Film: Maya (1961)

Music: Salil Chowdhary

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoErLnoAP2o

This is lesser known song from Maya and it's well known Salilda did not prefer Rafi's voice at all - he disliked the 'Punjabiyat' in his voice (whatever that means ). I follow a Hindi film chronicler called Peeyush Sharma who used to run the Vintage Hindi songs association in Bengaluru a few years ago and he stated on his YT channel that he had met Salilda on a few occasions and had brought up his aversion to Rafi and Salida had apparently huffed and refused to answer saying that an MD is allowed to have his preferences and dislikes. And that was that. But just listen to this song - why, Salilda, why did you not use Rafi more?

Anyway, another side note and a testament to this fact that has been reiterated by many music connoisseurs and fans about Rafi - that he used to absorb the actor's style and bring it out in his voice when singing for them on screen. In other words, he 'ghost-acted' for the actor on screen! I realized this when I first listened to this song. Now I've watched Maya years ago and did not remember much of it (except the basic storyline and the Dev songs), so I did not recall this song or who it was picturized on. But when I heard it, my mind went first to Johnny Walker and then Agha. I swear, I'm not lying. And bammm! It's Agha!

Now just why did Asha Bhosle say Rafi did not modulate his voice at all whereas she did - to suit the heroine on screen? Just why would she say that when everyone and their brother agrees this is simply what Rafi excelled in?

# 7 Rafi Centenary Countdown

Kahin bekhayal hokar

Film: Teen Deviyaan (1965)

Music: S.D. Burman

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtxp-e1U5i0

This song!

Also want to mention how perfect Rafi's voice is for this song. Burmanda's musical instincts gets it right again. I'm floored by how astute this man was when it came to selecting the right singer for a song!
The tune ebbs and flows just like Rafi's voice does.. and it's complex tune at that. I've come to love it so much now after ignoring it for years before the more popular Aise toh na dekho and Khwab ho tum ya but now I can say it's my favorite from this album. Incidentally, Amit Kumar has gone on record saying it's one of his favorite Rafi songs too!

# 8 Rafi Centenary Countdown

Dhalti jaye raat (duet with Asha Bhosle)

Film: Razia Sultana (1961)

Music: Lacchiram

Lyrics: Anand Bakshi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mktpsweSEqw

This song used to play a lot on Vividh Bharti back in the days and I had no idea of the people behind it but I used to hum it all the time. Now I know it's Jairaj and Nirupa Roy but I don't know the actors that are lipsyncing. (ETA: a YT comment revealed them as Harbanslal Pape, and Meena Parel )

The music is by an obscure forgotten composer, Lacchiram. But what a tune! You can feel the sun setting and the evening breeze blowing as it plays. No wonder it's called the Golden Era. Even the lesser known songs are so beautiful.

(I started out thinking I'd post a song a day but then I had this notion that I'd get upto 100 songs by the time the centenary comes around. I don't have 100 days so it will have to be 3-4 songs per day. Please bear with me

As if a melody all of a sudden started singing about a strong emotion, what a song it is...thank you, Lizzie, for posting this.