By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
” तुम ने किसी की जान को जाते हुए देखा है
वो देखो मुझसे रूठकर, मेरी जान जा रही है
क्या जाने किस क़ुसूर की, दी हैं मुझे सज़ाएं
दीवाना कर रही हैं, तौबा शिकन अदाएं
ज़ुल्फ़ों में मुँ छुपाकर, मुझको लुभा रही है,,,”
Born 24 December, 1924 at Kotla Sultan Singh, in Amritsar, Punjab, Rafi enjoys the distinction of being the most prolific singer of the Hindi Cinema. Rafi took to singing at an early age. Years of dedication & perseverance ultimately bore fruit. He won hearts with his songs in “Baiju Bawra” (1952) under the music score by Naushad, especially one “Man Tarpat Hari Darsan Ko Aaj”. There was no looking back for the young talent who went on to set many a milestone in the years that followed.
Gifted with a cheerful disposition & an ability to sing according to the dictate and demand of the situation, mood and environ. Rafi often proved his versatility displaying various shades in his singing.It is worth mentioning that Filmfare Awards for Playback singing came into vogue in 1959 & until 1967 there was only one Award for Playback singers. Secondly, Rafi had already rendered many a memorable song before the period under reference. Neverthless, Rafi went on to win Six Filmfare & One National Award for – “Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho”(1960), “Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko” (1961), “Chahunga Main Tujhe” (1964), “Baharo Phool Barsao” (1966) , “Dil Ke Jharoke Mein” (1968) & “Kya Hua Tera Wada” (1977), the last number also winning National Award.
Some of his other hits include the likes of “Sar Par Topi Lal Haath Mein Resham Ka Rumal” (duet) “Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin”, “Mein Pyar Ka Rshi Hoon, Teri Julf ke Saaye Mein”, “Aye Gulbadan Aye Gulbadan”, “Badi Mastani Hai”, “Chhoo Lene Do Nazuk Hothon Ko”, “Khilona Jaan Kar”, “Jo Wada Kiya Wo Nibhana Padega”, “Wo Dekho Mujhse Rooth Kar Meri Jaan Ja Rahi Hai”, “Gulabi Aankhen jo Teri Dekhi”, “Isharon Isharon Mein”, “Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil” & “Abhi Na Jao Chodkar ” .
Mohammed Rafi rendered his voice to almost all the leading actors of Hindi films .He sang the maximum number of songs for Shammi Kapoor followed by, Johnny Walker, Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Biswajit & Joy Mukherjee to mention select few. Some of his hits with Shammi Kapoor include ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’, ‘Junglee’ , ‘Rajkumar’ & ‘An Evening in Paris’.
