Directed by Vijay Bhatt Baiju Bawra (1952), a musical megahit that remained in theaters for more than 100 weeks, a contemplative Krishna hymn sung by Mohammad Rafi quickly moved beyond the prayers of the faithful. Written by Shakeel Badayuni and Music by Naushad, Hari Darshan today It became the greatest example of secular art in the newly independent India which was heard with great reverence even across the border.
Supported by A Tabla and a the fiddleIt also changed the musical vocabulary of the time, which was filled with folk music. Naushad used midnight glory, Raga MalakounsIn all its glory. Soon, the somewhat bemused world of classical music spoke quietly about a young film singer, a student of Chhote Ghulam Ali Khan and Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, who performed with the most complex roundness and articulation of microtones. Hindi film music of the time. Rafi, the humble, hardworking singer With a silky voice, whose voice could reach the most obscure rim of the heart, had arrived.
The film was a fictional story of Baiju – an unknown singer who wants to avenge his father’s death by defeating Tansen in a musical duel. But his guru, Swami Haridas, tells him that a true singer needs to feel the pain to find legitimate talent. Devastated after his lover Gauri (Meena Kumari) attempts suicide, Baiju sings first at a Shiva temple and then on a journey to Agra. song, O guardian of the world Searched for his pain. Rafi’s poignant tone is delicate the courtier. Legend has it that Naushad was the taskmaster, pushing Rafi to the last stretch. chord octave (the highest of the three octaves). So much so that her vocal cords started bleeding and spitting up blood and the doctors advised her not to speak or sing for a few days. In his career, Rafi sang 149 songs for Naushad, of which 81 were singles.
Producer HP Goenka, Singer Mohammad Rafi, Talat Mehmood, Indrani Mukherjee and Sahir Ludhianvi on the sets of Chandi Ki Diwar song recording. (Express archive photo)
Rafi, the north star of film musicWhose silky voice and its expansive range of effects can make even the most primal thoughts and moods seem brimming with potential, would have been 100 today.
Born near Sultan Singh’s Gurudwara at Kotla, a small village near Amritsar Rafi, one of eight children, Born to Allarakhi and Haji Ali Mohammed, who runs a men’s barber shop. As Rafi was called as a child, Fiko was surprised to hear a fakir sing on the street and imitate him. Rafi was about 13 when his family moved to Lahore, where his brother owned a barber shop. His keen interest led him to learn from Chhote Ghulam Ali Khan and Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan. He was 15 and at a concert by KL Saigal, who was not going to perform due to a power failure. Rafi’s friend Abdul Hameed asked the organizers to let Rafi entertain the guests. Rafi sang loudly without a microphone and surprised the audience, including Saigal, who blessed him, and composer Shyam Sundar, who proposed a song in a Punjabi film. Gul Baloch (1944). He was invited to sing by AIR Lahore, where he also trained under Jeevan Lal Mattu, who headed the music section there and was himself a reporter. Grocery store.
Rafi moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1944 and rented a small apartment in Bhendi Bazar. His first song was a chorus which he sang for Rs Aji Dil Ho Kabu May (village girl[1945)BecausehisworkwasdifficultRiaz Not knowing that singer Suraiya’s flat was nearby, Rafi used to sit on Marine Drive and sing, in his small room without disturbing others. When she heard this, she asked him to practice in her house.
Music Director Kalyanji, Mohammad Rafi, Music Director Anandji, Director Prakash Mehra and Producer Indu Bhushan. (Express archive photo)
Around this time Rafi started working with Naushad and there was a split but Rafi decided to stay back and moved his family too while Noorjahan with whom he was singing, then went to Pakistan. Baiju Bawra He was a huge success and Naushad won his only Filmfare Award.
Thus followed a career where Rafi became a singer who could sing all kinds of songs. He ruled the place of patriotism with Ab The land was carried by your wind and Where dal dal par sone ki chidiaHe could sing along with Vim and sing those songs like the foot-tapping numbers featured in Shammi Kapoor. the forest and Kali of KashmirA complex rendering Madhuvan May Radhika Fun with elan and croon Sar Jo Tera Chakraye He didn’t even think about it. His duets with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle are among the most sought after songs in the playback world.
But the film industry could never stop talking about Rafi’s generosity, his punctuality, honesty and the idea of following a musician’s brief as a student of music. When he died of a heart attack at the age of 55, thousands of mourners attended his funeral. Despite the rain.
In an interview, a journalist asked Naushad, ‘If you were to make the biggest song of your life today, what would you like? “I request the gods to send Rafi Mian (Mohammed Rafi) back for an hour,” said an emotional Naushad.
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