Mohd. Rafi ki yaadein: on his 85 th birthday

Renowned playback singer Mohammad Rafi was gifted with a golden voice that has been entertaining Indian audience for several generations and will keep on inspiring many budding singers. Even after 27 years of his untimely death, the craze of his fans is as fresh as sunrise. Rafi sang songs of every genre. His voice would adjust itself automatically be it melodious or funny songs, emotional or devotional songs besides qawwalis and ghazals. His penchant for singing took him to greater heights and Mumbai film industry was graced by this possessor of gifted voice.

Born in Kotta Sultansingh village in Punjab (now in Pakistan) on December 24, 1924, Rafi moved to Lahore when he was only 14. There he was given training of Hindustani classical music by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Jiwanlal Matto and Firoze Nizami. He recorded his first song in 1944 for a Punjabi film Gul Baloch with music director Shyam Sunder. Not many people know that had acted in couple of films, Laila Majnu (1945) and Jugnu (1947). Rafi made his mark with Tera Khilona Toota Balak in Anmol Ghari (1946).

In the year 1944 Mohammad Rafi decided to move to Bombay where he was first given a break by Naushad in Pehle Aap. Rafi's first big hit was in Jugnu (1947) where he sang the duet 'Yahaan Badla Wafaa Ka Bewafaee Ke Siva Kya Hai' with Noorjehan under Feroz Nizami.

His career took off with the all-time hit Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki from Dulari in 1949.

He used to be the first preference of all leading music directors and composers including O. P. Nayyar, Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan and Sachin Dev Burman. With the songs of 'Baiju Bawra' (1952), Rafi made a certain place for himself in playback singers of Bollywood. For the title song of Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1961), Rafi received him first Film fare Award. The first National Award went to him for the beautiful song, "Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja" from 'Neel Kamal' (1968).

He carved a niche for himself amid a galaxy of other talented singers like Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Talat Mehmood and Mahendra Kapoor.

In the 1960s Rafi sang for Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Johnny Walker, Sunil Dutt, Biswajeet, Joy Mukherjee, Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor and Raaj Kumar.

In 1965, the celebrated singer was honoured with 'Padam Shri' award by the Government of India.

In 1974, Rafi received the award for the best singer from Film World magazine for the song "Teri Galiyon Mein Na Rakhenge Qadam" (Hawas). His song "Kya Hua Tera Wada" from 'Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin' was a great success. This song led Rafi to receive both Filmfare Award and the National Award in 1977. Mohammed received numerous Filmfare and National awards for his extraordinary performances.

The cruel hands of death snatched Rafi from us on July 31, 1980 at an age of just 56 after he suffered a massive heart attack. During his singing career of 36 years, Rafi sang more than 25000 songs

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Film & Animation

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