Mohammed Rafi & Filmi Ghazals

This article is written by A.S.Murty
asmurty2@rediffmail.com/rafimurty@gmail.com

For Mohd. Rafi, ghazal singing must have come naturally. Having come from an Urdu background, he must have been influenced early in life with Urdu couplets and Ghazals, just like any other boy of his background. Hindi film music has produced many great Ghazal exponents and Mohd. Rafi is one of these greats. His added gift of clarity in voice, pronunciation and diction went a long way in presenting to the Hindi film music many a great ghazal composition. Some of the very best that come instantly to mind are (1) Mujhe Dard-e-dil ka pata na tha, mujhe aap kisliye mil gaye, (2) Na kisi ki aankh ka noor hun, na kisike dil ka karar hun, (3) Lagta Nahir Hai dil mera ujade dayar mein (4) Tujhe Kya Sunaun Mein Dilruba Tere Saamne Mera Haal hai, (5) Zara Sun Hasina-e-naznin Mera Dil Tujhi Pe Nissar hai (6) Bhari Duniya Mein Aakhir dil ko samjhane kahan jayen, (7) Gujre Hain aaj ishq mein hum is makam se, (8) Naseeb Mein Jiske jo Likha Tha (9) Zindagi Aaj mere naam se sharmati hai, (10) Door Rah Kar Na Karo Baat Karib Aa jao. There are many more which readers may like to point out.

From the film GHAZAL, the evergreen – Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat Kise Pesh Karun – is one Ghazal for all seasons. The song was not only popular in the 60s but is hummed by all Ghazal lovers and Urdu poetry followers even to this day. Other two variations of the same Ghazal one each by Rafi himself and by Lata Mangeshkar from the same film – Ishq Ki Garmiyen Zajbaat Kise Pesh Karun and Nagma our Sher Ki Saugat Kise Pesh Karun were also equally well rendered. But the soul of that film and indeed of that era was the first song from this film.


Mohd. Rafi sang many duets which are Ghazals and with all female singers alike. Notable among them were with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle and Suman Kalyanpur. While he never tried to dominate, his superior singing always put him ahead of his female singers. Not that these three ladies did not justify themselves, they did splendidly. But they were left a notch too short when compared to Mohd. Rafi. Dile-e-betab ko seene se lagana hoga , Mijaze Garami Duwa hai aapki, Humsafar Saath Apna Chhod Chale are all examples of the highest standards of Ghazal singing by Rafi and the female singers mentioned above.


I sometimes wonder whether there will be music of any kind left in the Hindi film world after a few years. The way things are going – all noise and no sense of lyrics or compositions – leave alone any sensible singing – the doomsday is not further than a few years for the Hindi film music. The film industry must think about it seriously. They lyricists should write beautiful and meaningful poetry. The Music directors should revive the old magic of the yesteryears and the singers, for whatever they are worth, should learn from the great masters who have left behind them troves of treasurers in the form of tens of thousands of the best of music. Music companies would reap rich dividends if they compile the various moods of Mohd. Rafi life Bhajans, Romantic Songs, Sad songs, Ghazals, Patriotic songs, Qawwalis, etc. and release fresh volumes in each style.. These would sell like hot cakes and would also benefit millions of new generation music lovers who are desperately seeking to enjoy music where there is none these days.

Other notable Ghazals from the Rafi stable include – Tum Ek Baar Muhobbat Ka Intehan Toh Lo, Kal Raat Zindagi Se Mulaqat ho Gayi, Maana mere Hasin Sanam Tu Rashke Maahtab hai, Koi Nazarana Lekar Aaya Hun Main Diwana Tere Liye, etc. The list is certainly endless and I could add many more to it. But I would like Rafians out there to respond and interact by sending their comments and complete the list of Ghazals sung by the greatest singer of all times - MOHD RAFI.

TERE SAAZ SE NAHIN MILTI KISIKI BHI AWAAZ,
PHIR BHI HUM JAHAN MEIN TERE TARANE LIYE PHIRTE HAIN