Rewinding Mohammed Rafi classics
On his 45th death anniversary (July 31), The Hindu rewinds his best songs.
Man re tu kahe na
Rafi has sung several timeless classics, but it is difficult to pick too many better than this Roshan composition for the 1964 film Chitralekha. Based on raga Yaman Kalyan, this song soothes your senses.
When Outlook magazine conducted a poll a couple of decades ago, among music composers, singers and lyricists, to pick the greatest Hindi film songs of all time, this one topped the list. While you could differ with some of the songs they selected, you will not with this one.
Kabhi khud pe
Hum Dono had fabulous music by Jaidev. The Lata-Rafi duet Abhi na jaao chodkar may be the most popular song from the album, and there is also the Lata Mangeshkar bhajan, Allah tero nam. Still, there is something about this Rafi classic.
When Lata brought out the album Shradhanjali as a tribute to great singers, she had chosen this song and Man re tu kahe na to pay her homage to Rafi. Her versions were beautiful, too.
Mere mehboob tujhe
Few actors could romance the beautiful Bollywood heroine like Rajendra Kumar. And he very often had sweet melodies to woo those beauties. Like this song tuned by Naushad for the 1963 film Mere Mehboob. Rafi's rendition dips and honey and love.
There is an equally delicious version of the song by Lata. And those scenes, that appeared on Doordarshan on a Saturday evening on the Onida television set in the north Kerala town of Kalpetta, are still fresh in memory.
Din dhal jaaye
R.K. Narayan's novel The Guide was ahead of its time and its hero Raju remains one of the most powerful characters in Indian English fiction.
Dev Anand played Raju on the screen in the 1965 film Guide. The novel was also made in English and its script was written by the Nobel Prize-winning American novelist Pearl S. Buck.
Raju's emotions came alive through his voice in this evergreen melody.
The film's music by score by S.D. Burman was exceptional. Songs like Piya tose naina, Tere mere sapne, Aaj phir jeene ki, Saiyaan beimaan, Kya se kya ho gaya and Gaata rahe mera dil, make it one of the greatest albums of all time in Hindi cinema.
Phir miloge kabhi
This may not be the most anthologised of Rafi's songs, but it is a rare gem. Tuned by O.P. Nayyar, who was more popular for his peppier compositions, this is a gorgeous song, set in raga Yaman Kalyan, for the 1966 film Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi. And Rafi had Asha Bhosle for company.
The song is a visual delight in black-and-white too, thanks in no measure to the mesmerising presence of Sharmila Tagore, who looked incredibly beautiful in her Amrapali costume. Few women could express shyness and innocence the way she could.
Baharon phool barsao
One of the all-time popular romantic songs of Indian cinema, and not without reason. Shankar-Jaikishan gave an achingly sweet tune to some lovely poetry by Hasrat Jaipuri and Rafi's singing ensured its immortality. On screen Rajendra Kumar romanced a blushing Vyjayanthimala, whose natural dancer's grace would make you the click the replay button on YouTube.
The song, based on raga Shivranjani, was voted in 2013 by BBC Asian Network as the greatest Bollywood song of all time.
Baad muddat ke yeh ghadi
Madan Mohan created sheer magic with his music. He was in a class of his own and he came up with one brilliant song after another, most often through the voice of his muse, Lata Mangeshkar. But this vastly underrated song, from the 1964 Jahan Ara, was rendered by Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur, and they both were brilliant.
It is a pity that the song failed to catch the popular imagination. It should have, even in an album as extraordinary as Jahan Ara (Woh chup rahe to, Phir wohi shaam, Jab jab tumhe bhulaaya, Mein teri nazar ka, Haal-e-dil yun unhe).
As for Baad muddat ke yeh ghadi, it may make you think of very popular song of the 1990s – Mujhse naraaz ho to, from the film Papa Kahte Hain, one of Sonu Nigam's best.
Maine poocha chaand se
R.D. Burman's favourite singer, by a long distance, was Kishore Kumar, and together they came up some of Indian cinema's finest songs. RD, however, gave this song, from the 1980 film Abdullah, to Rafi. The result was pure magic. The superior recording quality of the time also helped.
Chaudhvin ka chand ho
One of Rafi's most popular songs, from the 1960 film Chaudhvin ka Chand. Composer Ravi's tune was perfect for this love poem by Shakeel Badayuni.
Ae phoolon ki rani
Another gorgeous tune by Shankar-Jaikishan, the most gifted of the composer duos, of whom there have been quite a few in Bollyood. This is from the 1965 film Arzoo, for which also rendered two other great melodies, Aji humse bachkar and Chalke teri ankhon se. The film also featured two beautiful Lata songs – Aji rooth kar ab and Bedardi baalma.
There are, of course, many other Rafi songs that continue to delight us. Songs like Teri ankhon ke siva (Chirag), O duniya ke rakhwale (Bhagwan), Kya hua tere waada (Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin), Yeh reshmi zulfen (Do Raaste), Yeh mera prempatr pad kar (Sangam), Tu is tarah meri zindagi (Aap To Aisa Na The), Pardesiyon se na akhiyan (Jab Jab Phool Khile)...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Asha Bhosle recalls backlash to bold songs like Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and Dum Maaro Dum: 'Majrooh Sultanpuri left the studio and told me, ‘Beti, maine ganda gana likha hai'
Asha Bhosle has lent her voice to some of the most iconic songs in Hindi cinema, from the sultry Piya Tu Ab To Aaja to the rebellious Dum Maaro Dum and the dreamy Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera. But in a recent interview, the legendary playback singer revealed that many of her bold tracks didn't just raise eyebrows, they were outright banned on Indian radio. 'Why do I only get the bold songs?' Asha once asked RD Burman Speaking to Republic Bharat, Asha Bhosle recalled confronting her late husband and composer RD Burman, fondly known as Pancham Da, about his song choices. She questioned why she was repeatedly given provocative numbers, while her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar received the softer, more 'respectable' melodies. 'I once told Pancham, why do I only get these bold songs while the nice songs go to Lata Didi?' she said. But RD Burman stood firm. He had faith in Asha's ability to make such songs iconic. Regarding Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, from the 1971 film Caravan, she remembered him confidently telling her that the song would be a huge hit. 'I have written a bad song,' said Majrooh Sultanpuri and walked out Interestingly, Asha also shared an anecdote involving renowned lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, who penned Piya Tu Ab To Aaja. She recalled how embarrassed he was during the recording session. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo 'Majrooh Sultanpuri left the studio and told me, 'Beti, maine ganda gana likha hai. My daughters will grow up and sing this song,'' she said, laughing. Despite his hesitation, Asha went ahead with the song, staying true to her professional commitment. 'I knew the music of the song is good, but I didn't know that the song will be such a massive hit,' she added. Hindi Songs | Asha Bhosle Special Songs | Jukebox Song '3–4 of my songs were banned from Bombay radio' While these songs have since achieved cult status, Asha admitted they weren't always well received. In fact, they were censored. 'My 3–4 songs would get banned from Bombay radio,' she revealed, pointing to the conservative broadcasting environment of the time. Another of Asha's landmark tracks, Dum Maaro Dum from Dev Anand's Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), also stirred controversy. Despite the film's anti-drug message, the song was accused of glamorising smoking and hippie culture. As a result, All India Radio banned it, and Doordarshan edited the song out when the film was aired on television. Over the decades, however, these songs have come to define the bold, experimental era of Hindi film music, with Asha Bhosle at the forefront, unafraid to lend her voice to songs that pushed boundaries.
India.com
5 hours ago
- India.com
This film was rejected by Hrithik Roshan, another superstar did, became blockbuster, made on budget of Rs 30 crore, earned more than 100 crore, movie name is…, lead actors were…
In mid-2000s, an intriguing film project began circulating within Bollywood circles. The script promised a blend of romance and suspense, set against a backdrop of political intrigue. The story centered on a blind Kashmiri woman and a charming tour guide, whose relationship would lead to unexpected revelations. Despite the compelling narrative, one actor hesitated to commit, sensing complexity and potential similarity of the plot. Which film was this? Here we are talking about Fanaa, helmed by Kunal Kohli, which was released in 2006. The film featured Aamir Khan and marked Kajol's return to the screen after five-year hiatus. The film tells the story of Zooni Ali Beg, a blind Kashmiri woman who travels to Delhi and falls in love with her tour guide, Rehan Qadri. However, Rehan harbors a dangerous secret that intertwines their love story with themes of terrorism and national security that later becomes his dilemma as he has to choose his unconditional love for Zooni or a deadly chaos. Why Hrithik Roshan rejected Fanaa? Interestingly, as per IMDb trivia, before Aamir Khan took on the role of Rehan, the part was offered to Hrithik Roshan. Reports suggest that Hrithik declined the role, possibly due to scheduling conflicts or reservations about the character's morally ambiguous nature. However, some reports have also suggested that Hrithik declined Fanaa as he found similarities between the plot of his 2000s film, Mission Kashmir. His decision opened the door for Aamir Khan to deliver a performance that added depth to the film's complex narrative. How was Fanaa's box office reception? At the box office, Fanaa was a commercial success, grossing over Rs 105 crore worldwide against a budget of Rs 30 crore. It became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the year. was notable for its unique blend of romance and political thriller elements. The chemistry between Aamir Khan and Kajol was widely praised, as was the film's music, composed by Jatin-Lalit with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi. Songs like 'Chand Sifarish', 'Dekho Naa', Mere Haath Mein' and Des Rangeela' became instant hits, contributing to film's popularity, which has managed to hold its IMDb rating at 7.1.
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Javed Akhtar says he wanted to assist legendary Guru Dutt and become a director
Mumbai, Aug 6 (PTI) Veteran poet-lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar has revealed the late actor-filmmaker Guru Dutt had a profound influence on him so much so that he harboured a dream of becoming a director and even assisting him. At a special session organised to pay tribute to the Hindi cinema legend as part of his centenary celebrations in Mumbai on Wednesday night, Akhtar (80) shared that his dream to work with Dutt remained unfulfilled. 'After my graduation I'll go to the film industry and join Mr Guru Dutt for a couple of years and then I'll become a director. When you're 18-year-old things are simpler and easier, so that is what I had decided. It is so unfortunate that I came to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1964, on October 4 and he passed away on October 10, so I could never ever see him," Akhtar said. 'I had really thought that I when I go (to Mumbai) somehow I'll manage (to work with Guru Dutt) because (poet-lyricist) Sahir (Ludhianvi) sahab was a good friend of Guru Dutt and he had written songs for 'Pyaasa', I thought this connection will work. I had thought I'll assist him for a while but it didn't work," he stated. Akhtar, known for penning iconic films like 'Sholay", 'Deewar", 'Zanjeer", and 'Don" alongwith Salim Khan, said he was impressed at how Dutt would communicate complex narratives through visuals. 'I was highly impressed by Guru Dutt in my college days, that when I was 17 or 18-year-old I used to refused to see films of certain superstars because I believed they're bad actors, it means I had some choice. Guru Dutt had a deep impression on me as a teenager. 'We had great directors like Mehboob (Khan), Bimal Roy, but Guru Dutt was the first person who spoke through visuals. There were other directors who could give good performances, shoot at right locations, create right ambience in the film, and well-written films but talking through visuals is something that was taught to us by Guru Dutt," Akhtar noted. The session was attended by filmmakers like Sudhir Mishra, Hansal Mehta, and R Balki, and film critic-author Bhawanaa Sommaya, each echoing Akhtar's sentiments of reverence for Dutt. The event concluded with a special screening of 'Pyaasa", which was attended by Dutt's family including, his granddaughters Gouri and Karuna Dutt, late actor Johnny Walker's son Nasir, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, actor Akshay Oberoi, and others. Mishra reminisced about watching Dutt's film, 'Saheb Bibi Aur Ghulam" at least six times as a teenager, with his grandmother. 'Guru Dutt is an experience, he could see him again and again, at the age of 22 he would mean something else, and today he would mean something else. I keep revisiting him. There's nothing in my life that I've done that is not influenced by him, and I haven't measured upto to him, but I'm trying to. 'Every film that I've done, every shot that I've taken, every scene I've written, and song that I've tried to picturise, I can't imagine it without Guru Dutt. He has taught us how to make films, how to see a scene, how to take a blueprint, which is a script, and he rewrite it in a film," the filmmaker said. Mehta revealed that during his FTII days in Pune in the early 1990s, he created a music video that he referred to as a 'plagiarised" song sequence from Dutt's iconic film, 'Kaagaz Ke Phool." He candidly described his work as a 'vulgar replication", and added that he hopes to pay tribute to the late filmmaker someday by making a movie that talks about 'heartbreak and love". 'I grew up knowing about him through my closest friend, who was his nephew. I used to hear stories about his uncle. I discovered his (Dutt) films much later, 'Pyaasa' is the first film I saw and it left a lasting impression on me. More than the number of films I've made, I've had more heartbreaks, and love. 'Guru Dutt has taught me that pitying oneself can be beautiful, I began to think of self-sympathy as a virtue and that I should celebrate it, and that heartbreak is cinematic. I wish I can make a film that talks about heartbreak and love to pay tribute to the person who influenced me," Mehta noted. Balki said Dutt was the reference point for his 2022 movie, 'Chup: Revenge of the Artist", which depicted the pain of an artist who suffers from 'wrong criticism". 'We live in an era where resilience is celebrated more than sensitivity, and sensitivity with a little bit of luck can become luck and if not supported by luck, goes down. As the most sensitive artist, we love to celebrate a person who has fallen and come up. Guru Dutt to me is an epitome of sensitivity. 'He inspires me to remember sensitivity, it is important to feel vulnerable and not be understood by many people, you just go on. Today, the pressure is more on artists. The more I watch his films, I look at the vulnerability of the filmmaker, I never look at the craft," Balki stated. As part of the centenary celebrations of Dutt, some of his most iconic films such as 'Pyaasa" (1957), 'Aar Paar" (1954), 'Chaudhvin Ka Chand" (1960), 'Mr & Mrs 55", (1955), 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam" (1962) and 'Baaz" (1953) will be screened across India from August 8 to 14 as part of the retrospective. The restoration of these titles has been undertaken by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and the National Film Archive of India (NFAI), along with Ultra Media and Entertainment Group, who holds the rights to these movies. PTI KKP RSY (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: August 07, 2025, 00:15 IST News agency-feeds Javed Akhtar says he wanted to assist legendary Guru Dutt and become a director Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
