Mohammad Rafi’s duets seem to manifest a classic oligoploic distribution. The duets with Lata Mangeshkar peaked in numbers, and if the ones with Shamshad Begum were quite respectable, those with Suraiya showed a marked corresponding reduction.
We just can locate only two duets with Geeta Roy and with several others it does not even cross the single number.
In the overall analysis, all of Mohammad Rafi duets do outclass all other male-female duet combination(s) by quite a wide margin. Interestingly, the distance, both in number and in qualitative comparison narrows down drastically when we add ‘popularity’ of the song as an additional filter.
+Geeta Roy
Kante Banegi Kaliyan – Hamari Manzil – Husnlal Bhagatram – Rajendra Krishna
Gaya Andhera, Hua Saveram Jaag Utha Insaan – Karwat – Hans Raj Behl – Saraswati Kumar ‘Deepak’
+ Shyama, Chorus
Fariyaad Na Karana, Kahin Fariyaad Na Karana – Gharana – Muhammad Shafi – ?
+Ameerbai Karnataki
Main Kaise Kah Doon – Jeevan Saathi – S Mohinder – ?
+ Johrabai Ambalewali
Na Kah Sake, Na Tadap Sake – The Last Message – Abid Hussain – Shareen Bhopali
(video link could not be located)
+ Binapani Mukherjee
O Lachchhi, O Lachchhi, Tu Man ko Lage Achcchhi – Roomal – Hans Raj Behl – mulkraj Bhakri
+ Asha Bhosle, Chorus
Lo Dum Dabakar Bhage, Ham Sab Ke Sab Hoshiyaar– Roomal – Hans Raj Behl – Naazim Panipati
+ Hamida Banu
Mehamaan Ban Ke Aaye The – Shoharat – Aziz (Hindvi) -?
The song has one version as Mohammad Rafi solo. Her we have both versions.
+ Mohantara
Sandesh Mera Pa Ke, Mujhe Daras Dikhana – Veer Ghatotkach – S N Tripathi – Anjum Rehmani
We will take up Duets of Mukesh with other female playback singers in our next episode(s).
The world is too small? or Is it? 