Mohammad Rafi’s Solo Song From The FIRST Film With The Music Director : 1944-1948 ǁ 2 ǁ

We have covered 1944, 1945 and 1946 as the three of the first five-year period of Mohammad Rafi’s FIRST film with the music director. Presently, we will cover 1947 and 1948 as the last two years of this period.

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1947

Datta Davjekar, a fairly known name in the then Marathi films, debuts with Aap Ki Sewan Mein in Hindi Films. The film has several other records to its account as well. Lata Mangeshkar also made her debut as a playback singer with the song Paa Laagoon Kar Joree Re. The songs are written by Mahipal, who later on made his name as hero, especially in the mythological films and the poet-hero of V Shantaram’s 1959 film ‘Navrang’.. Mohammad Rafi has handled the eagerness of a longing lover on his way to meet his beloved in a controlled high-octave scale rendition. The beauty of the composition is in its vibrant freshness after so many years.

Datta Davjekar had two solos of Mohammad Rafi in the next film, Adalat (1948), too.

Incidentally, November (15^th) also is Datta Davjekar’s month of birth.

Meri Aankho Ke Taare Yeh Phool Suhaye

Naresh Bhattacharya had all other songs of Dak Bangla in Suraiya’s voice (one being a duet with Mukesh too), except this Mohammad Rafi solo. The song, written by D N Madhok, is such a pleasant tune to listen to, though slightly difficult to hum with.

Jab Jab Baithe Baithe Dil Bhar Aye Aur Lab Se Nikale Haye, Socho Kisi Se Pyar Ho Gaya

S D Burman also opens account with Mohammad Rafi solo in Do Bhai. Raja Mahendi Ali Khan’s lyrics have been done a very fair justice by Mohammad Rafi in the way the song has been rendered. The song may not have created many ripples, but does contain Rafi as we came to know his songs in the later years. Do Bhai is remembered for Geeta Dutt’s path breaking song – Mera Sundar Sapna Beet Gaya

Duniya Mein Meri Aaj Andhera Hi Andhera

A R Qureshi (a.k.a. an ace table player Alla Rakha) was known name as music director of Hindi films by now. He has chosen to use Mohammad Rafi for Malika. The song Meri Dulruba Mere Paas Aa does have varying accounts of the playback singer. As such we will take note of the song, but will go along to record the Tanvir Naqvi’s present song as the only Mohammad Rafi’s solo.

Das Na Jayen Tujhko Zulfien Kaaliyan

Khemchand Prakash has used Mohammad Rafi in a triad with Arunkumar and Manna Dey in Samaj Ko Badal Dalo’s song Aaji Maat Poochhco Baat College Albeli. This is one more song where in Mohammad Rafi has played a cameo role on the screen.

Pt. Ramakant Paingankar-Karnad, one more of those unknown names, has composed the present solo, a bidai song, written by Pt. Mukhram Sharma. The song takes the credit for a first ever bidai song by Mohammad Rafi. The film also has another credit- the first ever duet of Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshakar – Chalo Ho Gayi Tayyar

Chali Sajan Ghar Chali

B S Thakur has used Mohammad Rafi’s voice for this philosophical solo song of Shanti. The song is written by Shakeel Badayuni. YT also has another song To He Jaana Hansate Hanste, which does not find mention on other documentary listings except on Hindi Geetmala.

Jeevan Hai Anmol Musafir, Jeevan Hai Anmol

Azeez Khan has come up with the only Mohammad Rafi solo for Utho Jago.

Prem Ki Nayya Dol Rahi Hai

1948

1948 has once again a very rich crop in so far as our present subject goes.

Ram Ganguly had used Mohammad Rafi in the maiden Raj Kapoor film Aag, but that is a duet with Shamshad Begum – Solah Baras Ki Bhayee Umariya. The visuals of the song can be seen with a typical Raj Kapoor touch.

Shyam Sundar has two Moahmmad Rafi solo songs for Actress, after having introduced Rafi with a duet in 1944 film Gaon Ki Gori. I find it difficult to drop any one of them. Ajay Yuvaraj must also have faced such a dilemma; hence he put up a combined video clip. Both songs have attained a fair amount of popularity.

Ae Dil Meri Aahon Mein Itna To Asar Aaye

Hum Apne Dil Ka Fasana Unhe Suna Na Sake

Hans Raj Behl has used Mohmmad Rafi for one solo and one duet (with Geeta Dutt) for Chunariya. This can be taken as first of the signature HRB-Rafi song, which seems to pave for fairly qualitative combined work in the years to come.

Sab Kuchch Lutaya Hamane Mar Kar Teri Gali Mein

Shaukat Hussain Dehlvi (a.k.a. Nashad) has set the distinctive course of ‘broken-heart’ genre of songs, in which Mohammad Rafi was to carve out a niche for himself. This song from Jeene Do is written by Shewan Rizvi.

Doobi Naiyya Aake Kinare

We have one more Mahipal song, this time composed by Purushottam for Mere Lal.

Bujh Gaya Deep Ghir Gaya Andhera Jyot Kahan Se Laun

Ghulam Mohammad has this playful Mohammad Rafi solo, written by Tanveer Naqvi, for Parai Aag. This mukhda perhaps remids us more of Dil Hi To Hai (1963) version, composed by Roshan, which was written by Sahir Ludhyanvi.

Nigahen Milane Ko Ji Chata Hai

Husnlal Bhagatram scored a great winner in Mohammad Rafi’s solo, written by Qamar Jalalabadi, for Pyar Ki Jeet, even as the films had several hit songs of Suraiya as well.

Ik Dil Ke Tukde Hazar Hue Koi Yahan Gira Koi Wahan Gira

Dhumi Khan, one more of an unknown music director has composed two solos for Mohammad Rafi. One is a prayer song – Sultan-e-Madina. The other one is a pathos-laden song, penned by Habib Sarhadi.

Kismat Se Koi Kya Bole

Ameerbai Karnataki, otherwise a renowned playback singer, has composed songs for Shahnaz. Mohammad Rafi had two solos and three duets with Ameerbai Karnataki in the film. Both the solos present Rafi’s voice in different shades.

Mohabbat Mein Khudaya Aise Guzare Jindagi Apni (Lyricist: Amir Usmani)

Ae Dil Tujhe Neend Na Aayi Tamam Raat (Lyricist: Akhtar Pilbhiti)

Statically speaking, the first Five-year-period of 1944-48 has seen Mohammad Rafi working with 29 music directors for first time for a solo song. The number for 1948 was 10 music directors, 8 each for 1947 and 1946 whereas 3 for 1945. Both the music directors, who were associated with him in the maiden 1844 year, had no solo song with him in that year. Shyam Sundar appears in this list in 1948 with two solos; however Naushad has yet to create a solo song for Mohammad Rafi. That perspective apart, the fact remains that the journey had taken off well and was gaining the required velocity.

We will end 1944-48 five-year-period with what I consider as Mohammad Rafi’s most iconic song from Shaheed (1948), written by Raja Mahendi Ali Khan and composed by Ghulam Haider. We have picked up only the sad version, which is essentially a solo song.

Vatan Ki Raah Mein Vatan Ke Naujawan Shaheed Ho

Author: ASHOK M VAISHNAV

In July 2011, I opted to retire from my active career as a practicing management professional. In the 38 years that I pursued this career, I had opportunity to work in diverse capacities, in small-to-medium-to-large engineering companies. Whether I was setting up Greenfield projects or Brownfield projects, nurturing the new start-ups or accelerating the stabilized unit to a next phase growth, I had many more occasions to take the paths uncharted. The life then was so challenging! One of the biggest casualty in that phase was my disregards towards my hobbies - Be with The Family, Enjoy Music form Films of 1940s to mid-1970s period, write on whatever I liked to read, pursue amateur photography and indulge in solving the chess problems. So I commenced my Second Innings to focus on this area of my life as the primary occupation. At the end of four years, I am now quite a regular blogger. I have been able to build a few very strong pen-relationships. I maintain contact with 38-years of my First Innings as freelance trainer and process facilitator. And yet, The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. View all posts by ASHOK M VAISHNAV