To commemorate Mohammad Rafi’s anniversaries, [Born: 24 December, 1924// Death: 31 July, 1980] we commenced a series of articles on Mohammad Rafi that essentially tried to bring the solo song of Mohammad Rafi from the first film with the music director. Beginning 2016, we have taken up one five-year slot every year, in the chronological order, starting from 1944, the year in which Mohammad Rafi sang his maiden solo song in Hindi Films.
Till now we have covered
- 1st Five-Year Period: 1944 -1948: December, 2016
1944-1946 – 11 December, 2016
1947-1948 – 22 December, 2016
- 2nd Five-Year Period: 1949-1953
1949 – 15 July, 2017
1950 -1951 – 10th December, 2017
1952-1953 – 17th December 2017
Presently, we are into the 3rd Five-Year Period of 1954 to 1958, of which we have already covered
1954-1955 – 8 July, 2018
1956 – 9 December, 2018
We now take up the 3d and the last piece of the years 1957 and 1958 of this five-year period.
1957
1957 had as many as 187 solo songs of Mohammad Rafi. Apart from the music directors who already have been regularly selecting him, we see music directors, like Anil Biswas, Ajeet Merchant, Shivram Krishna, who had first solo with Rafi in 1956 also opting for Rafi again.
1957 has its own share of Mohammad Rafi’s landmark solo songs from these music directors, like Chal Ud Jaa Re (Bhabhi, Chitragupta); Mohabbat Zinda Rehti Hai (Changezkhan, Hans Rah Behl); Janam Janam Ke Phere (Janam Janam Ke Phere, S N Tripathi); Zindagu Bhar Gam Judai Ka (Miss Bombay, Hans Raj Behl); Na Main Bhagwan Hoon (Mother India, Naushad); Ye Hasrat Thi Ke Is Duniya Mein (Nausherwan-e-Adil, C Ramchandra); Ana Hai To Aa (Naya Daur, O P Nayyar); Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par and Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye (Pyasa, S D Burman); Yun To Hamane Lakh Haseen (Tumsa Nahin Dekha, O P Nayyar) etc.
In terms of numbers, 1957 does not seem to have many of Mohammad Rafi’s maiden solo songs with a music director. But the ones that are there, more than make up for the paucity of numbers.
Dattaram (Wadkar) had had a maiden solo song with Mohammad Rafi that has gone onto become a milestone song. In his later films Dattaram seems to have experimented with other male singers like Mukesh and Manna Dey too. However, his own career unfortunately could not reach the critical escape velocity, for reasons other than his merit as composer.
Chun Chun Kar Ke AAyi Chidiya – Ab Dilli Door Nahin – Lyrics: Shailendra
The song has remained so evergreen, that hardly anything more need to be said about it.
Ramnath has only other picture, Meera of 1947 to his credit. This is the film that was a remake of the Tamil version. Both had M S Suubulaxmi as the lead actor and, obviously, the lead singer. Ramnath was the music director who seems to have been added for the Hindi version.
Radhe Shyam Duniya Door Se Suhani – Aadmi – Lyrics Sartaj Rahmani
Getting to listen the song for the first time!
Jaidev, though did not use Mohammad Rafi in his maiden film Joru Ka Bhai. However, he has several of Rafi’s greatest songs to his credit.
Budhdham Sharanam Gachchami – Anjali – Lyrics: Nyaya Sharma
Even though the song has not attained the level of popularity that the Anil Biswas composition of 1960 film Angoolimal has attained, Mohammad Rafi has full justice to Jaidev’s concept of composing the tune to the spirit of the message.
Ravi made his debut from ‘Vachan’ in 1955. This film had two duets of Mohammad Rafi – a classic tonga song – Jab Liya Haath Mein Haath and one of the pioneering song in the genre of beggar songs – O Babu Ek Paisa De De .
Dil To Kisi Ko Doge Kisi Ke Aakhir Hoge – Ek Saal – Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
Ravi has successfully created a classic-fit composition to Johnny Walker’s signature mannerisms.
Kis Ke Liye Ruka Hai Kis Ke Ruka Hai Karana Hai Jo Bhi Karle Ye Waqt Ja Raha Hai – Ek Saal – Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
Here is another successful experiment of using Rafi’s voice for a background title song. Ravi has used voices of Hemant Kumar (Ulaj Gaye Do Naina) and Talat Mahmood (Sab Kuchh Luta Ke) in the film..
Basant Prakash began his career in Hindi films from 1942. So he becomes one more of vintage era music director to work with Mohammad Rafi. He has composed two solos Dharti Maan Ke Veer Sipahi Jeene Marne Aaj and Gajar Baj Raha Hai Sehar Ho Rahi Hai in ‘Maharani’. I have not been able to locate the digital links to these songs.
S Haridarshan is another obscure music director whose first solo with Rafi, Aya Kar Ke Bhesh Nirala in ‘Shahi Bazaar’ seems to have no soft digital link.
To end the year with live linked song, we reach out a forgotten song from the film which had one Rafi song which remains a milestone even today- Jawan Ho Ya Budhiya Ya Nanhi Si Gudiya – Bhabhi (1957) – Music: Chitragupta – Lyrics: Rajinder Krishna); –
1958
1958 was also quite a productive year for Mohammad Rafi, with as many as 177 solo songs., with a fairly large share of some of the all-time greats like – Tujhe Kya Sunau Main Dilruba (Aakhari Dao, Madan Mohan); Bhala Karnewale Bhalai Kiye Ja (Ghar Sansar, Ravi); Hum Bekhudi Mein Tujm Ko Pukare (Kala Pani, S D Burman); Toote Hue Khwabon Ne (Madhumati, Sail Chaudhary); Man Mora Bawara (Ragini, O P Nayyar); Aaj Galiyon Mein Teri (Sohini Mahiwal, Naushad); Raat Bhar Ka Mehman (Sone Ki Chidiya, O P Nayyar); etc.
1958 has a fair catch of songs befitting our subject.
Mukul Roy, brother of Geeta Roy (Dutt), debuted with Sailaab in 1956, which he had produced too, in association with his sister.
Chhodiye Gussa Huzur Aisi Naraazgi Bhi Kya – Detective – Lyrics: Shailendra
On the Brother Mukul Roy page of the site Geeta Dutt.com, it is noted that the song borrows its main body and interlude from “Bimbo” – a 1953 Jim Reeves song.
Khayyam, technically, could be considered to have made a debut with a 1949 film Parda. But here we have films with his more official name. We have two films in this year. So, instead of choosing which film should appear as the one to include a maiden Rafi solo, I would prefer to place Hai Kali Kali Ke Lab Pe Tere Hush Ka Fasana (Lala Rukh, Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi) in the phigh pedestal of an evergreen song. That leads us to another film, Phir Subah Hogi, in the same year.
Sabki Ho Khair Baba Sab Ka Bhala, De De Bhookhe Pet Ko Roti Ka Tukda – Phir Subah Hogi – Lyrics: Sahir Ludhyanavi
Here is the least noted song from the film which had some great Mukesh songs, including a Mukesh- Rafi duet, Jis Pyaar Mein Ye Haal Ho. The present song is a beggar genre song, wherein chorus of support singers also join Mohammad Rafi.
R Sudharshanam is a music director from the Tamil films, and as such would be content with scoring music for the remake-into-Hindi films.
Jis Dil Mein Lagan Manzil Ki Ho – Matwala – Lyrics: Har Govind
We have what is popularly known as Tonga genre song, wherein Rafi maintains high scale to reflect the high mood of the song.
Iqbal Quereshi, is one of those fairly known music directors, who could not make it as big as his caliber was. He makes a debut this year..
Milke Baitho Jodo Bandhan – Panchayat – Lyrics: Shakeel Nomani
This a background title song, and assuch conveys the core message of the film.
Adinarayana Rao, also is a music director from Telugu films, who makes appearance on Hindi films because of the remakes form the South. He, also, is the producer of Suvarna Sundari, the film that figures presently.
Ram Naam Japna Paraya Maal Apna – Suvarna Sundari – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
The song is possibly made to cater to the Hindi film audience.
Maa Maa Karta Phire Laadla – Suvarna Sundari – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
This is a background song, which typically is used a vehicle to carry the film story forward .
Dhani Ram, as per some of the records, was Guru of music directors like Vinod and O P Nayyar.
Botal Mein Band Jawani Peete Peete Dil Jaani – Taqdeer – Lyrics: Verma Malik
A fast paced, drunkad (sharabi) genre song, which I hae listened for the first time.
Is Taqdeer Ke Aage Koi Hi Tadbeer Chalti hai, Agar Chalti Hai Dunia Mein To
Bas Taqdeeir Chalti Hai, Is Taqdeer Ke Age Jhuk Gaye … – Taqdeer – Lyrics: Verma Malik
This appears to be the background song, which typically is played with the film titles.
The receding-from-the-memory song that I have selected to end the present episode is a very unique Madan Mohan composition
Bada Hi CID Hai Wo Nili Chhatriwala – Chandan (1958) – Music: MadanMohan – Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna
Well, on the whole, the third five-year period of 1954 to 1958, for Mohammad Rafi’s maiden solo song with a music directors, has indeed proved to a very rich experience that has refreshed as many known or quite unknown songs, with a large catch of gems as an add-on bonus.
Next year we will take up the 4th Five-year period of 1959 to 1963, which expectedly should be as interesting as our present 3rd five-year period.
P.S.
All the three separately posted posts of Mohammad Rafi’s First Solo Song With The Music Director: 1954 -1958 can be accessed at / downloaded by clicking on the hyperlink.
The world is too small? or Is it? 