Mohammad Rafi’s First Solo Song With The Music Director: 1959 -1960
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) , 2nd Five-Year Period: 1949-1953 and 3rd Five-Year period of 1954 – 1958.
Our purpose is to revisit Mohammad Rafi’s solo songs across the start point of his career till the end. We have been able to cover Mohammad Rafi’s association with around 90 music directors in these first three periods. Presently, we take up the first two years of 4th Five-Year Period 1959-1963. While looking for the first solo song with music director for each of the five years of this Five-Year Period, I have also listed some of the very popular or not-so-popular but quite remarkable songs for the music directors who have already appeared in the past three Five-Year Periods. Most of these songs we remember so well that just three words of the first line of the song is enough for us to create the whole song in our minds. There are some which you love to listen again and re-enjoy the beauty of the song, as I did.
With every passing year, the list of the solo songs with the music directors who already have appeared in the previous periods is swelling up. So even at the cost of digressing from the titled-course of the post, we will take the tour of the very-well known and not-so-known but very-good-to-listen-again songs. The sequence is – name of music director, the film and (the song). I have included here only those films which had one or more songs to take note of, to my liking, of course.
I have followed the name of the films in the alphabetical order while listing the songs in this post.
1959
Noteworthy songs for the year were –
Chitragupta – Barkha (Sur Badle Badle Kaise ) / N Dutta – Dhool Ka Phool (Tu Hindu Banega) / Shankar Jaikishan – Chhoti Bahen (Main Rickshawwala), Love Marriage (Kahan Jaa Rahe The), Shararat (Ajab Hai Dastan) / Vasant Desai – Goonj Uthi Shenai (Kahe Do Koi Na Kare) / S D Burman – Insaan Jaag Utha (Dekho Re Dekho Ajuba), Kagaz Ke Phool (Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari) / Hans Raj Behl – Sawan (Dekho Bina Sawan),
1959 has (technically) seven (but effectively six) music directors who had the maiden solo song for Mohammad Rafi. Of these six music directors, two music directors did achieve commercial acknowledgement from the industry.
Kalyanji Virji Shah commenced his career as independent music director in 1958 with ‘Samrat Chandra Gupt’. The film had three Rafi/ Lata duets, but the solo song(s) with Mohammad Rafi came up only in 1959, for two films – Bedard Zamana Kaya Jaane and Ghar Ghar Ki Baat.
Bedard Zamana Kya Jaane – Bedard Zamana Kya Jaane – Lyrics: Bharat Vyas
Mohammad Rafi gets to sing the background song, which is a title song as well.
Uparwale Ne Jaldi Mein Likh Di Meri Taqdeer – Ghar Ghar Ki Baat – Lyrics: Gulshan Bawra
This is a song in a totally different mood.
Kalyanji – Anandji
After having worked solo in some more films like P B No. 999, Chandra Sena etc. Kalyanji Virji Shah teamed up with his younger brother Anandji. The brother duo gradually created their own style of compositions and went on to record many successes, including some of the iconic songs.
Suno Bhai Aankade Ka Dhandha Ek Din Teji – Satta Bazar – Lyrics: Gulshan Bawra
This is classic Jhonny Walker song.
Usha Khanna
Usha Khanna is another debutant for the year 1959 who scaled peaks in her first foray. She did have a very long active career, which may not fall within the textbook definition of ‘success’ in the Hindi film industry, but she was certainly successful in creating her own space, in an otherwise male dominated domain.
The debut film is Dil Deke Dekho, for which she lined up a slew of Moahhamd Rafi songs, filmed on Shammi Kapoor. The title song Dil Deke Dekho and other quite popular Bolo Bolo Kuchh To Bolo, Hum Aur Tum Ye Sama and a back-to-back pair of songs Megha Re Bole Chhanan Chhanan- Bade Hai Dil Ke Kale
Rahi Mil Gaye Raho Mein – Dil Deke Dekho – Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Usha Khanna very deftly handles an OPNayyar-styled lilting tune, customized to the theatrics of Shammi Kapoor. Usha Khanna’s musical insight can be seen very well in the prelude of the song, wherein Rafi’s alaap is blended with whistling.
Gajanan Karnad
From very sketchy information that I could collect, Gajanan Karnad was an ace violinist and is known as the most-used support violinist fir Hindi film songs recordings. A more strenuous Google search provides a few links to his violin recordings.
Ye Sach Hai Ae Jahanwalo Hamein Jeena Nahi Aaya – Kal Hamara Hai –– Shailendra
There is one more Asha Bhosle mujhra recorded composed by Gajanan Karnad – Irada Katl Ka Hai (Aise Na Dekho Rasiya) – which has several, very distinct accompaniment of tabla
The present song would be a major find for Hind film song fans, in general, and those of Mohammad Rafi, in particular.
The other songs of the film have been composed by Chitragupt.
Bipin Dutta (Datt ?)
Bipin Dutta, and Babul, who have also been assistants to Madan Mohan, have independently paired too, to give some outstanding songs. Bipin Dutta seems to have forayed individually too. Other films to his individual credit are – Diamond King (1961) and Baaghi Shahazada (1964).
Ye Bambai Shahar Ka Bada Naam Hai – Kya Ye Bambai Hai – Lyrics: Noor Devasi
A Johnny Walker styled song that is filmed on Maruti, who, along with Nishi plays the lead role in the film.
This mundane trivia has, very rightly, any importance today Joy is to relish the half-a-century back Mumbai and the lyrics that highlight Mumbai USPs!
Nirmal Kumar
Hardly any information is available about this music director or the fllm – Lal Nishan.
Teri Nazar Ki Chhabi Ne Khola Dil Ka Tala – Lal Nishan – Lyrics: Anand Baxi
The song has shades of Naam Bade Darshan Khote, in the basic tune and interlude orchestration..
Prem
Here is one more totally obscure name!
Duniya Chala Chali Ka…Do Din Ki Zindagi Hai Is Par Na Phool Pyare – Zimbo Ki Beti –Lyrics: Preetam Dahelvi
Hindi film industry had some very typical fad for certain names – Sindabad, Zimbo etc. are a few such names which were used to make films like ‘Son of ..’ Duaghter of .. ‘ ‘..In town etc.
Mohammad Rafi sings a text-book background song in right earnest.
1960
Some well-known and some still-good-to-listen solo songs of Mohammad Rafi for the year 1960 –
S D Burman – Bombai Ka Babu (Saathi Na Koi Manzil), Kala Bazar (Uparwala Jaan Ke, Khoya Khoya Chand) / Roshan – Babar (Tum Ek Baar Muhabbat Ka), Barsaat Ki Raat (Maine Shayad Pahele Tumhe, Jindagi Bhar Nahi, Mayoos To Hoon) / Ravi – Chaudhvin Ka Chand (Chaudhvin Ka Chand), Ghunghat (Haaye Re Insaan Ki) / Kalyanji Anandji – Chhalia (Gali Gali Sita Roye) / Shankar Jaikishan – Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (Jaane Kahan Gayi), Ek Phool Char Kante (Tirchhi Nazar Se Na Dekh) / Usha Khanna – Ham Hindustani (Ham Jab Chale To) / Naushad – Kohinoor (Madhuban Mein Radhika), Mughal-e-Azam (Zindabad..Ae Mohabbat Zindabad) / S N Tripathi – Lal Quilla (Lagata Nahi Dil Mera, Na Kisi Ki Ankha Ka) / Chitragupt – Patang (Ye Duniya Patang),
1960 seems to yield only three music directors that fit our basic selection criteria of composing the solo song for Mohammad Rafi for the first time. G S Kohli is a noteworthy name in these three music directors.
G S (Gurusharan Singh) Kohli
A very able tabla-player and music arranger, G S Kohli worked as assistant to O P Nayyar for almost his whole career, even when he had started composing music for films independently. He belongs that class of assistants who could not evolve their own distinctive styles. These music directors could shine for a few songs but could never make their own permanent space, even in the 2nd or 3rd rows.
Pyar Ki Rah Dikha Duniya Ko Roke Jo Nafrat Ki Andhi – Lambe Haath – Lyrics: Anjaan
The song shows all the talent that GS Kohli possessed as music composer. The film has a couple of more Rafi, light-mood, solo songs – Are Bus Mein Nazar Takraai and Sone Jaise Pyar Ko Samaj Liya Tambaa, that would vouch for his versatility as well.
Ramlal Heera Panna
In all probabilities, he is same famous flute and shehnai plyer who once worked with Ram Ganguly in Prthivi thaters. As destiny of Hindi films’ ways are, he kept struggling with C grade mythological films.
Aaj Yahan Kyun Andhkaar..Tera Mera Amar Pyar Hai – Maya Machhindar – Lyrics: Pt. Madhur
Mohammad Rafi gets his usual background song.
T G (Thiruchirappalli Govindarajulu) Ligappa
T G Ligappa was a noted music director who scored music for Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films.
Chhod Chale.. Ram Ayodhya Chhod Chale – Ramayan –Lyrics: Saraswati Kumar ‘Deepak’
This film appears to be the remake of Tamil film. Mohammad Rafi gets to once more sing a background song.
Before we end today’s episode, I am not able to resist temptation to present a recitation song from Barsat Ki Raat (1960).
Kya Gham Jo Andheri Hai Raatein, Kuchh Shamm-e-Tamanna Sath To Hai
I am sure you will be able to feel the shadow of other famous song by Roshan / Sahir combination!
We will continue with the first solo song of Mohammad Rafi for music director(s) for the other three years – 1961, 1962 and 1963 – of the 4th Five-Year Period of 1959 to 1963 in our December 2019 episode.
We will continue remembering Unforgettable Songs that seem to Fading away from our Memories every second Sunday of the month……..
Disclaimer: All images are sourced from net. All copyrights of the respective image remain with the original owner of the image.
The world is too small? or Is it? 
Once again, your article has won my heart, Ashokbhai!
I wish every visitor of this site read the article attentively and find what is hidden behind the words. It’s Rafi’s versatility.
My goodness! 1959 is simply a representative year and just look at those songs!
Rafi who sings ‘Mai Rickshaawala” in CHHOTI BAHAN .. can also sing ‘Kahe do koi na kare yahan pyaar’ in GUNJ UTHI SHEHNAI! All my friends! Can you note that something in Rafi songs?
Rafi who sings ‘Tu hindu banega na musalaman banega’ for N Dutta also sings ‘Dekhi jhamaane ki yaari .. Bichhade sabhi baari baari’ for Burman da and shatters your heart to pieces! What a versatility!
These are just random examples. Rafi was Rafi.
Thank you so much for your very generous appreciation of my efforts.
It is true that ny 1959, Mohammad Rafi had already established his class and mass appeal. And even then, he gave his full to the new music directors, even if the song situations were repeats.
Each of the background song that we get to listen here goes on to validate this point of view.
This is perhaps one reason why many of his ‘ordinary songs also were not totally rejected in those days and are worth listening to, at least, once, even today.
Nirmal Kumar was the pseudo name used by singer and music director, S D Batish for ‘Laal Nishaan’ (1959).
Thanks, Sadanandji, for this very essential piece of information.
S D Batish has scored music in his own name as well. So, there must be some reason why he chose to use this pseudonym.