- Mohammad Rafi
Mohammed Rafi (December 24, 1924 – July 31, 1980) was one of the most versatile Indian playback singer who sang in many Indian languages including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Telugu,Bengali, Marathi and Kannada.
Rafi was born at Kotla Sultan Singh (or Kotla Sultanpur), a town near Amritsar in Punjab. His nickname was Pheeko. His first public performance came at the age of 13 in a concert featuring the great K.L.Saigal.Rafi made his debut as a playback singer in the duet “Soniye nee, Heeriye nee” with Zeenat Begum in the Punjabi film Gul Baloch in the year 1942. Rafi has sang a total of 149 songs (81 of them solo) for Naushad. Also,he has a total of 341 numbers (216 solo) for Shankar-Jaikishan. For Laxmikant Pyarelal,Rafi sang a total of 369 numbers (186 solo). It has been claimed that Rafi has recorded 28,000 songs in 11 Indian languages between 1944 and April 1980. According to the available figures, Rafi has sung 4,516 Hindi film songs, 112 non-Hindi film songs, and 328 private (non-film) songs from 1945 to 1980.
Rafi had charged a fee of one rupee and sang for a minor composer, Nisar Bazmi who did not have enough money to pay him.
- Honored with the “best singer of the millennium” by Hero Honda and Stardust magazine in Mumbai on Jan 7, 2001.
- Honoured with the Padmashri by the Government of India in 1965.
- National Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Neel Kamal composed by Ravi Shankar in 1968.
- National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Kya Hua Tera Wada” from the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin, composed by RD Burman, lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri in 1977.
- Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho” in the film Chaudhvin Ka Chand in 1960.
- Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko” in the film Sasural in 1961.
- Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Chahunga Mein Tujhe” in the film Dosti in 1964.
- Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Baharo Phool Barsao” in the film Suraj in 1966.
- Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Dil Ke Jharoke Mein” in the film Brahmachari in 1968.
- Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Kya Hua Tera Vaada” in the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin in 1977.
- First National Award for the song Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja from the film Neel Kamal (1968).
- In 1948, Rafi received a silver medal from Nehru on the Indian Independence Day.
- Won the Film World magazine Best Singer Award for the song “Teree Galiyon Mein Na Rakhenge Qadam Aaj Ke Baad” (Hawas) composed by Usha Khanna in 1974.
- Best Male Playback Singer for Dosti in 1965.
- Best Male Playback Singer for Arzooin 1966.
nice one
Mohammed Rafi still continues to entertain millions around the world. That makes Rafi heritage, his perfect unique voice evergreen and legacy immortal. He was above religious, race, cast, sect, political, national and even commercial differences. He politely refused to imitate other singers in case they get offended. “Kehta hai koi dil gaya, dil bar gaya. Sahil hai pukarta, samandar chala gaya. Jo baat sach hai kehta nahin koi, keh es dunya se museeqi ka payambar chala gaya,” according to one tribute to Rafi sahib by the great lyricist Gulzar. That sums up the late great singer Mohammed Rafi. So, is it fair to compare him with others, alive or dead? As a Rafi-family friend, and neighbour in London, for over 50 years, I am honoured to have met the most humble, honourable and modest man that I ever knew in my whole lifetime. Some of his best songs are available subscription free at http://www.youtube.com/spsyed – a website dedicated to the entertainers and their fans. Enjoy, comment, rate, provide feedback, subscribe, join as friends, and share it far and wide.
Rafi saheb, The legendary singer never die, He still alive with us more stronger than he live.
Rafi rAfi raFi and rafI… Rafi the voice, rAfi the great, raFi the singer, rafI the legend.. Absolutley unparalelled.. yes i mean unparalelled…. unanimously unparalelled..
Has he won the national award in 1968 for neelkamal or Mahendra Kapoor for Upkaar?
Hi Rekha,
It was really nice to see, you took interest in my blog.
Thanks.
Mr. Mahendra Kapoor has won a National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer
in 1968 for the song “Mere Desh Ki Dharti” – from the film Upkar.
Mohammad Rafi…a legendary singer. | Mandar's World is a good posting. I will take more time researching this issue.