Mohammed Rafi; December 24, 1924 – July 31, 1980), was an Indian playback singer whose career spanned four decades. Rafi is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the Hindi film music industry ever. He won several awards including Padma Shri, 5 National Awards and 6 Filmfare awards.

Rafi was a versatile singer of Indian cinema, and was effective in every type of singing including Bhajjans and Qawalis. He sang in many Indian languages including Hindi, Konkani, Urdu, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, Sindhi, Kannada, Gujarati, Maghi, Mathili and Telugu. He also recorded a few English and Persian songs. He is primarily remembered, however, for his Hindi-Urdu songs.

Early years and background

Mohd. Rafi was born the youngest of six sons of Hajji Ali Mohammad at Kotla Sultan Singh, a town near Amritsar in Punjab (British India). Rafi, whose nickname was Pheeko, started singing by imitating chants of a fakir in his village. In 1935-36, Rafi’s father shifted to Lahore, and the rest of the family followed later. Rafi’s family owned a men’s salon in Lahore’s Noor Mohalla.

It was his brother-in-law Mohammed Hameed who spotted the talent in Rafi and encouraged him. Rafi learnt classical music from maestros Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Jiwanlal Matto and Firoze Nizami.

Rafi’s first public performance came at the age of 13, when he was allowed to sing at a concert featuring the legendary K. L. Saigal. In 1941, Rafi, under Shyam Sunder, made his debut as a playback singer in the duet “Soniye nee, Heeriye nee” with Zeenat Begum in the Punjabi film Gul Baloch (the film was released in 1944).

In that same year, Rafi was invited by All India Radio Lahore station to sing for them. Making his professional debut in the Shyam Sunder-directed 1941 film Gul Baloch and the Bombay film, Gaon Ki Gauri, the following year, Rafi rose to the upper echelon of Indian music.

Initial days in Bombay

In 1944, Rafi moved to Bombay (now Mumbai), where poet Tanvir Naqvi introduced him to some of the leading film producers of the time such as Abdul Rashid Kardar, Mehboob Khan and actor-director Nazeer. Rafi contacted the famous music director Naushad, who initially used him as part of the chorus.

Rafi’s first song with Naushad was “Hindustan ke hum hain” with Shyam Kumar, Alauddin and others, from A. R. Kardar’s Pehle Aap (1944). Around the same time, Rafi recorded another song for the 1945 film Gaon ki Gori, “Aji dil ho kaaboo mein”. He considered this song his first Hindi language song. In 1945, Rafi married his cousin Bashira, nicknamed “Majhi”, in his village.

In 1945, Rafi appeared on the screen for the song “Tera Jalwa Jis Ne Dekha” in the film Laila Majnu. He sang a number of songs for Naushad as part of the chorus, including “Mere sapnon ki rani, Roohi Roohi” with K. L. Saigal from the film Shahjahan (1946). Rafi was first noted for the song “Tera Khilona Toota Balak” from Mehboob Khan’s Anmol Ghadi (1946).

His duet with Noor Jehan in the 1947 film Jugnu, “Yahan Badla Wafa Ka” became a hit. Following the partition, Rafi decided to stay in India and had his family flown to Bombay. Whereas Noor Jahan migrated to Pakistan and made a hit pair with famous singer Ahmed Rushdi.
In 1948, Rafi sang “Suno Suno Aye Duniya Walon Bapu Ki Ye Amar Kahani”, written by Rajendra Krishan, which became a huge hit.

He was invited by the Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to sing at the latter’s house. In 1948, Rafi received a silver medal from Nehru on the Indian Independence Day. In 1949, Rafi was given solo songs by music directors such as Naushad, (Chandni Raat, Dillagi and Dulari) Shyam Sunder (Bazaar) and Husnalal Bhagatram (Meena Bazaar).

Last years

In early 1970s, Rafi fell ill and recorded fewer songs.. At The same period Kishore Kumar’s popularity increased due to the songs he sang controversially for the film Aradhana in Mohd Rafi`s absence during Rafi’s Hajj pilgrimage in 1969. The music for Aradhana was composed by S. D. Burman, and he had used Rafi as the male playback voice for the first two recorded duets, “Baaghon Mein Bahaar Hai” and “Gunguna Rahen Hain Bhanwre”.

After these two recordings, S. D. Burman fell ill and his son and assistant, R. D. Burman, took over the recordings. R. D. Burman got Kishore Kumar to sing the solos “Roop Tera Mastana” and “Mere Sapnon Ki Rani”, which led to Kishore Kumar’s popularity. During 1971-1973, Rafi’s musical output decreased; however, he did deliver several hits.

Some of Rafi’s popular songs of the early 1970s were with music directors like Laxmikant Pyarelal, Madan Mohan, R. D. Burman and S. D. Burman. These include “Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil” from Heer Ranjha (1970), “Jhilmil Sitaron ka” from Jeevan Mrityu (a duet with Lata Mangeshkar, 1970), “Gulabi Aankhen” from The Train (1970), “Yeh Jo Chilman Hain” and “Itna to Yaad Hain Mujhe” from Mehboob Ki Mehndi (1971), “Chura Liya Hain Tumne” from Yaadon Ki Baarat (a duet with Asha Bhosle, 1973), “Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho” from Hanste Zakhm (1973), and “Aaj mausam bada beimaan hai” from Loafer (1973).

Rafi made a comeback as a leading singer in the mid-1970s. In 1974, he 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 1977, he won both Filmfare Award and the National Award for the song “Kya Hua Tera Wada” from the movie Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin, composed by R. D. Burman. Rafi sang for Rishi Kapoor in films like Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Sargam (1979) and Karz (1980).

The qawwali “Pardah Hai Pardah” from Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) was a superhit. Rafi’s notable renderings in the late 1970s and early 80s include Laila Majnu (1976), Apnapan (1978), Qurbani, Dostana (1980), The Burning Train (1980), Naseeb (1981), Abdullah (1980), Shaan (1980), and Asha (1980).

On Thursday, July 31, 1980, Rafi died at 10:50 p.m., following a massive heart attack. His last song was “Shaam phir kyun udaas hai dost” (Aas Paas), which he had recorded with Laxmikant-Pyarelal few hours earlier to his death. He was survived by four sons (Saeed Rafi, Khalid Rafi, Hamid Rafi, Shahid Rafi), three daughters (Parveen, Nasreen, Yasmin) and 18 grandchildren.

Rafi was buried at the Juhu Muslim cemetery. In 2010, his tomb was demolished to make space for new bodies. Fans of Mohammed Rafi who arrive twice a year at his tomb, on December 24 and July 31, to mark his birth and death anniversary, use the coconut tree nearest to his grave as a marker.

After death

On Rafi’s death, the government of India announced a two-day public holiday in honour of this great human being and singer.
Rafi’s song from the film Gumnaam (1965), “Jaan Pehechan Ho”, was used on the soundtrack of Ghost World (2001). The film opens with the lead character dancing around in her bedroom to a video of Gumnaam.

His “Aaj Mausam Bada Beiman Hai” is featured in the 2001 film Monsoon Wedding. Several of Rafi’s unreleased songs will be used for an upcoming film titled Sorry Madam. Also, his song “Ye duniya agar mil bhi jaaye” from Pyaasa (1957) was re-mixed and used as the theme for the 2009 film Gulaal.

A documentary about Rafi’s life is under production by The Films Division of India.

In the summer of 2008, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra released a double CD entitled Rafi Resurrected comprising 16 songs by Rafi. Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam provided the vocals for this project and toured with the CBSO in July 2008 at venues including the English National Opera in London, Manchester’s Apollo Theatre and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

On September 22, 2007 a shrine to Rafi designed by artist Tasawar Bashir was unveiled in Birmingham. Bashir is hoping that Rafi will attain sainthood as a result. Both Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar are mentioned in Cornershop’s homage to Indian playback musicians, “Brimful of Asha”.

Rafi’s funeral procession was recorded on a very rainy day in Mumbai. A portion of that same recording has been used in one of the Hindi movie released later. It was one of the biggest funeral processions Mumbai had ever witnessed, with over 10,000 people attending.

The Padma Shri Mohammed Rafi Chowk in the Bandra suburb of Mumbai and Pune (extending MG Road) is named after Rafi.

Awards

2001 - Rafi was honored with the “best singer of the millennium” by Hero Honda and Stardust magazine in Mumbai on Jan 7, 2001. Rafi won with 70% of the votes.

Government awards

· 1948 - Rafi received a silver medal from the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on the first anniversary of the Indian Independence Day.
· 1965 - Honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
National Film Awards
Winner
· 1957 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Jinhen Naaz Hain Hind Par” song in the film Pyaasa), composed by SD Burman.
· 1964 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Chahunga Main Tujhe” song in the film Dosti), composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
· 1966 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Baharo Phool Barsao” song in the film Suraj), composed by Shankar Jaikishan.
· 1967 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Babul Ki Duaae ” song in the film Neel Kamal), composed by Ravi[33].
· 1977 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for “Kya

Hua Tera Wada” song in the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin), composed by RD Burman, lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

Filmfare Awards

Winner
· 1960 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho” in the film Chaudhvin Ka Chand
· 1961 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko” in the film Sasural
· 1964 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Chahunga Mein Tujhe” in the film Dosti
· 1966 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Baharo Phool Barsao” in the film Suraj
· 1968 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Dil Ke Jharoke Mein” in the film Brahmachari
· 1977 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for “Kya Hua Tera Vaada” in the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin
Nominated
· 1961 - “Husnwale Tera Jawaab Nahin” in the film Gharana
· 1962 - “Aye Gulbadan Aye Gulbadan” in the film Professor
· 1963 - “Mere Mehboob Tujhe” in the film Mere Mehboob
· 1965 - “Choo Lene Do Nazuk Hothon Ko” in the film Kaajal
· 1968 - “Mein Gaaon Tum Sojaao” in the film Brahmachari
· 1969 - “Badi Mastani Hai” in the film Jeene Ki Raah
· 1970 - “Khilona Jaan Kar” in the film Khilona
· 1973 - “Hum Ko To Jaan Se Pyaari” in the film Naina
· 1974 - “Achha Hi Huva Dil Toot Gaya” in the film Maa Behen Aur Biwi

· 1977 - “Pardah Hai Pardah” in the film Amar Akbar Anthony
· 1978 - “Aadmi Musaafir Hai” in the film Apnapan
· 1979 - “Chalo Re Doli Uthao Kahaar” in the film Jani Dushman
· 1980 - “Mere Dost Kissa Yeh” in the film Dostana
· 1980 - “Dard-e-dil Dard-e-jigar” in the film Karz
· 1980 - “Maine Poocha Chand Se” in the film Abdullah
· 1982 - “Aap Hamare Paass” in the film The Legends Of Kiani

Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards

Winner

· 1965 - Best Male Playback Singer for Dosti
· 1966 - Best Male Playback Singer for Arzoo
· 1957-”Jawaniyan Ye Mast Mast Bin Piye”-Tumsa Nahin Dekha