The world knows that Mohammed Rafi, who left us 41 years ago on July 31, was a versatile singer who even modulated his voice as per the actor he was singing for on screen. Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Dharmendra and Johnny Walker, and early Dev Anand, Jeetendra and Shashi Kapoor were among his most famous associations in a list that also included Amitabh Bachchan and Raj Kapoor and, of course, Kishore Kumar the actor.
Known for his detachment from materialism, Rafi also sang a lot for small films, small composers and small-time actors, often reducing his fees for them or forsaking them altogether. But there were some famous names for whom Rafi lent his voice, who are not that commonly thought of in association with that nonpareil singer. Here’s looking at the songs, mostly hits, which he sang for them.
1. Uttam Kumar: Uttam Kumar, that giant from Bengali cinema, occasionally flirted with Hindi films and his first such excursion was his own production, Chhoti Si Mulaqaat in 1967. This Shankar-Jaikishan musical saw hits like the title-track, ‘Ae Chand Ki Zebai’, ‘Na Mukhda Mod Ki Jaao’ and ‘Tujhe Dekha Tujhe Chaha’. In his later vehicles in Hindi, the composers preferred Kishore Kumar.
2. Gemini Ganesh: The South Indian mega-star, also Rekha’s father, made his first Hindi appearance in Miss Mary, with hit music by Hemant Kumar that included Rafi duets like ‘Brindaban Ke Krishna Kanhaiya’ and ‘O Raat Ke Musafir’. Gemini’s few later Hindi films saw other voices come in for him.
3. Govinda: Now here is where destiny took a hand. A producer named Dalwinder Sohal had launched a film for which Rafi had recorded a Bappi Lahiri-composed song. The film never took off, and in 1989, the song was shifted on Govinda in the producer’s new film, Farz Ki Jung. Govinda’ debut was six years after Rafi’s death (with Rafi clone Shabbir Kumar as his first voice in Love ‘86!). The song was ‘Phool Ka Shabab Kya’. It proved a winner, with Rafi’s voice sitting perfectly on the new dancing sensation. One YouTube viewer wrote, “Govinda is very lucky... he got the voice of Bollywood's greatest singer!”
4. Mithun Chakraborty: Contrary to popular perception, Rafi has also sung for disco man Muthin Chakraborty. The popular ‘Bheegi Bheegi Rut Hai’ (Taqdeer Ka Badshah) and ‘Tu Hi Who Haseen Hai’ (Khwab) besides two full albums, Heeron Ka Chor and Unnees Bees apart, there were songs in Wardat, Hum Se Badhkar Kaun and Ustadi Ustad Se as well.
5. Raj Babbar: Raj Babbar’s first five releases were in 1980, when Rafi passed away. But since the recordings were done in 1979, Rafi still got to sing beautiful numbers between 1980 and 1982 for him, like the hit ‘Janam Janam Ka Saath Hai’ (Bheegi Palkein), ‘Gham Chhupate Raho’ (Nazrana Pyar Ka) and those two lovelies from Poonam, ‘Mohabbat Rang Layegi’ and ‘Paas Aa Mere Humnasheen’. There was also a delayed release, Durgaa (1985), wherein Rafi sang for the actor.
6. Amjad Khan: ‘Devaa O Devaa Ganpati Devaa’ was the timeless bhajan Rafi sang for Amjad ‘Gabbar Singh’ Khan in Humse Badhkar Kaun. But besides this cult chartbuster, Rafi, who began his innings with Amjad Khan with a song in the 1977 Zamaanat, went on to sing many songs for him, including the hit ‘Bishan Chacha’ from Yaarana and the popular ‘Aankhon Ka Salaam Lo’ from Samraat.
7. Danny Denzongpa: Another character artiste with whom Rafi was associated, albeit rarely, was Danny Denzongpa. Beginning 1976, Rafi was his voice in the popular three-singer ‘Dilwalo Se Pyar Kar Lo’ (Zorro), followed by the qawaali ‘Dildar Hamare Dil Ko Tum’ in Sangram. In 1980, Rafi sang ‘Tu Chali Aa Chali Aa Meri Mehbooba’ for Kali Ghata. In the same year, as a director, Danny gave Rafi a song (for Jagdeep!) in his film Phir Wohi Raat, ‘Aa Gaye Yaaron Jeene Ke Din’. And then it was time for the classic ‘Makhmal Ho Ya Taat Ka Parda’ in Soorma Bhopali, released after inordinate delay in 1988, whose composer is unknown!
8. Utpal Dutt: Mohammed Rafi’s portion in the Imaan Dharam song ‘Ho Jatta Aayi Baisakhi’ was filmed on Utpal Dutt with Sanjeev Kumar having Mukesh’s number in the bhangra.
9. Amol Palekar: Mohammed Rafi sang two songs for Amol Palekar in the film Damaad, and ‘Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Na Jaane’ proved popular. There was the also the haunting ‘Mujhse Sham Suhani’ from Mere Biwi Ki Shaadi.
10. Kabir Bedi: The later-to-be international star began his film career with the song-less 1971 Hulchul and his first hit song in the same year was ‘Jab Bhi Yeh Dil Udaas Hota Hai’ (Seema) sung by Rafi for him. A song in Sazaa followed, and then came the classic ‘Accha Hi Hua Dil Toot Gaya’ from Maa Bahen Aur Biwi, filmed on Kabir, but minus lip-synch.
Also Read: Zayn Malik samples Mohammed Rafi’s ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand’ in his song ‘Tightrope’ from his latest album ‘Nobody Is Listening’
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