Mohd. Rafi & Kishore Kumar are undoubtedly priceless, versatile legends of music in Indian cinema. Both of them having own uniquely distinct, incomparable styles of singing, with their individual fan following matching upto each other.
Rafi sahab was a trained Hindustani classical singer. He learnt music from maestros like Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan & others. Beginning his singing career in 1944, by late 1950s & 1960s, Rafi sahab shot to fame.
Kishore da who began his career with acting (serious cinema in the late 40s, early 50s) was more keen in singing, though he didnt have a formal training in music. Slowly, he grabbed some really interesting music assigments, comic lead roles, and soon established himself as an actor / singer.
Here are some rare interesting facts about the duo.
=> Rafi sahab sang for Kishore Kumar (the actor) in his films Shararat(1959), Bhagam
Bhag(1956), Ragini (1958), Pyar Deewana (1972)
Youtube links of some of these rare songs are as posted below:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=txsn3Y-9RIE&feature=related
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Mk0130bbX-s&feature=related
https://youtube.com/watch?v=U_ZNZf6WMiM&feature=related
https://youtube.com/watch?v=rOUw8AnSBPo&feature=related
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VmDBO7J3js0
https://youtube.com/watch?v=h2Lq-vayCD0
https://youtube.com/watch?v=CyNVJSZpU38
=> Yodelling has always been an integral part of Kishore da's popular nos. especially the ones picturised on himself, Rajesh Khanna & Dev Anand. But, could you ever imagine Rafi sahab yodelling in a song ? Its from the film Reporter Raju (1962) starring a young and dynamic Feroz Khan !!
Check out the link below:-
https://youtube.com/watch?v=uH0xbgeJ4ts
=> For Nasir Hussain's Pyar Ka Mausam (1969), RD Burman alias Pancham Da carried out this unqiue experiment. He composed two versions of the same song " Tum bin jaoon kahan", one with Kishore da and the other with Rafi sahab !! While Kishore da lent his voice for Bharat Bhushan, Rafi sahab's was picturised on the leading actor "Shashi Kapoor", It is said that Rafi sahab's versions became more popular. Nevertheless, I love both the voices. Links are posted below.
Rafi sahab's version
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Y95KfJxvPRw
Kishore da's version
https://youtube.com/watch?v=KVg6UWl8GAw
If anyone of you has more interesting facts about the duo, do let me know.
My salute to both the stalwarts !!
