''Mohd.Rafi''Greatest singer of all time''. Review on A Retrospect - Mohd Rafi Songs

There have been many singers in Hindi fim industries;but for me RAFI has been greatest among all.Not because he dominated Hindi film industries for more than 3 decades;but because he was most versatile in all respects.

He is only one singer in the Hindi film industry who has been imitated the most is Mohammed Rafi. But his caliber was such that none of his imitators could match up to him. His voice was so versatile that it suited any mood ranging from the boisterous to the melancholic.

Rafi was born on December 24, 1924 in a small village near Amritsar and later shifted to Lahore. He was first trained in music by Ghulam Ali Khan and he recorded his first song in 1944 for a Punjabi film Gul Baloch with music director Shyam Sunder. Not many people know that had acted in couple of films, Laila Majnu (1945) and Jugnu (1947). Rafi made his mark with Tera Khilona Toota Balak in Anmol Ghari (1946).

Soon, he was spotted by composer Feroze Nizami who gave Rafi his first major hit Yaha badla wafa ka in the movie Amar Raj. K L Saigal and Pandit Paulsikar had no words for Rafi's praise. When Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, Rafi sang a song Suno suno ae duniya walon, Bapu ki yeh amar kahani written by Rajinder Krishan and music by Hunslal Bhagatram, which touched everyone and was a great hit.

Counting everything what he had for Hindi films,he was never proud.Very soft person,he never showed himself;very humble person.He never boasted himself;althogh he was the only singer of highest quality in 60s!

Not only Naushad even Shanker-Jaikishen;Ravi;Madan-mohan;O.P.Nayyar;S.D.Burman;Salil Choudhary;Kalyanji-anandji were eager to make him sing for their films.Laxmikant-Pyarelal Sharma started their career (in 1965) for asking him to sing all songs of DOSTI!

But unfortunately we lost him early.Some of his songs----

1)Main Zindagi mein hardam rota..(Barsat) 1949.Shanker-Jaikishan.

2)Bhagwan...ai duniyake..(Baju-Bawra)-- 1948.(Naushad)

3)Hum Ishque me barbad---(Ankhen)-------1950.(Madan Mohan)

4)Meri Kahani Bhulnewale--(Deedar)------1951.(Naushad)

5)Mai apne aapse ghabra gaya hoon-(Bindiya)1960.(Iqbal Qureshi)

6)Kahedo koi na kare yahan pyar--(Goon Uthi Shahenayi).1961.(VASANT DESAI)

7)Saathi na koi Manzil----(Bombai ka baboo).1961.(S.D. BURMAN)

8)Chaudhvi Ka Chaand ho. (Chudhvi ka chand).1961.(RAVI)

9)Zingagi aaj mere naam se Sharma rai hai---SO MUCH

SENTIMENTAL___(Son of India). 1963.(Naushad)

10)Fir Woh Bhoolisi Yaad...(Begana)1965.(Sapan Jagmohan)

and many more songs ---Most Sentimental of all times!

I am very greatful to this person; who has entertained me all the time.