Chura liya …the title of my review is taken from a ever green Rafi romantic song, but the song itself doesnot feature on the list given below, simply because, I decided that this is a list of top 20 Rafi songs, I did not want any other singer to take a share of his glory, so I have avoided listing duets by Rafi saab. The following is a collection of Rafi songs that I love to listen …Just-sing-along.
Sentimental Rafi…
Past often returns to haunt you… memories; some beautiful, some very painful…some a mixture of both. There are times in my life when I feel I am okay living in the present, when I feel that I am better of without my past, the people I loved; the pain their thoughts give me… this song just reflects the cry that emanates deep with in me …
*1.'aaj puraanii raahon se, koi mujhe aavaaz na de'
Movie Name: Aadmi
Music Director: Naushad
Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni *
At some point in life I feel I don’t belong here, what am I doing in this world when I don’t have the most important thing in my life MY LOVE.?
*2.'ye duniyaa, ye mahafil, mere kaam kii nahiin'
Movie Name: Heer Raanjha
Music Director: Madan Mohan
Lyricist: Kaifi Azmi *
You love someone with all your heart, but you know she is not going to be yours, what do you do.? You will wish the very best because you love her and then you will walk the opposite way because you want her to be happy(3)…? Your heart will ache for her but you will never ever call out for her(4)….
*3. terii galiyon men na rakhe.nge kadam, aaj ke baad'
Movie Name: Hawas
Music Director: Usha Khanna
Lyricist: Saawan Kumar
4.'Chaahuungaa main tujhe, saanjh savere'
Movie Name: Dosti
Music Directors: Laxmikant, Pyarelal
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri *
Two songs that to me reflect a low mood in love, one speaks about the commitment(5) and the other is about eternal wait of one lover for his loved one(6), Rafi Saab’s poignant rendition have made them both memorable.
*5. “sau baar janam lenge, sau baar fanaa honge”
Movie Name: Ustaadon Ke Ustaad
Music Director: Ravi
Lyricist: Asad Bhopali
6.”suhaanii raat Dhal chukii, naa jaane tum kab aaoge”
Movie Name: Dulari
Music Director: Naushad
Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni *
The emotion called love might not be what it really seems. There have been times when I have lost myself in my love for someone, only to realize that their love for me was just a figment of my own imagination; whereas my own degeneration was real…When I search for solace in liquor.or in this equally intoxicating Rafi number
*7.'hum bekhudI mein tumko pukAre chale gae'
Movie Name: Kaala Paani
Music Director: S D Burman
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri
Romantic Rafi.*
It can happen to you…You don’t know who she is, where she is from, what she likes and what she can't stand… but you love her all the same… This song nowadays reminds me a lot of Azhar(dazzlingpiscien… and if you are reading yes you are in my prayers)…
*8.'Aja tujhko pukAren mere geet re, mere geet re'
Movie Name: Geet
Music Director(s): Kalyanji, Anandji
Lyricist: Anand Bakhshi *
When your love for your sweetheart makes you believe that everything beautiful in this world has been created just as an accessory for her, when you call upon all the beautiful things in this world to come and celebrate the arrival of your loved one… a trio of songs that echo this theme…
*9.“bahaaron phool barasaao, meraa mehaboob aayaa hai”
Movie Name: Suraj
Music Director(s): Shankar, Jaikisan
Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri
10.'aane se usske aae bahaar, jaane se usske jaae bahaar'
Movie Name: Jeene Ki Raah
Music Director(s): Laxmikant, Pyarelal
Lyricist: Anand Bakhshi
11.'aaj mausam baDaa beiimaan hai, aaj mausam'
Movie Name: Loafer
Music Director(s): Laxmikant, Pyarelal
Lyricist: Anand Bakhshi *
One of those ultimate tributes to feminine beauty, Rafi saab’s magical voice has turned it into one of the greatest love songs in my view.
*12.”Ae phoolon kii raanii bahaaron kii malikaa”
Movie Name: Arzoo
Music Directors: Shankar, Jaikisan
Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri *
A stranger you have just seen, has kindled some strong emotions within you, you are almost sure that you have seen this person somewhere before this, where was it…how is it possible, was it in your dreams…or were you JUST meant be together.?
*13.'maine shaayad tumhen, pehalae bhii kahiin dekhaa hai'
Movie Name: Barsaat Ki Raat
Music Director: Roshan
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi *
From the same movie comes another of my Rafi favorite, magical song that just transports you into another world … I have no words to describe this beauty.
*14.'zindagii bhar nahiin bhoolegii vo barasaat ki raat'
Movie Name: Barsaat Ki Raat
Music Director: Roshan
Lyricist: Sahir Ludhianvi *
Lilting music and simple lyrics… the evergreen heart that’s out in search of a partner, looking for a hint of that elusive magic…
*15.'pukaarataa chalaa huuN main'
Movie Name: Mere Sanam
Music Director: O P Nayyar
Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri *
How much pride can I take in my partners beauty…with whom all will I fight to stave of the jealousy she attracts…will I fight the air that touches her, the flowers that comes in her vicinity, the moon that envies her… or even my own loving(envying?) eyes…
*16.'Terii pyaarii pyaarii surat ko, kisiikii nazar naa laage'
Movie Name: Sasural
Music Director(s): Shankar, Jaikisan
Lyricist: Hasrat Jaipuri
Playful Rafi ** ….If you thought Rafi was all seriousness; you have got that completely wrong. He has sung a lot of playful and boisterous songs for Shammi Kapoor, but the best of them happens to be not a Shammi number but this one listed below, it almost became an anthem….
*17.” sar jo teraa chakaraaye, yaa dil Duubaa jaaye”
Movie Name: Pyaasa
Music Director(s): S D Burman
Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni *
…and of the songs he sang for Shammi(there are umpteen numbers) my personal favorite is the following one, for all its energy and voice modulations and the flexibility that he exhibits.
*18.'ye chaaNd saa roshan cheharaa'
Movie Name: Kashmir Ki Kali
Music Director(s): O P Nayyar
Lyricist: S. H. Bihari *
… from another Shammi movie comes this out and out fun song that has been a favorite since my childhood…if you want to know why just ask the child in you…
*19. “chakke mein chakkaa, chakke pe gaaDii, gaaDii mein nikalii”
Movie Name: Brahmachari
Music Director(s): Shankar, Jaikisan
Lyricist(s): Hasrat Jaipuri, Shailendra *
I will end this list with a tribute to India by Rafi saab. A patriotic song that is hair raising to say the least….
*20.” ye desh hai viir javaanon kaa alabelon kaa mastaanon kaa”
Movie Name: Naya Daur
Music Director: O P Nayyar
Lyricist(s): Sahir Ludhianvi *
A man with not just golden voice but also golden heart Rafi has weaved his magic around me with a number of brilliantly rendered numbers… this list of 20 is nothing but a tip of the proverbial iceberg…
