Tum mujhe yoon bhula na paaoge

How right he was! They don’t make singers like Mohammed Rafi any more. And there was no one quite in the same class even before. It was on a gloomy, evil, rain-drenched July 31, 1980 that Rafi achieved immortality. Two decades later, I would like to recall the monarch of playbackdom through 20 of his less-celebrated solos that are in no way inferior to his hundreds of acclaimed triumphs.

1. Aana Hai To Aa (Naya Daur/O.P.Nayyar):
The composer went into raptures when he recalled the masterly way in which Rafi rendered one of his career-best bhajans and Nayyar’s own all-time favourites.

2. Abhi To Raat Baaki Hai (Bandish/Usha Khanna):
The mix of soul and pep makes one feel that Rafi is singing to his own beloved.

3. Agar Bewafa Tujhko (Raat Ke Andhere Mein/Prem Dhawan):
Every line raises goose pimples as Rafi does 200 per cent justice to a brilliant composition.

4. Apni Aankhon Mein Basaakar (Thokar/Shamji Ghanshamji):
Rafi never compromised on his contribution to any song, whether he was singing for Dilip Kumar or for an obscure Baldev Khosa here. So was the case with a small composer: Rafi simply put in his best for every song.

5. Chalo Re Doli Uthao (Jaani Dushmun/Laxmikant-Pyarelal):
Even today, one discovers fine new nuances in Rafi’s emotion-laden delivery on every hearing of this bidaai perennial.

6. Chekhush Nazare (Pyar Ka Mausam/ R.D.Burman):
Lost among the hits in this film was this effervescent and innovative composition that never got its due. And Rafi’s singing? ‘Wow!’ sums it up.

7. Din Hai Yeh Bahaar Ke (Honeymoon/Usha Khanna):
Rafi seems to put his entire rooh into this soul-stirring paean to his beloved. This sad song was the highlight of this breezy comedy.

8. Kahaniyan Sunati Hai (Rajput/Laxmikant-Pyarelal):
A towering classic by any standards, this is LP’s sole immortal collaboration with Vijay Anand.

9. Kahin Aisa Na Ho (Milap/Brij Bhushan):
Another flop film, another humble composer - another masterpiece.

10. Kahin Bekhayal Hokar (Tere Ghar Ke Saamne/S.D.Burman):
Majrooh told me that this ghazal was actually composed by Jaidev, then Dada Burman’s assistant. But Rafi gave it the ‘soft croon’ Rafi-Dada touch.

11. Madhosh Hawa Matwali Fiza (Prince/Shanker-Jaikishan):
Freedom of spirit and a celebration of life was there in every pore of this ‘underdog’ Farukh Kaiser lyrics that inexplicably lost out to Rafi’s less accomplished and SJ’s more routine compositions in this flop 1969 film.

12. Mehfil Se Uth Jaane Walo (Dooj Ka Chand/Roshan):
One among a multitude of Rafi’s Bharat Bhushan lovelies, this one actually made one feel that Rafi was singing for himself, so complete were the feelings he put in the song.

13. Mujhe Dard-e-dil Ka Pataa (Akash Deep/Chitragupta):
Probably the finest solo Chitragupta ever composed for Rafi, and that’s saying a lot indeed!

14. O Dil Janiya (Naach Uthe Sansaar/Laxmikant-Pyarelal):
Inexplicably this song, heard almost every morning on Radio Ceylon’s Pharmaish programme in 1977, later went into obscurity. The interesting point about this folk number is that it can adorn today’s dance floors as it is, without even the need to remix it!

15. O Maati Ke Putle (Sheroo/Madan Mohan):
Rafi and Madan Mohan meant soulful songs. And this was special even among them.

16. Tere Naam Ka Deewana (Suraj Aur Chanda/Laxmikant Pyarelal):
Rafi sang some real humdingers for Sanjeev Kumar. This one would rank among the Top Three.

17. Tukde Hai Mere Dil Ke (Mere Sanam/O.P.Nayyar):
Rafi seeped this soothing gem into our senses with practised skill.

18. Yahan Main Ajnabi Hoon (Jab Jab Phool Khile/Kalyanji-Anandji):
Sorrow and pain were never so understated as in this KA tour de force.

19. Yeh Raat Hai Pyaasi Pyaasi (Choti Bahu/Kalyanji Anandji):
Though it was the Kishore-bhakt Rajesh Khanna singing it, the composition craved for Rafi’s art, so Rafi it was!

20. Zamane Ki Ankhon Ne (Ek Baar Muskura Do/O.P.Nayyar):
Kishore and Mukesh dominated the score and sang the popular songs, but Nayyar couldn’t have settled for less than Rafi for this stunning number.

Rajiv Vijayakar

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