Mohammad Rafi, who delighted us for over three decades by his golden voice rendered to almost every actor of his time. Singing more than 30 thousand songs were not restricted only in cinema halls but was a household name all over the country. It is unbelievable that there was no one who did not sing or hum his songs. That was the magic of his voice.
His voice could be heard in cities, towns or the countryside. His voice could be heard in temples or mosques, in a 'Mela' or in a garden, in a social gathering or a Govt. function, the festival of Holi- Diwali or Eid. He was the voice of all occasion and seasons. He was at ease in all genre, Bhajan or Sufi, Classical or western, sad song or romantic song,
His songs captured the maximum space of Radio broadcasting. Every hero of that era wanted to have his voice for his songs on the screen. He was the voice of Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukharjee, Shashi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Rajendra Kumar and Dev Anand.
Mohammad Rafi had a unique quality of replicating with the style and mannerism of the hero for whom he is singing. One could close his eye and can guess who is singing this song on the screen. Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Biswajeet and Pradeep Kumar were the heroes of that era insisted producers take Mohammad Rafi as their playback singer.
Rafi sang for a whole bunch of stars, character actors and comedians from the late 1940s right up to the time of his death. In this blog. I am including one song of every actor sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Dilip Kumar
Rafi sang 75 songs for Dilip Kumar.The first song Rafi sang for Dilip Kumar was a duet with Noorjehan from the 1947 film Jugnu. The song was composed by Naushad, with this song Mohammad Rafi was noticed.The next song was from 'Shaheed', 'Watan Ki Rah Hame Watan'. In 1951 film Deedar, Rafi sang 7 songs for Dilip Kumar, all the songs were hit from here Rafi became the voice of Dilip Mumar. Recall the solo songs 'Hue Hum Jin Ke Liye Barbad' and ' Meri Kahani Bhoolne Wale' from Deedar. The last time Rafi gave voice in a song from 'Kranti'
Song of Jugnu 1947
Raj Kapoor
Rafi sang 32 songs for Raj Kapoor. Mohammad Rafi sang for FRaj Kapoor in the 1947 film Dil Ki Rani after that he sang for him in 1949 film Andaz, interestingly in this film Mukesh sang for Dilip Kumar and Mohammad Rafi sang for Raj Kapoor. He again sang for Raj Kapoor in the 1950 film Sargam, in this film Rafi sang 2 songs for him. In 1952 released two film 'Amber' and 'Dastaan' Rafi sang 3 songs for him in each film.
Song of Andaz 1949
Dev Anand
Dev Anand’s films were best known for their great musical richness and melodious songs. It is a myth that Kishore Kumar was the voice of him but this is a fact many melodious songs of Dev Anand were sung by Mohammad Rafi. In fact, Mohammad Rafi sang for Dev a year before Kishore sang for him. It was in Dev Anand's second film 'Aage Badho' released in 1947, Rafi sang for the first time. This song was penned by Amar Verma, composed by Sudhir Phadke and sung by Mohammed Rafi and Khursheed. After that, he sang in Birha Ki Raat 1950 and Sanam 1951. It was the song 'Aankho Hi Aankho Mei' from CID(1956), Md Rafi sang a hit song for him. S D Burman used his voice for the first time in Nau Do Gyarah (1957), 'Aankhon Mein Kya Jee' became the first super hit song of Rafi.Rafi sang 97 songs for Dev Anand
Song of Hum Dono 1961
Shammi Kapoor
When Mohammad Rafi died, Shammi Kapoor said that I have lost my voice of screen. There was a magic of Rafi and Shammi combination. Do you know that he became his voice only after Tumsa Nahin Dekha, though Rafi sang two songs for him in his first film 'Rail Ka Dibba', after that Talat Mahmood gave playback for him in many films. In the 60s Mohammad Rafi became his permanent voice.Rafi sang 180 songs for him. The last time he sang was in Shalimar (1978)
Song of Teesri Manzil 1967
Joy Mukharjee
Rafi sang 80 songs for Joy Mukharjee. Mohammad Rafi and Joy Mukharjee's association starts from his first film Love In Simla released in 1960. He sang all the songs for him, the film and its music was hit, after that this combination gave one hit song after another. The prominent films of this combination are Ek Musafir Ek Hasina, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Ziddi, Love In Tokyo, Shagird, and Humsaya
Song of Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon 1963
Rajendra Kumar
Rafi was also the playback voice of Rajendra Kumar He sang 124 songs for him including duets, the first song he sang for Rajendra Kumar a duet in the 1957 film 'Duniya Rang Rangilee;.The first solo hit song for him was from the 1959 film 'Goonj Uthi Shehnai'.The next super hit solo song was 'Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko' from 'Sasural' and another solo song 'Husn Wale Tera Jawab Nahin' from Gharana(1961), another super hit songs from Dil Ek Mandir(1963). Rafi sang 6 songs in Hamrahi. In 1964 he sang the immortal 'Yeh Mera Prem Patra' from Sangam, the same year he had 5 songs in Mere Mehboob, all were hit. Aarzoo(1965), and Suraj(1966) were important films.
Song of Dil Ek Mandir(1963)
Shashi Kapoor
The golden combination starts with the film 'Holiday In Bombay'(1963), though the film went unnoticed,its songs were hit. After the release of 'Jaj Jab Phool Khile' 1965, this combination gave us many memorable songs. Rafi sang 121 songs for Shashi Kapoor
Song of Jaj Jab Phool Khile' 1965
Dharmendra
Rafi sang 104 songs for Dharmendra. The first time he gave playback for him was the 1960 film 'Shola Aur Shabnam'. In this film he sang 2 songs for him, one solo 'Jaane Kya Dhoondti' and another a duet with Lata 'Jeet Hi Lenge'. After that Rafi sang many songs in Aap Ki Parchhaiyan (1964) . Mamta (1966) , Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966), Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966), Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966) , Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) .and Pratigya (1975). The last recorded song was in Mera Karam Mera Dharam released in 1987
Song of Pratigya (1975)
Jeetendra
Mohammad Rafi sang 104 songs for Jeetendra. The first time he sang for Jeetendra was in 1967 film 'Farz', all the song of this film were hit. ' Baar Baar Din Yeh Aaye' has become an immortal Birthday song. After this he sang 2 hit solo songs in Mere Huzoor(1968).In 1969 film Jeene Ki Rah Rafi sang all the songs for him. All the 6 songs were hit. The last song for him was in the 1987 film 'Madadgar'
Song of Caravan 1971
Johnny Walker
Rafi was also the voice of Johnny Walker, he sang 145 songs for him, many of his songs were hit. The first song Rafi sang for him was a duet from 1954 film 'Aar Paar'. The first super hit song was ' Jane Kahan Mera' from 1955 film Mr & Mrs 55. After this, another super hit songs were from CID(1956) 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', 'Sar Jo Tera Chakraye' from Pyaasa(1957) and 'Laal Laal Gaal' from Mr X(1957). The last song on Johnny Walker was in Sanjog(1972)
