Hi Steemians,
Since today is Birthday of one of the greatest playback singers in the history of Indian Cinema, Mohammed Rafi, I would like to use this post as a tribute him.
Rafi has sung more than 7400 songs in 20+ languages(Indian languages as well as other foreign languages including English, Farsi, Arabic, Sinhalese, Creole and Dutch) ranging from classical, patriotic, sad songs, romantic, ghazals, bhajans etc.
Rafi first public performance was at Lahore the age of 13 in year 1937 with K L Saigal(who was considered as first Superstar of Bollywood film industry and was a singer) and made his Hindi film songs singing debut in 1945 when he sang for movie Gaon Ki Gori. Rafi used to consider K L Saigal as his idol.
When Mahatma Gandhi (Indian freedom fighter and is considered as Father of Nation) was assassinated in 1948, Rafi along with couple of others created a song overnight and the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited Rafi to his house to sing the song (Suno Suno Ae Duniyawalon, Bapuji Ki Amar Kahani) and subsequently Rafi received a Silver Medal from Jawaharlal Nehru on Indian Independence Day in 1948.
Rafi has worked with almost all the music directors and composers during his time. Naushad Ali being the most notable one, followed by O. P. Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan, S D Burman and Roshan.
Some of the movies Rafi sang songs include Bajrang, Apnapan, Ganga Ki Saugandh, Suhaag, Qurbani, Amar Akbar Anthony, Karz, Naseeb, Laila Majnu, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.
Rafi's voice used to match the most to Bollywood legend actors Dev Anand and Guru Dutt and music director S D Burman made him sing for 37 movies with some notable being Pyaasa, Tere Ghar Ke Samne, Guide, Kala Bazar, Kala Pani and Abhiman.
Indian Famous News Daily "Times of India" in an article described Rafi as "a versatile singer, who could render classical, rock and roll, indeed any kind of song with ease, he was Hindi film's, favourite male voice through the 1950s and 1960s".
On his 91st Birthday, an official Biography of Rafi "Mohammed Rafi – Golden Voice Of The Silver Screen" was released.
Veteran Hindi actor Shammi Kapoor, for whom Rafi sung many songs, said in an interview that "I am incomplete without Mohammad Rafi. I used to often go for the recording of my song, which was sung by Mohammad Rafi, only because I used to like telling him how I would perform on this song on screen so that he can sing it that way. Even he liked my involvement"
Rafi has received numerous awards for his singing.
In 2001, Rafi was honoured with "Best Singer of the Millennium" Award by Stardust Magazine in collaboration with Hero Honda.
He won a National Award in 1977 for song "Kya Hua Tera Wada" from film Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.
He was nominated to Filmfare Awards 21 times out of which, he won the award 6 times.
India's fourth highest civilian award "Padma Shri" was awarded to Rafi in 1967.
References:
Information Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Rafi
Images Reference: Check the Source link below each image.