Mohammad Rafi, often regarded as one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema, holds an irreplaceable place in the hearts of music lovers worldwide. As we commemorate his 100th birth anniversary, it is essential to reflect on his legacy, the golden voice that brought countless songs to life, and his immense contribution to Indian music.
Born on December 24, 1924, in Kotla Sultan Singh, Punjab (then British India), Rafi's journey from a small village to becoming the voice of the nation is both inspiring and legendary.
EARLY LIFE AND MUSICAL JOURNEY
Mohammad Rafi discovered his love for music at an early age. Encouraged by his family, he trained under eminent classical musicians, including Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan and Pandit Jiwan Lal Mattoo. His big break came when music director Shyam Sunder noticed his talent and gave him his first opportunity to sing in the Punjabi film Gul Baloch (1944).
Soon after, Rafi moved to Mumbai, then Bombay, and made his debut in Hindi cinema with the song "Aji Dil Ho Kaabu Mein" from the film Gaon Ki Gori (1945).
It was in the 1940s and 1950s that Rafi's career truly blossomed. He collaborated with legendary composers such as Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan, S.D. Burman, and O.P. Nayyar, delivering songs that would become timeless classics. Rafi's versatility allowed him to adapt his voice to a variety of genres, moods, and characters, making him the go-to playback singer for actors across generations.
THE GOLDEN VOICE OF BOLLYWOOD
Rafi's voice was unique in its ability to convey a spectrum of emotions, from romance and joy to sorrow and patriotism. His collaborations with music directors and lyricists resulted in songs that remain evergreen. Below are some of his most iconic songs:
Esta historia es de la edición December 25, 2024 de The Daily Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 25, 2024 de The Daily Guardian.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
RAGAS AND RAFI
Before Mohammad Rafi, singing style in Indian Cinema was typically straightforward and lacked dramatic modulations. Post-Rafi, playback singers were expected to exhibit versatility. His influence inspired legends like Kishore Kumar and Mukesh. On his 100th birth anniversary, let us look back at his rendering.
Captain hails Bumrah
Ahead of the Melbourne Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, India skipper Rohit Sharma heaped praise on talisman pacer Jasprit Bumrah for being confident with his skill set.
Dallewal writes to PM Modi again
Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Tuesday wrote another letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to enact the MSP Guarantee Law based on the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture.
Number of jobs in unincorporated sector up 10% at 12 crore: Survey
Unincorporated sector enterprises witnessed a 10.01 per cent increase in employment to over 12 crore during the year ended September 2024, while the number of establishments rose 12.28 per cent to 7.34 crore, according to a government survey.
'WE WANT TO BREAK IT DOWN TO JUST MELBOURNE': ROHIT
A head of the Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday said that they are currently focussing only on the upcoming Test match and are looking forward to displaying a strong performance at Melbourne.
Rohit sounds confident on Gill's form
India skipper Rohit Sharma on Tuesday backed young batter Shubman Gill amid his poor form in Test cricket and said that they don't want to complicate too many things with the 25-year-old.
'His brain's condition is not stable': Doctor gives update on Kambli's health
Dr Vivek Dwivedi, treating former India cricketer Vinod Kambli at Aakriti Hospital in Thane, said on Tuesday that the 52-year-old's brain condition is not stable.
Arshad Nadeem wishes Neeraj Chopra on his special day
Paris Olympics gold medalist Arshad Nadeem took to social media to wish India's ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on his birthday on Thursday.
Pro Kabaddi legends Anup, Ajay to return for PKL Melbourne Raid
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is set to create history by taking the electrifying sport of kabaddi to Australia with the highly anticipated PKL Melbourne Raid.
Gill needs to back himself a bit more, says Ponting
Former cricketer Ricky Ponting opened up on India batter Shubman Gill's poor form overseas and said that the 25-year-old needs to back himself a bit more to get results.
