Mohammed Rafi is an Indian playback singer and is widely regarded as one of India’s greatest singers. He has recorded more than 7400 songs in various languages, of which about 4,516 are Hindi and the rest are in Assamese, Konkani, Bhojpuri, English, Persian, Dutch, Spanish, Telugu, Maithili, Urdu, Gujarati, Punjabi, Marathi, Bengali, etc.
Wiki/Biography
Mohammed Rafi 24 December 1924 (age 55 years; at time of death) in village Kotla Sultan Singh (near Amritsar) Punjab. His zodiac sign is Capricorn.
Mohammed Rafi’s Childhood Photo with his father
He studied from the local school in his village. He did not study much because of his interest in singing. He received classical training in music from Ustad Barkat Ali Khan and Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan. He also trained under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. He used to work at his brother’s barbershop where he would sing while working. Clients and his brother noticed his talent. After that, his brother sent him to train under Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan.
Family, Caste & Wife
Mohammed Rafi was born to Haji Ali Mohammed and Allah Rakhi.
Mohammed Rafi With His Father And Son
He has five brothers named Mohammed Safi, Mohammed Deen, Mohammed Ismail, Mohammed Ibrahim, and Mohammed Siddique. He is the second eldest among all his brothers.
Mohammed Rafi With His Brothers
He has two younger sisters named Chirag Bibi and Reshma Bibi. He married for the first time to Bashira Bibi. Rafi has a son from his first wife named Sayeed. He married again to Bilquis Bano in 1943. He had three sons named Khalid, Hamid, and Sahid and three daughters named Parveen, Yashmin, and Nashrin from his second wife.
Mohammed Rafi With His Children
Mohammed Rafi’s family
Mohammed Rafi’s family tree
Career
He made his debut as a playback singer with the song “Soniye Nee, Heeriye Nee” from the Punjabi film “Gul Baloch (1944),” in which he sang along with Zeenat Begum. He made his Bollywood debut as a playback singer with the song ‘Aji Dil Ho Kaabu Me’ from the film “Gaon Ki Gori (1945).”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWfQ89GtGKg
He has worked with several music composers like Naushad, SD Burman, Shankar-Jaikishan, OP Nayyar, Ravi, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, and many more.
Famous Songs
- Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyaar
- Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra
Controversy
- In the early 1960s, there was a falling out between Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi. Lata demands royalties for the song they sang and asks Rafi to support her opinion. Instead of supporting him, Rafi went the other way. Rafi said, when the producer pays the fee, the singer claims the song, the singer will not get a share in the royalties. As a result, Lata and Rafi did not sing together for about 2-3 years after this. Veteran music director, Jaikishan finally helps them to reconcile.
Mohammed Rafi With Lata Mangeshkar And Jaikishan
- In 2012, Lata Mangeshkar in an interview stated that she only decided to sing with Rafi after he wrote her an apology letter. After this incident, Rafi’s son, Shahid, called his actions disrespectful to his father. He further added that if it is true then he should produce the letter in front of everyone and if he fails to do so, Shahid will file a case against him.
- Lata Mangeshkar and Rafi are embroiled in a controversy over Lata’s entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. In a letter dated June 11, 1977, he challenged the number of songs he recorded more than Lata’s songs. After Rafi’s death, Guinness clarified the fact and named it the ‘Most Recorded Song’ in 1991, Lata and Rafi’s Guinness book entries were later deleted.
Award
- Awarded a silver medal from Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (the first Prime Minister of independent India) on the first anniversary of India’s Independence Day in 1948.
- National Award for the song “Kya Hua Tera Wada” from the movie “Hum Kisise Kum Naheen” in 1977
Filmfare Awards
- Best Playback Singer for the song “Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho” from the movie “Chaudhvin Ka Chand” in 1960
Mohammed Rafi Receives Filmfare
- Best Playback Singer for the song “Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko” from the movie “Sasural” in 1961
- Best Playback Singer for the song “Chahunga Main Tujhe” from the movie “Dosti” in 1964
- Best Playback Singer for the song “Baharo Phool Barsao” from the movie “Suraj” in 1966
- Best Playback Singer for the song “Dil Ke Jharoke Mein” from the movie “Brahmachari” in 1968
- Best Playback Singer for the song “Kya Hua Tera Wada” from the movie “Hum Kisise Kum Naheen” in 1977
Favorite Things
- Movies: Mughal-E-Azam, Aradhna, Guide, An Evening In Paris
- Color: Brown, Red, White
Car Collection
He owns a Fiat Padmini and an Impala.
Mohammed Rafi with his car
Net worth
He has an estimated net worth of $20-30 million (Rs. 139- 208 crores).
Death
Mohammed Rafi died on 31 July 1980 of a heart attack in Mumbai. He was buried at Juhu Islamic Cemetery and nearly 10,000 people attended his funeral. The Indian government announced two days of public mourning in his honour. In 2010, his tomb was demolished to make room for a new burial. His fans have marked the coconut tree, closest to his grave to pay tribute to the legend and visit him twice a year on his birth and death anniversaries.
Mohammed Rafi’s funeral
Facts
- He studied classical music from Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Jeevan Lal Mattoo, and Feroz Nizami.
- Rafi was invited by the All India Radio Station to sing in 1941.
- In addition to singing in Indian languages, he has also sung in foreign languages such as English, Farsi, Arabic, Sinhalese, Creole, and Dutch.
- He moved to Mumbai in 1944 and lived there with Hameed Sahab in a ten by ten feet rented room in Bhendi Bazar area.
- Rafi appeared on screen for the songs “Tera Jalwa Jis Ne Dekha” from the film “Laila Majnu (1976)” and “Wo Apni Yaad Dilane Ko” from the film “Jugnu (1973).”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG4hu2EqD7k
- Rafi considers KL Saigal as his idol and is influenced by GM Durrani. He also followed their singing style during the early days of his career.
- After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, the Husanlal Bhagatram-Rajendra Krishnan and Rafi team created a song titled, “Suno Suno Ae Duniyawalon, Bapuji Ki Amar Kahaani” overnight. Rafi was later invited by Jawaharlal Nehru, to sing at his house.
- His song “Tu Kahin Aas Paas Hai Dost” for composer Laxmikant-Pyarelal was recorded just hours before his death.
- Rafi along with Lata Mangeshkar was voted the most popular playback singer in a poll conducted by Outlook Magazine in 2010. The same poll voted “Man Re Tu Kahe Na (Chitralekha (1964)),” as the number one song and “Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hai(Guide (1965)),” and “Din Dhal Jaye Haye,” as the latter.
- ‘Padma Shri Mohammed Rafi Chowk’ in the suburb of Bandra in Mumbai is named after her.
Padma Shri Mohammed Rafi Chowk
- The official slanted biography, ‘Mohammed Rafi: The Golden Voice of the Silver Screen’ is written by Shahid Rafi and Sujata Dev and launched on his 91st birth anniversary.
- Mohammed Rafi’s nickname is Pheeko.
- At the age of 13, Rafi made his first public appearance in Lahore where he sang a song by KL Saigal.
- When he was 10 years old, there used to be a fakir (an ascetic of the Muslim (or, loosely, Hindu) religion who lived solely on alms) who would wander around his village and sing. Fascinated by Fakir’s singing, Mohammed once followed Fakir and heard him sing. Fakir was a big influence in his singing.
- Rafi’s father was against his singing and often beat him when Rafi talked about becoming a singer.
- According to Naushad, Rafi came to him with a letter of recommendation from his father. Rafi’s first time working for Naushad was “Hindustan Ke Hum Hain” from the film “Pehle Aap (1944).”
- Naushad was Rafi’s mentor and was the one who helped Rafi to establish himself as one of the leading singers in the Indian film industry.
Mohammed Rafi with Naushad
- According to Rafi, one of his favorite songs is “Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki,” sung by him.
- According to a poll conducted by BBC Asia Network, ‘Bahaaron Phool Barsao’ has been chosen as the most popular Hindi song.
- In an interview with the BBC, Rafi admitted that he once cried during the recording of the song ‘Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja.’
- On 31 July 2010, his son Shahid Rafi launched the Mohammed Rafi Academy on the occasion of his father’s 30th death anniversary. It provides training to individuals in Indian classical and contemporary music.
- On his 93rd birthday, Google showed a commemorative snippet on its home page.
Mohammed Rafi’s Google Doodle
- He likes to play badminton and carrom.
Mohammed Rafi plays badminton
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
