Forty-five years have passed since the legendary Mohammad Rafi, who introduced a new style of singing to the film world and gifted countless memorable songs, departed from his fans. Yet, his voice continues to mesmerize discerning listeners today.
Born on December 24, 1924, this iconic singer, often hailed as the Emperor of Playback Singing, ruled the Indian film industry for three decades. His melodious voice resonates in the hearts of his admirers across the subcontinent even now.
Rafi spent his formative years in the renowned Bhati Gate neighborhood of Lahore. He would regularly visit the city’s largest Lawrence Garden, enchanting listeners with his sweet voice.
The melodious tones of this young man would echo in the air, drawing people towards him. The very platforms in his ancestral neighborhood where Mohammad Rafi honed his singing skills are still remembered.
In 1941, at the age of seventeen, Rafi moved to Mumbai, but his memories remain etched on the walls and streets of Lahore. For the Mumbai film industry, Mohammad Rafi’s voice was nothing short of a blessing. Renowned musicians of the time recognized his voice as a priceless gift of nature and incorporated it into their timeless compositions.
He began his career with a song from the film “Anmol Ghadi” and never looked back. One after another, beautiful songs became Rafi’s hallmark, and success embraced him. Whether it was Bharat Bhushan, Guru Dutt, or Dilip Kumar in the fifties; Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor, or Dev Anand in the sixties; or Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor, or Amitabh Bachchan in the seventies: if Rafi’s voice was used, half of the filmmaker’s job was done, regardless of whether the actor played a serious or comedic role.
Mohammad Rafi’s songs were so perfectly rendered that it seemed as if the actor himself was singing, which is why he was crowned the Emperor of Playback Singing.
Mohammad Rafi, who lent his voice to an estimated thirty-six thousand songs, ghazals, bhajans, naats, and national anthems, reigns in the hearts of millions who revere him as a god of melodies.
Mohammad Rafi received the Filmfare Award five times, with his first in 1960 and his last in 1977. He also won one National Award. It is estimated that Mohammad Rafi sang consistently for approximately 32 years during his 36-year career.
He sang songs composed by over 100 musicians in 22 popular Indian languages and other well-known languages worldwide.
In a 1979 interview, Mohammad Rafi claimed to have sung between 25,000 to 26,000 songs in his career, though records are available for only about five and a half thousand.
At the mere age of fifty-six, Mohammad Rafi’s life’s music fell silent, a sorrow that remains in every heart today. Every day, millions of hearts beat with the rhythm of Mohammad Rafi’s voice. He was an artist who made a home in people’s hearts, and he will be remembered for centuries to come.
Mohammad Rafi passed away on July 31, 1980, leaving millions of fans in mourning.