Continuing in the black and white era, another emotional but a rare song of Rafi Saab. This one from the 1957 film *Changez Khan* starring Premnath and Bina Rai. Rafi singing that love is eternal and can never die…. a truly moving song. The lyrics, simple, yet powerful are by Qamar Jalalabadi and music by Hansraj Behl.
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We move back in time to the 1950s, 1957 to be preciseWe move from light-hearted numbers from Rafi to an emotional one.
We move from color to black and white.
Why? To show the range of Mohammad Rafi and the pure magic in his voice. This song, with powerful lyrics by Rajinder Kishan and excellent music by Chitragupta is from the film *Bhabhi*, which was a remake of the Tamil film *Kula Deivam*.
The wordings and emotions in this song seem to be very much applicable today in a different context, when so many youngsters yearn for a life abroad and migrate at the smallest opportunity.
‘Chal ud jaa re panchhi ke ab yeh des hua begaana..’
A later line is telling — ‘Kisko pata ab is nagri me, kab ho tera aana’. Rafi Saab’s brings not only the emotion of parting before our eyes but also tugs at our heart. Listen to the song with eyes closed to experience this.
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Kashmir again, but no Shammi Kapoor tonight but his younger brother Shashi Kapoor, playing a boatman. A more subdued lover. No Shankar Jaikishan or O.P. Nayyar here, but music was by Kalyanji Anandji but the common factor was Mohammad Rafi. When he sings for Shashi Kapoor, the style appears synced with him, Shammi Kapoor forgotten. It was this great strength, Rafi had, of singing not in a false voice but always syncing perfectly with the actor to whom he lent his voice.
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Shammi Kapoor was in Kashmir again, this time romancing Rajshree. The film – *Janwar*. Shammi’s typical head and body movements are intact, but you will observe that the movements appear to be in slow motion. Did Shammi slow down his movements to suit the slow beat and pitch of the song? Not the usual boisterous and hyper-active Shammi Kapoor. Rafi Saab shows that he could still be the voice of a less boisterous Shammi Kapoor.
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The second of Rafi’s DNLD (Do Not Listen & Drive) songs, again from 1960. Remember, how these songs are to be enjoyed, I mentioned last night. Every time I listen to this song, the following questions crop up no sooner the song ends-
1) Can a woman be this beautiful?
2) Can her beauty be described in such lovely verses with apt similes?
3) Can any language other than Urdu do justice to this description?
4) Can there be a better lyricist than Shakeel Badayuni who describes the woman of his dreams? ‘Jaan-e-bahaar tum kisi shayar ka khwab ho!’
5) Can there be a better music director than Ravi, who relies little on instruments but more on the strength of his tune and the hypnotic power of the singer’s voice?
Absolutely no doubt about the fact that none other than Rafi Saab could have done justice to this song, elevating it to a classic. When he rolls over the word ‘ khwab’, the diction is sooooo perfect, not the usual ‘ khaab’. The gentle voice with the powerful lyrics makes the scene so very sensual.
*Magic of Mohammad Rafi-17*
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