I am giving this not only because of its historical importance, but also because it is quite nice and has the hallmark of Rafi style as early as 1947. This must be the first song by Rafi under the baton of SD Burman. Duniya mein meri aaj andhera hi andhera from Do Bhai (1947), lyrics Raja Mehdi Ali Khan Continuing my series on SD Burman with other great singers, I present some Rafi songs by him as my tribute to Rafi on his 33 rd death anniversary (July 31).ġ. I did my last post on Geeta Dutt’s best songs by SD Burman. SD Burman knew those special situations when no one else but Rafi could deliver what he wanted. As a music lover when I look at the Rafi songs of the abovementioned films, I feel as if a sculptor had crafted these songs with great care, and Rafi put soul into them with equal feeling. Only SD Burman knew the answer to this question.

The warriors on two sides often get into violent clashes.

Who was SD Burman’s favourite singer – Rafi or Kishore Kumar? You won’t get an answer in statistics – the two are generally comparable – 44 Rafi solos versus 52 by Kishore Kumar as per Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh at Atul’s site. Post- Aradhna (1969) too, when Kishore Kumar had a new avatar and zoomed like a meteor, SD Burman used Rafi till the very end. But post 1957, you get Rafi gems one after another in Kala Pani (1958), Insan Jaag Utha, Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), Bambai Ka Babu, Kala Bazar (1960), Meri Surat Teri Ankhen, Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Guide, Teen Deviyan (1965) and so on. Rafi, though getting some songs from time to time, remains comparatively unnoticeable. As for male singers, he composed some great songs by Hemant Kumar, Talat Mahmood, even Kishore Kumar and Mukesh. In this interregnum of ten years, SD Burman’s work is more noteworthy for his songs by female singers. 1957 when their combination would give some stunningly beautiful music in Pyasa. Thereafter, he used his voice in several films, but it would not be until a decade later, i.e.

Their association started very early – I find a Rafi song composed by SD Burman in Do Bhai (1947), i.e. SD Burman was eighteen years older to Rafi, but debuted as a composer in Hindi films (in 1946) two years’ later than Rafi’s debut as a playback singer. And whenever he used Manna Dey, Talat Mahmood and Mukesh, he created songs which became landmarks of their career. There were also films in which he used the voice of Hemant Kumar for Dev Anand, when he composed unparalleled songs like Ye raat ye chandni phir kahan. He is the only music director who can claim to have composed equally great music with Rafi as with Kishore Kumar, his two main singers. If Rafi was the most versatile singer, SD Burman was the most versatile composer. There is one thing common between Mohammad Rafi and SD Burman. A tribute on Rafi’s death anniversary July 31

E shokh kali e mast jiger mohd rafi