Rafi and his voice
Reviewed by Muhammad Suhayb
2025-02-09
Mohammad Rafi is often called the `Voice of God`, a title famously bestowed on him by the renowned Bollywood director/producer Manmohan Desai. This was a testament to Manmohan Desai`s deep admiration for Rafi`s extraordinary vocal talent and the almost divine quality he felt Rafi`s voice carried.
Even today, Rafi`s legacy continues to inspire devoted fans, particularly in Pakistan, where his followers are fiercely loyal. One such fan, Waheed Riasat Bhatti from Rawalpindi, poured his love, passion and knowledge of the legendary singer into creating Geet Gata Chal, a book in Urdu. Bhatti chose the occasion of Rafi`s centenary birth anniversary to release his revered work, and the result is nothing short of mind-blowing.
Born in Dec 1924, Mohammed Rafi would have been 100 had he been alive today. The `Century` book is a fitting tribute, capturing the essence of Rafi`s musical genius in a way that is both detailed and heartfelt. It reflects not only his unparalleled vocal talent but also the deep admiration and love that fans like Bhatti continue to hold for the legend, even decades after his demise.
This book is Waheed Riasat`s second work, following his first, Ek Banjara Gaaye, which was released in February 2021. While the earlier book focused more on the biographical aspects of Rafi`s life, this one delves deeper into the musical legacy and finer details of his career.
This book has anecdotes and short details of all the songs ever rendered by Mohammed Rafi. One should keep in mind that Mohammed Rafi sang in nearly 28 languages in a career just months shy of 40 years. His songs ranged from fast-paced to slow ballads, romantic to tragic, and qawwali to devotional displaying his incredible versatility across all genres.
Spanning 10 chapters, the book is a treasure trove of information about Mohammed Rafi. How did his career begin in Lahore? What happened the day he turned 13? How did George VI`s coronation help in the rise of Mohammed Rafi? Who guided him when he arrived in the unfamiliar world of Bombay in the 1940s? Whose recommendation got him work in Bombay? How did the music industry function back then and what values did the writers, music directors and singers uphold back in those days? All the answers to these questions can be found in the book.
If you think you can easily find all this information on the internet, think again. This book is a must-have. The first chapter details the struggle that Waheed Riasat Bhatti faced in gathering all the data for the book. At 54 years old, Bhatti hails from an era long before the internet, let alone the convenience of downloading songs as MP3s.The way he recounts his painstaking research will resonate with anyone over 40 or, at the very least, take you back in time.
Music shops, once a familiar sight in every city, were the go-to places for discovering new tracks, with the shopkeeper often being the first person to turn to for recommendations and insights. Bhatti remembers the names of tracks and shops that helped in acquiring unique numbers in Pakistan. Those were the days when relatives, who could freely visit India back then, were often asked to bring back special audio cassettes, magazines and booklets quite a contrast to today`s instant access to music.
Bhatti`s letters to friends and relatives living in the Middle East often got him success, but the thought of pre-MSN Messenger days will undoubtedly bring a smile to your face as you imagine the lengths he went to in his quest for Rafi`s legacy. The way he describes hopping from one shop to another in search of songs, back in the days before WhatsApp, will surely resonate with anyone who`s experienced that kind of effort to track down a song or album.
It is a nostalgic reminder of a time when discovering music took real determination and a bit of adventure. The thrashing the author received from his father at spending the entire amount meant for Eid clothes to buy Mohammed Rafi-related books and songs, would be relatable to many.
The second chapter has 22 pages of information on Mohammed Rafi, covering his life. The inspirations, the early days, the `guardian angels`, the first song, the prophecy, the early marriage, the infamous tussle with Lata over the Guinness Book of Records, the details of his foreign tours and the last song, all are mentioned in the second chapter. The `behind-the-scenes` stories from Bollywood, concerning the songs of Mohammed Rafi, truly transport you to another era. The third chapter features a comprehensive list of all the songs ever sung by Mohammed Rafi.
Spanning an impressive 712 pages, the book includes nearly 5,500 songs in Hindi alone from his 40-year career. Mind you, this is the first time in Pakistan that a book lists all songs by Mohammed Rafi.
The year-by-year breakdown carries all details, from the music director to the lyricist, the actors who lip-synced to the songs, the category the song belongs to, and the wordings of the asthayi.
It all becomes even more interesting with fact boxes regarding the song. If the song has a similar version, it would be there; if the song had been recorded years ago but used later, the details would be there; or if the duet singer were collaborating with Rafi for the first time, that would be there, too.
The list spans from 1944 to 1997, which means Mohammed Rafi`s final song was released around the same time that Sonu Nigam was at the height of his popularity. What is fascinating is that Mohammed Rafi never sang a cover song in his lifetime with an unmatched catalogue of his own, Rafi didn`t need to borrow from anyone else.
The book lists not just the songs but also details the creators behind them. It features an extensive breakdown of 278 lyricists, 233 music directors, co-singers, actors and more details that you won`t find any where on the internet. There is even a section dedicated to songs from unreleased or incomplete films, as well as non-film songs such as ghazals, bhajans, patriotic and religious tracks. And yes, it also includes the music directors and lyricists for over 100+ of those songs.
One fact that truly took me by surprise was that Mohammed Rafi`s journey began with a Punjabi film in 1941. While he`s renowned for his Hindi film songs, he recorded more than 100 Punjabi tracks! This work stands as the pinnacle of research, painstakingly compiled by Waheed Riasat Bhatti.
He still has plans for more books in Urdu on Mohammed Rafi, but what`s exciting to hear is that this one will soon be available in both Hindi and English. The book serves as a vital resource for Rafians and journalists, offering rare and invaluable insights into the legendary Mohammed Rafi`s remarkable career.
Rarely do we see movies in India dedicated to a `singer`, but when it happens, it`s a testament to the immense impact and legacy that these artists leave behind. Don`t worry, the names of all those movies can also be found in the `key` to Mohammed Rafi.
The reviewer writes on old films and music and loves reading books. X: @suhaybalavi