An endless feud between the fans of Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar..
Mohammed Rafi was born at Kotla Sultan Singh, near Amritsar . Rafi displayed his talent for singing at the tender age of 13. The lure of movies beckoned him to Bombay in 1944. His first hit was the Tera Khilona Toota Balak from Anmol Ghadi in 1946. India lost this jewel on July 31, 1980.
Abhas Kumar Ganguly, better known as Kishore Kumar was born on August 4, 1929 in Kandwa. Following the footsteps of his elder brother Ashok Kumar he too ventured into movies. But he soon realised that his heart was in singing. Under the patronage of RD Burman he soon flourished. He would at times compose and write songs himself. Sadly he passed away in October,1987.
The debate as to who was the greater singer carries on even today, even decades after their death. Both of them left an indelible mark in the world of Indian film music, a void that still cannot be filled today. No wonder that their fans are at constant feud with one another trying to prove that their hero was better.
It is a no secret that Mohammed Rafi was a trained classical singer and that Kishore Kumar had a natural talent. Hence Rafi’s fans feel that he was the more accomplished and skilful of the two. Kishoreda’s fans are of the opinion that though he may not have been trained, he had purity and sheer quality of voice. The fact that he wasn’t trained, and could still sing anything, both classical and non classical songs with equal magic rendered him more superior than Rafi.
Fans claim that Rafi was the most favoured singer for many veteran composers while Kishore Kumar was preferred by few and was a playback mainly for Dev Anand and later for Rajesh Khanna. Rafi on the other hand balanced his melodious voice for diverse stars like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor.
In support of Rafi’s greatness, many of his fans say Rafi sang for Kishore Kumar in films that Kishore himself acted. They also draw the attention to Rafi’s song Darde Dil in Karz which was based on a single note and proved that he was indeed blessed with God-gifted melody. Mohammed Rafi’s fans also claim that Sonu Nigam and Udit Narayan who belong to the Rafi school are technically better than Kumar Sanu, Babul Supriyo etc.
On the other hand, Kishore Kumar’s fans remind people of songs which he sang by melodiously incorporating his inimitable yodelling. Those numbers are extremely popular even today. They further claim that in the 70’s and 80’s, it was he who sang for a number of heroes.
This debate can go on endlessly. However it must be stated that both were great singers of their times and each had his own distinctive style.
There was no feud between the two and the immense respect that Kishore Kumar had for Mohammed Rafi is clearly seen in the photo during Rafi’s funeral. A silent, sad and grief-struck Kishore in the newspapers portrayed very well that no one except him understood what an irreparable loss had taken place in Indian film music.
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August 6th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
So I just copied & pasted the entire debate on a word document for future use & reference - hahahaha. Do you guys realize that we did ~200 pages of text! Wow. Add a few photos and you’ve got yourself a book!
August 6th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I wish Shankar Jaikishan had gotten the assignment for Sholay (if Jaikishan hadn’t died an untimely death of alcohol poisoning). Then we’d gotten to see the greatest song with Rafi on Dharmendra & Kishore on Amitabh. Too bad - at least we had Chupke Chupke on such a great movie.
August 4th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Kishore s magic continues.. On 78th birthday of Kishore I salute the legend.. The only true test of greatnes is time and Kishore passes this with flying colours.. Magic as they say is eternal..
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Throughout my childhood right up to my graduation days i adored Rafi, it was only later as i grew older i turned wiser and began appreciating Kishore voice too having come to the conclusion that no one can do everything although some can do most things…both rafi and kishore put in the best at what they did. How much opportunity each got was a matter of luck.
I have 2 sons the elder has a soft voice and loves Rafi…the younger loves and sounds like kishore and i call them Rafi & Kishore.
This is my personal tribute to two great singers of all time.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Sorry here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zYDzJk9yvI
August 1st, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I was talking about Rafi maybe not having a loud booming voice. How wrong! He chose not to sound like that. Check out this clip here - hilarious esp the end. Rafi holds his ground - sounds very powerful and assertive. Ajit was a GREAT actor - Kishore’s voice suit him very well.
July 27th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
iam from egypt and i was 6 year when rafi died iam not speak ordo but i loved mohd rafi more than our singers here
in egypt when you see mohd rafi smile i am very happy .
no comparison at all between rafi and other singers not at india only but allover world and rafi was and still the best .
July 25th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Kishoreda is Kishoreda, no doubt that Mohd. Rafi was a great singer but Kishoreda was one step ahead. Above sentence can be proved by comparing following songs which is sung by both.
‘janu meri jaan’, ‘tum bin jaoon kahan’, etc.
Kishoreda was having natural voice n was a gr8 versatile singer, his yoodling is unforgetteble, eg - ‘main hoon jhumroo’, ‘tum bin”, ‘zindagi ek safar’, endless.
the only legend in music industry according to me is KISHREDA N ONLY KISHOREDA
July 24th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Hi Folks
Just to add to the endless controversy over the rafi-kishore issue:
I was a die hard kishore fan till my 10th grade - SIMPLY loved nos like “chingari koi” and “panthi hoon main us path ki” ……
Then I listened to “o duniya ke rakhwale” for the 1st time ever in 11th grade…….
Do I still need to say anymore????
BTW in my later yrs (especially after I came over to the US) I started listening to songs of the Hollywood genre and other country/folk western numbers - I found out that yodling is not uncommon in the western world and of course speaking of baritone voices there are people like Jim Reeves and Dick-Van-Dyke (listen to songs from Marry Poppins)…..and scores of others…….
And yeah if people are looking for a true baritone voice - I’d suggest Ustd. Rashid Khan (he’s my favourite)…of course we aren’t even comparing a titan of his calibre to any others….but it’s still Rafi saab’s voice that has continued to enthrall me (and millions of others) for years……only a few days back I listened to a Rafi no after a very long time….”Mohabbat Zinda Rehti Hain”……I was simply left awestruck……
AR
(and yes, just for info sake…. I am a Bengali from Calcutta!)
July 12th, 2007 at 5:13 am
Rafi sings for Kishore:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=U_ZNZf6WMiM&mode=related&search=
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rOUw8AnSBPo&mode=related&search=
July 9th, 2007 at 6:21 am
Dear fello Kishore Fans: go to google and type in “musicindiaonline piya ka ghar (1972)”. The song “Yeh Jeevan Hai” from that movie is one of my favorites from Kishore. I really loved his voice when he made it soft and low. So full of emotion, clean yet with excellent tonal quality and enunication (clarity). Definitely top 30 of my Kishore songs (but I have a lot to hear from Kishore).
July 7th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
dear Manish :
A woman scorned is like a wounded TIGER : OLD WOUNDS WERE
OPENED and OLD SCORES SETTLED when the opportunity
came; they never missed them any time…. but GREAT men
HAVE A LIFE OF THEIR OWN.. .. their great works will speak
for them and live on for centuries.
Selfish ones can do temporary harm ; in the long run they will be
forgotten hastily, washed away - unwept and unsung.
GREAT MEN NEVER DIE…. they live on..
binu nair
July 7th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
Dear Manish :
u are taking names : u know these things , I am sure.
I too love about 15 Indian vintage singers and I love Lata; but
only as a singer. Nothing more than that. And I will not write about
her in a public forum.. The world already knows about her and she
is responsible for it. Lets not pull out things from under the carpet;
and only enjoy the evergreen musicals.
Shaminder jit ji..
I love ur statement and we all should heed ur call and sentiments.
binu nair.
July 6th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Hey , Guys , Are u all Nuts , Why Arguing like , Both The Singers were great( Both of Them will never be Forgotten ) , and how can We judge that which song could have sung better ////, Forget It , and Please do not compare those Legends ///////////
TAke Care U all ////
July 6th, 2007 at 10:49 am
When you stand in the open, strech your arms and look above you can only hear one voice-kishore’s. its open, melodious and what not… its your heart singing and god listening!! who knows if god is singing by himself!!
July 5th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Binu: Can you elaborate on the female singers taking sides or politics in general? You have me curious. When did Lata find out about Rafi’s letter to the Guiness Books - and how come she didn’t refuse to sing with Rafi Sahab in movies like Sargam and Kranti? lol. I like them both Rafi & Lata.
July 5th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Personall speaking I like Kishor da’s voice in few songs only
they are very good in those few ones… in others it is quite
ordinary….
He was a gifted singer and earned his place in the industry ..
But, sadly there was lot of politicking with even the female singers
taking sides post 1971- which was detrimental to good and variety
music.
Some of them were openly settling old scores which many insiders
are aware and talk in private conversations.
binu…
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:26 am
Rishi,
You are saying nothing new, its your view, need not be the truth, and in his case it isnt.
If Rafi sahab dosent have variety then no one else does.
You and your likes can harp about KK, but mate, winds cant move mountains.
R
P
July 1st, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Kishore dethroned Rafi for 7 years but Rafi made a grand comeback despite the Kishore wave and MDs used him more than Kishore from 1977-1980. That was based on merit but also a tendency from the public to accept a change after 20 years of dominance and a the emergence of new era of music. It was not based on Kishore being better but being different (obviously different and great). 30+ years overlap and Kishore only gets 7 of those years (and even that was temporary as Rafi recovered). That shows dominance right there.
If you think Rafi’s voices all sound the same - than with that kind of unwillingnes to discern, one could say that Kishore’s songs sound all the same too (or at least just as “same” as Rafi).
Not singing but for playback alone, Rafi was clearly the better as his voice could match many more actors than Kishore’s. Just look at the repertoire of actors for whom Rafi sang for (dozens) generation after generation and then Kishore (Dev Anand, Amitabh, Rajesh Khanna, himself, etc.). His voice fit mostly people with naturally deep voices / barritone like Amitabh whereas Rafi’s voice could fit just anyone. Name a single actor with whom Rafi could not credibly fit. Even Amitabh Bachchan (after Naseeb) (Kishore’s #1 patron) said that Rafi’s voice could suit him (not better than Kishore, but it did suit him) whereas with Kishore, his voice could not suit many actors because they’d look silly with a barritone voice.
Mohd Rafi has been ranked #1 by many! Kishore is great within his limitations but you can’t compare him to a super singer like Mohd Rafi.
July 1st, 2007 at 4:40 pm
Well great discussion over the duo but i am a great fan of kk rather than Rafi simply because kk himself was actor and he mold himself totally which matches not only the voice but every action of the actor for which he did playback.
June 30th, 2007 at 11:35 am
I was going through the discussion above , i feel mohd. rafi had sweet voive and was trained well and was able to render songs. But we find very less variation in his songs. They are classically good but almost all sound same. He was on top till film industry was dominated by classical based MD.
Whereas Kishore Kumar did not take any classical training but by sheet sheer hard work , practice he created his place in play back singing and look at the variation of songs he has sung.
Dethroning someone who was no 1 for three decades is remarkable in itself and that to without any classical training. And till date he is the No 1 singer inspiration of crores of budding singers. No singer dead or alive has been ranked NO 1 singer even after 20 years of his death except for Kishore Kumar.
He is the singer who changes our moods till date with his songs .
For classical based music lover mohd rafi could be the best but for playback sing and variety of songs Kishore Kumar is the best. And will always remain one……..
My salutes to the legendry singer.
June 29th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Dear All,
Changes are always required in our lives and comparisons are there for everything. Its a natural human tendency.
We compare bikes, cars, girls, actors, politicians, colours, old and remake movies etc., etc., but they are only our individual choices or opinions and then getting generalised or publicised. Rafi saab and Kishoreda were simply great in thier own ways and comparing them is totally wrong. In fact, they had so much of respects for each other that we need to understand the reality and move ahead with the times. Both are great in singing. Enjoy music and stop comparing. Not withstanding the fact that I am an ardent fan of MOHAMMED RAFI SAAB, I like Kishore Kumar too.
June 27th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Hi,
Can any of you tell me which movie has the song ‘Hoto se jaan chali jayengi’ by Kishore sahab..
I am not finding this song. does this song has a diff tittle.
Majid
June 23rd, 2007 at 10:39 am
My only encounter with SPB is Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Mai Pyar Kiya. He did a “good” job and I suppose he is much much better in Tamil to receive the high acclaim that he gets. Pehli Pehli Pyar was a great song but his voice was too flavored and didn’t have the natural sound (then again, Hindi is not his first language but his diction was good).
Now Yesudas I have seen several times and I absolutely loved him. Very impressed with his voice, melody, singing ability and best of all - playback - his voice suits many actors too IMO. Who can forget that great song from Trishul (Aapke Mehki Hui or something like that), the songs from Chitchor (search this one youtube) or the songs from Choti Si Baat. GREAT singer.
In my experiences, I’ve liked Yesudas better. But the only languages I know are Hindi and English so clearly I haven’t seen the real ability of either two so my opinion is practically meaningless.
June 21st, 2007 at 6:48 pm
everybody says abot diction.they say yesudsa,SP failed due to their dicton.what is this thing?they all consider hindi is the only singable language in india.they just guage these great artists connected with hindionly.inother way they suggest that to be arated as abest singer one must be ahindi singer.kj is one of the best trained person in carnatic music.he is amaster in caranatic music.it is not fair to rate an artist only on the basis of diction in relation to aparticular language.hindi singer means popularity throughout a wide part of india.carnatic music is deeper and wider than any musical system prevailing in the world, wider and deeper than the hindustani.kj has mastery over the subject.