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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January 31st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
“He was one of the best among best playback singers. Qawwali, Ghazal, bhajan are very differnt form of singing, and there are legends for this categories, Rafi no where stands in front of them.
Do you remember Rafi when u r sad or in romantic mood? If i ask this question to myself the answer is “NO”….(You have rights to differ)
I will listen to KISHORE and MUKESH for sad song..Rafi comes third
I will listen to Kishore and Rafi for romantic song..
I like Lata duets with Kishore and Rafi, both..
Ghazal..i would like to hear Mehandi Hasan and Jagjit singh
Bhajan…Suresh Wadkar, Ravindra Sathe ”
-Whatever be your rating (look at mine at the beginning of the post), Rafi will figure among top 3 in all GENRES. No other singer will. We are talking Hindi film music here.. So Mehdi Hasan does not count (though he has sung few). mehdi hasan himself stated there was only one Indian male singer he held in high esteem-Rafi. How about bringing Madonna into the equation next time??
As far as Hindi film ghazals are concerned, Jagjit stands nowehere close to Rafi. When it comes to Hindi film music, Talat is known as the “King of Ghazals”. Even then, Rafi equaled him (or to me, overshadowed Talat) in Jahan-Ara where both were given even number of songs… The best expert/judge of Ghazals in Hindi film history was a person called Madan Mohan. Do I need to tell you who his favorite singer was?
Can you name one Bhajan of Suresh Wadkar (outside Marathi movies) that will make into the top charts of Hindi film music? It is OK to love Kishore- but pls do not argue for arguments sake.. Leave aside “Man Tadpat” which will figure as the best rendition of Malkauns by any Hindi film singer.. LP was surprised how Rafi belonging to an altogether different religious background, could sing “Sukh ke sab sathi”..Which is by Kalyanji Anandji.
Coming to Kalyanji Anandji, I just recalled two songs that reinforces my “specific singer for specific actor” theory as far as KA goes. In Raaz, Chhoti Bahu, Saccha Jhutha, etc KA used Rafi against Rajesh Khanna (in case you were surprised why they used Kishore for Dharmendra).
You sidestepped the Outlook poll by bringing in Mukesh. You can argue from several angles like who was the most influential singer of 1970s or who was the greatest entertainer and I am ready to concede those. But when it comes to the long history of Hindi film music, there is only one singer whose contribution is the greatest (only comparable to Lata). That’s RAFI. Period.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:54 pm
“He was one of the best among best playback singers. Qawwali, Ghazal, bhajan are very differnt form of singing, and there are legends for this categories, Rafi no where stands in front of them.
Do you remember Rafi when u r sad or in romantic mood? If i ask this question to myself the answer is “NO”….(You have rights to differ)
I will listen to KISHORE and MUKESH for sad song..Rafi comes third
I will listen to Kishore and Rafi for romantic song..
I like Lata duets with Kishore and Rafi, both..
Ghazal..i would like to hear Mehandi Hasan and Jagjit singh
Bhajan…Suresh Wadkar, Ravindra Sathe ”
-Whatever be your rating (look at mine at the beginning of the post), Rafi will figure among top 3 in all GENRES. No other singer will. We are talking Hindi film music here.. So Mehdi Hasan does not count (though he has sung few). How about bringing Madonna into the equation??
As far as Hindi film ghazals are concerned Jagjit stands nowehere close to Rafi. When it comes to Hindi film music, Talat is known as the “King of Ghazals”. Even then, Rafi equaled him (or to me, overshadowed Talat) in Jahan-Ara where both were given even number of songs… Can you name one Bhajan of Suresh Wadkar (outside Marathi movies) that will make into the top charts of Hindi film music? Leave aside “Man Tadpat” which will figure as the best rendition of Malkauns by any Hidi film singer.. LP was surprised how Rafi belonging to an altogether different religious background, could sing “Sukh ke sab sathi”..Which is by Kalyanji Anandji.
Coming to Kalyanji Anandji, I just recalled two songs that reinforces my “specific singer for specific actor” theory as far as KA goes. In Raaz, Chhoti Bahu, Saccha Jhutha, etc KA used Rafi against Rajesh Khanna (in case you were surprised why they used Kishore for Dharmendra).
You sidestepped the Outlook poll by bringing in Mukesh. You can argue from several angles like who was the most influential singer of 1970s or who was the greatest entertainer and I am ready to concede those. But when it comes to the long history of Hindi film music, there is only one singer whose contribution is the greatest (only comparable to Lata). That’s RAFI. Period.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
My dear friend Vikram..
U wrote:
Again, I have really not heard the song ‘Meri Pyari Bindu’ that you mentioned in your last post. I am sure it’s another pedestrian and inconsequential song from the otherwise great stable of Kishore Kumar.
My reply:
What abt “Man tadpat hari darshan ko aaj man” and “Ramlal murdabad daal roti zindabad”?
As per ur analysis…..”Man Tadpat hari darshan ko aaj man” must be another pedestrian and inconsequential song and later one must be classical
January 31st, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Ashu.. Here is my post again. (please stick to Rafi and KK as we want to decide who is more versatile….)
1> Who is better in Ghazals? Who sang more and why? (Rafi or KK)
2> How about patriotic songs? Whose voice sounds more suitable and why? (Rafi or KK?) Please do not say that Mehedra Kapoor also sang many such songs and that is why Rafi is not number 1. We are comparing Rafi and KK.
3> Who sang more devotional songs and who voice sounds more suitable? (Rafi or KK?)
4> Who is more comfortable at high notes? Rafi or KK?
5> Who is more comfortable in classical/semi classical songs songs (Rafi or KK?)
6> How about Punjabi Bhangra or folk music? (Rafi or KK?)
7> Who sang in more languages and more songs in languages other than Hindi. (Please do not bring Udit in the picture)
I am intend to quit this debate as I know there is no point continuing further. Thanks for your time…. I am waiting for your another smart reply (away from actual debate)
January 31st, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Ashu saheb,
Nice! I just do not understand why do you bring other singers in the debate when we are comparing Rafi and KK?
You say that Suresh Wadkar is better bhajan singer than Rafi (Though it is debatable). But we are comparing Rafi and KK here rite?
Please let me know if you want to compare Rafi and Wadkar or Rafi and Jagjit Singh.
You know how do you sound?
According to you Jagjit Singh is a better Ghazal singer than Rafi so KK is better than Rafi!
But according to me Rafi is better than Jagjit Singh in Ghazals as it is my personal choice. May be you have not heard Rafi’s private Ghazal album. Jagit has sung more ghazals than Rafi Agree but that is what he has done for his entire life so it is obivious.
But the point is stick to comparing Rafi and KK. Please do not bring others in comparison.
I know that Manna dey is better in classical songs than Rafi but here we are comparing Rafi and KK (and not Manna Dey). Stick to the point.
BTW, I like your ability of selective reading and diverting the discussion away when KK’s weakness is exposed.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Oh! You mean Asha spoke on behalf of Nasir Hussain? Errrr….I don’t trust Asha at all and I’d rather not get into it. I thought you meant Nasir Hussain himself said it. Not a big deal, I was just curious. But if it was an Asha interview - I could hardly care. And I don’t think Asha sounded better in Rafi in TM - she overdid her part and you could hear her esophagus - yuk!
January 31st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Ashu, you have to learn to live with the fact that Rafi indeed was the best. You just don’t seem to agree with anything. Your favorite singer KK was no doubt very good, but pales in front of the colossus Rafi. Now you are writing as per your convenience, ignoring the majority view and all the facts that have been presented here.
I am sure if the Outlook survey had declared Kishore Kumar as the most popular singer, you would have been more than happy to refer to it. As far as I am concerned, SD Burman was the best. The creator of Din Dhal Jaaye, Tere Mere Sapane, Yeh Duniya Agar Mil, Dil Ka Bhanwar, Kya Se Kya, Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari, Tu Kahan Yeh Bata, Tere Bin Sune, Poochho Na Kaise Maine, Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raina, Teri Bindiya Re and scores of others just can not be the second best.
And also, it was the same Vishal-Shekhar who told Sonu Nigam on “Sare Gama Little Champs” that MAIN AGAR KAHOON from OM Shanti OM was probably the best composition of the last ten years. Now where does that leave ANKHON MEIN TERI? Kal Ho Na Ho song is very- very good. Your problem here might be Sonu Nigam, whom you despise because his idol is Rafi. I am sure there are better songs than this one. This debate can go on for ever. No two people will ever have the same choice of songs. Manna Dey had once told Sonu Nigam that he (Manna) wished that Sonu was his contemporary. Sonu is so good. He has taken a hiatus from filmi music. It’s a self imposed exile. He just does not want to sing trash that Kishore Kumar so often sang in the 80’s. He has said that he would rather sing 10 good songs than 200 bad ones in a year. That’s called dedication. You like it or not Sonu Nigam is too good for those Kishore clones. Yes, I like Amit Kumar. He sounds original. Such a shame that he was overshadowed by those KK clowns.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:19 pm
HI GUYS,
OTHER SINGERS SINGING CAN NEVER EVER BE COMPAIRED WITH KISHOREDAS. THE TRUTH IS THAT HE WAS TOTALLY GOD GIFTED AS WE ALL KNOW THAT NO SINGER EVER DID YODELLING EXACTLY AS HIM AND SO FAR MILLIONS TRIED TO COPY HIS YODELLING BUT DID NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO HIS, WHICH PROVES THAT HE WAS THE BEST OF THE BEST. THE WAY HE YODELLED IN HIS SONGS IS NO JOKE AND IT IS IMPOSSSIBLE FOR ANY OTHER SINGER TO YODELL EXACTLY AS HE DID AND BY HIS YODELLING HE BECAME VERY POPULAR AND WELL RECORGNIZED IN THIS UNIVERSE AND FOR SURE HE LEFT BEHIND HIS NAME IN EVERYONES HEART
SECONDLY, WITHOUT TAKING ANY PROPER SINGING LESSIONS KISHOREDA SANG SO MANY SONGS WITH NON MISTAKE. YES” HIS SONGS SEEMS TO BE SIMPLE BUT IT IS TECHNICALLY VERY COMPLICATED, THATS WHY HIS SONGS SOUND SO SWEET AND MELODIOUS.
OTHER SINGERS TOOK MUSIC LESSIONS FOR YEARS AND KISHOREDA DID NOT AND WIHOUT IT HE WORKED HARD AND BECAME THE WORLDS TOP ARTIST. I BELIEVE KISHOREDA WAS TOTALLY BLESSED AND NO MATTER WHAT IS APPLIED, THAT PERSON CAN NEVER EVER BE DEFEATED WHO IS BLESSED BY GOD. WE ALL SHOULD GIVE HIM CREDIT BECAUASE HE DID SOMETHING VERY AMAZING WHERE AS A NORMAL HUMAN BEING CAN NEVER POSSIBLY DO WHAT EVER HE DID.
COME ON GUYS BE FAIR AND COME UP WITH TRUTH AND REALITY. DIDNT HE SHOW THE WORLD THAT HE WAS NOT JUST A SINGER BUT A COMPOSER, ACTOR AND A DIRECTOR. HE WAS ALL IN ONE. AGAIN I WOULD SAY THAT NO OTHER ARTIST CAN BE COMPARED WITH THE KING OF THE KINGS, THE ONE AND ONLY, THE GREAT ARTIST KISHOREDA.
IT IS USELESS TO ARGUE ON THIS ISSUE AND IT IS NOT WISE TO INSULT OR CONDERM ANY ARTIST AS WE ALL SHOULD RESPECT AND SUPPORT THEM TO BECOME THE BEST. HOWEVER EVERYONE IS TRYING HARD TO ACHIEVE A GOAL BUT ACCORDING TO BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE KISHOREDA WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YES” I DONT BLAME TONS OF PEOPLE WHO WORSHIP HIM AND IT COULD BE VERY TRUE THAT HE WAS A LORD IN A CARNATION FORM WHO CAME ON THIS EARTH WITH AMAZING AND INCREDIBLE TALENTS WHO HAS BEEN UNDEFEATED AND REMAINED AS AN UNSOLVED MISTRY.
RAFI SAHAB, MUKESH JI AND SO MANY OTHER SINGERS ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. IN ADDITION I LOVE RAFI SAHABS AND MUKESHJIS SONGS. THEY WERE ALSO VERY ARTISTIC AND THIER SONGS ARE GREAT BUT IN OVER ALL KISHOREDAS SINGING WAS EXTRA SUPER HIT WHICH CANNOT BE EXPRESSED IN WORDS. HOWEVER MY COMMENT IS BASED ON TRUTH AND REALTY AND I BELIEVE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TRUTH ALWAYS EVERLAST.
SUNNYBAL SURREY BC CANADA.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:31 am
My dear friend Vikram,
First place, u guys are saying Kishore has not sung Qawwali, Ghazal, Patriotic etc.
i listed couple of songs from these categories, and now u r talking abt quality which is complety off the track..
I did not ask you what u feel abt these songs. Choice will vary from people to people. I respect if u don’t like it or u like some other songs.
But i request don’t try to spend some false thing…Though it will not effect anybody, because world knows abt Kishore…
I like Veer Jawano very much, but after “HAQEEQAT” song…
..I have heard “Meri Pyari Bindu” many many time…I keep watching “PADOSAN” DVD inmy spare time…I have seen this movie approx. 50 times…I am very much confident in writing this line….”One and Only Kishore could have done justice to this song”
January 31st, 2008 at 11:23 am
Sorry for short reply.
I just got my eyes on Vipul’s blog…
He wrote:
Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb himself praised Rafi saheb’s voice and singing. He wudnt praise Kishore’s voice, will he?
My reply:
Did anyone ask him abt Kishore?
My dear friend, very simple logic..
e.g.Naushad always praised Rafi. If nobody asked him abt Kishore, how would you know what he think abt him. In one channel, somebody asked him abt Kishore, He praised Kishore.
Let me give u another example:
If somebody ask Karan Johar abt Shahrukh, i will definetely say something good abt him, does it mean Amitabh is lesser to him in any department.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:04 am
Sorry to write again..
Manish, you can ask Binu Nair…he will have this…:)
January 31st, 2008 at 11:04 am
My dear friend Manish,
i don’t have Tap…but u can contact any news channel (especially Zee or NDTV) and ask for Asha’s interview last year..
She narrated this with her own word on TV channel….
January 31st, 2008 at 11:00 am
sudip
u wrote:
I can possibly never agree on top 10 songs of Rafi..
My reply:
I agree with you. My top 10 of Rafi songs will be different…
January 31st, 2008 at 9:54 am
My dear friend Sudip,
I glad that you accepted the truth that Rafi went wrong in “Pochho na yaar kya hua”…
Rafi fought very well in 70s, but 70s era required different types of singing. Though Rafi was there, but Kishore dominated this era.
Abt “ALAG ALAG” song, First of all this song sang very badly by the contenstant, the contestant is trained singer and this song did not suit him. Last episode in CHHOTE USTAD, one kid sang song from “LAKHO ME EK” movie. Shreya said, this songs looks very simple, but it is very difficult to sing. Greatness abt Kishore is, he made things looks very simple which is not simple in real.
As i request in prev. blog, I would like to hear one trained Rafians to sing a song of rafi and kishore, and let we analyse there singing. Purpose behind is not to judge singer, but to judge his closeness abt singing style.
I hope i am able to convey my message…
January 31st, 2008 at 9:33 am
Vipul,
I forgot to write…
I think Mukesh is not there in the Outlook list….Do you think Hindi music will complete without Mukesh? I think whenevr there is talk on SAD song, probably Mukesh name will always stood first .
January 31st, 2008 at 9:04 am
My dear frien Vipul,
u wrote:
Ashu .. please clarify who is more versatile? Do we need Urdu background for Ghazals? Today’s ghazal singfers like Pankaj Udhas, Jagjit singh have Urdu background?
Do we need Urdu background for devotional songs too? In that case do not you think KK must have sung more bhajans than Rafi
My reply:
I think u did not get me what i wrote..I never said Urdu backgroumd is required for Qawwali and ghazals, but my dear friend….If ur background is Urdu, then u r right candidate for it. Same thing happen with Rafi in 50s and 60s, our MDs did not have option so they went with Rafi…When they got option they moved to other singer.
Can you say Rafi is best Qawwali singer, Ghazal singer, Bhajan singer? NO.
He was one of the best among best playback singers. Qawwali, Ghazal, bhajan are very differnt form of singing, and there are legends for this categories, Rafi no where stands in front of them.
Do you remember Rafi when u r sad or in romatic mood? If i ask this question to myself the answer is “NO”….(You have rights to differ)
I will listen to KISHORE and MUKESH for sad song..Rafi comes third
I will listen to Kishore and Rafi for romantic song..
I like Lata duets with Kishore and Rafi, both..
Ghazal..i would like to hear Mehandi Hasan and Jagjit singh
Bhajan…Suresh Wadkar, Ravindra Sathe
January 31st, 2008 at 9:02 am
I think the most contentious part of the Outlook poll was Rafi’s songs themselves. It is so difficult to agree on top 10 songs of Rafi. I am surprised that there were no place for:
-Man tadpat hari darshan
-Suhani raat dhal chuki
-Kabhi Khud pe
-Main nigahen tere chehre
-Aap ke hassen rukh pe
-Tumhari Zulf ke saaye mein
-Dur rehkar na karo baat
-Raha gardishon mein hardam
-Tu kahan yeh bata
and countless others…………………..
I can possibly never agree on top 10 songs of Rafi..
January 31st, 2008 at 8:53 am
Mr. Vipul,
I read outlook when it published. Most popular singer was decided based on the number of songs present in the list, and that is why Rafi and Lata was there on the top.
If you start thread on no. 1 MD award went to S D Burman. I am sure You people will come up with different view.
So my dear friend don’t go with list….
And one more…
Do u think “KAL HO NA HO” song deserve to be in the list…..? I think there are thousands of songs better than KAL HO NA HO…
My dear friend…My humble reuqets to you guys…Pls. listen
“Man re tu kahe na dheer dhare” sung by Kishore in memory of Rafi in one concert, only harmonium was used as music instrument…I already send my thought on this. Please listen and provide 180 degree view.
Vipul my dear friend,
You said…u r voice is not as good as Rafi and KK. I would like if any rafians (may be u…trained singer:)) come forward and sing one song of Rafi and Kishore, and post it here and let other rafians anlayse this songs and come up with their feedback.
You will understand what i mean the…
January 31st, 2008 at 6:12 am
Ashu,
You’ve got me very curious. Do you have any interview / video where Nasir Hussain indicates he lost a bet to RDB for Asha singing better than Rafi in TM? I believe you and am sure it is on tape - I’d just like to see it for the fun.
Thanks!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:04 am
I pesonally like Manna Dey and Talat Mehmood as singers, but if you ask me to pick the best singer it was undoubtedly Rafi saheb. He was blessed with all the qualities to be a great singer. He gave all the great musicians all the freedom to experiment with songs by being able to sing whatever type of song given to him. There was only one replacement to him Manna Dey, but his voice did not suite to actors’ voice unfortunately. Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Saheb himself praised Rafi saheb’s voice and singing. He wudnt praise Kishore’s voice, will he?
January 31st, 2008 at 12:46 am
Ashu, ‘Aaye Tum Yaad Mujhe’ is an excellent song. Kishore Kumar is brilliant in this one. Very well sung indeed! ‘Dekho Veer Jawano’ is also a good song and rendered well, but when compared with the same genre songs by Rafi, it just does not measure up. Same goes for the Kishore Qwwallis and devotional songs (if any). There is not much to talk about here as we have entered a one way street.
Again, I have really not heard the song ‘Meri Pyari Bindu’ that you mentioned in your last post. I am sure it’s another pedestrian and inconsequential song from the otherwise great stable of Kishore Kumar.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Dear friends,
Even though Rafisaab was voted the Singer of the millenium, some of our friends still had doubts and kept on arguing on the subject unnecessarily.
Our stand - RAFISAAB IS THE BEST- has been vindicated once again.We don’t have to prove it, friends. The World knows and feels it. OUTLOOK appearing on June26,2006, had Kumar Sanu and Abhijeet on the jury, too!
Rafisaab also had the maximum number of songs(male or female) on the 20 most popular songs ever! Read on!
BREAKING NEWS!
RAFISAAB VOTED THE MOST POPULAR MALE PLAYBACK SINGER EVER!
Also, top three of the 20 most popular songs ever have been sung by the one and only MOHAMMED RAFISAAB! For more, pl. go to
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060626&fname=ABestSongs&sid=2
20 Best Hindi Film Songs Ever
Outlook asked 30 leading composers, lyricists and singers to name their all-time favourite Hindi film songs. Here are the top twenty.
Special Issue: Bollywood Music Special
The Jury
Abhijeet, Adesh Srivastava, Alisha Chinai, Anu Malik, Ehsaan, Gulzar, Hariharan, Himesh Reshammiya, Jatin, Javed Akhtar, Kailash Kher, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Khayyam, Kumar Sanu, Lalit, Loy, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Mahendra Kapoor, Manna Dey, Prasoon Joshi, Rajesh Roshan, Sadhna Sargam, Sameer, Sandesh Shandilya, Shaan, Shankar, Shantanu Moitra, Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu Nigam, Talat Aziz.
Poll conducted By Lata Khubchandani and Namrata Joshi. Each jury member was asked to nominate 10 favourites
in no order of preference.
The winners are ranked according to the number of votes each song got.
1. Man re, tu kaahe na dheer dhare
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Film: Chitralekha (1964)
Music: Roshan
Lyrics Sahir Ludhianvi
2. Three songs tied for the second position
Tere mere sapne ab ek rang hain…
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Film: Guide (1965)
Music: S.D. Burman
Lyrics: Shailendra
Din dhal jaaye, hai raat na jaaye…
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Film: Guide (1965)
Music: S.D. Burman
Lyrics Shailendra
Kuch to log kahenge logon ka kaam hai kehna… Singer: Kishore Kumar
Film: Amar Prem (1971)
Music: R.D. Burman
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
3. Three songs tied for the third position
Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam…
Singer: Geeta Dutt
Film: Kaagaz ke phool (1959)
Music: S.D. Burman
Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
Jo vaada kiya woh nibhana padega…
Singers: Rafi-Lata
Film: Taj Mahal (1963)
Music: Roshan
Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi
Pyar kiya to darna kya…
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Film: Mughal-e-Azam (1960)
Music: Naushad
Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni
4. Thirteen songs tied for the fourth position
Ai qaatib-e-taqdeer mujhe itna bata de…
Singer: K.L. Saigal
Film: My Sister (1944)
Music: Pankaj Mullick
Lyrics: Pandit Bhushan
Ayega, ayega, ayega ayega aane wala…
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Film: Mahal (1949)
Music: Khemchand Prakash
Lyrics: Nakshab Jarachavi
Piya tose naina lage re…
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Film: Guide (1965)
Music: S.D. Burman
Lyrics: Shailendra
Mai ye sochkar uske dar se…
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Film: Haqeeqat (1964)
Music: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
O sajna, barkha bahar ayee…
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Film: Parakh (1960)
Music: Salil Chowdhury
Lyrics: Shailendra
Kuch dil ne kaha, kuch bhi nahin…
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Film: Anupama (1966)
Music: Hemant Kumar
Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
Zindagi ke safar me guzar jate hain jo makam…
Singer: Kishore Kumar
Film: Aap ki kasam (1974)
Music: R.D.Burman
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Tum jo mil gaye ho to ye lagta hai, ke jahan mil gaya…
Singer: Mohammed Rafi
Film: Hanste zakhm (1973)
Music: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye…
Singer: Asha Bhonsle
Film: Umrao Jaan (1981)
Music: Khayyam Lyrics Shahryar
Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko…
Singers: Asha Bhonsle-Mohammed Rafi
Film: Yaadon ki baraat (1973)
Music: R.D. Burman
Lyrics: Majrooh
Tum pukar lo…
Singer: Hemant Kumar
Film: Khamoshi (1969)
Music: Hemant Kumar Lyrics Gulzar
Har ghadi badal rahi hai roop zindagi…
Singer: Sonu Nigam
Film: Kal ho naa ho (2003)
Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Poocho na kaise maine rain bitayi…
Singer: Manna Dey
Film: Meri soorat teri aankhen (1963)
Music: S.D. Burman
Lyrics: Shailendra
IN THIS STORY:
Tere Liye Saat Rang Ke Sapne
Enough. No more ‘which Hindi film song is the greatest’ debates. Outlook asked, and the men who make the music have spoken…
The #1 Song
Man Re Tu Kaahe Naa Dheer Dhare: the Song, the composer, the lyricist
The Most Popular Film
Guide (1965)
The Most Popular Lyricist
Shailendra (1923-66)
The Most Popular Singers
Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi (1924-80)
The Most Popular Composer
S.D. Burman (1921-75)
January 30th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Ashu .. please clarify who is more versatile? Do we need Urdu background for Ghazals? Today’s ghazal singfers like Pankaj Udhas, Jagjit singh have Urdu background?
Do we need Urdu background for devotional songs too? In that case do not you think KK must have sung more bhajans than Rafi.
How about patriotic songs? Whose voice sounds more suitable and why?
Now you are telling me that Ek Hasina Thi of KK was high pitch song. I agree, but is that song difficult to sing? Though my voice is not as good as Rafi and KK, I can go on that high pitch very easily and my friends confirmed that. (I do not have the same voice quality as KK but I stay in sur). But when I attemt “Mahubat zinda raheti hai” or “Zindabaad” or chal ood ja re panchhi, I sound aweful… I cant even reach those scale.
So my question again.. Who is more comfortable at high notes? Rafi or KK?
Who is more comfortable in classical songs (Rafi or KK?) I will leave Manna dey and other classical singers out of this comparison as we are only comparing Rafi and KK.
I will let you decide as you know more than me.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Mohan Mohan was not as popular as shanker Jaikishan but even lata said Mohan Mohan produced some of the very best songs.Kishore did not want to or had no time for classical trainning as S.D.Burman accepted him as he was.from 1950-1960 he was busy with his films,nursing his wife for ten years and singing ,writing ,producing films as we as to sing for the likes of Dev Andand.Rafi just concertrated on full time singing career.Kishore could not have completed with Rafi in the 1950`s and 1960`s as a lot of Music Directors of that time only wanted Rafi -lata (Asha had to take a back seat…)I think O.P Nayyar accepted Asha to sing his songs .In my humble opionion Asha Sounded better with Kishore Kumar as they could sing songs with they own unique style which was harder to copy…
January 30th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Ashu wrote:
“There was a song in “Zamaane ko Dikhana Hai”…”Puchho na yaar kya hua”. Though i am great admirer of Rafi, i must say Rafi didnot do justice to this song, especially when he sang…”Chak chak chakak chak…” in same song. Pls. listen and provide ur 180 degree view.”
-I AGREE. And again this is another song where I felt Rafi did not understand RD.
-As far as Qawwalis are concerned, Kishore did sing a few. But very few created the ambience (in urdu “mahol”) of qawwali. In a recent Star VOI contest, one singer sang “Kabhi bekasi ne mara” (Alag alag) and the judges commented that the choice of song itself was wrong. It was deemed too light against the other songs.
I am sure Kishore had potential to do much more..That’s why in any discussion about Kishore it comes down to “he did not have classical training”, “he could have done this”, “he could have easily sung that”.. FOLKS..here we are not discussing potential, but their contributions (what they actually did). NOT what if Michael Jackson sang Ghazals?
GUYS… If you sincerely feel Kishore’s contribution to film music is more than Rafi’s 32 years of high class contribution, you are entitled to your opinion.