Rafi and Kishore: An Attempt to Dispel a Long-Held Erroneous Perception
By Sumit Paul, New Age
Islam
27 July
2024
A Bulk of the
Producers Preferred Kishore Over Rafi In The 70s. The Former Didn't Ingratiate
Himself with Them to Bag Songs. Things Changed and The Great Rafi Wasn't the
First Choice Any Longer.
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Year 2024
is the centenary year of the legendary singer Mohammad Rafi as he was born on
December 24, 1924 and July 31 is his 44th death anniversary. So, beginning from
July 31 to December 24, fans, listeners and connoisseurs of the great singer
are all set to organize programmes and shows remembering him.
By the way,
August 4 is Kishore Kumar's 95th birth anniversary.
They were
coevals and both the stalwarts carved a niche for themselves enthralling lakhs
and crores of people with their immortal numbers. The debate as to who was a
better singer remains inconclusive because comparisons are always odious. Har Zarra Apni Jagah Pe Aaftaab Hai
(every particle is the sun in its own right).
In the case
of Rafi and Kishore, more than useless comparisons, there has always been a
persistent confusion regarding their professional relationship. In my today's
article, 'Remembering Kishore Kumar' in The Deccan Herald, Bangalore,
I've mentioned that both held each other in high esteem and there was no
bad-blood between the two Titans. Media and erroneous public perceptions
vitiated their bond. They respected each other and Kishore was visibly moved when
Rafi breathed his last on July 31, 1980.
Of late,
the two greats are being judged and viewed through the prism of faith which's
extremely unfair and it does gross injustice to both. Artistes have no
religion. It must be mentioned that despite their career running almost
parallel, Rafi ruled for a quarter of a century as a Numero Uno (number one)
singer and Kishore played second fiddle to him.
But nothing
is permanent. Fate turned the tables and with the phenomenal success of
'Aradhana' in 1970, it was Kishore all the way and one must admit that Rafi
played second fiddle to him till he shuffled off this mortal coil.
Rafi's fans
may argue that with the success of the film 'Hum
Kisi Se Kam Nahin' and the song 'Kya
Hua Tera Vaada' (1976), Rafi got back his estranged form and magic. I'm
afraid, that's not correct. He struggled and sang two of his most forgettable
songs, "John, Jani, Janardan "
(Naseeb, 1980) and "Sara Jahan Chhod
Ke Tujhe Maine Salaam Kiya Hai" with Usha Mangeshkar (Vaardaat, 1980).
Apart from occasional gems like Kamal Amrohi's immortal Nazm like "Kahin Ek
Maasoom Nazuk-Si Ladki" (Shankar Hussain, 1977), "Jab Muhabbat Jawan Hoti Hai" (Jawan
Muhabbat, 1971) and "Simti Hui Ye
Ghadiyan" with Lata Mangeshkar (Chambal Ki Qasam, 1980), Rafi wasn't
as successful as he was in the 60s when no one could hold a candle to him. But
in Kishore's sustained success in the 70s till his departure, there was no foul
play on his part. He never tried to usurp Rafi's songs. A bulk of the producers
preferred Kishore over Rafi in the 70s. The former didn't ingratiate himself
with them to bag songs. Things changed and the great Rafi wasn't the first
choice any longer. Kishore had no personal role in Rafi's decline.
Circumstances were different and preferences underwent a sea-change. Younger
generation opted for Kishore's peppy and relatable numbers. Though Rafi never
became a has been, his supremacy was certainly challenged, albeit in a creative
manner.
I've tried
to put things in perspective without being biased or prejudiced. I'm nuts about
Rafi and simply adore his persona and love the immortal songs that he sang in
his nearly four-decade long illustrious career. But the truth remains that
Kishore surpassed him in popularity in the 70s without ever showing disrespect
to him (Rafi).
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in
comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed
articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including
Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/rafi-kishore-erroneous-perception/d/132797
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