Mohammed Rafi
Mohammed Rafi मोहम्मद रफ़ीمحمد رفیع | |
|---|---|
 Mohammed Rafi 2016 postcard of India | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mohammed Rafi |
| Born | 24 December 1924 Kotla Sultan Singh, Punjab, British India (now in Punjab, India) |
| Died | 31 July 1980 (aged 55) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation(s) | Playback singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1944–1980 |
Mohammed Rafi (Hindi: मोहम्मद रफ़ी, Urdu: محمد رفیع, December 24, 1924 – July 31, 1980) was an Indian playback singer who primarily sang in Hindi for the Bollywood industry. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent, having influenced several singers across South Asia.[1][2] Rafi was notable for his versatility and range of voice; his songs varied from fast, peppy numbers to patriotic songs, sad numbers to highly romantic songs, qawwalis to ghazals and bhajans to classical songs.[3] In a career of over 40 years, Rafi sang more than 26,000 songs in the national languages of India and sometimes in other languages.
Career
[change | change source]In 1944, Rafi moved to Mumbai. Rafi appeared in two movies. In 1945, he appeared on the screen for the song "Tera Jalwa Jis Ne Dekha" in the film Laila Majnu. He sang a number of songs as part of the chorus, including with K. L. Saigal from the movie Shahjahan (1946). Rafi sang in Mehboob Khan's Anmol Ghadi (1946). He had a duet with Noor Jehan in the 1947 film Jugnu, "Yahan Badla Wafa Ka". After partition, Rafi decided to stay in India.
In 1949, Rafi was given solo songs by music directors such as Naushad, Shyam Sunder, and Husnalal Bhagatram.
In his early career, Rafi associated with many contemporary music directors, most notably Naushad Ali. In the late 1950s and 1960s, he worked with other composers of the era such as O. P. Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan, S.D. Burman and Roshan. Throughout the 1970s he also with leading composers, such as R.D Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji, Madan Mohan, Usha Khanna, Sonik Omi and Rajesh Roshan.
Death
[change | change source]On Thursday, July 31, 1980, Rafi died at 10:50 p.m., following a massive heart attack. He had four sons (Saeed Rafi, Khalid Rafi, Hamid Rafi, Shahid Rafi), three daughters (Parveen, Nasreen, Yasmin) and 18 grandchildren.
Other websites
[change | change source]
- ↑ "Remembering Rafi". The Hindu. 2010-07-24. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ↑ "Mohd Rafi: The Rough Guide to Bollywood Legends: Mohd Rafi". PopMatters. 2005-01-20. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
- ↑ "Forgetting the phenomenal talent of Rafi?". The Hindu. 2009-10-24. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-11-26.