Rafi and Manoj Kumar.




Rafi and Manoj Kumar.

During the 50s, 60s and early 70s, Rafi’s songs had created a significant impact in the minds of the viewers and the music-lovers of the country. He had dung majority of songs for all the leading actors of silver screen during that age. Even those actors who were involved with other singers did give lips in many songs sung by Rafi.

Manoj Kumar was mainly associated with Mahendra Kapoor and Mukesh. Mahendra Kapoor’s songs like “mere desh ki dharti”, “rang de basanti chola”, etc., had helped Manoj Kumar to created his patriotic image in Indian films. Mukesh’s songs like “tauba yeh matwali chaal”, “ek pyar ka nagma hai”, had been very very successful and Manoj Kumar also received acclamation from the viewers for his performance in these songs.

Rafi as usual had sung very melodious songs for Manoj Kumar. In the film Shahid, the song “ai watan ai watan”, can be considered as one of the most memorable songs of Rafi which had patriotic flavour. Rafi sang a number of hit songs in Manoj Kumar’s film Patthar Ke Sanam.

The title song “patthar ke sanam” composed by LP became superhit in the late 60s. At the same time Rafi’s song in the film Do Badan titled “bhari duniya me akhir kyun”, composed by Ravi, had made significant impact in the minds of the viewers.

Rafi was brilliant in the films Purab Aur Paschim, Gumnaam, etc. In Gumnaam, Shankar Jaikishan composed hit songs for Rafi that were picturised on Manoj Kumar including “o mere maan”, “ek larki ne”, etc.

The songs and the films should be restored for immense musical value.