Mohammed Rafi, born on December 24, 1924, in Kotla Sultan Singh, a village near Amritsar, India, remains one of the most beloved and influential playback singers in Indian cinema. His journey to becoming the "Eternal Voice" is a story of early inspiration, perseverance, and unparalleled versatility.
Rafi's initial spark of inspiration came from a travelling fakir. As a young boy, Rafi, nicknamed Pheeko, was captivated by the fakir's chants and songs, often following him through the streets. In a 1977 BBC Hindi interview, Rafi recalled developing a love for singing after listening to the fakir. He imitated the fakir's chants, unknowingly laying the foundation for his future career. This early influence was pivotal, despite the disapproval of his conservative father, who considered singing sinful.
In 1935, Rafi's father moved the family to Lahore, where he ran a barbershop. Despite initial resistance from his family, Rafi's passion for music grew. His talent was recognized at the age of thirteen, when he unexpectedly performed at the Pan-India Exhibition in 1937 due to a power failure. Renowned singer K.L. Segal heard him and predicted that Rafi would become a significant figure in music. Rafi then began formal training in classical music under Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Jiwan Lal Mattoo, and Firoze Nizami.
Rafi's career spanned over four decades, during which he sang for a diverse range of actors, music directors, and film genres. He made his debut as a playback singer in 1944 in the film "Pehle Aap". His unique ability to mold his voice to suit the actor lip-syncing on screen set him apart. Rafi introduced the concept of singing to one and a half "saptaks" (scales), which was a radical change in the Hindi film music industry.
Rafi sang over 7,000 songs. His repertoire included fast, peppy numbers, patriotic songs, romantic ballads, qawwalis, ghazals, and bhajans. Some of his notable works include the patriotic song "Hindustan Ke Hum Hain," and timeless melodies with music composer Naushad Ali, such as "Yindigi K Mele". He also sang duets with Lata Mangeshkar.
Mohammed Rafi received numerous awards, including six Filmfare Awards and one National Film Award. In 1967, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri. Despite his success, Rafi remained humble and dedicated to his craft.
In his later years, Rafi was involved in a controversy regarding the Guinness Book of World Records entry for Lata Mangeshkar having the most recordings. Rafi claimed to have sung between 25,000 and 26,000 songs.
Mohammed Rafi passed away on July 31, 1980, at the age of 55. Even after his death, his music continues to resonate with listeners across generations. His voice, talent, humility, and dedication to music continue to inspire.
