Naushad Ali and Mohammed Rafi – Top 10 Bollywood Classic Songs

Rafi & Naushad – Music at its purest form! Naushad Ali was one such music composer who gave early break to Mohammed Rafi in playback singing in the 1940s, and also remained his mentor. Naushad played a magnificent role in Rafi’s career in the 1940s and early 1950s, and through the compositions of Baiju Bawra in 1953 helped Rafi to establish as the leading male playback singer of Bollywood. Most of their combination songs in the 1950s and 1960s were strongly based on Indian classic ragas as well as folk songs, and the duo has given some of the amazing songs to Dilip Kumar’s career. It can be said that the duo played an important role in popularizing film songs based on ragas among music lovers, especially through compositions of Baiju Bawra and others. Naushad frequently worked with lyricist Shakeel Badayuni, and many of their memorable songs belong to Rafi too.

Naushad Ali and Mohammad Rafi gave some fresh tunes to Bollywood, and have experimented a lot with their compositions and recordings, for the first time in Hindi music. Interestingly Rafi has also done chorus singing for the composer in the initial phase of his career. Through this column, I would like to present 10 of their best filmy songs belonging to different films. Towards the end, I have also listed a few more of their combination songs which can be classified as ‘evergreen’.

1. Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki from Dulari (1949) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

Let me begin the list with the first Naushad song which gave Rafi the initial break as a playback singer. The song was filmed on less-known actor Suresh and was an instant hit. The tune has been reused without any modification in Malayalam’s first super hit film, Jeevitha Nouka (1951 – remake of Ashok Kumar’s Jeevan Nayya) and the song – “Akaale Aarum Kaividum” marked singer Mehboob’s playback singing. Interestingly the movie also included a copied version of Shankar-Jaikishen’s Hawa Mein Udta Jaaye Mera Laal song titled ‘Anandamekoobale’.

2. O Duniya Ke Rakhwale from Baiju Bawra (1952) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

The songs of Baiju Bawra established Rafi as no: 1 singer of Bollywood, and he stayed as supreme power in the field of playback singing for the next 15 years. Naushad composed the songs purely based on ragas, and they were well received. This particular song was based on raga Darbari, and Rafi sang this very difficult song in high pitch. Rafi’s song adds a divinity to this lovely piece of music, definitely. The highly emotional song was filmed on Bharat Bhushan. The movie also included some of the popular songs like Tu Ganga Ki Mauj Mein, Man Tarpat Hari Darshan etc. The movie helped him to bag the first Filmfare award for best music composer.

3. O Door Ke Musafir Humko Bhi Saath from Uran Khatola (1955) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

 For songs of ‘Uran Khatola’ and ‘Amar’, he recorded the voice of playback singers in different scales, which gave an amazing impact in the final cut. He was one of the first to introduce sound mixing to Bollywood music and also used separate recording of voice and music tracks. The solo song was filmed on Dilip Kumar and Nimmi. The movie had a total of 9 solo tracks, 3 belonging to Rafi and rest to Lata Mangeshkar. “Mohabbat Ki Rahon Mein” and “Chale Aaj Tum” were Rafi solos.

4. Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki Salaami from Ram Aur Shyam (1967) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

The movie was a major hit, and this romantic song featuring Dilip Kumar and Waheeda Rahman and Dilip Kumar is seen playing piano in a private party.

5. Madhupan Mein Radhika from Kohinoor (1960) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

One of the very rare comedy movies starring Meena Kumari and Dilip Kumar, Madhupan Mein Radhika was the top song of the album. It was purely based on Indian ragas, and tuned in raga Hamir. Dilip Kumar is seen performing in king’s court and Kumkum is dancing to his tunes.

6. Saaz Ho Tum from Saaz Aur Awaaz (1966) (Lyricist: Khumar Barabankvi)

The movie had one of the top pairs of 1960s – Joy Mukherjee and Saira Banu, and the movie had resemblance with ‘Madhumati’ in several ways. Dil Ki Mehfil Saji Hai Chali Aayiye – is yet another classic solo of Rafi. All the songs composed by Naushad were classical-based, and still popular, though the movie was a commercial failure.

7. Mere Mehboob Tujhe from Mere Mehboob (1963) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

Naushad used just six instruments to record this title track. Mere Mehboob and its songs established the career of Rajendra Kumar, and this particular song had one of the iconic romantic scenes featuring Kumar and Sadhana. The song was pictured in the University Hall of Aligarh Muslim University. It has one female version in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice, filmed in a romantic mood as well. Yet the song is best remembered as a Rafi solo.  ‘E Husn Zara Jaag’ is yet another sound track of the album sung by Rafi, and it also featured the lead pair.

8. Nain Ladte Hain from Ganga Jamuna (1961) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

This folk song is one of the best Bollywood song ever filmed on Dilip Kumar, and Shakeel Badayuni used Awadhi dialect for penning its lyrics. It was immensely popular in remote villages of north India, both its tunes and dance steps. In the 1960s, when Bollywood music got more westernized, Naushad mostly got projects where Indian classical and folk music were focussed. Yet he worked with Dilip Kumar for many movies, and has also composed a few romantic and sad songs for him, though not purely based on folk and Indian classic music.

9. Saawan Aaye Ya Na Aaye from Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

The movie included some of the finest songs penned by Shakeel Badayuni, who has been associated with the composer for majority of his projects. This duet sung by Asha Bhosle and Rafi was filmed on Waheeda Rehman and Dilip Kumar. Koi Sagar Dil Ko Behlata Nahi is a very popular Rafi solo belonging to the movie.

10. Tere Husn Ki Kya Tarif Karun from Leader (1964) (Lyricist: Shakeel Badayuni)

Dilip Kumar frequently worked with Vyjayantimala during his peak years. Yet this movie was not a major commercial hit. Some of the songs composed by Naushad and sung by Rafi became immensely popular. Tere Husn Ki Kya Tarif Karun is a popular duet sung by Lata and Rafi, and filmed on the lead pair. The patriotic song – Apni Azadi Ko Hum Hargis Mita Sakte Nahin and another Rafi-Lata duet – Ek Shahenshah Ne Banwa Ke also need special mention.

End note: I came across an unreleased film Habba Khatoon and a Rafi solo, ‘Jis Raat Ke Khwab Aye’ titled, Rafi’s last recorded song for Naushad. Though the song went unnoticed, the composer later reused the same tune for Dhwani (1988) – the single Malayalam movie of music maestro’s career. The song, Anuraaga Lola was sung by two music legends – K. J. Yesudas and P. Susheela. Not only this single song, but all the songs of the movie, based on ragas, got noticed. The song was filmed on Shobana and Jayaram.

When Rafi Saab left us so unexpectedly in 1980, Naushad’s filmy career also virtually came to an end. He composed music for only a few films later, of which songs of Malayalam film, Dhwani can be counted as the finest. No doubt, Rafi was the voice of Naushad Saab’s tunes, majority of them composed for Dilip Kumar.

A few more memorable songs of Naushad Ali and Mohammad Rafi combination

1. Dukh Bhare Din Beete Re from Mother India

2. Matwala Jiya Dole Piya from Mother India

3. Ae Mohabbat Zindabad from Mughal-E-Azam

4. Man Tarpat Hari Darshan from Baiju Bawra

5. Tu Ganga Ki Mauj from Baiju Bawra

6. Aaj Kal Shauqe Deedar Hai from Leader

7. Hameen Se Muhabbat from Leader

8. Apni Azadi Ko Hum Hargis Mita Sakte Nahin from Leader

9. Ek Shahenshah Ne Banwa Ke from Leader

10. Dil ki mehfil hai saji hai chale ayiye from Saaz Aur Awaz 

11. Ishq diwana husn bhi ghayal from Sangharsh

12. Mere Pairon Mein Ghunghroo from Sangharsh

13. Hue Hum Jinke Liye Barbad from Deedar (1951)

14. Koi Sagar Dil Ko Behlata Nahi from Dil Diya Dard Liya

15. Insaaf Ka Mandir Hai Ye Bhagavaan Ka Ghar Hai from Amar

16. Kal Raat Zindagi Se from Palki

17. Humse To Achchhi Teri Paayal Gori from Ganwaar

18. Kitna Haseen Aaj from Aadmi

19. Aaj Purani Rahon Se from Aadmi

20. Na Aadmi Ka Koi Bharosa from Aadmi

Note: While I prepared this list, I forget to add songs of ‘Aadmi’, one of the finest works of Naushad for Dilip Kumar. As I didn’t want to alter the above list of top 10, I added three of its songs later only. ‘Aaj Purani Rahon Se’ could have easily made to the list. Excuses. I wonder if I have missed more. Let me know if you find any such memorable songs.

Also go through the gallery to read a few more articles about Rafi. Here is the page link. Click on the images to read.