Mohammed Rafi Age, Wiki and Bio

Mohammed Rafi

Quick Info

ProfessionPlayback Singer
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth24/12/1924
Age99 years
BirthplaceLahore, Punjab, then British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan)
Death CauseHeart-Attack

Bio/Wiki

Real NameMohammed Rafi
NicknamePheeko
Date of Death31 July 1980
Place of DeathMumbai, Maharashtra, India
Zodiac sign/Sun signCapricorn
HometownLahore, Punjab, then British India (now in Punjab, Pakistan)
ReligionIslam
AddressRafi Mansion, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
HobbiesPlaying Badminton, Carom and flying kites
Awards, Honours
  • Honoured with a silver medal by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (first Prime Minister of independent India) on the first anniversary of the Independence of India (1948)
  • Padma Shri (1967)
  • National Award for the song 'Kya Hua Tera Wada' from the film 'Hum Kisise Kum Naheen' (1977)
Controversies
  • In 1962–1963, the popular female playback singer Lata Mangeshkar raised the issue of playback singers' share in the royalties. Recognizing Rafi's position as the leading male playback singer, she wanted him to back her in demanding a half-share from the 5 percent song royalty that the film's producer conceded to select composers. Rafi stated that his claim on the filmmaker ended with his being paid his agreed fee for the song and it is the producer who bets the money and the composer who creates the song, so his claim to the contribution of the song is compensated when the fees are paid.
  • After the royalty issue, Lata's views clashed with Rafi's view and she decided not to sing any further songs with Rafi. The music director Jaikishan later negotiated this dispute between the two.
  • In an interview given to The Times of India on September 25, 2012, Lata claimed to have received a written apology from Rafi. However, Shahid Rafi, Mohammad Rafi's son, refuted the claim, calling it an act to dishonour his father's reputation.
  • Rafi was again involved in a controversy over Lata Mangeshkar's entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. In a letter dated 11 June 1977, to the Guinness Book of World Records, Rafi had challenged that Lata Mangeshkar has recorded fewer songs than him. But after his death, the Guinness Book of World Records made it clear and gave Lata Mangeshkar's name for the 'Most Recordings' and in 1991, the Guinness Book entries for both Rafi and Lata were deleted.

Physical Stats & More

Height170 cm (1.70 m, 5’ 7”)
Weight85 kg (187 lbs)
Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBlack (Semi-bald)

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolNot Known
CollegeNot Known
Educational QualificationNot Known

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried
Affairs/GirlfriendsBilquis Bano
Marriage DateYear 1943 (Second Wife)

Family

FatherHajji Ali Mohammed
MotherAllah Rakhi
SiblingsMohammed Safi, Mohammed Deen, Mohammed Ismail, Mohammed Ibrahim, Mohammed Siddique, Chirag Bibi, Reshma Bibi
SpouseBasheera Bibi (First Wife), Bilquis Bano (Second Wife)
ChildrenSaeed (First Wife), Khalid, Hamid, Sahid, Parveen, Yashmin, Nashreen (From Second Wife)

Career

DebutPlayback singer: 'Aji dil ho kaabu mein to dildar ki Aisi taisi' for the film 'Gaon Ki Gori' (1945)
Brief Career Overview
  • In 1941, Rafi was invited by All India Radio, Lahore station, to sing for them.
  • In 1941, he made his debut in Lahore as a playback singer in the duet 'Soniye Nee, Heeriye Nee' with Zeenat Begum in the Punjabi film 'Gul Baloch' (released in 1944).
  • In 1944, Rafi moved to Mumbai and lived with Hameed Sahab in a rented ten-by-ten-feet room in the crowded downtown, Bhendi Bazar area.
  • In 1945, he appeared on the screen for the song 'Tera Jalwa Jis Ne Dekha' in the film 'Laila Majnu'.
  • He considered K. L. Saigal as his idol and was also influenced by G. M. Durrani. In the early phase of his career, he often followed their style of singing.
  • In 1948, after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the team of Husanlal Bhagatram-Rajendra Krishan and Rafi created the song 'Suno Suno Ae Duniyawalon, Bapuji Ki Amar Kahani.' He was then invited by Jawaharlal Nehru to sing at his house.
  • He worked with various eminent Music Composers such as Naushad, S.D. Burman, Shankar-Jaikishan, O.P. Nayyar, Ravi, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and many more.
  • The last song of Rafi was 'Shaam Phir Kyun Udaas Hai Dost, Tu Kahin Aas Paas Hai Dost' for the composer Laxmikant- Pyarelal, recorded just hours before his death.
  • In June 2010, Rafi along with Lata Mangeshkar was voted the most popular playback singer in the Outlook Music Poll, conducted by Outlook magazine. The same poll voted 'Man re, tu kahe na dheer dhare' (Chitralekha, 1964), sung by Rafi as the Number one song with 'Tere mere sapne ab ek rang hain' (Guide, 1965) and 'Din dhal jaye, hai raat na jaye' (Guide, 1965), following closely.
  • Shahid Rafi and Sujata Dev wrote his official biography titled, 'Mohammed Rafi: Golden Voice of the Silver Screen,' launched on his 91st birth anniversary.
  • The 'Padma Shri Mohammed Rafi Chowk' in the Bandra suburbs of Mumbai was named after him.

Favourites

Favourite Actor(s)Kishore Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar
Favourite ActressMadhubala, Rekha, Sadhna, Nargis Dutt
Favourite Film(s)Mughal-E-Azam, Aradhana, Guide, An Evening in Paris
Favourite Singer(s)K. L. Saigal, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey
Favourite Colour(s)Brown, Red & White

Style Quotient

Car CollectionsFiat Padmini, Empala
Money Factor (Approx)$20-30 million

Some Lesser Known Facts

Mohammed Rafi's smoking and alcohol habits are unknown.
He was the second eldest among six brothers.
Rafi learned classical music from Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Jiwan Lal Mattoo, and Firoze Nizami.
In 1941, he was invited to sing at All India Radio, Lahore station.
Rafi debuted in Lahore with a duet in the Punjabi film 'Gul Baloch' in 1941.
His Hindi debut was in 1945 with the film 'Gaon Ki Gori.'
In 1944, Rafi moved to Mumbai and lived in a small room in Bhendi Bazar area.
He made a screen appearance in the film 'Laila Majnu' in 1945.
Rafi admired K. L. Saigal and G. M. Durrani and initially mimicked their singing styles.
After Gandhi's assassination in 1948, Rafi sang 'Suno Suno Ae Duniyawalon' and was invited by Jawaharlal Nehru to sing at his house.
He collaborated with renowned music composers like Naushad, S.D. Burman, Shankar-Jaikishan, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal.
Rafi's last recorded song was for Laxmikant-Pyarelal just before his death.
In a 2010 music poll, Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar were voted the most popular playback singers.
His official biography, 'Mohammed Rafi: Golden Voice of the Silver Screen,' was written by Shahid Rafi and Sujata Dev.
A street in Mumbai's Bandra suburbs was named 'Padma Shri Mohammed Rafi Chowk' in his honor.

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