MOHAMED RAFI: THE VERSATILE GENIOUS
The Early years
But things were difficult in Bombay. The brothers had very little money. They lived in Bhendi Bazaar and walked every day to the studio in Dadar to meet Shyamsunder. They had filled two pillow cases with chana (gram) and lived off it for days. Finally, they did meet Shyamsunder who, as promised, gave Rafi a song in the Punjabi film Gulbaloch. His second film was a Hindi one, Gaon Ki Gori.
Naushad Ali was one of the first composers to work with Rafi. He narrates an endearing story. "When I heard Rafi, I liked his voice and promised him work in future. I was already doing a film called Shahjehan with Saigal. Rafi, who was a fan of Saigal, came to me with a request: that it was his greatest desire to sing with Saigal. I gave him one line in the song Roohi roohi mere sapno ki rani," recalls Naushad. "The first full song he sang for me was in Anmol Ghadi -- it went like Tera khilona toota balak..." he adds. "Then again he sang for me in Dillagi: Is duniya mein aye dilwalon dil ka lagana khel nahin and Tere koonche main armanon ki duniya leke aaya hoon."
continues.........