Rafi and Asha
Although in the 50s and 60s, the main female playback was provided by Lata even considering the immense contribution of Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum, Suman Kalyanpur, Sudha Malhotra, etc., Asha Bhosle had sung numerous successful songs composed by many composers. Rafi dominating the world of playback had sung many notable songs with Asha in that era.
His song “acha ji mai hari chalo” from the film Kala Pani became very successful in late 50s. The song sung by Rafi and Asha was composed by SD Burman and picturised on Madhubala and Dev Anand. The songs “aap yuh hi agar”, “mai pyar ka rahi hoon”, “bahut shukriya bari meherbani” from Ek Musafir Ek Haseena included the most versatile compositions of OP Nayyar. Joy Mukherjee and Sadhna were sublime in the musical blockbuster.
Similarly in the film Kashmir Ki Kali, the songs “ishaaro ishaaro”, “deewana hua badal”, etc., stormed bollywood films in the early 60s. Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore played there roles elegantly in the film.
In Joy Mukherjee’s Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, in 1963, OP Nayyar’s monumental compositions like “nazni bara rangeen hai wada tera”, “zulf ke chao me chehere ka ujala lekar”, etc., had become immortal over the years. Some had ghazal andaz, others had westernized notes.
The successful songs of Asha and Rafi include songs from the film Mere Sanam which were picturised on Bishwajeet and Asha Parekh. Besides Shankar Jaikishan’s compositions for the film An Evening in Paris with songs like “raatke humsafar” picturised on Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore had not lost their appeal even today.
Rafi and Asha had even sung successful songs composed by RD Burman including “socenge pyar kya hua” from the film Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai, “pal do pal ka” from the film Burning Train, “hum kisi se kum nahi” from the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi, which were mainly picturised on Rishi Kapoor and Jeetender. The songs and the films should be restored for the new generation.
