Just to show MK in good light, it is not right to show Rafi in bad light. Rafi was an adorable singer too, extremely good at singing classical music, and was pretty nice to producers.
Good thing is that it throws some light on the extremely selfish, inward focussed Lata who sabotaged Rafi's career (along with careers of so many other budding singers).
Most of us who are not happy with comparisons have ourselves got into the same act..some trying to label MK as no.2 and others telling Rafi - the legend and MK - the poor imitator Is it necessary to prove Rafi's legend by pulling MK down. We are doing the same thing as the article may have tried to do..Lets accept both these were shining stars of playback singing without fighting to prove who shone brighter...as we all know!
A very good article, from a respected journalist who has had the good fortune of being active during the golden period of Hindi film music. Agreed, his style is a little convoltued at times, but then what he offers through incidents and anecdotes is incomparable. Most of what he says and writes is highly regarded and respected, giving an insider's view of things happening at that time, which most writers have not been fortunate to witness first hand. That is why, I always read his articles with great attention. While some of his points may be debatable, we cannot argue against the authority of the man and his point of view. I would humbly request rediff to continue to ask writers like Raju Bharatan, Rajiv Vijaykar, and Feroze Rangoonwalla to regularly contribute and make this movies page rich. Apropos Mahendra Kapoor, I fully agree that he somewhat kept Rafi on his toes, as Rafi gave his best vocal output when all other singers, like Hemant, Talat, Manna, and even Kishore were at their vocal peaks. Kishore did not get too many songs in the 50s-60s, but that was because composers did not think him to be a playback singer, and not because he was not in fine vocal form. Look at his 50s work for Dev Anand. Coming back to Mahendra, there is some truth that he was in his best form in the 60s, when Rafi was at his peak. I guess it was Kapoor's misfortune that he was singing at the time when Rafi was going great guns. Despite that he did very well. May his soul rest in peace.
MK was a good singer. But in this tribute unnecessarily M.Rafi's name bought in and his negative side shown which may be totally untrue until some other insider onfirms it
Re: Re: Mahendra kapoor
by masood naqvi on Oct 03, 2008 01:43 PM
MK was a good singer, but for praising him, one can not humiliate the legend like Rafi saheb. Rafi was ways above of all his competitors, and had no comparision with any one.
Film : Kahin Din Kahin Raat MD : OP Nayyar Lyrics : SS Bihari
tumhArA zikr kisI aur kI zubAn pe ho tumhAre husn kI tArIf AInA bhI kare to mai.n tumhArI qasam hai ke to.D dU.N usako
These above lines when MK sings gives goosebumps to many today.
tumhArA chAhane vAlA khudA kI duniyA me.n mere sivA bhI koI aur ho khudA nA kare ) - 2 tumhArA chAhane vAlA ...
ye bAt kaise gavArA karegA dil merA tumhArA zikr kisI aur kI zubAn pe ho tumhAre husn kI tArIf AInA bhI kare to mai.n tumhArI qasam hai ke to.D dU.N usako tumhAre pyAr tumhArI adA kA dIvAnA mere sivA bhI koI aur ho khudA nA kare tumhArA chAhane vAlA ...
% fantastic sitar playing ... vo din nA Aye ke mujhase kabhI judA hokar kisI kA pyAr dobArA kahI.n talAsh karo jhukA ke sar ko kisI ajanabI ke shAno.n par tum apane Gam kA sahArA kahI.n talAsh karo karIb dil ke tumhAre kisI bhI hAlat me.n mere sivA bhI koI aur ho khudA nA kare tumhArA chAhane vAlA ...
AshA: tumhAre dil ko kahI.n mujhase kabhI Thes lage mujhe yakIn hai aisA kabhI nahI.n hogA mujhe vafAo.n pe apanI ba.DA bharosA hai tumhArA pyAr hI de jAye nA kahI.n dhokhA duA ye hai ke tumhArA khudA kI duniyA me.n mere sivA bhI koI aur ho khudA nA kare tumhArA chAhane vAlA ...
I am not sure if Mr Bhartan is paid for writing such abusive articles where he needlessly has to bring in Rafi Sahab into his fabricated articles. I pray Lataji ,Ashaji and Mannada outlive him so that he can't spread lies in the guise of supposedly insider information after they are gone. Why did he not write this crap some a couple of weeks ago when Kapoor Sahib himself could have reprimanded him for his irresponsible writing. Bhartan writes garbage after the stakeholders are gone and defenseless.Perhaps he wants spotlight to be on him even if it for the wrong reasons. God bless Kapoor Sahib's soul.He was such a fine artist.
It is a great loss. Another singing gem of India left for heavenly abode. Some of his songs like Adha Hai Chandrma, nele Gagan ke Tale, Jane kya dhondati were the best songs.
Hai Bollywood fans, I have serious doubts about the way the author has tended to show Rafi in poor light. AFAIK Rafi was one gem of a person who was very benevolent and loved by all. It shows when you interview any member from old music fraternity, they always have very good to say of Rafi. Please don't be in any doubt that I am underestimating Mahendra Kapoor. Also some one mentioned that KKs redention of "Tum bin jaoon kahan" was better than Rafi's, but my opinion is contrary.
The late respected MK sang all the songs in Gopi, but "Sukh ke sab saathi, dukh mein na koyi" was the only song sung by Mr. Rafi and the best in that movie. MK showed respect to Mr. Rafi, that was a business and ethics approach and it was well deserved by Mr. Rafi. I have never seen both of them in one picture. MK killed two birds with one stone. In reality was he really a desciple of Mr. Rafi or he just used it to stay in show business and get credit for it. After all he was a kapoor.
It is sad we lost a very nice artist, but to say he kept Mohd. Rafi on his toes is not fair for Mr. Rafi. Mr. Kapoor got spill overs what Rafi could not handle because of work load, temprament. Let us be fair