Today is the 45th death anniversary of Mohammed Rafi also one of the most recorded playback singers of India. He died on July 31, 1980 at his home, Rafi Mansion in Bandra, Mumbai because of a heart attack at 55.
The day that Rafi died, he had the chest pains during a rehearsal of a Bengali song but still sung his last playback song in the film Aas Paas, titled Shaam Phir Kyun Udaas Hai Dost, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. He passed away at 10.25 PM of the same night. More than 10,000 people followed his funeral. In his memory, the Government of India declared a two day national mourning.
Mohammad Rafi Hit Songs and Career Background
Mohammed Rafi’s recorded works span over 7,000 songs in multiple Indian and foreign languages. His popular songs include:
- “Baharon Phool Barsao” (Suraj, 1966)
- “Kya Hua Tera Wada” (Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, 1977)
- “Jo Wada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega” (Taj Mahal, 1963)
- “Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho” (Chaudhvin Ka Chand, 1960)
- “Kar Chale Hum Fida” (Haqeeqat, 1964)
- “Parda Hai Parda” (Amar Akbar Anthony, 1977)
His songs continue to trend on Spotify, YouTube, JioSaavn, and other music streaming platforms. They remain widely played during national events, TV tributes, and radio specials.
Mohammad Rafi Awards and Recognition
Rafi received:
- 6 Filmfare Awards for Best Male Playback Singer
- National Film Award in 1977 for “Kya Hua Tera Wada”
- Padma Shri in 1967
- Honoured as Best Singer of the Millennium in 2001
- Voted Greatest Voice in Hindi Cinema (CNN-IBN, 2013)
The Mohammed Rafi Academy was founded in 2010 in Mumbai by his son Shahid Rafi. Roads in Mumbai and Pune are named after him. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra released a tribute CD, and a shrine was set up in Birmingham in 2007.
Rafi performed extensively across India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Amritsar. Internationally, he held concerts in London at Royal Albert Hall and Wembley Conference Centre, and reached audiences in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East. His first public performance took place in Lahore in 1941.
Rafi’s training held in Hindustani classical music under Ustad Abdul Wahad Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, and Pandit Jiwan Lal Mattoo. He sang in over 14 Indian languages and several international ones including Arabic, English, Persian, Dutch, and Sinhala.
He was famous for adjusting his voice to match actors like Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, and Dev Anand. He influenced singers such as Sonu Nigam, Udit Narayan, and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam. He even lent his voice for Kishore Kumar in some films.
The Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai houses a kiosk with a life-size statue and a collection of 100 of his songs, attracting over 600,000 visitors annually.
Mohammed Rafi’s songs featured in modern cinema, remixes, and global advertisements. His work continues to generate high engagement across Google Discover, YouTube Shorts, and music app playlists.
