The filmfare award for best male singer should be renamed as Mohammad Rafi Award.

The filmfare award for best male singer should be renamed as Mohammad Rafi award. Mohammad Rafi is beyond doubt the greatest singer India had ever produced. On his birth anniversary on 24th December, 2014, everyone remembered him and showed their respect and regard for the great soul. The nation remembers Mohammad Rafi on his death anniversary on 31st july every year. It was a very painful experience for most of the music lovers of India and abroad to recollect the experience of 31st July, 1980. 30 years had passed since his death and yet time could not heal the wound inflicted in the hearts of numerous music lovers of the country. He is still alive in the hearts of millions of Indians with his 26000 songs. He had given expression to almost all the leading stars of bollywood and also the poets and composers of the golden age. He had created such an invaluable treasure of songs most of which can be termed as masterpieces, that the listeners can cherish his work for ever. Rafi admirers all across the world feel that the filmfare award for the best playback singer can be renamed as Mohammad Rafi award. The reason is that he received the filmfare award for the best male playback singer 6 times, and also his songs helped the legendary composers to win the filmfare award many times. The awards ceremony looked incomplete without Rafi’s association in them during the 50s, 60s and 70s. Rafi’s awards and nominations are hereby listed as follows. Government Awards 1948 - Rafi received a silver medal from the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on the first anniversary of the Indian Independence Day. 1965 - Rafi was honoured with the Padmashri by the Government of India. National Film Awards Winner 1977 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Kya Hua Tera Wada song in the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin), composed by RD Burman, lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. Filmfare Awards Winner 1960 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho song in the film Chaudhvin Ka Chand 1961 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko song in the film Sasural 1964 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Chahunga Mein Tujhe song in the film Dosti 1966 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Baharon Phool Barsao song in the film Suraj 1968 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Dil Ke Jharoke Mein song in the film Brahmachari 1977 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Kya Hua Tera Vaada song in the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin Nominated 1961 - Husnwale Tera Jawaab Nahin song in the film Gharana 1962 - Aye Gulbadan Aye Gulbadan song in the film Professor 1963 - Mere Mehboob Tujhe song in the film Mere Mehboob 1965 - Choo Lene Do Nazuk Hothon Ko song in the film Kaajal 1968 - Mein Gaaon Tum Sojaao song in the film Brahmachari 1968 - Babul Ki Duayein Leti Ja song in the film Neel Kamal 1969 - Badi Mastani Hai song in the film Jeene Ki Raah 1970 - Khilona Jaan Kar song in the film Khilona 1973 - Hum Ko To Jaan Se Pyaari song in the film Naina 1974 - Achha Hi Huva Dil Toot Gaya song in the film Maa Behen Aur Biwi 1977 - Pardah Hai Pardah song in the film Amar Akbar Anthony 1978 - Aadmi Musaafir Hai song in the film Apnapan 1979 - Chalo Re Doli Uthao Kahaar song in the film Jani Dushman 1980 - Mere Dost Kissa Yeh song in the film Dostana 1980 - Dard-e-dil Dard-e-jigar song in the film Karz 1980 - Maine Poocha Chand Se song in the film Abdullah Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Winner 1965 - Best Male Playback Singer for Dosti 1966 - Best Male Playback Singer for Arzoo Very significantly, Rafi’s immortal presence contributed to the composers’ awards won in the respective years. In 1953, Naushad won the filmfare award for the best music director for his contribution in the film Baiju Bawra. Rafi’s songs “tu ganga ki mauj”, “wo duniyake rakhwale”, “man tarapat hari darshan” were the backbone of Naushad’s legendary creation. OP Nayyar won the filmfare award for the best music director for his contribution in the film Naya Daur in 1958. Rafi’s songs like “ure jab jab zulfen teri”, “saathi haath barana”, “mai bambai ka babu” glorified OP Nayyar’s melodious creations. Salil Choudhury won the filmfare award for the best music director for his contribution in the film Madhumati in 1959. Rafi sang two landmark songs in varying moods including “jangal me mor nacha kisi ne na dekha” and “tute hue khwabon ne”. Ravi won the filmfare award for the best music director for his contribution in the film Gharana in 1962. Rafi sang the landmark songs in the film including “husnwale tera jawab nahi” and “jab se tujhe dekha hai”. Shankar Jaikishan won the filmfare award for the best music director for his contribution in the film Professor in 1963. Rafi was instrumental in most of the westernized songs like “awaz deke hume tum bulayo”, “ay gulbadan, ay gulbadan”, etc. Roshan won the filmfare award for the best music director for his contribution in the film Taj Mahal in 1964. Rafi’s songs “payon chulene do phoolon ko inayat hogi”, “jo wada kiya hai”, “jo baat tujhme hai” had emerged as timeless classic and made Roshan immortal through Rafi’s brilliance. Shankar Jaikishan won the filmfare award for the best music director again in the years 1966, 1968. In 1966, SJ’s efforts in the film Suraj was given adequate expression by Rafi. All the songs were super hit including “baharon phool barsao”, “gustaqi maaf”, “itna hai tujhse pyar mujhe”, “kaise samjhayun bari na samajh ho”, to name a few. In 1968, SJ won it for Brahmachari, where Rafi’s songs “mai gayun tum so jayo” “chakke pe chakka”, “dil ke jharoke mai”, “aajkal tere mere pyar ke charche” had made the viewers and listeners spell bound. In the late 70s, when Laxmikant Pyarellal won filmfare award for best music director back to back in the 4 years, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, Rafi’s contribution was immense. In the film Amar Akbar Anthony, the film for which LP won the filmfare in 1978 Rafi sang landmark songs like “parda hai parda”, “shirdiwali saibaba”, “humko tumse ho gaya hai pyar kya Karen”. In the film Sargam, LP’s songs sung by Rafi including “dafliwale dafli baja”, “ramjiki nikli sawari”, “koel boli”, etc., stormed bollywood in the late 70s. LP won the filmfare once again in 1980, for Karz where Rafi’s song “darde dil darde jigar” created everlasting impact in the minds of youngstars for generations after generations. There are no words to pay homage to the noble soul Mohammad Rafi, whom Raj Kapoor used to call Sufisahab. Neither awards can judge Rafi’s worth, nor praises can describe the godliness, of the giant singer whose down to earth nature had swept the world of music with peace, romance, love and friendship. The listeners should revisit the songs of Rafi and restore the creations to pay homage to the noble soul who departed the music -lovers 34 years ago.