Shankar Jaikishanji Naushadiji gave landmark duet songs to Suman Kalyanpurji and Rafisahab

Suman Kalyanpur had her birthday on 28th January, 2026. The media during the last 60s years had been too kind towards some of the celebrities while remained silent about the others. For example during the golden age 50s, 60s and 70s, other than Lata and Rafi there were other combinations who had given everlasting hits. Lata Mangeshkar always got the focus of attention and as such her duets with Rafi which covers more than 440 in number always stole the attention. Yet Suman Kalyanpur during the same age of competition had sung almost 170 duets with Rafi most of which became super hit, yet could not get the lime light which they deserved. The song “ajahu na aye balma” from Saanjh Aur Sawera, picturised on Mehmood and Subha Khote and composed by Shankar Jaikishan showed the compatibility of Rafi with Suman Kalyanpur in classical songs. Rafi could adapt his style of singing with any singer. But Suman Kalyanpur also did a great job with the giant. The song “dil-e-betaab ko seene se lagana hoga” from the film Palki, picturised on Rajender Kumar and Wahida Rehman and composed by Naushad had the ghazal andaz embedded in them and Suman Kalyanpur was unblemmish aside Rafi. SJ used the same Suman Kalyanpur aside Rafi in fast numbers like “aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche” from Brahmchari picturised on Shammi Kapoor and Mumtaz, “dil use do jo jaan de de” picturised on Shammi Kapoor and Hema Malini in the film Andaz. The biggest tragedy is that the songs did great business and the films became super hit, yet the message relating to Rafi’s combination with Suman Kalyanpur did not reach most of the viewers and the media too did not play a neutral role in that aspect. Half of the people thought the duets were sung by Rafi and Lata as Suman Kalyanpur’s singing style matched with that of Lata. Khayyam’s composition “thereiye hosh me aaloon to chale jayiega” from the film Mohabbat is ko kehte hai” picturised on Shashi Kapoor and Nanda had another romantic number of Rafi and Suman. Madan Mohan’s tune “baad muddat se yeh ghari aye” sung by Rafi and Suman stunned many listeners of ghazals, as the urdu words were pronounced in style in the film Jahan –ara. Bharat Bhushan and Mala Sinha were sublime in the film. Rafi as usual was unblemish in respect of ghazals. But Suman too had adapted her style of singing which suited the songs of the Mughal period. Even the fast numbers composed by LP like “tumse o haseena” sung by Rafi and Suman did not get the hype of media which it deserved inspite of Farz ending up as a run away hit of Jeetender. Roshan’s meritorious composition like “maine aye jaane wafa” from the film Bedaag, “chand takda hai idhar” from the film Doojh Ka Chaand remained unnoticed. Besides there were other hits like “parbaton ke paron par sham ka basera hai” from the film Shagun composed by Khayyam, “tumne pukara aur hum chale aye” from the film Raj Kumar composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “dil ek mandir hai” from the film Dil Ek Mandir composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “tujhe dekha tujhe chaha” from the film Choti Si Mulakat composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “tujhe pyar karte karte” from the film April Fool composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “mujhe yeh phool na den” from the film Ghazal composed by Madan Mohan. The factor of Suman Kalyanpur being chosen to sing duets with legendary Rafi Sahab by giant composers like Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, Madan Mohan, Khayyam, Laxmikant Pyarellal, Kalyanji Anandji, proved another fact that she was not any particular composer’s singer. She did a great job with Rafi, but due to passive attitude of the media the songs got recognition with no information relating to the singer. Even in many films when the names of the singers were written Suman Kalyanpur’s name was mentioned at the end without any particular reason for it. Rafi had proved in his entire life that he was a greater human being than a singer. That was the reason why he could match his singing style with any fellow female artist including Lata, Geeta Dutt, Sumna Kalyanpur, Sharda, Mubarak Begum, Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum, and others. His combination with Suman Kalyanpur should be preserved and restored.

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Happy birth anniversary to romantic star Shashi Kapoorji

It is very sad that romantic star Shashi Kapoor passed away on the 4th December, 2017. He died at the age of 79 years. He remained immortal in more than 150 films that he had acted in. The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birth anniversary to Shashi Kapoor on 18th March, 2026. In 2011 he received the filmfare lifetime achievement award. In 2011, he received Padmabhushan, the civilian award for his excellence in bollywood films. His sickness prevents him from freely walking, but he receives most of his awards on wheel chair. Born in 1938, Shashi Kapoor started his acting career in the film Aag in 1948 directed by his elder brother Raj Kapoor. He also showed his acting skills as a child artist in the film Awara in 1951. The film won different awards in international film festivals and ended up being super hit. Shashi Kapoor acted in off-beat films at the beginning of his career like Prempatra opposite Sadhna. He entertained the audience with the film Jab Jab Phool Khilen in 1965. All the songs of Rafi composed by Kalyanji Anandji in the film became super hit like “pardesiyon se na”, “yahan mai ajnabee hoon”, “na na karke pyar”, etc. From that time Shashi Kapoor acted with Nanda in a number of films like Muhabbat Is Ko Kehte Hai, Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhari, etc. Rafi’s songs in many Shashi Kapoor films did magic including “o dilbar janiye”, “dilbar dilbar”, “bekhudi me sanam”, to name a few. Shankar Jaikishan gave notable tunes to Shashi Kapoor in the film Kanyadan. Madanmohan gave notable tunes to Shashi Kapoor in the film Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhari. In the late 60s Shashi Kapoor acted in many romantic films like Pyar Kiye Jaa, Kanyadaan, Abhinetri, Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati, etc. In Pyar Kiye Ja, he acted opposite actress Nanda, in Kanyadan he acted opposite Asha Parekh, in Abhinetri he acted opposite Hema Malini, in Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati he acted opposite Babita. In the 70s, Shashi Kapoor acted in action films along with Amitabh Bacchan, at a time when action films dominated either types of films in bollywood. His dialogue in the film Dewaar opposite Big B titled “mere paas ma hai” became immortal over the years. He acted in many films opposite Big B like Shaan, Do Aur Do Paanch, Iman Dharam, Namakhalal, Suhaag, Kala Pathhar, Kabhi Kabhi,Trishul, Silsila, etc., and most of those films ended up being blockbusters. Some of these films were multi-starred in nature. For example in Shaan and Kala Patthar he acted opposite Big B and Shatrughun Sinha. It was his sheer talent, that he could adapt himself in the new regime of anti-establishment films in the 70s, starting from Dewaar, which were quite different from the society shown in the romantic films of the 60s. He acted with other bollywood actors like Shatrughun Sinha in films like Gautam Govinda. He was a close friend of Ismail Merchant and featured in many of his English films like Siddharta. He produced impressive films like Junoon directed by Shyam Benegal and Vijeta directed by Govind Nihalini. His sons Kunal Kapoor and Karan Kapoor acted in many films. In the 1990s, Shashi Kapoor put on a lot of weight and stopped acting. He was in tears to receive the filmfare lifetime achievement award. The viewers pay homage to the veteran actor and revisit his films for their huge success.

The version songs of Rafisahab with Sumanji, Lataji,, Geetaji made the films superhit.

The Male and female version songs of Rafisahab with Lataji and other singers were masterpieces. By: Dr Souvik Chatterji During the 1950s and 1960s there were many landmark male and female version songs created by composers and poets. The version songs of Rafisahab were masterpieces. Shankar Jaikishanji used Rafisahab in the song “ehsan tera hoga mujhpar” for Shammi Kapoorji in film Junglee in 1961. The same song had Lataji effect for Saira Banuji in the film. Roshanji used Rafisahab in the version song in film Barsaat Ki Raat, where the title song composed by Bharat Bhushanji became blockbuster hit. Lataji sang the version song for Madhubalaji in the film. Naushadji used Rafisahb in Rajender Kumarji song “mere mehboob tujhe meri muhabbat ka kasam” in film Mere Mehboob in 1963. Lataji sang the version song for Sadhnaji in the film. Shankar Jaikishanji used Rafisahab for Dharmenderji version of song “gar tum bhula na doge” where Lataji sang the Sharmilaji version. Rafisahab sang Pradip Kumarji song “dil jo na keh saka” composed by Roshanji in film Bheegi Raat in 1965. Meena Kumariji version was sung by Lataji in the film. In film Mamta in 1966, Suchitra Senji song “rahe na rahe hum” was sung by Lataji. The same song in a different version for Ashok Kumarji was sung by Rafisahab and Suman Kalyanpurji. In Shammi Kapoorji film Pagla Kahin Ka, Rafisahab song “tum mujhe bhula na payoge” was very brilliant where Lataji sang the Asha Parekhji version. In Balraj Sahaniji film Bhabhi, Rafisahab song “chal ur ja re pachi” was created was theme song in film Bhabhi composed by Chitraguptji in 1958. Talatji also sang the same song recorded for Bhabhi. In Joy Mukherjeeji film Love in Tokyo, in 1966, Shankar Jaikishanji composed “o mere shahe khuba” sung by Rafisahab. Lataji sang the version song for Asha Parekhji. In Sunil Duttji film Chirag, Rafisahab sang the song “teri ankhon ke siwa” composed by Madanmohansahab. Lataji sang the version song for Asha Parekhji. In Guru Duttji film Aar Paar, in 1954, Rafisahab sang duet song “sun sun sun sun zalima” composed by OP Nayyarji. Geeta Duttji sang the version song for Shyamaji in the same film. The list goes on. The songs really matched the sequences in the films and the composers also utilized the brilliance of Rafisahab and other singers very well.