Throughout his playback singing career Mohammed Rafi
reigned supreme in Bollywood delivering classic numbers with unfailing
regularity. The film industry recognized Rafi's amazing talents and
bestowed him with awards and laurels galore. Even though they do not
reflect the true ambit of his genius, these awards and laurels
nonetheless depict the unsurpassed supremacy of Mohd Rafi in playback
singing.
In his glittering career, Mohammed Rafi was nominated for the
prestigious Filmfare Award a staggering 23 times. His first Filmfare
came for the song Chaudvin Ka Chand Ho in the 1961 movie Chaudvin Ka
Chand featuring Guru Dutt in the lead role. The song was penned by
Shakil Budayuni and directed by composer Ravi. Mohd Rafi won a total of
six Filmfare Awards, the last for the song 'Kya Hua Tera Vaada' in the
film 'Hum Kissise Kum Nahin' in 1977.
Kya Hua Tera Vaada also helped Rafi clinch his second National Award.
This song, wrote by Majrooh Sultanpuri and directed by RD Burman is one
of the landmark numbers of Rafi's career. Rafi won his first National
Award for the song Babul Ki Duaen Leti Ja in the 1968 film Neel Kamal.
Mohammed Rafi was conferred the prestigious Padma Shri Award by the
Indian Government in 1965.
