Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was one of the best Indian playback singer bollywood industry ever had. In his childhood days Rafi ( Pheeko), was famous for imitating chants of a fakir in his village. He learnt Hindustani classical music from Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan, Pandit Jiwanlal Matto and Firoze Nizami. He sang in many Indian languages including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi etc.

Rafi’s first stage performance came incidently at the age of 13 when during a live show singer K. L. Saigal refused to sing beacuse of power failure. Though Rafi was present there only as a listener but after Sehgal Sahab’s refusal to sing, he instantly went to the mike and started his song.

Rafi established himself as the number one playback singer in bollywood after rendering song for the films like Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Naya Daur, Kashmir Ki Kali, Aradhna, Abhimaan. Rafi also sang some songs for Kishore Kumar. Rafi got his first Filmfare Award for rendering the title song of Chaudhvin Ka Chand. He also got National Award for the song ‘ Babul ki duaen leti ja ‘ of Neel Kamal in year 1968.

Some of his hit songs are mentioned below:

1. Dard e dil dard e jigar dil mein jagaya aapne - Karz
2. Kya hua tera waada woh kasm woh irada, bhoolega dil jis din tumhe woh din zindagi ka aakhiri din hoga - Hum Kisis Se Kum Nahi
3. Chura liya hai tumne jo dil ko nazar nahi churana sanam - Yaadon Ki Baarat
4. Chahoonga main tujhe shaam savere fir bhi kabhi ab naam ko tere aawaz ain naa doonga - Dosti
5. Yeh duniya yeh mehfil mere kaam ki nahi - Heer Ranjha
6. Teri galiyon mein na rakhenge qadam aaj ke baad - Hawas
7. Dil ke jharoke mein tujhko bitha kar yaadon ko teri main dulhan bana kar - Brahamchari
8. Gun Guna rahe hain bhanware khil rahi hai kali kali - Aradhna
9. Aaj mausam bada beimaan hai bada baeimaan hai aaj mausam - Loafer
10. Jhilmil sitaron ka aangan hoga rimjhim barasta sawan hoga - Jeevan Mrityu