What's in A Name? The Many Iterations of Mohammed Rafi in Film Credits
23 Dec, 2020 | Short Features by Haresh Joshi
William Shakespeare once wrote “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." The film industry certainly seems to be a firm believer in this. One glance at film credits over the years is enough to tell us how frequently names are changed or distorted. I have gone through around 817 films and found 41 different ways in which Mohammed Rafi’s name appears .
Name of Mohammed Rafi in title | Movie |
MOHD.RAFI | 12 O’Clock (1958) |
MOHAMMED RAFI | Aabroo (1968) |
MOHAMED RAFI | Aarzoo (1965) |
Mohomad rafi | Aaj Aur Kal (1963) |
MOHAMMAD RAFI | Aakashdeep (1965) |
LATE Mohammed rafi | Aan Aur Shaan (1984) |
मुहम्मद रफ़ी | Aanchal Ke Phool (1968) |
महमद रफ़ी | Aastik (1956) |
Film dedicated to him | Aas Paas (1981) |
Ma.RAFI | Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) |
MAHAMMED RAFI | Alakh Niranjan (1975) |
MOHAMED RAFFI | Alibaba Aur Chalees Chor (1966) |
RAFI | Amber (1952) |
MOHOMED RAFI | Anjan Hai Koi (1969) |
MOHMAD RAFI | Balak Aur Janwar (1975) |
मो. रफ़ी | Balak Dhruv (1974) |
MAHAMAD RAFI | Baarish (1957) |
MD.RAFI | Bedaag (1965) |
मोहम्मद रफी | Beti (1969) |
Mohd. Raffi | Bharat Milap (1965) |
MAHOMED RAFI | Biradari (1966) |
Moh. Rafi | 24 Ghante (1958) |
MOHEMED RAFI | Daadi Maa (1966) |
MAHAMMAD RAFI | Dekh Kabira Roya (1957) |
MOHAMOD RAFI | Ghar Aakhir Ghar Hai (1988) |
महमद रफी | Hanuman Vijay (1974) |
मोहमद रफी | Harishchandra Taramati (1963) |
MOHMMED RAFI | Jawab (1970) |
PADMASHRI MD RAFI | Johar In Bombay (1967) |
MAHAMMADH RAFI | Kaun Sachha Kaun Jhutha (1972) |
MOHMD. RAFI | Kunwara Baap (1974) |
MOHMED RAFI | Love and Murder (1966) |
महंमद रफी | Mahabali Hanuman (1980) |
Late Mohd Rafi | Nazrana Pyar Ka (1980) |
महम्मद रफी | Paisa Ya Pyar (1969) |
MAHD RAFI | Pratiggya (1975) |
MOHMMAD RAFI | Seema (1955) |
MOAHMMAD RAFI | Teen Devian (1965) |
RAFFI | Tu Nahin Aur Sahi (1960) |
MD RAFFI | Trip To Moon (1967) |
MOD. RAFFI | Woh Din Yaad Karo (1971) |
Screenshots of each title are below:
Few more observations:
• Out of 817 films, Bombay Talkie (1970) was the only film in which Mohammed Rafi’s picture is displayed along with his name in film title.
• Out of 817 films, only 15 film titles have Mohammed Rafi’s name before Lata Mangeshkar’s. Otherwise Lata Mangeshkar’s name always came before Mohammed Rafi. These 15 film titles are :
Ankhen (1968), Budtameez (1966), Dekha Pyar Tumhara (1963), Do Premee (1950), Gaon Hamara Shahar Tumhara (1972), Gunaho Ka Devta (1967), Haath Ki Safai (1974), Hasina Maan Jayengi (1968), Kudrat (1981), Mehndi (1958), Mughal-e-Azam (1960), Palki (1967), Sangam (1964), Wapas (1969), Yakeen (1969. In Aankh Ka Taara (1977) even Usha Mangeshkar’s name came before Mohammed Rafi.
• Out of 817 movies, I have also observed that there are several movies, in which playback singers' names are not included in credits.
• There are 3 movies in which only Mohammed Rafi’s name is excluded in singers name even though his songs were there in films, while other singers' names are there in the credits. These films are:
Kasam Khoon Ki, 1977 (Rafi's song is - Arre Aaj Lutaa Do Jaan)
Ram Kasam, 1978 (Rafi's song is - Kajre ki kasam gajre ki kasam)
Film Hi Film, 1983 (Rafi's song is - Humne Jinke Khwab Sajaye Aaj Wo Mere Samne Hai)
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About the Author
Haresh Joshi is a presently retired Manager (Quality Control) at Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd. Vadodara. He has been a life long Mohammed Rafi afficionado and has written the book Mohammed Rafi - His Voice, My Choice.