What's in A Name? The Many Iterations of Mohammed Rafi in Film Credits

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)