Kya Hua Tera Waada

Mohammad Rafi - a singer par excellence, absolute pure in sound with mellifluous rendering that was as much at ease while singing “Man tarpat Hari darshan” as with “Yahoo…”. 

Rafi’s “Illahi tu Sun le Hamaari Duaa” was the first recording, that Mehmood okayed in his role as the producer of Chhote Nawab, where RD made his debut. Rafi’s rendering of “Aaja Aaja” & “O Haseena Zulfon Wali” added the spring to Teesri Manzil, the movie that catapulted Pancham to the success, and never looked back.

Notwithstanding RD’s preference for Kishore & Manna Dey, his songs with Rafi kept creating waves, and the best example of this is the song that got Rafi back into limelight, and as a “Sone par Suhaga” also got him his National Award. 

The composition had all the elements that RD was known for – specially when it came to his teaming up with Nasir Hussain & Majrooh. Electric Guitar riffs (played by Bhupendra) that the song begins with and a lovely piece on violin, before the first stanza, by Uttam Singh (who went on to compose music later for movie like Waaris, Dil to Pagal Hai & Dushman) were woven wonderfully in the composition. 

Here it is, Kya Hua Tera Wada, from Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahin:

Chand Mera Dil - When Rafi came back..

In 1977, an award used following para to describe Rafi:

"For a Golden voice, with resonant timbre and charm, highly cultivated to convey the nuances of melodies based on classical and light classical ragas with as much ease and felicity as tunes set to the lift of light music; for the sheer brilliance of form and content in his powerful interpretations"

The inscription quoted above must have been a vindication for Rafi. Not only because the inscription was for him as a winner of the National Film Award - Male Singer but also because the music for the movie was composed by Pancham - one whose seemingly preferred choice was Kishore Kumar since the days of Aradhana.

He won this Award for "Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin" and though more popular number is Kya Hua Tera Wada, my preference is, however, another composition from the movie. 

This one is a medley - in the tradition that Pancham had built-up with Nasir Hussain - which starts with subdued beats and carries on with lovely notes of Guitar for a stanza, and then races up the tempo to build into a dance number. 

It perfectly showcases the brilliance of Pancham as he orchestrates Rafi, Kishore and Asha - uses an opportunity for himself to sing too, and yet never let the rhythm and tempo falter even a bit.

The song has remained ever-green and much later was used by Farah Khan in her debut movie as a director - Main Hoon Na. Of course, that movie was also a homage to R D Burman with numerous reference to his music, par woh kahani phir kabhi..