Awards received by Mohammad Rafi in his illustrious career

Here is the list of awards bestowed on the man with the golden voice, Mohammad Rafi. Significantly a number of filmfare awards were won by Rafi at a period when the male and female singer did not get separate filmfare awards for best playback singers. It is a pity that Mohammad Rafi neither received Bharat Ratna nor Dada Saheb Phalke award but the greatest award he received is the love, respect, affection and admiration from millions of music lovers across the world who never realise that his Golden voice died in 1980 and still considers him immortal in his 26,000 masterpieces sung in a span of 35 years.

Government Awards

1948 - Rafi received a silver medal from the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, on the first anniversary of the Indian Independence Day.

1965 - Rafi was honoured with the Padmashri by the Government of India.
National Film Awards Winner

1977 - National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for Kya Hua Tera Wada song in the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin), composed by RD Burman, lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Filmfare Awards Winner

1960 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho song in the film Chaudhvin Ka Chand

1961 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko song in the film Sasural

1964 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Chahunga Mein Tujhe song in the film Dosti

1966 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Baharon Phool Barsao song in the film Suraj

1968 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Dil Ke Jharoke Mein song in the film Brahmachari

1977 - Filmfare Best Male Playback Award for Kya Hua Tera Vaada song in the film Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin

Nominated

1961 - Husnwale Tera Jawaab Nahin song in the film Gharana
1962 - Aye Gulbadan Aye Gulbadan song in the film Professor
1963 - Mere Mehboob Tujhe song in the film Mere Mehboob
1965 - Choo Lene Do Nazuk Hothon Ko song in the film Kaajal
1968 - Mein Gaaon Tum Sojaao song in the film Brahmachari
1968 - Babul Ki Duayein Leti Ja song in the film Neel Kamal
1969 - Badi Mastani Hai song in the film Jeene Ki Raah
1970 - Khilona Jaan Kar song in the film Khilona
1973 - Hum Ko To Jaan Se Pyaari song in the film Naina
1974 - Achha Hi Huva Dil Toot Gaya song in the film Maa Behen Aur Biwi
1977 - Pardah Hai Pardah song in the film Amar Akbar Anthony
1978 - Aadmi Musaafir Hai song in the film Apnapan
1979 - Chalo Re Doli Uthao Kahaar song in the film Jani Dushman
1980 - Mere Dost Kissa Yeh song in the film Dostana
1980 - Dard-e-dil Dard-e-jigar song in the film Karz
1980 - Maine Poocha Chand Se song in the film Abdullah

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Winner

1965 - Best Male Playback Singer for Dosti
1966 - Best Male Playback Singer for Arzoo

Significantly if the composers associated with the filmfare awards of Rafi and the filmfare nominations are analysed, it will be seen that a wide variety of composers loved Rafi the most. For example Chaudavi Ka Chand is composed by Ravi, Sasural is composed by Shankar Jaikishan, Dosti is composed by Laxmikant Pyarellal, Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi is composed by RD Burman, Mere Mehboob is composed by Naushad. Furthermore, where the composers have received filmfare awards for best music composed in the respective years, Rafi jhad contributed the most in those films, examples include Naushad in 1954, where Rafi sang majority of songs of Baiju Bawra, OP Nayyar in 1958, where Rafi sang majority of songs of Naya Daur, Salil Chowdhury in 1959, where Rafi sang two songs for Madhumati, Ravi in 1962, where Rafi sang majority of songs for Gharana, Shankar Jaikishan in 1963, where Rafi sang majority of songs for Professor, Roshan in 1964, where Rafi sang majority of songs for Taj Mahal. The list can go on. There were years where the nomination for the best filmfare award and the actual award, both were enjoyed by Rafi.



Even then, the contribution of Rafi in Indian film music and private albums is so huge, that the recognition that was given to him is very negligible, but the love and admiration of people around the world bolster the truth that his voice is as young as the first blossom of daffodils in early spring, even after 27 years of his death.