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Life & work

The person behind the work.

Biography and career records reviewed 23 Oct 2026.

Mohammed Rafi was born in Punjab and trained with teachers including Abdul Wahid Khan, Jiwan Lal Mattoo and Firoze Nizami. His move to Bombay in 1944 placed him in the expanding recording world of Hindi cinema.

Saregama
Birth region
PunjabSaregama
Early training
Abdul Wahid Khan, Jiwan Lal Mattoo and Firoze NizamiSaregama
Move to Bombay
1944Saregama
Early film song
Tera Khilona Toota, Anmol GhadiAkashvani
Centenary commemoration
IFFI, 2024Press Information Bureau

Personal profile

Mohammed Rafi, in detail

Select a detail to see its source.
AI-generated full-body illustration of Mohammed Rafi
Early trainingAbdul Wahid Khan, Jiwan Lal Mattoo and Firoze Nizami
Saregama profile Published profile · checked
AI illustration · not a body scan

One voice, contrasting screen roles

His recordings span the different characters required of a playback singer. Songs associated with Anmol Ghadi, Junglee and the romantic films of the 1960s demonstrate how the same voice could serve contrasting actors, composers and dramatic situations.

AkashvaniSaregama

How filmmakers remembered his singing

At IFFI’s 2024 centenary tribute, musicians and filmmakers discussed Rafi’s ability to adapt his voice to an actor and a dramatic situation. Subhash Ghai recalled working with him on Dard-E-Dil for Karz. Playback involved interpreting a particular scene and screen personality as well as singing a melody.

Press Information Bureau

In pictures

Photographs with their original credits. Historical images do not imply a current appearance.

Portrait of Mohammed Rafi

Mohammed Rafi

India Post, Government of IndiaGODL-IndiaResized and converted to WebP. Display crop.

The published record

Career milestones.

Dated selections from the published record.

  1. 1924

    Birth

    Born on 24 December.

    Akashvani
  2. 1944

    Bombay career

    Moved to Bombay to develop his singing career.

    Saregama
  3. 1946

    Anmol Ghadi

    Recorded Tera Khilona Toota.

    Akashvani
  4. 2024

    Centenary

    IFFI commemorated his contribution to film music.

    Press Information Bureau

Quick answers

The questions,
answered.

Answers grounded in the sources below.

When was Mohammed Rafi born?

24 December 1924, as recorded by Akashvani.

Akashvani
Who were some of his teachers?

Saregama names Abdul Wahid Khan, Jiwan Lal Mattoo and Firoze Nizami.

Saregama
How was Rafi’s centenary marked at IFFI?

The 2024 festival held a tribute with family members and musicians discussing his work and contribution to film music.

Press Information Bureau

The source notes

Know what you’re looking at.

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Freshness, without guesswork

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What the data can tell you

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Editorial research reviewed · HowSociable

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