Mohammed Rafi’s son Shahid recalled Shammi Kapoor and music director O.P. Nayyar having creative differences over the song ‘Tarif Karoon Kya Uski’, and how his late father stepped in to resolve the tension.
It won’t be wrong to say that Shammi Kapoor’s face and Mohammed Rafi’s vocals were a match made in heaven! The actor-singer duo teamed up on several blockbuster songs which continues to resonate with listeners even today. One of their most memorable collaborations is Shakti Samanta’s Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) with music by OP Nayyar.
During the making of this blockbuster hit, the leading man Shammi Kapoor had a fallout with Nayyar over the iconic ‘Tareef Karoon Kya Uski’ song which had Kapoor’s Rajiv serenading Sharmila Tagore‘s character Champa, aboard a traditional shikara on the serene waters of Dal Lake.
Recently in an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Mohammed Rafi’s son Shahid shared that he had heard the story directly from Shammi Kapoor.
He recalled that the song ‘Tareef Karoon Kya Uski’ ended with a repetition of the same line, which Shammi Kapoor had specifically requested in order to showcase his different dance moves. However, O.P. Nayyar was reportedly opposed to the idea and sternly refused to incorporate the repetition. This led to some tension between the two.
Further, Shahid shared that Shammi Kapoor would regularly attend his music recordings, and it was during one such session that he confided in his father about the creative disagreement he was having with O.P. Nayyar. At the time, Nayyar was held in high regard, and music directors and lyricists were often revered figures in the industry.
When the Junglee actor explained that Nayyar wasn’t agreeable, Rafi reassured him not to worry. He even offered to sing different variations of the line and spoke to Nayyar directly, suggesting that they could always remove the repetition if it didn’t work. However, he emphasized that there was no harm in considering Shammi’s request, especially since the song would be picturised on him.
Describing O.P Nayyar as someone with a considerable ego, Shahid said that it was a significant matter for anyone to challenge him at the time.
In the same interview, he confirmed the account that Nayyar had once turned Mohammed Rafi away from the studio for arriving a few minutes late. However, Shahid also clarified that the widespread belief about the two not working together for years was false. According to him, the disagreement was resolved within a few days. While he wasn’t certain whether his father had offered an apology, he confirmed that they resumed their professional collaboration shortly thereafter.
Coming back to Kashmir Ki Kali, the romantic drama revolves a wealthy young man who escapes his arranged marriage by fleeing to Kashmir and ends up falling for a spirited flower-seller, only to uncover secrets about her past that threatens their romance.
