The Reasons Behind Mohammad Rafi’s Decision Not to Sing “Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega” in Sangam

The song “Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega,” featured in the 1964 film Sangam, was originally planned to be performed by Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, and Lata Mangeshkar. Nevertheless, a notable change occurred in the vocal arrangements for the film. Mohd Rafi features in a solo performance in the film Sangam; however, a vocal trio with Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh was not feasible due to several factors.

At the time of the recording, a well-documented rivalry existed between Rafi and Mukesh. Mukesh was favored as the playback singer by the film’s producer, Raj Kapoor, which led to Rafi’s disappointment over his exclusion from the track. As the primary vocalist for the lead actor Raj Kapoor, Mukesh was selected to perform the male segments of the song.

Raj Kapoor had a longstanding relationship with Mukesh and held a deep appreciation for his vocal talent. This preference influenced his decision to have Mukesh sing in Sangam, mirroring their collaboration in previous films such as Awaara and Shree 420. Consequently, these factors contributed to Mukesh being granted the opportunity to perform this song.

One of the primary reasons for the discord between the two iconic singers was their differing views on the issue of royalties. Lata Mangeshkar believed that singers should receive a share of the profits, while Mohammed Rafi maintained that singers are compensated for their work and should not anticipate additional earnings. Consequently, the two artists temporarily went their separate ways.

Additionally, the film “Sangam,” directed by Raj Kapoor, featured Lata as part of his ensemble, as she had been the leading female voice in his productions since “Barsaat.” In “Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega,” three vocalists were featured, making it evident that Raj Kapoor chose to retain Lata as the female lead while enlisting Mukesh and Mahendra Kapoor for the male parts.

Notwithstanding the competition between them, Mohammad Rafi did provide his vocal talents for other characters in the film; however, for this song, the creators intended for Mukesh’s voice to take precedence. Consequently, Rafi did not contribute to this track.

Ultimately, the song achieved iconic status, featuring the voices of Mukesh and Lata, and is celebrated as one of the most exquisite duets of that time. The interplay between the two legendary vocalists, Rafi and Mukesh, contributed an additional layer of intricacy to the music production of the film.

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