Kabir Rafi is an Indian music composer, playback singer, independent pop artist, and background score artist. He has produced music for more than 200 international films. Rafi made his music debut with his first multilingual feature film, titled #PK, which was dubbed in multiple languages, and released in August 2022. Several of his productions have gained critical acclaim, such as Mana Mugguri Love Story and Mrs Subbalaxmi. He composed the music for his first Kannada commercial debut film Sugar Factory, released in November 2023.
Rafi's projects have featured artists such as Armaan Malik, Vijay Prakash, Baba Sehgal, Chandan Shetty, Anurag Kulkarni, Geetha Madhuri, Sri Krishna, and Anudeep Dev.
Early life
Kabir Rafi was born to an Indian army soldier, Shaik Abdul Khader, in Vishakapatna, India. He lived in and travelled to various cities within India, including Gujarat (Bhuj), Bengaluru, Assam (Silchar) and Mumbai, before settling in Hyderabad. His family has an expansive military background, with his great-grandfather being a former freedom fighter. Both his father and grandfather also served in the Indian army, where the former acted as a Subedar major. During his time in the military, his father had an appreciation of playback singer Mohammed Rafi, from whom his name is derived.
Rafi received his education from the Kendriya Vidyalaya Central School. He earned his bachelor's degree in hotel management from the Regency College of Culinary Arts in 2009, and became a Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate at Malla Reddy College of Engineering and Technology. He worked with the Justdial Internet technology company for 2 years as a video vendor.
Rafi's interest in composing music began in his childhood. With his mother's encouragement, Rafi started performing at the age of 12 in various musical stage shows, learning Hindustani classical music as a vocalist and tabla player. When his father was transferred to Mumbai by the Indian military, Rafi started his musical career, mainly as a soundtrack recordist and singer for music directors such as Dilip Sen. He left Mumbai for two years, living in his uncle's home while struggling to find employment. He attempted to enter the entertainment industry by acting in small roles under Balaji Telefilms Ltd and singing several jingles for commercials and dubbing songs. In 2006, Rafi's father was transferred a second time from Mumbai to Hyderabad. He insisted that Rafi join him and focus on his studies, suggesting he further his musical career by auditioning for a position in the Telugu film industry (informally known as "Tollywood") in Hyderabad.
Career In Hyderabad, Rafi was given several jobs in the production of film soundtracks for various film and music directors. He also worked as a vocalist. The composer and singer Chakri allegedly encouraged Rafi early in his career. In 2009, Rafi collaborated with composer Jeevan Thomas for four years in music production.
From 2011 to 2015, Rafi was placed under observation, and worked as a member of the team led by music director Jeevan Thomas in the soundtrack production of the movies Kuberulu, First love (2013) and Yavvanam Oka Fantasy (2015). He was also presented with the opportunity to record tracks in Telugu, Kannada and Hindi as a playback singer for a few movies.
Rafi gave stage performances as a singer for numerous events. In 2014, he completed his first movie, Manasu Palike Maya Prema, and released the audio track of the feature. In 2016, his independent film Parinayam was released. The audio of his second feature film, Komali, was released in 2017 in Kannada. As of 2025, Rafi has completed over 200 projects, spanning short films, independent films, web series, feature films, and commercials. Several of his productions have gained critical acclaim, such as: Mana Mugguri Love Story, Mrs Subbalaxmi, Konchan Istam Chaala Kastam, I Hate You, Aa Gang Repu (Part 1 and 2), Maa Naana Kosam, Pilli Kalla Papa, Oye Nandu, and Atu itu nuvvey. Some of his most popular short films include: She, Musalman, Papa, Anandmaaye, Chotu, and Karmama.
Rafi's upcoming projects that are yet to be released include Akara and Love Again.
Awards and nominations YearEventAwardWork(s)Result2015Indie Fest Short Film AwardBest Background MusicAa Gang Repu2016VR Films National AwardBest MusicYedo Maya Chesav2016Lotus Short Film AwardsBest Song and SingerMaa Naana Kosam, Parinayam2016Lotus Short Film AwardsBest MusicAa Gang Repu, KICK (Koncham Istam Chaala Kastam)2017SIIMA Short Film awardsTelugu - Best Short Film Music DirectorKICK (Koncham Ishtam Chala Kashtam)2017Lotus Short Film AwardsBest SingerVoice of Eyes2017Short Film Diamond AwardContribution of Music in the Tollywood Short Film Industry2018Melbourne City Independent Film Awards (MCIFA)Best Sound DesignInsightStudio One Film AwardsBest Music Director2018Lotus Short Film AwardsBest Music DirectorAa Gang Repu 2Telangana State Language and Culture Department Short Film Festival
Discography Feature films YearFilm titleDirectorLead castLanguageNotesAudio channelWorked asGenre2014Manasu Palike Maya PremaManasu Palike Maya PremaMunu SwamyMurali krishna, Kaajal SakhareTeluguAudio releasedLahari MusicMusic directorLove story, drama2017KomaliKomaliVikas MadakariMurali krishna, Kaajal SakhareKannadaAudio releasedSilly MonkMusic directorLove story, drama2019RAHASYAMSagar SaileshSagar Sailesh, RithikaTeluguReleased 1 Feb 2019Mango MusicMusic directorHorror, drama2020PlayBackHari Prasad JakkaDinesh, Ananya Nagmalla,TeluguReleased 5 March 2021AHASound foley artistSuspense thriller2022#pkHemanth pVinny Viyaan, Aashu ReddyTelugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam.Film released 26 August 2022Lahari MusicMusic directorLove story, action2023Sugar FactoryDeepak ArasDarling Krishna, sonal monteroKannadaAudio releasedAnanda AudioMusic directorRom-com drama2024Thata ManavuduRam MandapathiRajendra PrasadTeluguAnnounced / filming -----Music directorLove & Drama2025 Love Again (LA)Sashank Voleti ----TeluguAnnounced -----Music directorRom-com drama2025AkaraRajuSai CharanTeluguConfirmed -----Music directorSuspense thriller
OTT film/Web series YearSeries titleLanguageDirectorLead castReleased channelNotesGenre2016Nuvvu Pakkanunte BaaguntaadheTeluguEeswar ReddyMohan BhagathShreyas Media2 episodes releasedRom-com2017Mana Mugguri love storyTeluguShashank Yeleti Nandini ReddyNaveep, Tejeswini, AdithYup TVAll episodes releasedRom-com2017The UnknownEnglishSiva Sai TejaSiva Sai TejaDisney hotstarReleasedSuspense thriller2019Mrs. SubbalakshmiTeluguN Vamsi KrishnaLakshmi Manchu, Avasarala SrinivasYup TV, Zee5All episodes releasedAction-comedy-drama2019Missamma PelliTelugugautami challagullaAd My, TarunV6 chillTrailer releasedRom-com2021Ajatha ShatruvuTeluguFarooq RoyAnirudth,East West Entertainment / MX playerAll episodes releasedAction drama2025Aa Gang Repu 3TeluguYogee QumaarPreeti Sunder ----Trailer releasedSuspense thriller
Singles and album songs YearAlbumSong titleLanguageChannelSinger(s)LyricistNotes2015I Hate YouNee Kalale KunukeTeluguCinemamaAnudeep Dev, VidyaPavan Rachepalli2015Smart PhoneChinni GundeloTeluguKabir rafi OfficialSrikantKoushik Pegallapati2015Inkonchem PremistaKaalama AagaveTeluguGenuine picturesKabir Rafi, ApurvaShoban NV2016Maa Naana KosamAdugaduguTeluguIQlik channelAnudeep Dev, Apurva Garimella, Kabir RafiKittu VissapragadaNominated for Lotus Short Film AwardsLotus Short Film Awards for Best Song, Singer & Lyric2016Nee ParichayamNee ParichayamTeluguSmart CreationsKabir RafiSunder2016Edo Maya ChesavEdo Maya ChesavTeluguU&I EntertainmentsKabir RafiPoorna ChaariWon the Best Song & Singer award at VR Films national awardVR Films national award2016ParinayamNeeku NenuTeluguMadhura AudioSuresh Kumar, Harini Rao, Panchali Tanisha, Kabir RafiShoban NVNominated at Lotus Short film AwardsLotus Short film Awards for Best Song, Singer & Lyric2017Dream of the NationDesh Pukare reHindiKabir Rafi OfficialKabir RafiKabir Rafi2017Madahosh Hui HawaMadahosh Hui HawaHindiDJS Film Production HousePanchali Mallik, Aradhya SindeShafi2018KarmamaSirulaTeluguKlapboard ProductionsRavi PrakashLakshmi Priyanka2018PadipoyaPadipoyaTeluguTelugu OneKabir RafiArhat Bodhi2018Okkare Iddaru AiyaaruEmo EmoTeluguKlapboard ProductionKabir Rafi, Amrita NayakShoban NV2018Bonaalu SongDhum Dhum DhumaarTeluguGenuine PicturesUma NehaVeeru Gaddam2020SankuratriSankuratri PandagaTeluguKabir Rafi OfficialManasa Acharya, Kabir RafiLakshmi Priyanka2022Emo emo ManaseEmo Emo ManaseTeluguMarina OfficialKabir RafiVamsi Krishna2025Software AmmaiSoftware AmmaiTeluguKabir Rafi OfficialKabir RafiNikesh Kumar2026GobbiyalloGobbiyalloTelugueducoz Production kiran kumarKabir RafiRanjith Kumar Ricky2026mah-e-ramzanmah-e-ramzanHindieducoz Production kiran kumarKabir RafiKabir Rafi
As playback singer YearAlbumSong titleLanguageChannelMusic directorLyricist/co-singerNotes2015Inkonchem PremistaKaalama AagaveTeluguGenuine PicturesKabir RafiShoban NV/Apurva2016Maa Naana KosamAdugaduguTeluguIQlik ChannelKabir RafiKittu Vissapragada, Anudeep Dev, Apurva GarimellaNominated at Lotus Short Film Awards for Best Song, Singer & Lyric2016Nee ParichayamNee ParichayamTeluguSmart CreationsKabir RafiSunder2016Edo Maya ChesavEdo Maya ChesavTeluguU&I EntertainmentsKabir RafiPoorna Chaari/TanishaWon the Best Song & Singer award at VR Films national award2016ParinayamYemautunndoTeluguMadhura AudioKabir RafiShoban NV/Panchali Tanisha2017Dream of the nationDesh Pukare ReHindiKabir Rafi OfficialJeevan ThomasKabir Rafi2018Okkare Iddaru AiyaaruEmo EmoTeluguAmrita NayakKabir RafiShoban NV/Amrita Nayak2020#PKKhoya KhoyaHindiLehari TseriesKabir RafiNitin/Amrita Nayak2023Sugar factoryKalkonda ee PremigeKannadaAnanda AudioKabir RafiArasu Anthre2025Ninnu ChoodagaNinnu ChoodagaTeluguUllas --2026VarshaaleVarshaaleTeluguKabir Rafi OfficialKabir RafiKabir Rafi
As sound designer YearFilm titleDirectorLanguageNotes2015Aa Gang RepuYogee QumaarTelugu2015ShashaDivyaEnglish2016Shiva 143Sagar SaileshTelugu2016SHEVijay BharathTelugu2017BeepRaj viratTelugu2017The UnknownSiva TejaEnglish2017Amma Ammay PremaFarooq RoyTelugu2017Second ChanceKrishna KumarTelugu2017AddictedAkhil RajTelugu2017ChotuRaj ViratTelugu2018Mangamma Gari ManavaduAnu PrasadTelugu2018HamsaaroSiva TejaTelugu2018SleepwalkerGopi NarraTelugu2018Okkare Iddaru AiyaaruShoban NVTelugu2020From The Night U LeftGautham KrishnaTelugu2020Vizag Teeram LoRaj KumarTelugu
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