By Mahender Singh
Mohd Rafi
I have been associated this divine voice of our beloved Mohammad Rafi Sahab since my childhood. My father was an ardent fan of the legend. The day Rafi sahib bid adieu to this world, I was an 8 years old child, and saw my father crying first time in my life. I grew up listening to Rafi sahab’s voice every now and then. I remember after my father passed away, my grand father used to stay with us. (more…)
Shared by Saiyed Farooq Jamal
Read what Shammi Kapoor, Johnny Walker, Dilip Kumar, Devanand, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Kishore Kumar and Rajesh Khanna have to say about Rafi Sahab. The language in the graphic is Hindi. For the benefit of fans who do not understand Hindi, I request some of our Hindi knowing fans can translate these in their comments.
By Sanjeev Kumar Dixit
Photo of RAFI SAHAB in his schooll
I think that I am a luckiest person on this earth because I got the fortunate to visit “KOTLA SULTAN SINGH, AMRITSAR”, the birth place of our beloved “Rafi Sahab”. My this visit became possible only because of the blessings of “RAFI SAHAB”.
In the morning of 15th October I reached AMRITSAR from LUCKNOW by “Punjab mail(3005)”. From there I reached to MAJITHA TOWN Siavara (20 km from Amritsar) by a bus and from there I went to village “KOTLA SULTAN SINGH (5 KM from Majitha town) by same bus fortunately. (more…)
By Souvik Chatterji
Mohd Rafi and Johnny Walker
Rafi had a huge contribution in the success of Johnny Walker, the elegant comedian of the 50s and 60s. Most of the songs sung by Rafi for Johnny Walker were hits and caught public attention. Rafi even imitated the style of dialogue delivery of Johnny Walker. Johnny Walker acted both in lead roles in notable films as well as supporting roles in hit films of stars like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Dev Anand, and others and the different composers who composed music in those films including OP Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan, SD Burman, Salil Choudhury, Ravi, Naushad, Dattaram, Laxmikant Pyarellal and others composed catchy songs of Rafi which were picturised on the legendary comedian. (more…)
by: H.A.K. Walijah
Mohd Rafi with Sonik Omi
Bhoolega Dil Jis Din Tumhe, Woh Din Zindagi Ka Aakhri Din Hoga….. Kya Hua Tera Wada”. Even today all Rafi fans dedicate these heart-stirring lines to the only singer whose immortality can be vouched for. Almost three decades have been passed after his sad demise and yet his popularity and fan-following remain intact. Mohammed Rafi was an Indian playback singer whose career spanned four decades and is one of the most prolific and versatile male singers in the history of Indian cinema. Rafi had rendered in his long and distinguished career as the leading playback singer in Hindi Film Music. Rafi had a mastery over all genres of songs. No raga was beyond his reach and no emotion was left untouched. Rafi has left behind a rich legacy of songs sung by him over more than 30 years and he has been a great inspiration to a large bunch of singers. Magical singers like Rafi are one in a million. He was not only a valley of talent but also a very good person by heart. (more…)
From Binu Nair
SJ Musical Evening
THE RAFI FOUNDATION WILL CELEBRATE THE MUSIC OF SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN and the birth anniversary of flamboyant JAIKISHAN with a live musical function at Mumbai’s Dinanath Hall, VILE PARLE on Nov 13.
Recently there was a comment in the Face-book that SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN were lucky as they had the golden voice of MOHD RAFI to back up their creative creations. I would venture to add the names of Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh and Manna Dey to the list.
The foursome were the pillars of the SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN music station. Hence, wehave four singers lined up for the musical evening who will present the above legends evergreen and great songs. (more…)
by Sarah Modi
Mohd Rafi
There are several people who compare Rafi saab with Lata ji and debate who is better. I believe, that the premise, structure, and conclusion of their arguments are all flawed. There is no doubt that if there is any other singing legend that matches up to the greatness of Rafi, it is indeed none other than Lata ji. However, Rafi is Lata, Asha, and Geeta all combined into one. If Lataji represents the serious, pristine, and classic flavors of Indian music and Asha and Geeta represent the western, naughty, and seducing flavors, Rafi saab alone portrays all of these flavors and more. He can impeccably sing classical songs, westerns songs, bhajans, ghazals, cabarets, light romantic songs, qawalis, etc. A music director had to look no further than Rafi saab for any kind of song whether it inculcated southern, northern, eastern, or western styles of music. (more…)
By Sanjeev Kumar Dixit
Mohd Rafi
Two unique words are coming in my mind, which I want to share with all of you.
1)RAFI-PATHY:
We all well familiar with main branches of “MEDICAL SCIENCE” like “Allopathy, Homeopathy & Ayurvedapathy etc, But recently I thought over a new branch of “medical science”, that is RAFI-PATHY. Let us know about this pathy more-
As we know very well about MOHD. RAFI SAHAB, evergreen singer of indian film industry.There are million of his fans across the world. Among his million of fans many are his “DEVOTEE” and we call them “RAFI BHAKT”. (more…)
By: H.A.K. Walijah
Mohd Rafi
If Mirza Ghalib is the foremost classic poet in Urdu, then Mohd. Rafi is the foremost classic playback singer India has ever produced. There is nothing wrong if someone ask what India has given to the world – I would say: Taj Mahal, Urdu, Ghalib and Rafi. It is our pride & honour to call Mohd. Rafi Bharat ki Shaan whom the music fraternity & Rafi lovers love and adore this great singer all over the world irrespective of caste, creed, religion, poor or rich, young or old, men or women, so on and so forth. When these two great legends shake hands with one another, what will be the result, just imagine… Mirza Ghalib was the genius poet where the best of ghazals begin and end with him, who “inspired” an entire generation of poets to craft words astoundingly and his contribution of poetry is the greatest favour on Urdu language itself. Mohammed Rafi doesn’t sing Ghalib. He breathes life into every composition that he is called upon to deliver. Ghalib would have been proud. (more…)
By D.P.Bijoor
Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar
The Hindi Film Industry of musical entertainment since its inception over 7 decades, has undoubtedly given music lovers especially in India and in general, all over the world the pleasure of listening to lilting and soulful melodies composed by eminent lyricisits of the byegone era and embellished by the golden voice of Immortal singers whose memories can never be erased with the passage of time.
Friends, from among the handful of most precious pearls unearthed from the depths of the Ocean as it were, – two musical GENIUSES come readily to mind both of whom have created a niche for themselves in the industry and in the minds & hearts of their innumerable fans & admirers as “GREAT LEGENDS”. Yes, I definitely mean two of the “GREATEST FRIENDS” – Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi to be very precise, both of whom are alas, no more with us today. (more…)
