By Santhanakrishnan Srinivasan
The last article I wrote on Rafi ji was on a single aspect of his voice, his exceptional range over his contemporaries. Rafi ji has sung so many songs and we have heard them with so much attention, it is natural that we observe a lot of other aspects such as common and unique patterns in the way songs are made and sung. (more…)
A personal compliment to Bimal Roy Sahab on his 115 birth anniversary by Biman Baruah
Legendary filmmaker Bimal Roy’s films were paramount branded for pragmatic value of socialism and romanticism with poignant music. His films confined some attractive and unforgettable songs of golden era of Hindi Cinema which were harmonic by all leading playback singers of his time. The music of his films mainly composed by Salil Chowdhury and Sachin Dev Burman. Mohammed Rafi Sahab sung in his films like DO BIGHA ZAMEEN (1953), BIRAJ BAHU (1954), DEVDAS (1955), MADHUMATI (1958), YAHUDI (1958), SUJATA (1959) USNE KAHA THA (1960), KABULIWALA (1961), BENAZIR (1964) etc. (more…)
This article is written by a passionate Rafi Fan Sri Biman Baruah and information shared by Sri Binu Nair, Founder, Rafi Foundation, Mumbai.
Meherbban Likhoon, Haseena Likhoon, Ya Dilruba Likhoon
Hairaan Hoon Ki Aap Ko, Ish Khat Mein Kiya Likhoon……..
Yeh Mera Prem Patra Padhkar Kar, Ke Tum Naraaz Na Hoona
Ke Tum Meri Zindegi Ho, Ke Tum Meri Bandegi Ho…………….. 2 (more…)
By Achal Rangaswamy
Mujhko mere baad zamaana dhoondega. Meri aawaaz suno, pyaar ka raaz suno. Tum mujhe yun bhula na paaoge. Main kab gaata mere swar mein pyaar kisi ka gaata hai.
What do all these phrases, nay, songs tell us all? That the singer could make a prophecy. On many occasions, not just once. He probably always knew that long after he was gone he would still be looked for, followed and idolized the same way as he had been when he walked on earth in his mortal form. (more…)
By Ramesh Narain Kurpad
Prelude:
I am probably the only one who feels and experiences the legendary singer mohammed Rafi sahib, was and is actually a “singing avatar“. Three and half decades have elapsed since he gave up his mortal self, but, lives in every Rafi bhakt, Rafi fan, Rafi lover, musically. His songs live in our human system while at work and even while in sleep. A rafi follower’s personal anger is like a bubble. For the other it seems to exist but in reality it was a mirage. (more…)
By Souvik Chatterji
The listeners of music all over the world remember the all-time great singer Mohammad Rafi on 31st July, 2014. The noble soul had left his admirers 34 years ago. Yet he is alive in numerous everlasting hit songs which are heard and cherished for generations. (more…)
By Deepak Deshmukh
Mohd. Rafi was a versatile & talented singer of the world.He lent his voice to many popular heroes like Dilip kumar, Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Rajendra kumar, Dharmendra. Shammi kapoor, Shashi kapoor, Johny walker, Mehmood, Rajesh khanna, Raj kapoor, Joy Mukerjee, Manoj Kumar, Raj kumar, Rishi kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Feroz khan, Sanjay, Sanjeev kumar, Balraj Sahni etc. (more…)
By Binu Nair
This book is not the biography of Mohammad Rafi Sahib, nor a collection of his songs with the sequence of time. As a student of music, I’ve made an effort to write something on distinctive characteristic of his singing modality and his extremely exquisites voice. The life journey; childhood; stay in Lahore and initial engagements; start of singing in Bombay; rise to excellence; then the happenings of 70s and death – on all these aspects written material is available but it’s superficial and provides only a limited information. (more…)
Press Release on July 31st. Thursday from Binu Nair, Founder Trustee – Rafi Foundation Trust (Regd.), F 3, Sharon, I.C.Colony, Borivli West, Mumbai 400 103
Today July 31st, innumerable Mohd Rafi Lovers will assemble at Juhu Mosque Grave where he was laid to rest after the legendary singer suffered a massive heart attack in 1980.
Three days prior to July 31st Rafi had recorded few lines for Laxmikant Pyarelal for movie Aas Paas : “Tu kahin aas paas hai dost” which became his last song. “Acha main chalu“? was the parting words of the legendary singer to Laxmikant Pyarelal – while having his last walk from Mehboob studios to his Bandra home. (more…)
By Anmol Singh
In the present times we see a lot of biopic films being produced, where the era of 1950s to 1970s is portrayed on screen. Going back in time means highlighting the fashion of that era. We see characters wearing bell bottom trousers with high heel shoes; printed shirts with large round collars along with specific 70s era hair style with covered ears. To an extend the popular cars and trucks of that era along with steam locomotives become part of the biopic. Majority steam locomotives have been phased out by the Indian Railways, only a few are currently maintained at the Rewari rail workshop near Delhi. Most of these incredible machines see their role in the current biopics and earn good revenue for the Indian Railways. (more…)