Written by: H.A.K. Walijah

Mohd Rafi

It is generally believed that pathos-laden songs is the realm of Mukesh and Talat Mehmood where they bring forth the human pain and suffering of the characters alive on the silver screen through their voices, whereas Rafi Sahab universally acknowledged as all-rounder due to his mind-boggling versatility, while millions revere him as the epitome of romance and solace; but a closer look will reveal that there are so many songs of Rafi Sahab that are really heart-rending and pathos-laden even excelled to Mukesh and Talat Mehmood melancholic songs. I have been a very strong follower of his songs, especially the “dard” that comes out naturally from his voice.  From the very beginning, K.L.Saigal was subjected to the fawning adoration of the public as  a singer he excelled in the pathos-laden songs like Jab dil hi toot gaya, Balam aan baso mere man mein, Karoon kiya aas niras bhayee, Gham diye mustakil Kitna nazuk hai dil. Later on Mukesh had a voice which could convey pathos very well and many of his songs like Dil jalta Hain, Saaranga Teri Yaad Mein etc. are the finest examples. Mukesh had the pathos. Talat Mehmood had the delicate tremor. Kishore Kumar had zany songs as well as gravitas. Rafi had all of the above plus an extra something. (more…)

By Deepak Kriplani

Rafi Sahab with Shankar and Shammi Kapoor

I was renewing a fixed deposit at the bank when the Message Alert sounded on the cell. Do you know Shammi Kapoor died this morning? There goes my chance to meet him, I rued. It had been two years and more since my friend Girish and I had first talked about going over to meet him. Girish had gotten as far as speaking to him on the phone. We had discussed it again, as recently as a few days ago.

Strangely, Shammi Kapoor had cast his spell on me not through his performances, but through his music. I wanted to ask him how he worked with his (and mine too) favourite music team to create those memorable numbers. Over time, though, I realised that his unique screen persona added another dimension to the music that came to be identified with him. (more…)

By Achal Rangaswamy

Shammi Kapoor

Nagesh Sidhanti, my friend from Bangalore, jolted me from my morning reverie with this terse message that had only two lines.

I got up to post my first thoughts on Facebook. And i couldn’t go beyond “Tum mujhe yun bhula na paaogey“.

Thirty one years back, when Rafi Saab passed away, he had mournfully said, “I have lost my voice”. Today it is his turn to go. The voice went away then. Today the man has gone. (more…)

By Achal Rangaswamy

Mohd Rafi

This was perhaps one of those dreams…..

I sat , thinking to myself – “Lagta nahin hai dil mera ujade dayar mein”.  I was missing my idol, my God, the great soul whose voice had taken total possession of me from the evening that I slipped on the rain drenched patch of road outside a theatre in Chennai, as I came out after watching a tall and handsome young man call out “Khoya Khoya chaand”. (more…)

Written By: H.A.K. Walijah

Mohd Rafi

(A TRIBUTE)

Rafi Sahab sang in many Indian languages including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi and Telugu but is primarily remembered for his Hindi songs, which still remain very popular in the Indian subcontinent. Mohd. Rafi was very effective in singing/performing ghazals, qawwalis, or bhajans who has many admirers because of the talent, quality and is regarded as the genius of the entertainment industry, to whose numbers; millions of India’s young hearts from Kashmir to Kanyakumari respond today. Mohd. Rafi, the voice that sang many exquisite tunes; a dream voice of an entire magical era; launched and shaped the careers of many legendary screen personalities. Even to the date, he is extremely popular amongst old and young alike and that shows his true talent and timelessness. For more than three decades Mohd. Rafi went on to become perhaps the most influential male playback singer in Hindi film music whose contribution to Hindi film music is incomparable. (more…)

By Padmanabhan NR

Mohd Rafi

The MD duo of S-J have just stumbled upon the outlines of a tune worded beautifully by Shailendra. There are moments friends, when your sub-conscience tells you that something very, very big is in offing. Yet you, the creator, are not sure what and how it will evolve itself finally. Why not we try this with Mukeshji?

The start in lower octave gave Mukeshji a perfect platform. It was a sad-romantic, his own domain and his nasal voice gave it a unique tinge. Pre-antara interlude over, the tune suddenly transits to the highest octave with ‘paalta unko jatan se…‘ twice over only to revert back to the origin. A very good attempt but that ‘thing’ was not there. (more…)

By Ronny Noor

Mohd Rafi

And what is art? The prayer, the music, and the song of the human soul. – Ivan Bunin

The singer of the millennium Mohammed Rafi has been entertaining his audience for over sixty years now, since the 1940s. His popularity has not diminished a bit even decades after his demise in 1980. Even those who were born long after his passing seem to be enthralled by his voice. This does not happen by chance or by luck. This does not happen magically, either. There are genuine reasons why Rafi still shines like a Polaris on our musical horizon. His versatility, of course, is one reason, which has been well documented. The tragedy king Dilip Kumar states that Rafi sang with so much emotion that it lightened the burden on the actor during song sequences. His fellow actor Shammi Kapoor echoes that sentiment, revealing that Rafi could always capture Shammi’s style, his grace, his energy, imagining how he would “jump or roll or lift his hand or shake a leg.” (more…)

By Dr.Vasudha Theertharam

Mohd Rafi

I have nothing to give my friend Rafi saab except a few thoughts. A tribute to the maestro on his 31st death anniversary.

Dost
I miss you.
In your absence-
the blue sky is barren
the once rosy cheeks are ashen
Nature is somersaulting
Memories abound.
Where are you? Where are you?
I miss you.

In your memory dost, a humble submission of my ego—here I go. (more…)

By KS Ramachandran

Mohd Rafi with Sharada

Thirty one years after his demise, songs of the legend lives on and forever. Much has been talked about Rafi Saab, all these years and we all, without exception, miss him more and more every year and the pain seems to grow as we move on in life. Many shows and events showcasing his melodious and versatile renditions are seen all over India and abroad on his birth (24^th Dec 1924) and death (31^st July 1980) anniversaries. Many living and singing celebrities like Shri SP Balasubramaniam (SPB) and Shri KJ Yesudoss (KJY) claim that there can be no other playback singer like Rafi Saab. SPB reassures the music world that Rafi Saab is the “ultimate” in playback singing, while KJY emotionally conveys that Rafi Saab has been his “Manaseega Guru” (Guru of his heart). There are many such great artists that we all know, are true “Rafi Bakhts”. (more…)

by Sanjeev Kumar Dixit

Mohd Rafi

On this 31st July, 31st death anniversary of RAFI SAHAB I wants to share few miracles with the readers of website, which I have seen in my life and shared by others. I am also sending few pictures in which RAFI SAHAB is looking likes a SAINT. (more…)