Diary of a Rafi fan
Written by: J.K. Bhagchandani
This piece is inspired by the write-ups of some distinguished writers on this forum describing how they became a Rafi-fan. I thought to pen down my account on this subject.
Mohd Rafi
The music and especially the film songs fascinated me from as early days as I can remember. Those were the days when radio and especially Vividh Bharti was the main source of access to film music. In early days, the songs of all singers like Rafi saab, Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Talat Mehamood, Kishore Kumar etc. fascinated me with no specific favorites.
But slowly my liking graph of Rafi took an ascending path. His voice mesmerized me like a magical spell. While all singers were great but I found his voice having that something extra, something indescribable which can only be felt. The most notable feature being the wide spectrum of songs that he sang with seemingly effortless ease. In those days it was quite common that two or three consecutive songs of Rafi saab were played on Vividh Bharti. And more often than not, these songs used to be contrasting in nature. For example: Na kisi ki aankh kaa noor hoon……. followed by Baar baar dekho.… or Nain lad jaee hain to…… followed by ‘Yaad na jaaye beete dinin ki….’. I was wonder-struck by his range.
His songs of various genres like romantic, patriotic, bhajans, Ghazals, folk based, classical based etc.amazed me no end. How can same singer deliver such diverse musical output? He was like a single window outlet for all songs’ solutions. ‘Abhi na jaao chhod kar…..’, ‘Tumhari zulf ke saaye mein sham kar loonga….’ or ‘’Tum hi tum ho mere jeewan mein…’ brought my romantic attributes to the fore, ‘Apni azadi ko ham hargiz mitaa sakte nahin….’ or Awaz do hum ek hain…’ instilled ‘patriotic josh’ in me and propelled me to fight for my motherland….. ‘Bhajan bina bawre tune heera janm ganwaaya…. or ‘Man tadpat hari darshan ko aaj …’ made my head bow in front of almighty. Whenever I felt down and out, I just listen to ‘Manjhi chal oh manjhi chal……’ to infuse the feeling of positivity in me. For all my moods and times, there was Rafi saab with some of his song to fall back upon, to get motivation, to feel happy and peppy, to feel the pathos …and so on so forth.
The rapid upward swing of Rafi graph soon ensured that he is at No. 1 position (as far as my choices were concerned). No day passed without my listening to 10-15 songs of Rafi saab. The magic of his voice reached the core of my heart and made me feel as if he is somewhere around there, in that room, hiding behind the radio. I used to think “It is not humanly possible not to get swayed by this voice.”
‘Man Chahe Geet’, ‘Chhaya Geet’, ‘Fauji Bhaiyon ke liye’ on Vividh Bharti and ‘Binaca Geet Mala’ on Radio Ceylon were the most sought after film songs progrmmes. Only thing that used to make me sulk was that many a times the song would not be played full due to time constraints. I remember songs like ‘Sapne jhhare phool se, mit chubhe shool se….’ and that great qawali ‘Na to carvan ki talash hai….’ etc. were often cut mid way through.
I would like to make a special mention of one Vividh Bharti programme, the 15 minutes film songs based ‘Shubh Ratri’ at 10.45 PM. Old timers will recall that this used to be the last of their broadcast of the day. It had 3-4 lullaby type soothing songs to tranquilize you to sleep. ‘Main gaoon tum so jaao…(Brahmachari)’, ‘Aaj kal mein dhal gaya…(Aaj Aur Kal)’, Taaron ki zubaan par hai mohabbat ki kahani..’ (Nausherwan-e-Aadil) were often played songs in that lovely programme. Those days in summer, we used to sleep on terrace and I used to take my Phillips Bahadur transistor to my bed on terrace to listen to Shubh Ratri programme. Imagine listening in your bed to Rafi saab’s ‘Aaj Kal mein dhal gaya din hua tamam..’ after a long tiring day; or ‘taaron ki zuban par hai mohabbat ki kahani… under the starry night sky lying in the bed on the terrace. It was pure magic. As if Rafi saab’s fatherly hands are gently touching my forehead to ensure my peaceful sleep (gardish mein thake haaron kaa maatha sehalata jaoon…… main gaaon tum so jao……..). Rafi saab’s ‘Ae chand zara ruk ja….’ Kishore’s ‘Thandi hawa ye chandni suhani.. (Jhumroo), Hemant’s ‘Ne ye chand hoga na taare rahenge…, etc. used to be some other magical songs of that programme.
We hardly had any interview or any other media coverage of Rafi saab. I (and for that matter most people) knew Rafi saab only through his songs and that ever smiling, shining face of Rafi saab seen in the photographs in film magazines. That cool, calm face was the index of a thorough gentle soul of a saint. In the later years when Rafi saab life slowly unfolded (through various articles in magazines, interviews of his musical colleagues), it became apparent that this man was a gift of God (not only musically also as a human being) to ordinary mortals like us.
Rafi saab devotion to his work, his simple and dedicated life has tremendously influenced my thought process. By profession I am an Architect, working on projects of various natures, some being more important than others. A ‘not so important’ project would at times not enthuse me, not make me put the kind of effort that it would normally require. At these moments I think of Rafi saab, who would give his best irrespective of the banner of the film, actor or music director (established or new comer) and other commercial aspects. This thought would motivate me, infuse drive in me to ensure that even ‘not so important’ projects also get my professional attention.
J.K. Bhagchandani, the author of this article
I consider myself to be very lucky that I had seen a Rafi saab’s live progrmme at Delhi sometime in 1979. What a blessed day that was!….. Rafi saab in front of me at some distance singing in his charismatic voice that I had grown up with. He sang songs of all moods. I specifically remember ‘O duniya ke rakhwale…..’. He delivered the lines ‘Mahal udaas aur galiyan sooni…’ in a different style. Oh dear! It was divine. Did someone say that Rafi had lost the midas touch in seventies?? That someone had to be present there at Rabindra Rangshala in Delhi on that day and then comment on the so-called diminishing voice quality of singing God.
Rafi saab had left his mortal frame 30 years ago. 30 years is a long time by any stretch imagination. 3 to 4 generations of musical personalities have come and gone but he still remains the benchmark for all musicians, aspiring singers. He remains the most revered, most respected and most loved singer of HFM, as if he is still there, blessing us with his musical wealth.
God of voice no. 1 singer sweet voice, sunta hun to khush ho jata hun, kya aur koi rafi sahab aayega ? Tum mujhe yun bhula na paoge, meri awaz suno, kalli ghata chai all enchanting songs which captured your hearts….
god of voice no. 1 singer sweet voice, sunta hun to khush ho jata hun
Bhagchandaniji, I love your article and like Dheeraj ji agree with what you’ve written but once again have to say the only difference being that I always knew Rafi’s voice was special and his voice being so mesmerising impacted on me like no other singer so he was my favourite right from the beginning. I have to admit I am very envious that you got the chance to see the legend live, over 30 years on and no one has been able to come close. I don’t think any song sung today no matter who the artist is is remembered for more than a day. The lyrics are often meaningless and I don’t even want to talk about the racket sorry I mean music!
Bhagchandani ji, you are simply great, I totally agree with you in all the lines you have written in this article. In fact I have the same feelings about Rafi Sahab as you do. My whole family is his fan. And begging to differ a little from you , I would like to say that I did not have any other singer in my mind when it came to liking him/her. It was Rafi, Rafi and only Rafi all the way since sometime in 1983 when we got a cassette having 15-16 Rafi songs. I was only 7 then. And as you feel fortunate enough to have seen Him live, l don’t have that great luck. But then, I have found another way of considering myself lucky. That is, I had taken birth in his lifetime , i. e., on 12-10-1976. As to liking only Rafi as the best singer, my idea is that Lata is undoubtedly the best female singer. Ladies are generally endowed with sweeter voice from God’s abode itself so there is no greatness in Lata having the sweetest female voice. But when it comes to male voice it is generally not sweet. But listening to Rafi’s songs it is manifest how sweet it can get. And the variety in Rafi’s songs clearly tells us what magic he brought in his numbers was practically impossible for his peers of all time.
SHANDAAR ……
he sings like an artist make a portraite very beautiful portrait but the difference in the portraite of other artist and rafi sahab is that the portraite itself gives its introduction to u its become alive his songs are such like that portraite no other singer can do this they can only make beautiful paintings cant give life to paintings but only rafi sahab can do this
To think about my life without Rafi’s songs is un-bearable & un- thinkable,he was Allaha’s nekha bhanda blessed with voice gifted by none other than Goddess Saraswati, we all should consider ourselves lucky that I was lucky to see him in flesh & blood and humble witness to his magical voice,however, my love,affinity and respect has been ever since growing and growing and he is now part & parcel of my existence and will be my breath till my last breath. Wherever,he maybe I am sure he is comfortably blessed and rested as no Rafi will be born once again.
Somebody says that Kishore Kumar’s Film Fair Award was 8 and Rafi’award was 6.In Rafi lifetime Kishore was 4 and Rafi was 6.Kishore could not cross Rafi till his lifetime.Again Rafi got National Award but Kishore did not get any National Award.
Allah will never make again like Mohd.RAFI,Rafi Sahb Ko Janat-e- Ferdous Nasseb Ogaa Ensha Allah,i pray always for him,that allah forgive him.
RAFI SAHB JESA NA KOYE TAH NA KOYE HAI NA KOYE HOGA
he was only the one of golden voice of India,
Wish he ware between us
WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU RAFI SAHB
ALLAH APP KOO JANAT NASIB KARAI
Ahmad Zameer
Kabul Afgahnistan
Rafi Sahib was a gift of God to mankind. A source of peace and pure joy. God bless his soul. Ameen.
This is the first time for me on this site. I am truly amazed and overwhelmed by the feelings of the writers from all over india. I thought I was a very huge fan of Rafi Songs but….. i m speechless.
The Golden voice, incomparable sweet and soft, that was criticized at some sites as being feminine, has truly inspired me through out my life. As a eleven year old I saw Rafi’s ‘Jananza’ in the pouring rain in the Mumbai Doordarshn New. It was pouring like anything and the sea of people (Rafi contemporaries and fellow musician and stars) was there to bid the maestro adieu. I did not understand much about music still dont. As somebody said the beautiful is to be felt from the heart. I have always scoured the english print media over the years for any material /information about rafi, but rarely found such tributes.
The very humane and humble quality has always emerged from all his contemporaries in the film industry be they star singers, composers or aquintances. These people were very fortunate to have known Mohammad Rafi and worked alongside him.
My generation was exposed to rafi as well as other greats of his time, but todays generation is mostly aware of oldest music as R. D. Burman,s. The Hindi film music did not start with RDB. All the FM channels are obsessed by the phenomena called RDB, neatly sidelining everybody else including the great Sachin Dev Burman.
I do not like to go to any concert shows where other singers sing songs sung by Rafi, while paying hearfelt tribute, for th simple reason that there will not be the original Mohammed Rafi of the Golden heart, which is truly visible in his voice, tangible, can be sensed.
I think my comment has become too long now, rest of the thoughts some other time, may be on 31/07/2010.
God bless for now.
Post 37…a SIMPLE SONG LIKE teri pyaari pyaari surat ko kisi ki nazar na lage was made in to pure gold by mohd rafi saab. there are countless of them. infact this is one of the song that ‘made’ me a mohd rafi fan.
there is a story behind the song. hasrat jaipuri went to see his child in the hospital. when he saw the bubbly child – he muttered : teri pyari pyari surat ko kisi ke nazar la lag jaaye…. and the immortal song was born.
the gold – en songs of mohd rafi will go nowhere – be assured.
binu nair, rafi foundation, mumbai…
cell.. 9833 250 701
Whatever depicted is remarkable and non explainable
There are personalities who are beyond awards. In fact they adorn awards, awards do not adorn them. Rafi Sahab was one such priceless gem. I cannot dream of the fate of those immortal songs had Rafi Sahab not lent his magical voice to them. “Bheegi palke otha meri jaan gam na kar ye judai ke pal bhi gujar jayenge”, “Chal ud ja re panchi ke ab ye des huwa begana”, “Tera kaam hai jalna parwane chahe shama jale ya na jale”, “Mohabbat zinda rahti mohabbat mar nahi sakati” like there are so many songs which got immortal because Rafi Sahab had lent his soulful and immaculate and celestial voice to them and we are blessed to savour them for eternity.
The ambiance and songs that you have mentioned have made me nostalgic. The songs like “Maine Chand aur Sitaron ki Tamanna ki thi Mujhe Raaton ke Phiyahi ke siva Kuch na Mila”, “Sawan ki Raaton me Aisa bhi Kuch hota hi”, “Tute hue kwabo ne hum ko ye sikhaya hai” and many such songs from Rafi Sahab have a theraupatical effects to our soul and being.
Hi
Mohd rafi don’t deserves bharat ratan award because he was he is and he will be bharat ratan but award is only for his fans………..
JKB SAAB POST 27…..
RAFI SAAB KE DIWANE KAUN NAHI HAI?… Recently in CALICUT, my aunt a 75 year old leading gynaecologist DOCTOR was asking me many details of Mohd Rafi Saab.
In CALICUT, MANGALORE, KANHANGAD we had capacity crowds to listen to Rafi Saab Songs. In Quilon and in Cochin we met WONDERFUL RAFI FANS. These people do not EVEN speak HINDI . But their RAFI LOVE IS remarkably splendid.
YEARS BACK from my first salary, I HAD TAKEN MY MOM AND SISTER TO A MOHD RAFI CONCERT AT GOREGOAN – ST.THOMAS SCHOOL GROUND, GOREGOAN EAST which you will never miss while approaching GOREGOAN station. This was somewhere in 1979. THEY ARE BIG FANS OF RAFI SAAB. This was a glorius GOLDEN day of my life – it seems now.
in fifty five years of his life, forty two years were devoted to CREATE the GREATEST IMPACT on INDIAN MUSIC. WE SALUTE MOHD RAFI.
Jagdishbhai, that narration in your post no. 27 about your flight-mate, the bengali gentleman from tripura was a nice episode. I read the last few lines again and again and my eyes became moist too. In how high esteem so many music lovers hold Rafi Sahab is seen day in and day out. Thanks for sharing this lovely experience with all of us. Do you not have the gentleman’s name and contact numbers ? Since he was travelling with you back to delhi, surely he can be contacted again. Nice post from you though.
J.K. Bhagchandani Ji…
After a long time I could manage to access my most adorable place on cyber space mohd rafi dot com…and the first comment I read is one from u! Rofi is Rofi!
Yeah for sure our God is God always only thing we need is heart that can understand purity to realise this fact.
Ou My God, its the fist time with tears in my eyes, I`m feeling so much nostalgic.
quoting words from above 27, ““I shook hand with him… but till date I regret the fact that I did not touch his feet.”
I`ve already shared with u all about my experience with him,as how Rafi sahab won a little arrogant girl with all the love and a gentle touch over my 8 yrs old face , just like his smooth flow of voice!
Oh! I couldn`t even shook hand, not even could see him with complete gaze but was lost in act of repulsion, yet his self illumined love for everyone is something that makes him divine……
And I`m agree with Binuji`s frnd that for sure if such a person is not an object of adoration then who would be? lets not talk of religious cult for our frnd from other sites would start a new debate again, but simply person like Rafi Sahab is lesson to humanity………….only some more time is needed till the clouds of politics and misunderstanding sheds away.
Post 27 JKB SAAHEB : HAR GHAR ME EK RAFI LOVER HAI JAISE KE HAR GHAR ME EK SACHIN TENDULKAR LOVER HOTE HAI.
JAI RAFI SAAHEB..
BINU NAIR
This is the first time I have opened this website and I feel as if my own voices and emotions are echoed here. It all started when all of a sudden I badly wanted to find the lyrics of this song so that I can hum these, and … I land up looking at this intresting piece staqrted by a Rafi Fan .
Excellent begining and I hope it reaches further .
haldarji that was not only very interesting, but hilarious too. is that website still working ? I would check that up myself. can these software-rafi bhakts bring something very unique and inspiring ? I would like to see that happen.
post 21:
Murty ji,
You are right that a lot of IT professionals are inspired by Rafi saab. The Junglee site was founded by a couple of guys from IIT-Kanpur who are huge fans of the Shammi-Rafi combo. There’s a famous song of rafi saab that has been translated by IT kids; it has been out in cyberspace for quite a few years. Thought you’d like it.
———-
If Guru Dutt had been a software consultant in the US.
(The following should be sung to the tune of an old Hindi classic song sung by late Mohammed Rafi. “Yeh Duniya agar mil bhi jayaye to kya hai…”)
YEH DOCUMENT, YEH MEETINGS, YEH FEATURES KI DUNIYA
YEH INSAAN KE DUSHMAN, CURSORS KI DUNIYA
YEH DEADLINES KE BHOOKE, MANAGEMENT KI DUNIYA
YEH PRODUCT AGAR BAN BHI JAAYE TO KYA HAI?
YAHAAN EK KHILONA HAI PROGRAMMER KI HASTI
YEH BASTI HAI MURDA BUG-FIXERS KI BASTI
YAHAAN PAR TO RAISES HAI, INFLATION SE SASTI
YEH REVIEW AGAR HO BHI JAAYE TO KYA HAI?
HAR EK KEYBOARD GHAYAL, HAR EK LOGIN PYAASI
EXCEL MEIN ULJHAN, WINWORD MEIN UDAASI
YEH OFFICE HAI YA AALAME MICROSOFT KI
YEH RELEASE AGAR HO BHI JAAYE TO KYA HAI?
JALAA DO ISE, PHOONK DO YEH MONITOR
MERE SAAMNE SE HATAA DO YEH MODEM
TUMAHAARA HAI TUMHI SAMBHAALO YE COMPUTER
YEH PRODUCT AGAR CHAL BHI JAAYE TO KYA HAI?
Recently I went on official tour to Bina. While returning I traveled from Bina to Bhopal by road (to catch Bhopal-Delhi flight) accompanied by a colleague of mine. With him it was just exchange of pleasantries and ‘hi-hello’ level acquaintance. But as normally happens, this kind of travel leads to more close level of communication and understanding each other.
He was a Bengali gentleman from Tripura. After sometime I asked him about the famous son of Tripura (music director S.D. Burman). His eyes lit up. He was very keen of telling about him, his music. We also discussed about other music maestros like Salil Chowdhary, Naushad, O.P. Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan, Roshan etc. Then I asked him who is his favourite singer. After a brief pause he said that all singers of that golden era were great but (he added in a typial Bangla accent) “Rofi is Rofi”. I told him that he has almost snatched my words from my mouth (except the accent, of course). Then we talked a lot about the singing phenomenon called Mohammed Rafi, his saint-like life style etc. He narrated about his brief meeting with Rafi saab at a live programme during his college days. After the programme he had gone back stage to see Rafi saab more closely and on reaching to him, he shook hands with the singing God. Then what this colleague of mine said overwhelmed me. He said “I shook hand with him… but till date I regret the fact that I did not touch his feet.”
Bottom line is ‘Rafi is Rafi.”
Binu ji (Post 23):
Thank you very much for the encouraging words. Nice to see you back. You are indeed doing a great job in the memory of Rafi saab.
Murty ji (Posts 21 & 22):
Adabrafi. I feel great that this write-up is considered worthy of being included in the forthcoming book. Thank you very much Sir!!
I thank all others (notably Vinod Kapoor, Siva, Sabnaweez, NKV Rangarao, Nasreen, Amin… and all who have responded) for nice and appreciative posts. I am overwhelmed.
J.K. Bhagchandani
MURTHY JI: TWO Books ON MOHD RAFI SAAB IS BEING READIED. THE FIRST ON IS FROM DHIRENDRA BHAI WHO IS WRITING IT IN HINDI. THIS BOOK WOULD BE TRANSLATED IN TO ENGLISH, MALAYALAM AND URDU – as of now.
The second one is a book consisting of articles WRITTEN by RAFI SAAB LOVERS, song details and its appreciation.
On July 31st, RADIO GERMANY, DUBAI fms, RADIO MIRCHI WILL BE AIRING RAFI SPECIALS. The news is that THE I AND B MINISTRY IS MAKING A SPECIAL DVD ON RAFI SAAB.
MY FRIEND SAYS : after 50 years, people will start worshipping rafi saab like SHIRDI KE SAIBABA. Well . with a MESSIAH like Rafi saab, all these are only natural.
bhagchandani saab,
a very simple, yet beautiful description of how you became a fan of the maestro. thank you so much for sharing. i especially liked your description of the “lullaby” songs….very touching.
bhagchandani saaheb : BAHUT KHOOB. I AM BACK AFTER A SHORT HOLIDAY.
LIKHTE RAHIYE. WE ARE LIKING IT. RAFI-ism IS HERE TO STAY, FOR GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS. GOOD TO KNOW U HAVE HEARD RAFI SAAHEB AT DELHI. OUR FRIEND ZORAWAR WAS ALSO THERE AS A 10 YEAR OLD LAD.
WE WILL MEET IN DELHI FOR THE RAFI CONCERT ON JULY 24. PLS BE IN TOUCH. AND YES LIKHTE REHNA. WE ARE LIKING IT.
Bhagchandaniji. Your write up will be part of the forthcoming book.
A S MURTY
Many of the rafi bhakts are i.t. professionals and are in the software industry. I have been wanting to address them all for a long time and thought this forum would be the right place to begin with. What i would like is that the software specialists should all come under one fora and design and develop something unique as a befitting tribute to Rafi sahab. Come up with something which the world has not seen before. Devise something that becomes a benchmark for fans of other legends to follow suit at a later date. Create something unique that will become the talk of the music industry, nay the country too. Can we see something evolve which will sweep us all off our feat ? Can our young and dynamic software specialists show to the world that the Rafi Fans would go where no other has dared to go ? If such a project needs good writers in English and Hindi, we have plenty to choose from amongst the Rafi Bhakts. Give them a platform to provide you with the prose and poetry inputs. Embark on a journey which will give each one of us the ultimate satisfaction of having done our bit to Rafi Sahab in return for the untold and unimaginable bliss that Rafi Sahab has given through his thousands of songs. Not a day passes when we do not hear some of our favourite songs in the godly voice of Rafi Sahab. But that should not be our only involvement with Rafi Sahab. We must also be doers. Imaginations, once let loose, can bring out the impossible horizons within our reach. Grab the opportunity now friends, while we still have this life. Any assistance that I can do in any creative activity which revolves around the name of Rafi Sahab, I would be only too happy to render the same.
A S MURTY
SECRETARY
RAFI FOUNDATION,
Hyderabad Chapter
093912 67272 – rafimurty@gmail.com
I also had similar wonderful experiences on hearing those beautiful songs…
very nice write up.
Rafi Sb had complete range of all sorts of songs. Every situation every moment of life can be enjoyed with his voice.
Expect more like such a good article.
Regards,
-Imran-
Dear Bhagchandanijee,!
Excellent work! Rafi Sahab is Immortal!
“Zindagee ki pareshaniyon mein, khushi ki lahar hain Rafi
Shor-o-gul bhare is Maahaul mein, ek sureela ehsaas hain Rafi
Muhabbat bhare dilon ki saaz ka aawaaz hain Rafi!
Dil ke bechaain ahsaahsaat ka quaraar hain Rafi!
Anginat Logon ki Chaahat, Baadshah-e-Mausiqui hain Rafi”
Hats off Rafi Saahab, aap jaisa koi nahi!
A S Murty ji (Post 11):
Thanks for your post and appreciation. I will feel highly obliged and privileged if this write-up is considered worth being published in the forthcoming book that you mentioned. Please go ahead. Also request you to bring out those 20 lovely write-ups of Rafi-fans on this forum also.
-J.K. Bhagchandani
after going through this article,i had a feeling that, if i were to express my feelings, i would have done the same way…great sir.
Mr.Bhagchandani,aap ne hamein bachpan mein legaye aur new generation ko bata diya ke RAFI SAHEB kya insaaan hain.What a pleasant days were.And future will Rafi saab will be ALIVE among our children lives.
HUM USEY YOON BHOOLA NA PAYENGE, JAB KABI BHI SUNO GEY GEET MERE ,SAG SANG TUM BHI GONGUNAOGE,
Sab reader ko salam
AJAIB SHABBIR
This is real nostalgia……. while reading I got transferred to my childhood days … in the late sixties and early seventies period these programmes were hits with listeners. Among film magazines there used be four in english which were well read…. old timers can recollect…. star & style… filmfare…. picturepost…. screen newspaper. Stardust was launched sometime around 1974 if I am not wrong. I saw first photograph of Shri Mohd.Rafi in Star & Style and couldnot believe he was a middle aged man. Until then I purely visualised that Shammji, Rajendra Kumarji and Dilip Kumar Saab sang all those memorable numbers and romanced by themselves. But I kept hearing Ameen Sayani Saab say that so and so song was sung by Rafi Saab and Lataji, Ashaji or Kishoreda…. I was a regular listener of Fauji Bhaiyon Ke Liye which was played on Sundays from 3pm to 3.45pm in Vivid Bharati in the late sixties and was anchored sometimes by popular film celebrites. I can just sum it up that very few names are remembered after their depature to eternity…. 30 years on Rafi Saab twinkling up there somewhere is still the benchmark in Hindi Film Sangeet with no one coming anywhere close to him. Rafi Saab aap ka kya kehna. My respect and salams to you up there somewhere always twinkling as a bright star.
Dear Bhagchandani Ji,
So much has heard and read about Rafi Saab, and still the thirst of Rafi fans has not yet quenched so I can finally say a few lines to the Rafi fans
” Hum deewanon ki mehfil main hosh walon ka kya kaam
socho gey jitna hamare bare main hoga utna uncha naam
samajhdari isi main hai lallu nikal le patli gali se chup chaap
warna hojaoge hamari tarha tum bhi paagal aye gulfaam.
your diary pages are splendid and marvellous brought back your bygone memories and shared by rafi ke deewane.
I thank you all Rafi fans to keep alive our Rafi Saab memories even after three decades of his physical departure from this world.
H.A.K. Walijah
Great Diary of a great and passionate fan of the farista Janab Rafi sahab..
I became nostalgic reading ur Dil Se article Prince saab..
Well done
Narayan
Bhagchandaniji hats off to you !!! What a wonderful description of your thoughts on a subject that we had first thought of here at HYDERABAD and since then I have a collection of about twenty such lovely write ups. We are coming out with a book with a collection of such vivid memories of rafi bhakts on how they became such great fans of the legend. May I use your write up too in the said forthcoming book ? Other rafi bhakts too may send such write ups not only at this website, but to my personal email id too : rafimurty@gmail.com
thanks for giving us such an interesting fare on your escapades with Rafi Sahab.
A S MURTY
SECRETARY
RAFI FOUNDATION,
Hyderabad Chapter
very good article. singer like rafi sahib will never be born again.He deserves bharat ratan award. I am also surprised at 1980 film fare award which went kk whereas there were 3 beautiful songs of rafi saab, i do not know who were the jury.
‘Loved reading this article. You have described Rafi Saab’s range in a very fitting way – and more than anything, the mention of Vividh Bharati, Chhaya Geet, binaca geet mala, brought back such fond and precious memories. i remember how we used to sit close t the radio/transistor, ears glued to it, waiting for the song to start and when it did – esp. a Rafi one like, for instance “Likhe jo khat tujhe” – oh it was bliss!!
Every song of his has had that strange uplifting magical quality. How is it possible that he was human? But he was – and like Siva Post 3 says, I am so sad that I never got a chance to see him live. But of course, i did not appreciate him as much then as i do now. Loved his songs to death yes of course, but that love has now become an ardent devotion. I think this is because as you live and experience life, you understand things better and more clearly – and I can now feel every nuance in any Rafi Saab song. When you are young, you tend to take things slightly for granted.
Oh well – only one Rafi saab and billions of fans. I wonder if he ever had any idea of how much love and passion he has inspired in people. There just cannot be another voice like his, even if there is, it certainly cannot sing like he did. Long live his memory.
Really a heart touching and soothing article . You have really poured out not only your thoughts but ours also as we can not express our thoughts like you did. I have gone back to my childhood days i used to carry a SONY transistor a great piece of luxury almost through out the day with me ,listening to VIVIDH BHARATHI and RADIO CEYLON. As you said i never used to miss binaca geet mala and chaya geet,it was a treat to listen to Rafi saa along with lata,Asha,Kishore,Mannady Talat and Hemantda and it was a golden period.Rafi saab was above all his verstality is great even after 30 years you remember his voice and songs. His songs are still fresh as a flower. Once again i thank you for the article which has taken m back to those beautiful and happy days.
ab mehal udaas galiyan sooni…rafisaab ke bina…..nice write up…hv same views..kudos to u…
Dear JK sirji
You have poured out your heart in this piece of excellent portrayal of RS (Rafi Sahab). While reading I felt almost the same feelings towards him whenever I listened to his songs.
May people like you cherish the golden moments of RS in the heart of millions of his fans by such beautiful writings.
Vikram Shah
Thanks for the info. good article.
Girish Masand : gtmluv@hotmail.com
Its an interesting topic Mr Bhagchandani. You have put your feelings in a very beautiful way. I too will put an article about how me became a RAFI fan rather a worshipper of RAFI SAHAB the great.
Dear Mr Bhagchandani,
Hats off to you for a very toching and lovely article. It was straight from your heart like how Rafi’s songs were. Every fan of Rafi feels the way you have written–his songs stand by us in good times, bad times. No one can explain how a person can move you to tears with his songs-you really need to listen to his songs from your heart( I keep repeating this in this forum in many of my posts-please forgive me).
I also felt very envious of you as you were lucky to see & listen to him live which I never could. Keep writing!! Thanks once again!!
Great read. I would have similar things said.
Rafi Saheb has earned heaps of eulogies and still mesmerizes real music lovers with his rarely gifted voice and shall continue to do so. It is very difficult to master an art form and equally tough to retain its effects. Rafi saheb’s was crafted in this mould only. It was his sheer hard work and benevolence of Almighty that generations would sway over his renditions in the times to come. Ye jaado sir chad ke bolta rahega !!!!