Imagine… imagine… and imagine
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.
Talat Saahab began with equal felicity. He had a penchant to impart feelings to the words, his delivery style enveloping the genre, tenor and the mood of the song in a manner that only he could patent, despite sounding similar to his usual renditions. He too sang ‘paalta..‘ exceptionally well, yet the song never went beyond his comfort-levels in the lower and medium octaves, making it ‘his’ creation. S-J expressed a polite thank you.
Manna da jumped at this ‘classical’ opportunity, negotiated it with dexterity and came out with a memorabilia that only one in his truest elements can bring out. It had everything but the base and depth of the ultimate. Thanks over, the search now got directed to Hemant da.
The sonority, the heavy base and the pain in dada’s voice brought out some more facets of the song…yet that ‘paalta…’ stretch appeared to be nightmare.
KK simply refused to be a party to something which required so many gyrations. MK came, sang and disappeared. The self-proclaimed disciple of the maestro was good in lower. medium and higher domains – yet managed to make it another ‘mere desh ki dharti sona ugley…‘ only.
‘Koshish karta hoon‘….a small feeble voice squeaked ( it is a surprise friends, but minus the mike Rafi Saahab’s voice indeed was very common place, almost an apology to the ethereal impression it creates when he is a performer ).
This was a man-possessed. He delved deep into the lyrics, imbibed its puritan message, drank its elixir and then let the tune run sub consciously in his mind, many times over. Like a true disciple listening attentively to the Guru, not questioning, not getting distracted, not thinking of anything except re-running it mentally. Except that in this instance, he was his own inner and outer voice. Tera saain tujjh mein, jaan sake toh jaan…as Kabir would have said it.
And then it suddenly started happening. Rehearsals after rehearsal, the tune was getting a newer face-lift with each trial. Within the cloak, you could visualise the heart, the yearning, a repressed desire, a failure, hopelessness, in a manner that only actual hurt can cause to a performer. This was complete. This was the ultimate. This was absolute.
Excellence has got to be absolute. It can not afford a compromise. Na bhooto na bhavishyati.
I have the highest regard for the above mentioned singers, friends, each one a gem, a conqueror. But whereas the others overwhelmed you by conquering you, this man smiles at you, winks at times, cries with you, celebrates, shares a philosophical thought with you, shows you the direction – and remains with you. Unobtrusively, he collates all the ideas, nuances and feelings into visuals and stretches his own endowments to their limits. That final product, a combined effort of so many thus far, hereafter gets a signature of its own.
31st July is just a date on the calendar. For us, every day is 31st July. His songs, playing in the background have put an end to even death, many times over. Listen to this link and savour the voice of life.
Aadab Rafi. Aabad Rafi.
I remember somebody from our hindi film industry (some lyrics writer or music director) saying this “There was strike in the studio where rafi sahab was supposed to sing this song “yaad na jaaye biten dino ki..” and rafi sahab was unaware of this situation.” That person continues “Rafi sahab came to the recording studio and found the muscians sitting gossiping. Rafi sahab asked what is the matter “kya aaj recording nahin hongi” the musicians replied that today is strike. So rafi sahab said “thik hai to main jaata hoon” and that day rafi sahab had very high fever too. This was noticed by few musicians and discussed among themselves and requested rafi sahab not to go but they will play the music as he has come all the way to the studio for the recording and that too inspite of being not well.” The song was recorded and you all know how success was this song. Please listen to the song and feel the fever pain rafi sahab had when he starts “yaad na jaaye” you will feel the reality when you hear the first word “yaad ….”. Friends its true People of that time and of today respect our dear Rafi sahab more than their ownselves. Hope the coming generation too respect rafi sahab as rafi sahab deserves this respect.
Mohammad Rafi!!!! The King of Melody!!!! His name speaks for itself!!!! Today, back in 1980, his sublime voice silenced forever, giving answer to the last song sung by him: “Shaam phir kyun udaas hai dost”. Disharmony prevailed in the air. His death was a great loss to the world of music industry. The Government of India announced a two-day public holiday on his death, honouring him. On his death anniversary, I usually spend the day listening to his voice which takes me down the memory lane reminding me of all his soulful and sweet-sounding songs. An article in Times of India, published on 24 July 2010 sums up his voice as, “If there are 101 ways of saying “I love you” in a song, Mohammed Rafi knew them all. The awkwardness of puppy love, the friskiness of teen romance, the philosophy of unrequited love and the anguish of heartbreak – he could explore every crevice of ardour. It wasn’t just love, his voice could capture the navras of life – a failed poet’s melancholy, a fiery unionist’s vim, a debt-ridden farmer’s despair, really anybody at all. Rafi, whose career spanned nearly four decades, was a singer for every season and every reason.”
Although It’s been three decades since Md. Rafi’s left us, he is still alive in the hearts of his admirers. This reminds me of one of his very melodious songs that I would like to share with you all :
Tum mujhe yuh bhula na paoge
haan tum mujhe yuh bhula na paoge
Jab kabhi bhi sunoge geet mere
Sanng sanng tum bhi gungunaoge
Haan tum mujhe yuh bhula na paoge
Ho tum mujhe yuh …
Thanks, Uttara.
As always, you have not been miserly with appreciative words. This is one song which would rank amongst the most favourites of any retro-music fan. Glad that you liked the write-up.
Padmanabhan NR
Thank you very much, Devraj.
The greatness of rafi saahab is not in how complicated he makes it sound but in how easily he negotiates the difficult stretches to make it look so deceptively simple! Add to that the feel he imparts, it becomes divine.
Padmanabhan NR
Thanks, Achal.
I will graciously accept your appreciative words, coming as it is from one who blazes newer trails each time he writes on something dear to him.
Padmanabhan NR
Thanks, Rameshbhai.
Jo raay maine aap ko dee hai, uss ka prayog bhi sab se pehle maine apne aap par kiya hai. Ya yeh samajh leejiye ki pehla ‘guinea pig’ main hi ttha!!!
Padmanabhan NR
“”This was a man-possessed. He delved deep into the lyrics, imbibed its puritan message, drank its elixir and then let the tune run sub consciously in his mind, many times over. Like a true disciple listening attentively to the Guru, not questioning, not getting distracted, not thinking of anything except re-running it mentally. Except that in this instance, he was his own inner and outer voice. Tera saain tujjh mein, jaan sake toh jaan…as Kabir would have said it'” PERIOD. YOU SAID IT, NRP. I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS ARTICLE AND HAD READ ONLY ACHAL’S AND VASUDHA’S ARTICLES. I THOUGHT MY DAY WAS MADE. BUT NO, MY DAY JUST BEGUN AS YOUR ARTICLE UNFOLDED. AMY I HAPPY ? AND IF SO, WHY ?? YES, I AM NOW RAISED A FEW FEET ABOVE GROUND. ACHAL AND VASUDHA LIT UP THE FIRE IN ANY CASE. NRP, YOU TOPPLED ME WITH SUCH A BRAZEN WRITE UP THE LIKES OF WHICH HAVE NOT SURFACED IN RECENT TIMES.
ADABRAFI DOSTON, N R PADMANABHAN (NRP) IS HIMSELF A SELF-PROCLAIMED LATE-RAFI BHAKT. IN THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, HE HAS STUDIED RAFI SAHAB IN SUCH DEPTH THAT HE BEATS ME TO IT. FROM A TALAT MAHMOOD AND MUKESH GHARANA, NRP HAS GRADUATED TO THE RAFI GHARANA IN SUCH FLYING COLOURS THAT I HOLD MY EYES WIDE OPEN MANY A TIMES. WHY THEN WOULD I NOT BE SUCH A HAPPY MAN TODAY. I AM PERHAPS THE CLOSEST TO HIM AND HAVE SEEN HIS LIKES AND DISLIKES MUCH CLOSER THAN ANYONE ELSE. HE IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF RAFI FOUNDATION, HYDERABAD CHAPTER AND THAT MAKES ME THE PROUDEST MAN TOO. NRP, YOU HAVE ELEVATED THE WORD “TRIBUTE” TO THE HIGHEST ECHELONS. YOUR WRITE UP LOOKS AS THOUGH IT IS THE VOICE OF ALL THE RAFI BHAKTS.
KEEP WRITING ON RAFI SAHAB. THE BEST WRITE UPS BY FANS OF ANY LEGEND ANYWHERE ARE HERE – http://www.mohdrafi.com
Dear NRPbhai,
Woww….Very imaginatively written. The ‘ X’ factor of Rafisab that wasn’t present in the rest has been emphasised without slightest disregard to those singing greats. Your refined observations have truly added value to the composition. I love the rendition even more now.
In awe !!
Nagesh
Israr bhai,
Valekum assalaam. Zahe qismat ki aap ko yeh koshish acchhi lagi. bahut bahut shukriya.
Padmanabhan NR
Vasudha,
Thanks for your very generous comments. Veni, vidi, vici the maestro truly and so remarkably did – and continues to do 31 years into his death! It is his all-pervasive influence that propels novices like us to try something which too gets appreciation!!!
There will be stars galore in the sky but there will be only one sun.
Padmanabhan NR
Am just back from Kerala after a family function. Am overwhelmed with the kind of response the write-up has evoked. Will surely respond to each of you individually in a day or two. In the meanwhile, I am just acknowledging your magnanimity in appreciating my humble attempt.
Padmanabhan NR
Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter.
iamgine – imagine – imagine – nrpbhai – dearest uttharabehen – with thos bhaaree bharkamm alfaaz – oh imagine – imagine – imagine – what nrpbhai will come out with.
i am still imagining – waah
hsemar rolias
outstanding write up on rafisaab..that proves his supremacy n capacity to excel in any situation for any type of song…we say god wanted him to sing that way..he obeyed his will…we rafifans are blessed with godly voice…sada bahar..
Dear NRP,
Imagine, imagine, imagine. Imagine? Your writing is as beautiful as the sunrise.
lNRP, bas, kya kahein. Is it superb or is it superb. Your take-off was so unique. Your analysis of each singer in itself was a treat to read. Coupled with your knowledge and your felicity of writing, the article was unputdownable. You have always come out with hatke perspectives on any issue. Learnt a lot from you. i read and re-read it. I was amazed by your presentation. Such .. words fail me.
This is one of those songs which tugs at your heartstrings. Like you said, Rafi gave all his to this song. With due respect to other singers, this song was made for Rafi. The high octave gives goose bumps.
Imagine, imagine, imagine me commenting on such a wonderful article.
regards
Utthara
Dear NRP,Your brilliant writing,matched the mood while listening to this marvellous song yet again.Actually,very coincidentally while this song was being telecast during a television programme to mark Rafisaab’s death anniversary ,I was marvelling at the intensity with which the the prelude music starts and then Rafisaab’s voice comes in just taking you off to another world altogether,reaching the crescendos with utmost smoothness,and leaving you at the end in a stupor.Your post with your own inimitable style rekindled all those memories.Thanks a lot,my friend.
Best wishes.
M V Devraj
NRPbhai
the song, the singer, the mood, and the person who brought forth all this to express it in words here- all of them deserve to be highlighted and talked about, again and again.
though i read this article earlier too, i must say, each time i read it i realize that there was so much more to this divine messenger of god called Rafi Saab. his simplicity, his devotion, his penchant for precision, and above all, his great belief that someone was making him sing so purely- all this comes out in each composition of his.
thank you sir for a wonderful write up.
regards
achal rangaswamy
Rafi’s singing attributes are beyond anybodie’s capacity to imbibe or describe him.
pradeepji and nrpbhai,
my comment is lost in ” spam ” – kindly retrieve and print as it is noit accepting again – says repeated.
Excellence has got to be absolute. It can not afford a compromise. Na bhooto na bhavishyati.
my dearest friend – nrpbhai,
everytime, you write – the words copied above apply to you in totality.
and you tell me – a rookie in writing – to just ” ungliyaan chedo rafi sahab likho aur kuchh naa kucchh likh jayegaa.
you have that magic in you – you could write at will – and stand out – a class apart.
yes – how true – none could have sung ” paltaa unko jatan se ” the way it came out of the breath of this divne singing avataar – rafi sahab.
unkey baareymein jitnaa likho utnaa kamm hai
rafi sahab – akshaipatra hain.
ramesh narain kurpad
Janab Assalamalekum,
Aaj Rafi Saab ki death Anniversary par mein Allah se dua karta hu ki Allah apne Habib Paak ke sadke me Jannat me Ala se Ala Makam Ata famaiye.
Hi NRP
Words blurred as I listened to the song and read your write up simultaneously not able to figure out which one of the two brought more gratification,the intensity of your write up or the soul stirring rendition by Rafi.Veni vidi vici was all I could imagine the two of you humbly saying behind the veil of modesty-Remain here sir just the way you are, enthralling us with your write ups.Sooooooooooper!
vasudha