By Amarjit Singh Kohli, founder chairman of Yaadgar-e-Rafi society

Mohammad Rafi claimed to have sung 28,000 songs. He didn’t go beyond 5,000.

Legendary singer Mohammad Rafi had a 36-year-long career. But till 1991, there was no clarity on the total number of songs he sang. If we go by the articles and programmes on Rafi in the media, this number is somewhere around 28,000. However, this seems unrealistic, as 28,000 songs in 36 years means that Rafi sang an average of 777 songs each year. Out of the 36 years, if we subtract the years between 1970-76, when Kishore Kumar emerged as the most popular singer and Rafi did not get many singing contracts, the average comes to about 1,000 songs a year. This means 2.74 songs per day. This is not humanly possible. (more…)

By Biman Baruah

(Shardhanjali to Rajesh Khanna)
NAFRAT KI DUNIYA KO CHOD KAR PYAR KI DUNIYA MEIN KHUSH REHNA MERE YAAR

This is the only Mohammed Rafi song aired when actor Rajesh Khanna passed way on 18^th July, 2012 due to prolong illness and his funeral procession crowded by mourners in the street which made a mark after 32 years, last seen at the time of funeral of Rafi Sahab. The song created a history in Hindi Film Music. The producers and actor of the film Haathi Mere Saathi (earlier named as Pyar Ki Duniya) wanted all the songs are to be recorded in the voice of Kishore Kumar. But after several attempt, Kishore Kumar unable sing this heartbreaking song as desired by the composers then tussle begin between producer, actor and music director duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal. (more…)

By Dr. Kuldeep Mathur.

Mohd Rafi

India has produced many great singers, since great Tansen, Sehgal and Mohammed Rafi is considered in this link.  Many of the Historians and Hindi film critics wrote about them and their life’s but very few of them had engaged to see the celestial singing of the above noted singers of their time.

What a voice they had! Our present generation is much more linked with Mohammed Rafi and prefer his songs because of their excellent, marvelous and celestial singing naturally pure and melodious voice still enthralls us, his songs connect us with emotional moments of life. (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi

The film Barsaat Ki Raat released in 1960 was a milestone in music in bollywood films. It was directed by PL Santoshi. The music was composed by Roshan Lal Nagrath. Lyrics were written by Sahir Ludhianvi. The film exposed the versatility of Mohammad Rafi, who took the songs to a higher dimension than what they deserved.

Rafi had to face the capability of orthodox qawalli singers like SD Batish, Bande Hasan and Balbeer. Manna Dey was there and he always earned reputation of singing brilliant qawallis throughout his career. The female singers used included Suman Kalyanpur, Sudha Malhotra, Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar and Kamol Barot. (more…)

“Parda Hai Pardah” a timeless qawwali from the 1977 film “Amar Akbar Anthony,” showcases Mohammed Rafi’s unparalleled vocal brilliance, blending devotion and romance.
By: H.A.K. Walijah

Mohammed Rafi imprinted his name on the musical firmament with his appealing voice. His songs do not fail to mesmerize us, he is still fondly remembered for his captivating songs in Hindi films.  What is it about Rafi that pulls people 31 years after his death? Surely not just his singing – but also something deeper, sublime, spiritual to his melodious and mellifluous voice.

By Sanjeev
for the MADAN MOHAN Family

Mohd Rafi with Sanjeev Kohli, taken  on  30th July1980, one of Sanjeev’s  Proudest  moments,  ever!

We were blessed that we had the good fortune to spend some memorable moments with the great Rafi Saab. We were blessed that, as Madanji’s children, we had this privilege during Madanji’s lifetime, including attending various memorable recordings. And then, later in 1979/80, when I produced various non-film albums with the legend. (more…)

By Milan Shah and Pravin B Dave

Mohd Rafi

Mohammed Rafi Saab IS NOT the BEST MALE singer. HE simply is THE BEST!

One has to attentively listen to his duets with the lady artists and also to the tandems. In all those not only he holds the sway but also comes out superior- ahesaan tera hoga muj par; teri aankhon ke siva duniya main rakkha kya hai; jab pyar kisise hota hai, and many more. (more…)

The following is by Mahesh Prasad Rijal, Nasreen Hafesjee and Jugdish Lollbeeharry

Mohd Rafi

The Great Late Mohammad Rafi was a melody king. Whenever I hear his voice I always become fresh from any boredom situation. He had such power in his voice that it could expose out the inner core of hearty emotions of every person who tried to get lost in his peculiar melody. Even now it is as refreshing as it could get. He had voice as melodious as an incarnation of god. He cannot be compared to any singer of anytime, such melodious was his era. He was truly a blessing for his parents. He deserves everlasting dignity. (more…)

By Shashikant Dubey and Ahamed Kutty

Mohd Rafi

I am a huge fan of Rafi Saahab. When i was around 10 in the year 1993, the first song that I heard of his voice was ‘Yahoo!! Chahe Koi Mujhe Junglee Kahe. At that time I did not knew who was Rafi, then I heard another gem of his and that was ‘Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan Hai Bada‘. (more…)

By Vijay Bavdekar and Yunus Sumra

Mohd Rafi in Concert

संगीतकी दुनियाके तानसेनो तथा कानसेनो……  सदाबहार रफीसहब के सम्मानमे मेरी भावनाओंका गुलदस्ता पेश करता हूँ …..ऐ मोहम्मद रफ़ी तेरी रुखसतपर आंसू निकल पड़े थे …तेरी खामोशी दिल चीर गयी थी ….लेकिन यह सोचकर  ऊपरवालेसे न कोई  गिला किया था न कोई शिकवा,.के.शायद उसे भी तेरी याद सताती होगी ….उसकी संगीत सभा तेरेबिन अधूरी होगी ..यही सोचकर  हम आंसू पी गए थे……ऐ रफ़ी तेरे मुहब्बत भरे,प्यारभरे अनगिनत नगमोने वो सुकून दिया जो जन्नत में भी नसीब नहीं होगा (more…)