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…)

By Vilas Parulekar and Binu Nair : From the Rafi Foundation : Mumbai

Mohd Rafi with Afgan Singer Jhela

Mai Bhari Mehfil se  Chala Jaaonga – said Mohd Rafi to mentor – Naushad Ali Saheb one day.

“Aap yun hi Jasbaati ho rahe hai” Rafi Miansaid Naushad Saheb and changed the conversationto the need of creating great musical works.

The point which speedily come to the mind is : Whetherthe divine singer Rafi saaheb had any premonition ofleaving our musical world so early at age fifty six.

Thirty One years have passed by but the aura of Mohd Rafi is only increasing says ace key boardist& arranger Pappan from Calicut, Kerala who has been in the midst of presenting musicals in South India for thelast forty years. (more…)

By Devdatta P. Bijoor

Mohd Rafi

As a kid born in the eighties, growing up in the nineties in Mumbai, I was exposed to a lot of hindi film music and thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. The beauty of our industry’s film songs are they are created for a situation in a film that we know to be an illusion, however the emotions in the songs and lyrics are usually something we do relate to. (more…)

By Mr Anirudha Rao; provided by Devdatta Bijoor

Mohd Rafi

The cruel hands of destiny were indeed so very cruel to have snatched away amidst us the World’s most loved, respected, admired and sweet velvet voiced personality in the sheer form of Mohammed Rafi Sahab thirty one years ago on this fateful day. Thousands have come and vanished in thin air but alas the void created by this immortal genius is most difficult to fill in just seems probably impossible to re-create the greatness and class left behind by Rafi Sahab. (more…)

By Ramesh Narain Kurpad – Rafiaarenkay at gmail.com / rameshkurpad at gmail.com

Mohd Rafi

At the outset – I would like to warn all you friends that this is me – unleashed – unplugged – uninhibited going berserk just talking to you all about a great human being who lived – loved –sang  and  breathed divine music and passed away. My jottings as I would like to call them will not have a set pattern but would be reverential expressions loosely strewn at random.

He left a world full of humans – following him and his singing as an institution and in time to come has almost become a cult. (more…)