Appeal for Bharat Ratna to Rafi
Thursday, November 15th, 2007This appeal is written by Mr.Raju Korti, Mumbai.
This appeal is a chorus for The Voice of the sub continent, the singer of the millennium. A fervent, passionate appeal to correct what all his legion of admirers and devotees righteously feel is a historic wrong.
The mortal remains of, what the world undisputably acknowledges, of the legendary Mohammad Rafi may have bereaved us 27 years ago, but his ageless voice continues to throb and pulsate in our hearts even today.
If we talk about the legendry singer Mukesh, Raj Kapoor comes in picture. Similarly if we talk about Kishore Kumar the first thing that strikes our mind is Rajesh Khanna & Amitabh. Same is the case with Mahendra Kapoor, Manoj Kumar comes in picture immediately. Perhaps this is not at all the case with Rafi Saab. One cannot associate Rafi Saab with any actor or personality as such right from the beginning of his career till the end. Rafi Saab is every one’s voice. We have had a lot of discussions related to Rafi Saab with actors like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, etc. Here we will focus of songs pictured on unknown or small time actors sung by Rafi. This is another unique quality of this great personality called Mohd Rafi which needs to be explored. 
Playback singer of the sixties and seventies, Sharda, who shot into fame with her chartbuster hits, “Titli Udi†from the film Suraj, and “Duniya Ki Sair Karlo†from around the world was felicated at a grand concert titled ‘remembering Shanker- Jaikishen with Sharda’ which was held on 25th Aug, 2007 at Kolkata’s kalamandir auditorium. The programme was presented by ‘Rafi lovers circle’ – a group of music lovers dedicated to the revival of evergreen songs of mohd rafi from the golden era of hindi film sangeet. 
Seventies was the decade of experiments, the decade of change of guard and also the decade of Rafi Saab, again. The number of songs may be less but the singing quality of his songs was same as ever, even during the so called low phase i. e. 1971-1976. However the quaity is always more important thing and quantity always play the second fiddle. 
This marvelous song was written by Shakeel Bhaduyani, music direction by Naushadsab and sang by none other than Rafisahab. This three muslim personalities have given us lot of songs with Bhajans & classical songs also. Now, in this song one sentence is there “Aab tho Neer Bahaleâ€, but I want to point out that in the Kannada language “Neer†means “Waterâ€. What an word has been used by Mr.Shakeel Sahab, perfect one. Hear this song and you will find this word in the sentence. 
The dawn of independent India saw the blossoming of, perhaps the greatest singer this country has produced who answered to the name of Mohammed Rafi. Even to this day the vocal magic of Rafi Saab is embellishing the musical shelves of Rafi Saab’s aficionados. Why is he rated the greatest is a matter of conjecture, but the fact cannot be gainsaid that he had done full justice to any song we were and still are privileged to hear. The myriad moods and emotions every song requires are best brought out by the vocal genius of Rafi saab. 
Since the time songs have been introduced in hindi movies we have come across through many genres of expressions like – romatic,fun-filled, sad, emotional, alcoholic, patriotic, devotional, emotional, but there are a few songs which would not fit into any genre which are rare expressions songs and most of them are sung by the maestro himself. I would like the list down the following songs which do not belong to any genre:- 
Has any body listened to a good qawali from KK or Mukesh or Talat or Hemantha or even Saigal. Well all these singers were top class in their own way and had their own plus points. Talat was outstanding in Ghazals, Mukesh and Saigal in soulful songs, Hemantha in songs based on Rabeendra Sangeeth and 
Dev Anand’s films are best known for their great musical richness and melodious songs. Some most popular Rafi songs were picturised on him. Mohd. Rafi and Dev Anand’s association with music composers O.P. Nayyar, S.D. Burman, Jaidev, Shankar Jaikishan, Salil Chowdhury and lyricists Sahir Ludhiyanvi, Shailendra, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Hasrat Jaipuri, Neeraj has created some of the best memorable songs in the Hindi Cinema.