On 17.08.08, BAAR BAR RAFI fan club held it’s first program RAFI NITE INTENSE AT Chowdiah Hall, Bangalore. The event was a huge success. This report is contributed by Mr. H.V.Guru Murthy.

BAAR BAAR RAFI, a Fan Club of Mohammed Rafi in Bangalore arranged a musical evening dedicated to the memory of the legendary Singer with divine voice at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore on Sunday, 17th of August from 6 pm to 10 pm. The four hour show was sponsored by M/s. Alliance Eldorado Park. The huge Hall was packed much before the commencement of the program and many enthusiastic fans had to be turned away due to non-availability of seats.

The KEEP ALIVE musical troupe headed by Mr. Manohar Iyer entertained the capacity crowd of 1000 with choicest songs of the legend sung by Mr. Srikanth Narayanan and Mr. Gourav Bangia with able support by Female Singers Ms Vrushali, Sarita, Sudha, Sumita and Nishigandha. The back-ground music with the usage of Accordian, Sitar, Mandolin, Saxophone and Guitars was near perfect almost matching the Original and so also the chorus. Mr. Iyer while comparing the show narrated many anecdotes / trivia in the life of Rafi Saab, which was interestingly heard by the Rafi fans with rapt attention. The two singers along with the enthusiastic female singers belted out hit after hits and the crowd went wild with joy at each of the song. In fact, for couple of songs not only young fans, but aged ones without any inhibition came forward and danced near the stage. It was also noticed that some Fans had tears in their eyes listening to Rafi’s songs from Dil Ek Mandir, Udan Khatola, Baiju Bawra, Haqeeqat, etc.

Significantly, Rafiji’s grand daughter Tasneem Firoz Ahmed and grand son Abdhur Rehman along with great grand son were special invitees who graced the occasion and were present till the end.

The show commenced with Mr. Srikanth very appropriately singing “Janewale Kabhi Nahi Aate” from Dil Ek Mandir bringing tears to many elderly people apart from Rafi’s Grand Children. The popular songs also included serious songs like Man Tadapat (Baiju Bawra), O Door Ke Musafir (Udan Khatola), Hui Shaam Unka (Mere Humdum Mere Dost) and Dil Ke Zharoke Me (Brahmachari). Mr. Srikanth also endeared himself to the crowd with soulfully rendering the only Kannada song of Rafi “Neenelli Nadeve Doora” from the movie “Onde Balliya Hoogalu”. These songs had some of the Fans with misty eyes.

Patriotic numbers like Kar Chale Hum Fida (Haqeeqat) made the Fans emotional and hit the right chords.

Romantic duets like Nana Nana Tauba Tauba (Aar Paar), Dheere Dheere Chal (Love Marriage), Achchaji Me Haari Chalo (Kalapaani), Ye Dekhake Dil Zhooma (Kashmir Ki Kali), Aap Yunhi Agar (Ek Musafir Ek Hasina), Phir Miloge Kabhi (Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi), Woh Jab Yaad Aaye (Parasmani), Aawaz Deke (Professor), Gunguna Rahe Hain Bhanwar (Aradhana) and Teri Bindiyare (Abhimaan) brought back pleasant memories to the Fans of the nostalgic era when they had dreamt romantically with these songs.

Romantic solos like Ae Phoolon Ki Rani (Aarjoo), Kaun Hai Jo Sapnon Me Aaya (Jhuk Gaya Aasman), Aajare Aajara (Love In Tokyo), Ek Hasin Sham Ko (Dulhan Ek Raat Ki), Din Dhal Jaye (Guide), Baharo Phool Barsao (Suraj) and Darde Dil (Karz) were received with much appreciation.

The dancing numbers like Aasamaan Se Aaya Farishta (An Evening In Paris), Dil Tera Deewana (Title song), Badan Pe Sitare (Prince), Baar Baar Dekho (China Town), Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke (Brahmachari) and O Hasina Zulfonwali (Teesri Manzil) were so compelling that not only the young Fans but even fairly elderly people and aged ladies could not resist showing their dancing prowess near the stage. In fact, these numbers added much colour and pep to the show.

Qawali Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai (Barssat Ki Raat) sung by both the main Singers attracted wide appreciation so also classical songs like Nache Man Mora (Meri Soorat Teri Aankhen), Madhuban Me Radhika (Kohinoor) with the Jugalbandhi in the end and Kuhu Kuhu Bole Koyaliya (Suvarna Sundari) with all four antaras of four different Raags.

The Concert ended with a medley of Punjabi folk tunes of Music Director OP Nayyar with Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar (CID), Sar Par Topi Laal (Tumsa Nahi Dekha) and Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawanon Ka (Naya Daur) compelling majority of Fans to join near the stage for one more round of dance.

The photographs of the evening can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/29820467@N02/

The fledgling Rafi Fan Club, BAAR BAAR RAFI, was started few months back by few enthusiastic Rafi Fans with the active coordination of Mr. P.Narayanan, a very great and devoted Fan of Rafiji. It has ambitious plans to arrange Rafi programs regularly apart from highlighting the significance of the lyrics, if necessary translated lyrics, promoting local talent, to arrange a library of Rafi songs and supporting needy artistes. The aim is to provide a platform for all the Rafi fans to meet, discuss and appreciate all the facets of Rafiji’s repertoire.

As explained by the President of the Club, Mr. B.G. Raj as well as Secretary, Mr. Ashok Dalmia, the Club will be a non-profit Organisation with free membership, only criterion for admission being the individuals love and knowledge of Rafi songs. In fact, the application form for admission requires the individual to list out ten of his favourite songs of Rafi. It was heartening that there was a great demand for the application forms from enthusiastic fans and the forms were exhausted in no time, the Organisers had to assure the enthusiastic Fans that soon arrangement will be made for application forms to each individual. Another main objective of the group is to spread the fragrance of Rafi music especially among youngsters. The program has initiated lot of enthusiasm among Rafi fans in the City who have started their own e-mail group and regularly discuss the songs of Rafiji.

The love for the Singer was such that some enthusiastic Fan Club members from other Cities like Hyderabad also came down to the City specifically to attend the evening program.

The Fan Club can be contacted on e-mail baar.baar.rafi@gmail.com and can be visited at www.baarbaarrafi.org.

This blog was published on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008 at 8:30 pm and is filed under Events, Meri Awaaz Suno. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.