Rafi Saab’s Favourite Photo
This is written by Perry Khan (Mazher Mahmood) @ HF
In fact Rafi Saab’s last interview was given to my father Sultan Mahmood just a couple of weeks before his death. The article for Indian film mag Shama has been widely circulated. However, I would like to share a small anecdote. As Rafi Saab was a family friend the interview was very relaxed and light hearted. At one point my father told Rafi Saab that interviewing him was quite an irritating task for any journalist as he would only offer short, well rehearsed replies. Similarly he was too shy to give TV interviews and to talk on stage to his fans. My father asked him why he was so scared to talk.
Rafi Saab replied: “Asal mein Sultan bhai meri awaz achi nahin hai! Radio peh mujhe presenter ki naukri kabhi na milti. Waqeh jab mein bolta hoon mujhe lagta hai meri awaz achi nahin hai“.
My father asked him where his singing voice came from. The voice that will mesmerise fans until the end of time.
“Mujhe khud nahin patta lagta. Yeh sab Allah ki merhbani hai. Main toh kuch nahin hoon. Mujhe gaane ka bohat shauk hai, main gaata hoon aur logon ko bohat pasand aajata hai. Sab upparwale ka karam hai!”
After the interview a series of photographs were taken, Rafi Saab changed out of his kameez and lungi, donned his watch and posed for a series of pics. He happily posed around the hotel room at the photographers beck and call. I remember that as the photographer had finished his posed shots, Rafi Saab quietly suggested:
“Ek foon ke saath foto ho jaye?”
He then posed for the photo below holding the hotel phone to his ear. I later accompanied my late father to see Rafi Saab and I took along some of the photos asking him to sign them for me. He shifted through the bundle of photos and found the one with the phone. He said with a child-like innocence: “Yeh mein ne kichwayi thi. Achi ayi hai na?”
On Rafi Saab’s death anniversary as the world still weeps at his passing, I know that Rafi Saab would have liked me to share this photo with his fans. I know that the great man would also have been overwhelmed by the fact that so many people around the world would want to see his photo. So as my tribute to on Rafi Saab’s 26th death anniversary this is my gift to his army of fans.
As an ardent fan of the greatest singer ever.Rafisaab did not belong to India alone.Through his music millions of people around the globe of Indian descent and otherwise were made aware of the rich culture of the Motherland.We must recommend that Rafisaab be recognised by world organisations.To his legion of fans he will remain immortal.
For those who are not Hindi speaking, please include English translation. It will be much appreciated.
RAFISAAB MUST BE GIVEN BHARATRATNA POSTHUMOUSLY.HE WAS SO GREAT,THERE WERE NO OTHER SINGERS OF HIS CALIBER EVEN IN THOSE DAYS.ACTING N SINGING WAS HIS MAIN FORTE.HE SANG FOR THOSE HEROES WHO WE COULD COULD BARELY ACT.
Very Nice Photos
rafi sahab is my goro and sonu ji is also i love them alooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot
asalamu alaikum brother,thanx for sharing rare photos of rafi saab,if you have more rare pictures of rafi saab,kindly share with us,kindly visit our beloved rafi saab”s blog,total over 500 pages are there,please don”t miss any page,kindly visit this link,take care
http://www.rafifanblog.blogspot.com
Thanks for this Rare photo of rafi sahab perry khansahab. delighted to see such ardent admirers of rafi sahab. Ramakrishna, nice to see such affection on your part. I am plg to install a full size portrait of Rafi sahab in my drawing room. seeking a ggod artist who will do justice. Any help? Pl email- exciteindia@yahoo.co.in. I belong to Pune.
very nice pic.
No doubt Rafi Sb is not only beautiful person but a beautiful person.
Regards,
-Imran-
What can you tell about a Genius, totally flawless human being. Its pure child like innocence on this photograph.
I don’t know how true this one is…..but I did read the Rafi Saab was so fond of milk that he used to steal a glass or two when his wife was not around. That for me is ABSOLUTE PURE INNOCENCE.
It just amazes me reading so much about him and I am not SATISFIED yet, Never will I be satisfied reading about our Rafi Saab. I am pretty sure that there are more and more stories about him.
I would like to share one which I heard from my late father. I believe that Naushad saab used to visit Rafi’s house often and during conversations would tell Bashira Begum (Rafi Saab’s wife) that ‘She was the most LUCKIEST Woman on the Planet’ and when asked why….Naushad saab’s reply was ‘Aapko tho sub kuch itni Meeti awaz mein milthi hai, Pyor ki baaton bhi and Gusse ki baaton bhi’. Bashira begum was supposed to have replied saying…’Pyar ki baatein chod dhi jiye, Gusse Ki baatein tho aaj tak nahi mila hamein, Gussa tho unko aatha hi nahin, agar aatha bhi…woh bus utke chalein jathe hain’. Naushad and Bashira agreed to a plan to make Rafi saab loose his temper time and again…..but their plan never materialised because Rafi Saab never lost his temper. A child plays tantrums, it never gets angry for it does not know what anger is…..That’s what our Rafi Saab was.
Coming back to the above, finally Naushad and Bashira broke thier plan to Rafi Saab and they had a hearty laugh. Rafi Saab supposedly told Bashira….’Agar aapko hamari awaz se Gusse ki Baat sunna hain…tho aap humse pooch lijiye….Hamein parishan math ki jiye. Aap hamein bataa di jiye ki…kya kya bolna hain and hum bilkul usi tara bolenge aapko’. That again is a sheer testimony of the GENTLE NATURE of this Great HUMAN BEING.
In fact Rafi Saab is never away from us….for He lives in us thru his memories and never forgettable VOICE.
Thank you so much Mr.Perrybhai ( Khan) for Rafi Saab’s photograph.
I liked Rafi Saab’s innocent smile. Thanks.
i wanna listen song :mein kab gaata mere swar mein
his smile was better and more genuine than any actor’s smile!
Perry Bhai,
Salam alaikum.
Rafi sahab’s favourite photo is now my desktop both in home as well as office.
Dawn to dusk I am in front of him.
Yes , rafi sahab is a saint no doubt on that , or ealse why we are still die hard fan of his havenly voice..?
Perry Bhai Salam alaikum.
I saw this photograph just now. Its absolutely superb. We can make out the simplicity of Rafi sahab from the photograph by way of his child like looks , holding the receiver with a saintly smile.
I astonish his simple and truthful way of answering that his voice is not good while talking.
I was telling my friends the other day that ‘ jab Rafi sahab baat kartey hain to unki awaaz log mushkil sey sunpatey, aur wahi rafi sahab jab mike pakadtey hain to chat udaa detein hain’
Mr raju gorti the editor of DNA was telling me on 31st july at the mazhar of rafi sahab that it was very difficult to take Rafi sahab’s interview as he was not looking eye to eye, and most of his answers were ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This is the symbol of shyness & soberness. What to tell about such person who is the most sought after celebrity with such qualities?
We can proudly say Rafi Sahab is a saint.
same
Hi Perry !
You are one of the most lucky persons in this world who met Rafi Saab. Thanks for sharing your experience and his beautifuf photo with we Rafians.
In the year 1965-66 I was a school student. During those days I used to write letters to filmstars…and in this series I wrote a letter to Rafi Saab too. And my great fortune I received his reply with an autographed photograph. My joy knew no bound. I showed the photograph to a to z whom I knew. It was an assette to me. Time passed…and I lost this photograph alongwith a lot of other photographs. Now I can assume what I have lost…
Perry,
Thanks and salute to sharing a Rafi saab foto.
God bless you.
in future hope more from you about short & sweety real incident with Rafi saab.
Prakash Shah>>>> 09426287666
Excellent article!
Dear Mazer Sir,
Thank you for sharing this pic with us and the memory of your late father and Rafi Sahab.
RAFI SAHAB – WE LOVE YOU AND RESPECT YOU AND WE MISS YOU
TUMSA NA KOI HAIN .. TUMSA NA KOI PAIDA HOGA
Regards
Sagar
he is a legend wat can i say about him the world knows about him his voice,he is a great persona in his own. I had been to the graveyard and i had also met mr. shabbir kumar we had a talk for about an houlf hour and we have planned to make a memorial so i have a request to all the rafi fans if they all so would like to contribute plz contact me on my mailing address saifuddingandhi@yahoo.com
Mr. Vijay Kumar,
Mr. Sanjeevrajput mentioned that you have a DVD of Rafi. Is the DVD of Rafi singing live? If yes, then I would like to request you to make at least one live song downloadable.
A simle truely from the heart. “DIL SE”
HI YUSOOF AND VIJAY KUMAR—MY NAME IS SANJEEV AND I AM FROM BOMBAY IN INDIA,CURRENTLY LIVING IN CHENNAI(TAMIL NADU)–I, LIKE THE REST OF THE MILLIONS OF RAFIANS, AM A BIG FAN TOO.
I AM A COLLECTOR OF RAFIS SONGS.I HAVE A HUGE COLLECTION OF RAFIS RARE SONGS AND SONGS SUNG IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SUCH AS ENGLISH, ASSAMESE,KONKANI ,TELUGU, KANNADA, GUJRATI, BENGALI, PUNJABI, MARATHI.
ALSO I HAVE RAFIS GHAZALS AND BHAJANS AND AN MP3 OF ISLAMIC QUAWALIES.
THIS MAIL IS IN REGARDS TO GETTING MORE SONGS TO UPDATE MY COLLECTION AND TRANSFER MINE TO ALL THE OTHER FANS WHO LOVE TO COLLECT RAFIS SONGS.
I WANT THIS MESSAGE TO BE READ BY YUSOOF AND SPECIALLY VIJAY KUMAR WHO POSSESSES THE 12 CDS OF RAFIS LIVE PERFORMANCES AND A DVD TOO.MR. YUSOOF AND VIJAY KUMAR, PLEASE HELP ME TO GET YOUR COLLECTION BY MAILING ME AND ILL BE GLAD TO PAY FOR IT. MY EMAIL ID IS monty_ch2005@yahoo.com and my contact number is 09994146695.pls contact me as early as possible.
Rafi was truly a singer for the masses and not for any particular class. His voice appealed to all, the old, young, rich, poor, men and women. He was always ready to entertain jawans at the border whenever approached. Pandit Nehru once invited him to Delhi to hear him sing. “That was the happiest moment of my life” said Rafi. No wonder then that his patriotic songs like Kar chale hum fida (Haqeeqat) and Watan pe jo fida hoga (Phool Bane Angaray) are still popular.
Rafi brought cheers and smiles to millions of his fans through his songs. In his songs like Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya, Rafi tried to inspire the dejected and give hope to those who had lost faith in life and God