Remembering Rafi on his birthday
Written by Mr. Souvik Chatterji
Mohd Rafi celebrating birthday with Shankar-Jaikishan and Prithviraj Kapoor
Music lovers all across the world remember, the unforgettable musical maestro Mohd Rafi, on his birthday on 24th December, 2009. He passed away in 1980 and 28 years have passed after his death. Yet he had created an everlasting appeal during his 35 years illustrious career which has not faded away at all.
Whenever his reference comes music-lovers imagine about “do sitaron ka zameen par hai milan” composed by Naushad, “mai gayoon tum so jao” composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “ab kya misaal doon” composed by Roshan, “chaudavi ka chaand” composed by Ravi, “mai zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya” composed by Jaidev, “janewalon zara” composed by Laxmikant Pyarellal, “pukarta chala hoon mai” composed by OP Nayyar, “teri aankhon ke siva” composed by Madanmohan, to name a few.
Very significantly he was associated with all the leading actors of bollywood industry in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, which starts with Bharat Bhushan, Pradeep Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Rajender Kumar, Raj Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukherjee, Biswajeet, Guru Dutt, Balraj Sahani and extends upto Big B, Rishi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, etc. Even comedians like Johnny Walker, Mehmood, Rajendranath were indebted to the maestro for his modification of the voice in favour of them which entertained the audience to a big extent.
Rafi had raised us from sleep, he had made us sleep too. Almost all emotions of human beings are captured in the songs of Rafi. Listeners hear Rafi’s songs to keep away from stress and strain. What is important at this point is to revisit his songs and help the new generation to hear his songs. A huge number of the Rafilovers themselves had heard around 10000 songs and still require to hear his private albums, bhajans, ghazals, etc.
Rafi had sung 26,000 songs in 35 years and that covered the creations and compositions of the most talented composers and lyricists of India. Hardly any singer can be compared or equated with the giant singer. Audience of the modern generation is more used to hear fast numbers due to the trend of music available at this moment. If Rafi’s songs are prioritized in the media, the taste of melodious music can be revived, because Rafi had taken music to a higher dimension. Rafi had not been substituted. The sweetness of voice that God had given him was unparallel.
The media can devote separate programs on Rafi’s association with Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan, Roshan, Khayyam, Madanmohan, Ghulam Mohammad, OP Nayyar, etc., and also his association with giants lyricists like Shakeel Badayani, Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, etc. The landmark musical blockbusters like Taj Mahal, Jahanara, Baiju Bawra, Mere Sanam, Kohinoor, etc., are required to be shown in the popular channels and scanned. Any research on Rafi can only enlighten the listeners about rich music of different class including Hindustani classical, bhajans, ghazals, westernized songs, folk songs, etc.
We all pay are best tribute to noble soul Mohammad Rafi.
AlthoughThere had been a musical evening here at calicut i enjoyed rafi saahabs songs on Radio ceylon and other stations. I prefer listerning to Rafi saahebs songs on radios rether than stage shows.It gives me a naustalgic feeling and reminds me of the hayday’s ,i mean the 1960’s and 70’s.
I would be very kind if anybody let me know the name of the film in which rafi saahab sang a song starting the lime “Bahaare.not from the film suraj. it was composed by SJ in the early 70’s i presume.Only radio ceylon played that song once. you can send the details in my rdasveng@gmail.com
mr.chaterjee,
rafi sahab has been beautifully encompassed by in his entirity and all his or most of his qualities have been brought out by you which includes his association with all persons who created those songs.
there is no doubt in my mind that the television and print media should focus on rafi sahab and his singing from various angles remove the presnt day youth from the ” quick sand ” – ” dal – dal ” which is sucking them into going into “fasts”, destruction of public property and getting into acts which attribute to the vagaries of ” kaliyuga.
rafi sahab has many songs which has a message to the youth and they can cleanse their minds – just by listening to his songs. they will be transformed overnight.
mr.chatterjee, you are perfectly right – the youth need to be exposed to rafi music and rafi magic.
sir, i have posted an article with regard to rafi sahab and bharat ratna. lets have your views in that thread in the same website.
ramesh narain kurpad.
Rafi Saheb is not between us anymore, but he is still with us. His voice sounds everyday in our home and for us He is still Alive.
Happy birthday Rafi saheb. May God Bless you.
A.Piroe
Great singer… evr dearest… bemisal… janab e ali… mohataram… Rafisaab, heartiest greetings & all the best wishes on ur 85th Happy B’day…. !!! Men may come & men may go … but uuuuuuuuuu’ve remain in our hearts 4-everrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr … !!! [ HAMNE SOCHA SHAYAD HAMHEE … CHAHATE HAIN UNKO … [ PAR UNKO CHAHNEWALOKA … TO KAFILA NIKLA … [ DIL NE KAHA SHIKAYAT KARE KHUDASE …. [ PAR WOH ”’ KHUDA ”’ BHEE UNKO CHAHNEWALA NIKLAAAAAAAAAAA … ] Greetings & regards …
from…
A.Aziz Riyadh Saudiarabia KSA.
[ azizriyad@yahoo.co.in ]
Rafisaab,happy birth day to you.just keep smiling,like you always do and shower your blessings on us to make us true human beings.you are a boon to us.life can not be thought of without you.you have made our lives special.long live the god of music!!!
Dear Mr. Chatterjee,
You deserve praise for an article that every Rafi sahab’s Lover/Admirer would expect to see on the maestro’s Birthday. I wish that by the time Rafi Sahab ‘s Birthday celebrations reach its centenary year, the magic of Rafi Sahab reaches more and more people, and they join in, in the fan club of Rafi Sahab, making it the biggest ever for our Beloved Rafi Sahab!
Rafi Sahab ki saaalgirah ki Bahu Bahut Mubaarakbaad!
souvikji namaskar. that is a great tribute by you to rafi sahab. indeed, if the media patronizes rafi sahab’s songs, every day will be a rafi day on the tv and our music crazy nation would get the real taste of bliss.
A very very happy birthday to Rafisahab.
Remebering the great singer and great human being on his birthday with fondness and reverence.
Remembering the great rafi on 24th December, a special day for music lovers.
Today is 24th of December, 2009, it’s 85th birthday of the greatest legend Mohammed Rafi Saheb. On behalf of all his fans, I wish a very very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rafi Saheb. He’s very much missed.
melodiousrafi@yahoo.com
Today 24th of December, 2009 and it’s
Mohammed Rafi Saheb’s 85th birthday.
I wish Rafi Saheb
a very very HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Long live the master.