Written By : Suneil Makwana

Rafi Sahab's Final Resting Place

I am Suneil Makwana from Mumbai and I am a big fan of The Legend Immortal & Eternal Singer Mohd. Rafisaab. I like to listen Rafisaab’s melodious songs and his voice give me peace to my mind. Unfortunately, I have not met the Legend because I have born in 1985 and I think it’s my bad luck Rafisaab left us in the year of 1980 but when I listen songs rendered by the legend I feel that he is somewhere around. (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi and Biswajeet

Bengali actor Biswajeet Chatterjee after acting in hit films in Bengali namely Mayamrigo in 1960 and Dui Bhai in 1961 went to Mumbai to pursue his acting career there. He made his debut in the film Bees Saal Baad where Hemant Kumar was the producer of the film and also the music composer.

In a short period of time Biswajeet got roles to play in films of different producers and directors namely Nasir Hussain, Satyen Bose, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and others. Mohammad Rafi played a very important role in the success story of Biswajeet’s films because most of the films ended up being musical blockbusters. (more…)

By: H.A.K. Walijah

Among so many female singers, Geeta Dutt name is unique and rings a different sensation. The evergreen songs like “babu ji dheere chalna“, “jaa jaa bewafaa“, “yeh lo main haari piya“, “aaeeye meherban“, “mera naam chin chin chu”,  “ae dil mujhe bata de”,  “na jao saiyan chuda ke bahiyan”, ‘tadbeer se bigdi hui taqdeer banaa le”, “jaane kya tune kahi”,  “waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam” and many more such gem like songs paved directly into the hearts of music lovers and made her name immortal in the Annals of Hindi Film Music.

By Nagesh Sidhanti.
A humble tribute to composer Madan Mohanji on his 87th birth anniversary by an ardent Rafi fan

Mohd Rafi with Madan Mohan

Of all pursuits, love is the most profound, be it sensuous or sublime.

This legendary love story of ill-fated couple, an epitome of pure love, ‘Heer-Ranjha’ was written by Sufi poet Waris Shah. Little did he know that about 200 years later, his seminal work’s intimate aspects would receive its rightful interpretation in the form of a surreptitious musical dialogue, arranged by three of the greatest legends, one, an exceptional composer and the other two, genius singers of their era.

Kaifi’s lines are lyrically simple but never frugal in this unique duet from Heer Ranjha, which is rendered in low notes, complimenting essentially a covert love story.   The lyricist who is known for his earthly imagery, has penned the lines with a dash of mystical aura the story deserves. Although not spoken in the same breath as some of his distinguished contemporaries, Kaifi Azmi yet again proves a point that beneath the layers of sophistication & hyperbole, lie a treasure trove of emotions, which could flourish in the realm of a deeper understanding of LOVE and LIFE. (more…)

By A S MURTY – rafimurty {at} gmail {dot} com

Mohd Rafi

PROLOGUE :

A Concert is a live performance (typically of music) before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, some then call a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band. Concerts are held in a wide variety and size of settings, from private houses and small clubs, dedicated concert halls, entertainment centers and parks to large multipurpose buildings and auditoria. Regardless of the venue, musicians usually perform on a stage……….

For sometime now, I was thinking of classifying some special songs of Rafi Sahab as these were a step beyond mere playback singing.  Playback singing can be of any song of any genre in any fashion and hfm has had a host of the very best to very poor songs composed and recorded by the playback singers. (more…)

The article is penned down by Mr. Mohan S Murdeshwar and Mr. Nitin D Dhareshwar

Mohd Rafi

Koyee Sagar Dil Ko Behelata Nahee, Bekhudi Mein Bhee Karaar Ata Nahee

Any music buff especially close to old Hindi film songs would have heard many times over and enjoyed the evergreen number “Saawan ke mahine mein ek aag see seene mein lagti hai tho pee leta hoon dho char ghadi jee leta hoon” (from the film “Sharabi” under the music composition of Madan Mohan) so poignantly rendered by the legendary Mohammed Rafi in his mellifluous voice over half a century ago and continues to haunt every troubled soul seeking a desperate liberation from worldly miseries. (more…)

By Jagat Kant Choudhary

Filmfare

The Filmfare Awards, since its inception in 1953 has been one of the most coveted awards in the Hindi Film Industry. It was at the Regal Theatre in South Mumbai (then Bombay) on March 21, 1954, that the first awards were handed over to the winners. Hollywood star Gregory Peck, who was the guest of honour at the inaugural Awards ceremony, was delayed on a flight from Colombo and could only attend the banquet at Willingdon Sports Club later on.

Incidentally the Awards were called Clare Awards in the beginning, named after Clare Mendionca, the well known film critic of the Times of India in the 1940s and 50s. A couple of years down the line, however, the Awards began to be known as Filmfare Awards instead. (more…)

By Sarah Modi

Mohd Rafi

Rafi is certainly my sweetheart and I bet yours as well.  If you are a romantic at heart, Rafi saab’s voice is the eternal sound of love.  And if you are not a romantic, you will become one at the mere touch of his mellifluous voice.  His intoxicating and honey-soaked vocals can woo any hard hearted person.   The warmth in his voice can thaw and melt anything frozen — be it a thing, human being, thought or an emotion.  If you don’t believe me,  listen to the songs I have listed below and be prepared to be hypnotized by his mesmerizing and soulful renditions.

If you want to praise your girlfriend or wife, or express your love to them, or if you want to embark upon a beautiful journey of courtship, you can begin with any of these wonderful songs, and Lady Love will surely be your Valentine! (more…)

By J.K. Bhagchandani

Mohd Rafi

The name Mohammed Rafi is synonyms with versatility. This singing wonder has given us masterpiece songs of almost all genres. This write-up is dedicated to the patriotic songs sung by Rafi saab.

The patriotic songs even though considered as one genre, also have different moods, suiting to different situations and conditions that the nation is in. Rafi saab has sung patriotic songs all moods and situations.

‘Watan ki raah mein watan ke naujawan shahid ho……. (Shaheed- old version- Dilip Kumar starrer), Ae watan ae watan humko teri kasam…… (Shaheed- later version- Manoj Kumar starrer) are the great songs conceived to capture the time and moments of freedom movement. Rafi saab has sung Ghulam Mohammed and Prem Dhawan (respectively) composed songs so brilliantly that one gets the first hand account of a true freedom fighter. The ‘josh’, the conviction, the motivation to lay own life for the sake of motherland is craftily incorporated in the songs by the singer. Both songs have a second (and sad) part representing the moments before the execution of the death sentence of a freedom fighter. (more…)

By Hashim Khan

Remembering Madan Mohan with Sanjeev Kohli

To mark music icon Rafi Saab’s, 30th death anniversary, the Rafi Lovers Circle conferred their 6th Mohammed Rafi Award 2010, posthumously, to honour music composer Madan Mohanji, an an event in Kolkata on Sunday, 1st Aug 2010. Madanji’s eldest son, Sanjeev, and only grandson, Akshay, attended the event which was held at the prestigious Satyajit Ray Auditorium, Indian Council of Cultural Relations, in Kolkata.

Rafi Saab, the undisputed music icon and Madanji the legendary composer, created many memorable melodies together ( over 150 solos and duets ) ….many of them will be remembered forever. The event was titled Remembering Madan Mohan with Sanjeev Kohli, and was organized with immense emotion and care to do justice to the statures of Madanji and Rafi Saab. The evening, compered impeccably by Shakeel Ansari, began with a visual tribute to Rafi Saab , including poignant shots of the saddest day in our lives, 31 July 1980, , and then panned to some stunnings footage showing Rafi Sahab live, including him singing a few uncommon songs in his inimitable style. (more…)