By Onika Setia

Mohd Rafi

मेरी जिंदगी में रफ़ी साहब का स्थान बहुत अहम् है. संघर्षों से भरी हुई इस जिंदगी में पल भर का भी ठहराव नहीं होता, हर क़दम पर हर नई समस्या जन्म लेती है, रोज़ नया इम्तेहान, दर्द, टीस, तड़प, संताप, ओह! मतलबी लोगो से भरी हुई इस दुनिया में जहाँ सच्चा और निस्वार्थ प्रेम ढूढने से नहीं मिलता , ऐसी सुखी से बेरंग जिंदगी में रफ़ी साहब बहार बनके आये. ना-ना वोह खुद नहीं आये उनकी मधुर ,रंगभरी ,जादूभरी और जिवंत आवाज़ ऐसी शम्मा बनके आई जिससे मेरी जिंदगी के सारे ग़मों के अँधेरे दूर हो गए. मैंने जब से उनका दामन थामा मेरे परिवार वाले कहते है की मैंने अपना जीवन बर्बाद कर दिया अपना carrier चौपट कर दिया ,इसीलिए वोह हमेशां इस चाहत के विरोधी रहे . नादान है वोह ,! खुद तो किसी को ठीक तरह से राह नहीं देखा सकते ,कोई मुश्किल में हो तो बजाय निकलने के कोसने लगते हैं , सही रास्ता दिखने के बजाय भटका देते है . (more…)

By Mahesh Prasad Rijal

Mohd Rafi

Mohammad Rafi was a tremendously blessed singer and truly a good human being (as far as I have seen him in his videos and interviews). I never got my biggest opportunity to meet my most adorable person actually in real life as I don’t live in India nor Pakistan but in Nepal, a country that is close to where he had been coming and going during his lifetime, unfortunately I didn’t got my chance to get near the appraised one, but I have kept him very close to my heart. He has given me a sense of love towards his country and I feel that I too belong to the same group below him and following him, living on his songs and admiring his voice every-time I hear them.

I believe that although everybody can give birth to children, but as a child he was someone who could not be limited to a normal child but blessed from the day of his birth, his internal ability flourished later but as it did his voice was recognized to be one of the greatest that would plough an evergreen tree into the sands of music and give millions a chance to enjoy its fruits for generations to come. (more…)

This article is penned by Mr.Biman Baruah,Goregan(E), Mumbai

Mohd Rafi with Verma Mallick, Devendra Goel, Ravi

Legendary music composer Ravi Shankar Sharma popularly known as RAVI expired on 7th March, 2012 due to cardiac arrest who celebrated his 86th birthday with friends three days before his death. He was survived by his separated son Ajay and daughter in law, actress Varsha Ushgonkar.

On his death, his filmmaker friend, A. Krishnamurthi remarked, “Ravi was noted for his heart-touching, soft, melodious tunes, which made his songs and music immortal and is hummed even today, decades after he composed them. As well as he was a very fine gentlemen and a great human being.” (more…)

By Aparna Sridhar

Mohd Rafi Tributes

Mudhra hosted a programme yesterday, 04.03.2012, at the Infosys Hall, Chennai. A tribute to the playback legends of the North and South. This was part of their 3 day programme of music appreciation.  http://timescity.com/chennai/events/appreciating-indian-music/23866

Such a programme is always welcome, for indeed, there are very few people who can lay claim to sing like the legends, or even represent them. Being an ardent Mohammad Rafi fan, I was delighted to be invited and thrilled that  Chandan would be representing Rafi. None better. There were other singers too. For Mukesh, for Kishore. And for Lata. And on the southern side, for TM Sounderajan, PB Srinivas, P Suseela, S Janaki. (more…)

By Souvik Chatterji

Joy Mukerjee and Mohd Rafi

Veteran actor Joy Mukherjee died on 9^th March, 2012. He was the son of noted filmmaker Sasadhar Mukherjee and Sati Debi. Sasadhar Mukherjee was the co-founder of Filmalaya Studios.

Joy Mukherjee stormed bollywood films with his debut in the film Love in Simla in 1960. It was directed by RK Nayyar. Iqbal Qureshi composed the music of the film. From that time the everlasting combination of Joy Mukherjee with Mohammad Rafi stormed bollywood music for the next 10 years. (more…)

By Achal Rangaswamy

Rafi Sahab with Dev and Pancham

Dev saab entered the warm and nicely furnished room.

He wasn’t surprised to see a very familiar and smiling face.  It was his voice, the voice that had sung so many of his romantic songs, sad songs, happy songs and patriotic songs. In fact he had been wondering who was the most likely person he would meet when he walked in here. (more…)

By IANS

Rafi Sahab and Dev Anand

Fans of Dev Anand woke up to a rude Sunday morning shock as the news of the legendary actor’s passing away in London unfolded here. His long-time driver has been unable to stop his tears.

The legend died of heart attack Saturday in London. He was 88.

A close aide of the deceased actor, Chandra Shekhar, (himself 89), said he was ‘shaken’ when he heard the news from a friend, the first thing this morning. (more…)

By Achal Rangaswamy

Mohd Rafi

This was perhaps one of those dreams…..

I sat , thinking to myself – “Lagta nahin hai dil mera ujade dayar mein”.  I was missing my idol, my God, the great soul whose voice had taken total possession of me from the evening that I slipped on the rain drenched patch of road outside a theatre in Chennai, as I came out after watching a tall and handsome young man call out “Khoya Khoya chaand”. (more…)

Written By: H.A.K. Walijah

Mohd Rafi

(A TRIBUTE)

Rafi Sahab sang in many Indian languages including Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi and Telugu but is primarily remembered for his Hindi songs, which still remain very popular in the Indian subcontinent. Mohd. Rafi was very effective in singing/performing ghazals, qawwalis, or bhajans who has many admirers because of the talent, quality and is regarded as the genius of the entertainment industry, to whose numbers; millions of India’s young hearts from Kashmir to Kanyakumari respond today. Mohd. Rafi, the voice that sang many exquisite tunes; a dream voice of an entire magical era; launched and shaped the careers of many legendary screen personalities. Even to the date, he is extremely popular amongst old and young alike and that shows his true talent and timelessness. For more than three decades Mohd. Rafi went on to become perhaps the most influential male playback singer in Hindi film music whose contribution to Hindi film music is incomparable. (more…)

By Padmanabhan NR

Mohd Rafi

The MD duo of S-J have just stumbled upon the outlines of a tune worded beautifully by Shailendra. There are moments friends, when your sub-conscience tells you that something very, very big is in offing. Yet you, the creator, are not sure what and how it will evolve itself finally. Why not we try this with Mukeshji?

The start in lower octave gave Mukeshji a perfect platform. It was a sad-romantic, his own domain and his nasal voice gave it a unique tinge. Pre-antara interlude over, the tune suddenly transits to the highest octave with ‘paalta unko jatan se…‘ twice over only to revert back to the origin. A very good attempt but that ‘thing’ was not there. (more…)