Press Release on July 31st. Thursday from Binu Nair, Founder Trustee – Rafi Foundation Trust (Regd.), F 3, Sharon, I.C.Colony, Borivli West, Mumbai 400 103

Today July 31st, innumerable Mohd Rafi Lovers will assemble at Juhu Mosque Grave where he was laid to rest after the legendary singer suffered a massive heart attack in 1980.

Three days prior to July 31st Rafi had recorded few lines for Laxmikant Pyarelal for movie Aas Paas : “Tu kahin aas paas hai dost” which became his last song. “Acha main chalu“? was the parting words of the legendary singer to Laxmikant Pyarelal – while having his last walk from Mehboob studios to his Bandra home.

A book titled : “Woh jab yaad aaye” by author Dhirendra Jain will be released on the occasion said Mr. Binu Nair – Founder of Rafi Foundation Trust in Mumbai. Mohd Rafi Lovers from three generations of music lovers will offer flowers and prayers to India’s most prolific and most heard singer. Around 15,000 Rafi dedicated shows are taking place in every city said Binu Nair
in a press release.

Mohd Rafi in his illustrious career of four decades recorded more than 25,000 songs in 13 languages with three recordings – most of the days. Mohd Rafi had No Competition, he competed with himself said Lata Mangeshkar his singing companion for over 460 duets. One fact of Mohd Rafi perhaps not highlighted to that extent is his support to the humbler and small time composer, lyricist and film makers. It was well known that the singer would waive his singing fees but never compromise on the effort he put in the song.

Mohd Rafi sang for Laxmikant Pyarelal the Most with over 426 numbers, then with Shankar Jaikishan with 350, with Chitragupta : over 250, with Ravi : over 225 and with O P Nayyar : around 200 songs. Its said Madan Mohan rehearsed Rafi for over four months for one single song from Hanste Zakhm – Tum jo Mil Gaye Ho – which became a unique hit and heard all over in music concerts.

Mohd Rafi the voice of Yahoo Shammi Kapoor recorded songs for more than 250 actors and heroes and he could modulate his voice to suit as many as fourteen ways says music critic and author Sridhar Kulkarni of Pune. If he has sung over 260 songs for Shammi Kapoor, he also sang close to that figure for Johnny Walker adds Kulkarni who last week organised a week long festival of Rafi Melodies in Pune.

Mohd Rafi Shot to fame in 1948 with his song – Suno suno ae duniya walo bapu ji ki amar kahani when the Mahatma fell to a assassin’s bullet. Jawaharlal Nehru Knighted Mohd Rafi during India’s first independence celebrations and became a valued guest of the Prime Minister -entertaining his guests once a year.

Mohd Rafi struggled during his early days in Mumbai walking long distances from studio to studio for work and rehearsals as money was always scarce. Once he shyly asked a rupee loan for travel from his mentor Naushad. That One Rupee became his fees for a Song sung for many struggling musicians and producers.

Rafi never did not seek any favours or awards or songs. He got many awards during and after his lifetime. One award that his fans are seeking for the legendary singer is the Bharat Ratna Award – which he truly deserves.

This blog was published on Thursday, July 31st, 2014 at 8:47 am and is filed under The Rafi Foundation. 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.