Mohammed Rafi draws packed house, 28 years after death
Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) article was posted on yahoo news.
Songs by legendary singer Mohammed Rafi drew a packed house here 28 years after his death, and audiences were in for a surprise as an evergreen voice from the yore took the stage again, rekindling memories and melodies of an era gone by. ‘Mujhko apne gale laga lo..‘ and ‘Thahariya hosh me aa loon‘, sung by the forgotten Mubarak Begum wafted across the lush green lawns of the Green Court Club on the city’s outskirts Sunday night.
Begum has sung many a duet with Rafi during the late 1950s and ’60s. As the songs by the Begum progressed, a wedding reception nearby stopped its own music and the guests enjoyed a musical feast. The Green Court Club was observing a musical nite ‘Aasmaan Se Aaya Farishta..‘ to commemorate Rafi’s 28th death anniversary (July 31), nearly two months in advance on public demand and to avoid the monsoon.
Club chairman Vijay Saini, pointing at the 2,000-plus gathering and another 1,000-odd waiting to gain entry, told IANS: ‘See, Mohammed Rafi Sahab is very much alive. Observe how the crowd is completely enchanted by the immortal Rafi numbers and is enjoying without a noise..‘ Organised by the Mohammed Rafi Foundation, singers of a professional orchestra rendered around 30 popular Rafi numbers. But the Begum’s entry, after about 10 songs were sung, took the Rafi fans by surprise.
The crowd was on its feet and welcomed her with a thunderous applause. The 70-year-old Begum sang the two songs without a note or tune going awry. Though feeble in body, her voice was as fresh as ever and she got a standing ovation from the crowd that wanted more. The show brought out some rare gems from the music of Rafi and some little-known anecdotes from his life too.
For instance, it was revealed that the late Naushad Ali had originally commissioned the late crooner, Talat Mehmood, for the entire album of ‘Baiju Bawara’. However, Naushad was a man free of vices and when he learnt that Talat Mehmood was a chain-smoker, he dropped him and signed on Rafi. And the rest as they say is history.
A family from the nearby suburb of Dahisar came all the way just to hear the evergreen songs by Rafi. H. Mehta, a senior executive with a multinational company, said: ‘My parents, both in their ’70s, and my daughters both below 10, and my wife feel the effort was worth it.‘ ‘Rafi sahab is still amongst us,’ H. Mehta added as the song ‘Aaj kal tere mere charche‘ was playing in the background.
Ajay Saini, director of the club, said they had not anticipated such a crowd and had to double the number of seats at the last minute. As the function came to a close after nearly four hours, music buffs returned homes with the tuneful memories of Rafi, who ruled the film music world and audiences for nearly four decades.
hi everybody. myself sanjay sabharwal presently working as an system and network engineer in a pvt company. from my childhood i m die hard fan of rafi sahab, that time i was only 17 years old. my father always sings rafi’s songs. i take this nature of singing from my father. i took part in many singing competitions, some i won and some i defeat. in 2008 i opened a club named “RafiAns Club” and i already organised one function named as VOICE OF RAFI in yamunanagar. it was a program in the memory of the legends of the legends mohd rafi sahab. now i have many members in my club. every sunday we sing together rafi sahab songs. we are preparing ourselves for another program. i want that i m new to this please always update me and give me some real facts about rafi sahab. so that i will show it to my audience through projecter. i made many clips and cutting videos of rafi sahab.
bye
Since the earliest childhood, when I started listening to music on radio, a special affinity developed in my heart for ‘Rafi Sahab’. I am now a judicial officer, being member of ‘Bihar Superior Judicial Service’. I am not in a position to define the affinity with ‘Rafi Sahab’. The nearest word that I can use may be ‘immortal love’ for the legendary artist.
Rafi Sahab’s voice, his personality, his style of singing, the intrinsic melody and his presentation of the lyrical theme of the songs he rendered, simply used to have a mesmerizing impact on me. ‘Rafi Sahab’ was the inspiration behind my most humble attempt to learn light vocal music. It was the saddest day in my emotional life when ‘Rafi Sahab’ left for Great Beyond on 31st July, 1980. I pay my humble tribute every year on the death anniversary of ‘Rafi Sahab’ by organizing a musical evening in which judicial officers gather & on most occasions I myself sing ‘Rafi Sahab’ songs with a team consisting of myself on harmonium and one tabla player – a function unique in itself as a tribute to the legendary artist by judges. I wish God would give me strength to continue this tribute even after I retire. I feel blessed whenever I remember ‘Rafi Sahab’ and his immortal voice. I feel proud in joining the ever increasing group of lovers of ‘Rafi Sahab’
My Dear Friends !
Today is 31st July…an inauspicious day for all the music lovers.
Today, in 1980, we lost our beloved singer Padmashree Mohammad
Rafi Sahab. He was not less than an angel.
Let us remember him on this day and pray for his divine soul !
May God bless his soul eternal peace in the heaven !!!
Thanks.
-Raajkumar Akela
ज़मी से फलक तक सà¤à¥€ आà¤à¤– नम है
सà¤à¥€ के दिलों मे बसा à¤à¤• गम है
कहाठखो गया वो सà¥à¤°à¥‹à¤‚ का सिकंदर
बिना जिसके संगीत का सूर à¤à¤• कम है
-राजकà¥à¤®à¤¾à¤° “अकेला”
i can say no one can match rafi sahib in thousands years, his voice was magic , also he was a perfect man , kaash rafi sahib fir se janam len.
truely…. Rafi Saab ia a Legend with all the NAVRATNAS blessed by God.
by Navratnas , here i mean …… the human emotions of Passion / Love / Sacrifice / Non Egoistic / Generous / down to earth / versatile / Pious / SelfContented……… the above is in reference to the nature of Rafi Saab which i have come across in several articles written on this Genius…
i was only 7 when Rafi Saab left for his heavenly abode, but remember my family members being a vivid fan of this legendry singer. & i also grew up with the same feelings for Rafi Saab…….. indeed am blessed as well to be a part of the family of Rafi Saab ( i would say all fans of Rafi Saab are a part of his own family)
the conversation can go on & on ……… but there is one thing i want to say about Rafi saab is that he a legend / a miracle of God made only once. there are no replacements to the Original Legendry & versatile Singer ….there may be copy cats or imitators using his style of singing but as there is only one Sun whcih is a source of Light providing evolution in Earth , the same way there is ONLY ONE RAFI SAAB THAT GOD HAS MADE who is a boon to the Indian Film / Music Industry & to Humanity ………….. Originals Can never be REPLACED ………….
Rafi Saab has competitors even today afert 28 years of his death ……… wherein when some singers of his time are just pampered by media attention Rafi Saab does not need any media publicity talking about his achievements , the songs rendered by him are more than enough for even a common man to understand the importance of this great Singer whose value cant be guessed by media attention or monetary benefits
regards
pushpa_vishu1@yahoo.co.in
truely…. Rafi Saab ia a Legend with all the NAVRATNAS blessed by God.
by Navratnas , here i mean …… the human emotions of Passion / Love / Sacrifice / Non Egoistic / Generous / down to earth / versatile / Pious / SelfContented……… the above is in reference to the nature of Rafi Saab which i have come across in several articles written on this Genius…
i was only 7 when Rafi Saab left for his heavenly abode, but remember my family members being a vivid fan of this legendry singer. & i also grew up with the same feelings for Rafi Saab…….. indeed am blessed as well to be a part of the family of Rafi Saab ( i would say all fans of Rafi Saab are a part of his own family)
the conversation can go on & on ……… but there is one thing i want to say about Rafi saab is that he a legend / a miracle of God made only once. there are no replacements to the Original Legendry & versatile Singer ….there may be copy cats or imitators using his style of singing but as there is only one Sun whcih is a source of Light providing evolution in Earth , the same way there is ONLY ONE RAFI SAAB THAT GOD HAS MADE who is a boon to the Indian Film / Music Industry & to Humanity ………….. Originals Can never be REPLACED ………….
Rafi Saab has competitors even today afert 28 years of his death ……… wherein when some singers of his time are just pampered by media attention Rafi Saab does not need any media publicity talking about his achievements , the songs rendered by him are more than enough for even a common man to understand the importance of this great Singer whose value cant be guessed by media attention or monetary benefits
regards
turely said ……….. Rafi Saab is Immortal
Rehearsal for singers on 5th july at sion-koliwada, mumbai……..
a rehearsal is arranged for singers who want to take part in the “Saturday night rafi fever” programme held every second saturday of the month at sion koliwada.
the rehearsal is on 5th july, saturday from 5.00 p.m. onwards at naushad hall, opp. mini punjab hotel, koliwada and the Part V of the programme is on july 12, the second saturday of the month at the same venue from 6.30p.m. onwards.
Those desirous of taking part are requested to contact/write me on : 9833 250 701 cell or write at :
binus2000@hotmail.com…//////mumbai….////
mali saaheb : always welcome. pls call me . I live in in mumbai, my cell no being 9833 250 701.
rafi foundation is a group for bringing rafi lovers on a common platform and we have succeeded to a great extent.
we are honoured to take the rafi magic and the rafi mission – forward and as always we are “enthused” by the rafi lovers joining and supporting us.
binu nair, mumbai….. rafi foundation, binus2000@hotmail.com //mumbai//
I feel really pleased and proud when somebody praises the great Rafi. I am an amateur singer myself in my country. I usually always practise in Rafi songs, and I consider Rafi saheb as my guru although I never had the chance to meet him. I really wish I could sing a Rafi song in his memory in your programs. By age, I am 55. Please continue and my best recards to you all.
Binu, This is a great news and this gives us all the strength in trying harder for the success of motto of all Rafi sahab lovers
the rafi foundation is trying to bring rafi lovers on a common agreeable platform – and we are happy to note that we are making gentle strides with more serious minded “rafi lovers” joining us , each month.
the rafi family has complimented us recently and also the veteran actor raza murad has joined us as a patron.
this is a welcome news for all rafi lovers.
binu nair, mumbai…. binus2000@hotmail.com
kumar ji: all of your points are noted. the bharat ratna award issue is paramount and this year too we will try hard in a better way. the award will make sense as it will be a befitting tribute to rafi saaheb however much delayed. and, it will also make the younger generation to ponder over rafi saahebs great contribution to hfm and to humanity itself.
very soon we should also ask the human resourses ministry to include a chapter on rafi saahebs greatness in school books..
all this will take time, money, efforts and focussed activities and people must come forward voluntarily and take ahead the rafi mission. I will be the first to join this endeavour and a small army of dedicated rafi lovers must come forward – as many of us are surrounded by many many limitations.
binu nair, mumbai, binus2000@hotmail.com
binu nairji, as usual the good work being done by you and the Raft foundation is continuing.my compliments and appreciation for the time and efforts you are putting in on behalf of all us Rafi bhakthas. Our earlier efforts in getting the Bharat Ratna for Rafi Saab have not succeeded. We have to discuss this important subject separtely and pooling the varied suggestions of how to go about the whole exercise, come to some decision of how to proceed further.With an unsympathetic and uninformed govt, the task is not easy.there will be many obstacles. but let us try our best. also while on this subject, it was good to learn the duets sung by Mubarak Begum at the function.How she must be missing Rafi Saab? I request you to kindly interview her and othe film personalities on video so that her comments/anecdotes on Rafi Saab can be saved for posterity. Many film personalities who wer contempories of Rafi Saab are no more. At least let us record the views of all people alive now. We can also discuss on what further needs to be done in this matter separately. I request you to kindly take the initative and we will all cooperate and contribute our mite in all respects.
one year of rafi foundation : rafi lovers who have been in the thick and thin of events and other silent supporters may write in to Sargam magazine as the july issue is being readied.
we expect a frank opinion from readers which will be published in sargam.
rafi lovers : narayan/shirish/murthy/anmol/zorawar/barroah/ramkrishna/pradeep kumar/jagat/george/ramchandran/sanjeev rajput and many more rafi lovers may send in few lines of support or their frank opinion as we ready ourselves to roll on to the second year of “rafi foundation” and second edition of sargam magazine – the mag. for rafi and music lovers issued from mumbai.
for details write to : binus2000@hotmail.com
binuji ref post 19. i appreciate the call for the campaign for bharat ratna to rafi sahab and fully support. in fact that was one thing going on in my mind for several days now and whatever we can do from hyderabad, will be done. any plan chalked out on this noble mission will be implemented by all us and in good time. onward to the glorious campaign and i have full faith that our efforts on this score will yield positive results.
the campaign for Bharat Ratna Award to Mohd Rafi Saaheb must begin on July 31 and a team of 10 members from Delhi should oversee the campaign. Mr.Zorawar and his team along with rafi lovers “must” work out a plan and focus on it – this year.
everything else could “wait” – i believe.
Binu Nair
rafi foundation
Mumbai
rafi lovers “mumbai” :-
while i am working on the fourth edition of “saturday night rafi fever”- Part IV , i wish to invite music lovers to attend the live musical to be held at sion, naushad hall on june 14th.
as usual rafi-centric singers will sing 28 selected numbers from the works of maestros roshan and laxmikant-pyarelal. so please keep your saturday evening free from 6.30 p.m. onwards. the guests will include playback singer sharada and gitanjali shailendra.
r.s.v.p. 98 33 250 701
binu nair.
assuring all rafi saaheb lovers that the rafi foundation in the next two years will be the “biggest” music lovers group not only in india but outside too. this will be possible as “genuine rafi lovers” are joining us to take the mission forward.
we will succeed due to the beauty of rafi saahebs songs and character which are here to stay/ as long as music stays in the hearts of people.
a big thank you to rafi lovers for supporting us….
binu nair… rafi foundation, mumbai…. http://www.rafifoundation.com
It gives me very much pleasure to read that people love our Rafi Saheb so much.
Mr. Hussein Sheikh, well said..Rafi. Saheb..tere jaisa koyee nahin.
My admiration goes to mr.Binu Nair ji of the Rafi Foundation.
May God Bless this great man.
Post 12 : neeraj ji; you are asking me to “post” pictures of rafi foundation and no sooner do i do it, this arm-chair 2-minute-rafi bhakta will shout : binu nair is doing all this for self publicity.
even you neeraj has objected to our news and advertisement coming in to this great rafi saaheb website.
what is your game plan. i am beginning to learn some of the “traits” of so-called rafi lovers and now i am on my guard.
binu nair, cell no. 9833 250 701
Mohan Floraji,
Welcome to this forum and glad to note the great news.
Narayan
A poll to select your favourite mohd rafi website
http://www.twiigs.com/poll/Entertainment/Music/12264
binu when are you going to post this news on your website? the programs conducted by rafi foundation should be mentioned. also post videos and photos of events.
very refreshing news mr mohanflora sir. please keep us all posted of the competition and the names etc of the winners and also the songs that were rendered by the contestants. i am sure many would vie for the top honour to be crowned in the name of rafi sahab.
rafi lovers : the sargam magazine is published three times a year and the second issue is coming out in JULY.
Since, sargam is a magazine meant for rafi lovers, we also publish details of about twenty rafi lovers alongwith their pictures. we request rafi lovers to send us anecdotes/articles about rafi saaheb to us so that a common platform is created for rafi lovers to interact.
Since the issue is coming out in july, please hurry up.
to add, the first issue was well received by rafi lovers and we will give our best to the next july issue.
Pls. click on the masthead Sargam for more details or write to us.
binu nair, binus2000@hotmail.com ////// cell : 9833 250 701
mohan flora ji: thanks for the great news and good to hear from you after a long time.
to get suman kalyanpur for a function is praiseworthy for it’s known that she never comes near the phone when a music lover calls her up.
well done : mr. sharma and the rafi team of chandigarh. keep it up sky high.
binu nair : cell : 09833250 701. mumbai, http://www.rafifoundation.com
SINGING CONTEST FOR RAFI AWARDS
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 22
The Yaadgar-e-Rafi Society, Chandigarh is holding the first round of singing competition for Rafi awards on June 15, at Randhawa auditorium in Sector 16 here.
There will be three rounds of this competition for seniors and juniors in male and female categories. The three rounds will be held on June 15, June 29 and the final round on the death anniversary of Mohd Rafi on July 27. The male contestants will sing only Mohd Rafi’s songs and female contestants will Lata’s
The winners will be honoured with Best Singer Award and the first and second runners up with trophies in both categories. The awards will be given away by a renowned film personality in Rafi nite in December this year. Last year these awards were given away by popular playback singer Suman Kalyanpur.
For more details contact B.D. Sharma 98147-31112.
two songs of low tone is to be hear
1. Hum aap ki mehfilse bhoole se chale aaye.
&
2. Zindagi hai kya suno zara pyaar bhara dil – Maya
If u have 1st one with u pl.mail me i will be thankful.
Prakash shah shahv4u@yahoo.co.in
in ahmedabad its one and only : mr. umesh makhija who has converted his home in to a rafi museum of sorts :
Pls contact him on : o9825022157…. and do let me know of the progress.
thanks for writing…
binu nair….rafi foundation…………mumbai……..
Great work by rafi foundation.My eye dropped a tear as I was reading murthy sir’s comments that rafi saab will be somewhere in heaven smiling as usual.It is as though rafi saab is like a family member and a part of our daily lives.As said not a single day passes by without hearing God’s own voice.
Binuji I am from Ahmedabad , can you please let me know if any such group exists in Ahmedabad who are involved in Rafi saab’s activities.Pl let me know I will be very happy to join them in this noble cause.
I had also written earlier to you through the comments section for the above information.Pl do reply this time..
rafi foundation, mumbai has done it again. i am surprised by the speed of the news; so fast it has travelled to this site just as the organisers were recouping after staging a successful event. its great to see rafi saaheb living with us through his songs and it may be mentioned herein that last week itself we had three successful packed tribute shows in the memory of rafi saaheb in mumbai.
the magic is here to stay.
binu nair. rafi foundation, mumbai, binus2000@hotmail.com
Mindboggling to read …”pointing to the 2000 -plus gather and another 1000-odd waiting to gain entry…” this is nothing but sheer magic of Rafi sahab. Is is as though he was watching from the skies above and smiling as usual while showering his blessings. What a fantastic night it must have been and what a loss for the likes of me who missed this great fiesta. my heartiest congratulations to each and every one involved in organising the show and to all the musicians, singers and in particular to madam mubarak begum to have graced the occasion. i understand that the organisers left in the wee hours the next day and a few had to spend the rest of the night in a hotel for want of transport to reach home. The rafi-fans of mumbai you deserve a pat and are an example to all of us. I also happened to see this exact reporting in “Thaindian News” yesterday, and I will just give a small portion of it here again, for the benefit of all :
IIFA 2008 in Thailand
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Mohammed Rafi draws packed house, 28 years after death
May 19th, 2008 – 8:36 pm ICT by admin – Email This Post Email This Post
Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Songs by legendary singer Mohammed Rafi drew a packed house here 28 years after his death, and audiences were in for a surprise as an evergreen voice from the yore took the stage again, rekindling memories and melodies……..
Mohammed Rafi – there is a magic in this name! He’s still alive and his songs are immortal!! Rafi Saheb is remembered and will be remembered till this world ends. There’s no other singer like Mohammed Rafi Saheb.
Long Live Rafi the Great.