Music Makes Rafi Immortal
An article from cybernoon.com.
We stock a large collection of his songs and are expecting good sales in the coming week… Chaudhvi ka Chand, Yeh Reshmi Zulfe, Chand Mera Dil, Teri Bindiyan Re…. There wouldn’t be anyone in India who hasn’t heard or hummed a song sung by Mohammad Rafi. The legendary vocalist sang more than 26,000 songs in his long singing career and Monday will be the immortal singer’s 26th death anniversary.
Starting his career in the music industry at the age of 20, Rafi sang all types of songs – bhajans, romantic numbers, rock ‘n’ roll, qawalis, slow numbers, ghazals, sad songs and the list goes on. Today evening, Mohammad Rafi Fan Club in Ulhasnagar will be holding a cultural programme to commemorate the death anniversary of the maestro. Dr P S Ahuja, President of the club said, On Rafiji’s death anniversary we’re holding a programme which will showcase his life along with all his evergreen hits. This is our way of offering him a tribute. Our club has been meeting twice a week for a couple of hours since seven years now. We come together and listen to Rafi’s songs. If someone comes across any of his rare interviews or songs, we share it with the club members. We have 40 active members meeting regularly. Today, we’re looking forward to a large gathering.
Music stores in the city say that Rafi’s music still seems to have many admirers. Rhythm House at Kala Ghoda, continues to do brisk business when it comes to selling Rafi’s cassettes and CD’s. Even today, we get several customers asking for Rafi’s songs. In fact, his songs sell much more than other artists do. We aren’t selling anything special to commemorate his death anniversary but there are three-CD and five-CD packs of some of his most famous songs, which are doing very well, said Anand R from Rhythm House.
Music World at Hutatma Chowk shares a similar tale. Rafi is extremely popular with patrons. His music sells very well. We stock a large collection of his songs and are expecting good sales in the coming week, said a store official. Honoured with the Padmashree Award by the Indian Government in 1965, Mohammad Rafi’s magic continues to weave its spell over listeners, even today. Born in a village in Lucknow, Rafi succumbed to a heart attack in his mid-fifties. Even though he his no more with us his voice will continue to captivate millions and live forever.
All the best for the coming function marking his 26th death anniversary.
A little correction. Rafi Saheb was born in a village near Amritsar and not Luckhnow and he started his career in his teens with Punjabi songs on Lahore radio.