Rafi Sahab

If there are 101 ways of saying ‘I love you‘ in a song, Mohammed Rafi Sahab knew them all and much more. The friskiness of teen romance, the philosophy of unrequited love and the anguish of heartbreak – he could explore every crevice of ardor in the most effortless and unmatched manner.

It wasn’t just love, his voice could capture all the emotions and moods of life – a failed poet’s melancholy, a fiery unionist’s vim, a debt-ridden farmer’s despair, a young man’s dream, heart of a lover and anybody who was somebody, Rafisahab had the amazing and rare quality of expressing it through his matchless and perfect voice. Rafisahab ,whose stupendous career spanned nearly four decades, was indeed a singer for every season and every reason. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi

Rafi Saab songs can be categorized into various genres carrying different shades and moods of human life, if one could listen to them carefully with attentive ears and devoted heart, one definitely shall find hope or confidence, optimism erupts from his songs which grant us the hope of re-living and not giving up the hope. Most of the songs of Rafi Saab remain till today inspiration to millions of his listeners who receives inspiration in hard times; his optimistic songs stand like a shield of condolence or blanket of tender patting laced with encouragement, bravery and steadfastness. As we say in Hindi “Ummeed” which instill (tendency of new hope) in the heart of  the listener as a consoling power with a strong encouraging message to struggle hard and thrive; but do not give-up until finds the way of success & happiness. Hindi equivalent meaning of the English word optimistic is “Aashawadi”.  Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi

Hindi film music is firmly embedded in gentleness and romance. It is difficult to listen to the songs of earlier times without the beauty of love creeping into your heart. You go softer than you really are; you imagine what you can’t really have, and for a few beautiful moments, there is a suspension of the usual anxieties and fears that accompany us like shadows throughout our lives.

Dance is something we of the Indian subcontinent perform on stage; it is not something we do at home (except when we practice.) In the Western cultures, a couple would break into a ballroom dance whenever the opportunity presents itself. Today, I wish to write about one form of ballroom dancing – the waltz, and its intimate relationship with two of Mohd. Rafi saab’s very famous songs. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi Portrait being handed over by Artist C.S. Pant to Binu Nair of Rafi Foundation

It’s rare that a singer’s giant sized pictures are splashed on giant bill boards and hoardings three decades after his moving away from us.

Yes friends. It’s Dec 24th. The smiling picture of Badshah-E-Mausiqui Mohd Rafi Sahib looms across Mumbai Suburbs on the occasion of his 87th birth anniversary celebration which will honor ‘Chaudvin Ka Chand Ho’ composer Ravi Sahib along with another Co-singer going by the name Shailendra Singh. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi's 87th Birthday

As December approaches ( and I have written this in an earlier birthday post of Rafi Saab), I look forward to my birthday and also that of my Idol. But there is another great character who we all remember very fondly as the month of December starts. And we look forward to his appearing before us.

One wonders why we haven’t noticed this uncanny resemblance between the two of them !!
One man who smiled all the time, another a slightly older man who smiled and made everyone smile. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi

Farrukh Viqar, famous RJ of UAE and Neeil have shared a wonderful gift with Rafifans on Rafi Sahab’s 87th  birthday. Its not very often that a Legend is born. Here is our small attempt to go back to the place where it all began.

Farrukh Viqar & Neeil on their expedition, Sangam Express an initiative by 89.1 Radio 4, (U.A.E.) traveled all the way from Dubai to Kotla Sultan Singh (a small village about 30kms from Amritsar, Punjab) to explore the place where it all began for the Singing Legend Md. Rafi. Read the rest of this entry »

Mohd Rafi

The listeners of music all over the world wish happy birthday to Mohammad Rafi on 24th December, 2011. The noble soul had left his admirers 31 years ago. Yet he is alive in numerous everlasting hit songs which are heard and cherished for generations.

A Mohammad Rafi Musical Academy should be opened in Mumbai. The aim and objective of the Academy should be to train singers in the art of playback singing. The way Pune Film and Development Institute had created acting talents like Om Puri, Shabana Azmi and others, in the same way Mohammad Rafi Academy and appoint singers of repute from different parts of the world to train young singers in the art of playback singing. Read the rest of this entry »

Dev Anand in Guide

Mohammad Rafi has sung many hit songs for Dev Anand`s films, the magic of Mohd. Rafi and Dev Anand still lingers on when we listen songs such as: Khoya Khoya Chand (Kala Bazar), Main Zindagi ka saath (Hum Dono), Jiya o jiya zara (Jab pyar kisi se hota hai); Teri zulfon se judai (Jab pyar kisi se hota hai); Cheda Mere Dil Ne (Asli Naqli); Tere ghar ke samne (title song); Tu kahan yeh bata (Tere ghar ke saamne); Dil ka bhanwar kare pukar (Tere ghar ke saamne); Falsafa Pyar Ka Tum Kya Jaano (Duniya); Aise to na dekho ke hum ko nasha (Teen Deviyan); Kahin bekhayal hokar yun hi chu liya (Teen Deviyan). His combination with Mohd. Rafi has given us great moments. Read the rest of this entry »

Dev Anand

‘India’s youngest star dies at 88’ read the heading in the ‘Times of India’ on Dec. 05, 2011, and that I think, aptly summed up the persona of Dev saab. His zest, zeal and enthusiasm emitted so much of positive energy that ordinary mortals like us can only applaud at the sidelines.

The anecdote that defines the Dev Saab’s concept of a film (or his life for that matter) goes back to early seventies. It was when he declined the offer of film ‘Zanjeer’ as the film did not have any song picturized on him. An eternal romantist that he was, a movie without such musical ingredient, was not the type Dev saab would feel at home. That was the kind of importance he gave to the film’s music. The super success of that film ‘Zanjeer’ (which commissioned Amitabh Bachan to the subsequent immortality) may spur some analysts to declare the incident as ‘a missed opportunity’ or ‘a great professional blunder’ but not Dev Saab himself. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »