Shammi Kapoor Remembers Rafi Sahab
Sunday, June 15th, 2008
Veteran actor Shammi Kapoor remembered Rafi Sahab during his felicitation by Aamir Khan at 10th Osian’s-Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema. Legendary filmmakers of his era Shakti Samanta, who made hits like ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’ and ‘An Evening in Paris’ with him and Lekh Tandon, who directed him in ‘Professor’, gave him the award. Sammir Dattani, Veteran actress Kamini Kaushal, Shakti Samanta, Lekh Tandon, Satish Shah with wife, Kamal Siddhu, Aditya Raj Kapoor with wife and mother Neilu, Raj Zutshi, Chetan Bhagat and many others arrived for the event. More at Hamara Photos.
MOHD RAFI centric singers will test their singing skills, singing gems from the store-house of two legendary composers of the hfm : Roshan and Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Rafi lovers are expected to attend in full strength and lap up the gems on offer "live" at the Naushad Hall in Mumbai’s central district - Sion on June 14, from 6.30 p.m. onwards. The Chief Guests expected to attend are: M/s. Sharada : playback singer and Mr.Padmakar Shivalkar the great Indian leg spin bowler - both of whom are dyed in the wool Mohd Rafi Lovers. 
Mohammad Rafi transformed thousands of ordinary songs into unforgettable & immortal with the touch of his charismatic voice. After the departure of this great legend, incalculable numbers of new singers came to light and many of his contemporary singers claimed to be best, but all disappeared in the dark. On other hand the magical effect of the songs of Rafi Sahab on the hearts of millions of music lovers is becoming deeper day by day. 
More than 90% of the people who are reading this know that this has something to do with Alibaba and the 40 thieves. But more than “Open Sesame”, what do today’s people know about this story? Think and see…it seems strangely blurred up, does it not? Well, that is nothing out of the ordinary and here is a chance for you to refresh your memory. This fantastic tale from the Arabian Nights is about a young man named Alibaba. Upon his father’s death, he and his elder brother Kasim were left with little. While his brother went on and married a rich woman, Alibaba became a woodcutter. 
Dev Anand was called evergreen hero because of his looks, boyish charm, his style, his positive energy and perhaps also due to the fact that he acted with maximum heroines in his career. The songs he sang on screen added to his romantic image whether the Singer was Rafi or KK or Talat or Hemant or even Mannadey (‘Chale Ja Rahe Hain, Mohabbat Ke Maare’ from Meena Kumari starrer Kinare Kinare). Songs from his fiftees and especially early sixties were mainly instrumental in popularising his movies. 
Among the many boisterous fast songs sung by Mohd. Rafi Sahab, one song stands out as kingly as any can be. That song is the title song from the film RAAJKUMAR – Jaane Wale Zara Hoshiyar Yahan Ke Hum Hain Raajkumar. The song is picturised on the return of the prince to his kingdom from studies abroad and is so wonderfully picturised that one feels totally immersed in the sequence of events. Shammi Kapoor, the prince is atop a fully bedecked royal elephant, what with an entire band of trumpeteering band and scores of royal guards and aides in attendance. The setting is perfect for a royal entourage – the costumes, the glittering ornaments, the perfect lyrics and the fast paced music. 
It was a CLASSIC rain song sung by Rafi Saheb with beautiful composition by Roshan Saheb on extraordinary lyrics by Sahir Ludhyanvi from the film Barsat Ki Raat with perfect lip harmonization by Bharat Bhushan on whom good numbers of Rafi gems had been picturized and who came to spotlight of stardom with golden voice of Rafi Saheb. The said song was twice in the film, one solo by Rafi Saheb and one duet by RafI-Lata picturised on Bharat Bhushan and Madhubala. There was another classical rain song in the film “Garjat Barsat Sawan Aayo Re” which was sung by Suman Kalyanpur and Kamal Barot. 
