By Achal Rangaswamy

Mohammed Rafi

The family was driving down the Expressway connecting Ahmadabad to Baroda and some radio station was playing songs randomly. When the family travels together, I don’t necessarily get the freedom to play just my own favourites only.

Suddenly my son, sitting behind us, asked a question.

“Dad, would Mohd Rafi have been able to sing this song?”

I just took a minute to listen with some patience to the noisy and somewhat jarring piece that was being dished out as a song. (more…)

By KS Ramachandran

Mohammad Rafi, the very definition of Bollywood music, passed away on 31st July 1980. Thirty-three years after his demise, the music lovers, past and even present generation, even today, seems to be not tired of listening to his voice, with his timeless renditions and sheer magic of his versatile voice and timbre. A singer, who sang not merely from his throat, but from his entire body, mind and soul, was certainly one of a kind in bringing out the right emotion, feel and expression, in his renditions. (more…)

By Onika Setia

तेरी याद

बुझ गए चिराग-ऐ-दिल , जब तेरी नज़र बुझ गयी .
अँधेरे से बढ गए हैं जिंदगानी में अब .
फुल चमन के मुरझा गए तेरा चेहरा जो मुरझाया ,
बहार की गैर -मौजूदगी में खिज़ा का डेरा है अब. (more…)

By Yasmin Banu, Abu Dhabi / 31 July 2013
This is my published ‘letters to the editor’ article in Khaleej Times

It was during the holy month of Ramadan on 31st July 1980, one of the greatest voice that Indian film Industry produced breathed its last.

Today, after 33 years the voice is haunting us as we reminiscent Mohammed Rafi on his death anniversary. In a nation of billion plus people, music plays an integral part of our daily lives from the FMs to the multitude shops there is always music buzzing to our ears. (more…)

By Anwar Enayetullah (published in newspaper DAWN Entertainment on Tuesday, August 5, 1980).
Shared by Mohammed Akber.

On July 31, another bright star from the world of music fell. This time it was on the other side of our border. He had left Lahore when he was in his teens. While his parents and five brothers, all elder to him, continue to live in this part of the world, he spent four decades in Bombay. (more…)

By Dr. Souvik Chatterji

The listeners of music all over the world remember the all-time great singer Mohammad Rafi on 31st July, 2013. The noble soul had left his admirers 33 years ago. Yet he is alive in numerous everlasting hit songs which are heard and cherished for generations. (more…)

By Mehtab Masih

The 33rd Anniversary of Mohd. Rafi, The Great Singer of this Earth planet falls on 31st July. 33 Years means two generations and certainly Rafi sahib is still impressing the coming generations also. The mass have always been with Mohd. Rafi, though he has never been judiciously recognized by the India Govt. He was never given any civilian award of the country higher than ‘Padamshri.’ We must say and it is a fact that the highest awards like ‘Bharat Ratan’ are just dwarves before Rafi Sahib. (more…)

By Rajiv Nair

Mohd Rafi and Mahendra Kapoor

His Guru Rafi Sahab
Mahendra was around 13 when he heard the Mohammed Rafi number Yahan badla wafa ka (Jugnu, 1947) and was totally mesmerized by the singer. “Dad somehow found out Rafi saab’s house in Bhendi Bazaar and reached there even though it was a riot-affected area post-Partition,” recalls Ruhan. (more…)