BBC Interview of Rafi Sahab in 1977
Here is an audio treat - the audio interview of the legend. This was in Brittania, during 1977 while Rafi Sahab was on world tour. My thanks to Shuklas@HF for providing us all this interview. The transcript of the interview is below. Just read through and listen to Rafi Sahab speak in his soft voice. How transparent he is in his thoughts.
Mohd Rafi, jo lagta hai abhi kal taq jo hamare darmiyan the, aur phir voh chale gaye. Abhi chand baras huve jo woh London aaye the; unse ghulmil kar baatein ho rahin thi. Yakeen nahin aata jitni oonche unki taane thi, use se bhi oonchi aasmaanon mein unhone basera kar liya hai, aur jitne neechi unki sur the, unhe us se bhi zyada neechi need aagayi hai. Mohd Rafi, marhoom. Yeh November sathathar (1977) ki baat hai, Mohd Rafi, Brittania ke kayi sheheron mein, bade bade mazhumon ke saamne gaa chuke the. Hamne unse puucha ke:
Download this 10 Minutes interview (9MB)
Interviewer: aapko apne saamne paakar, aur khud aapki zabaan mein, apne pasandida geet sunkar, logon ne kya mehsoos kiya?
Rafi: Bahut achha kiya ji, bahut achha kiya. Response achha mila. Public itni khush huyi bahut.
Interviewer: Achha Tho Yeh Baatayiye, ab aap is tamaam safar ke baad wapar bambai pahunchenge; wahan phir aage ke liye aapke kya mansoobe hain, kya plans hein?
Rafi: Kuch nahin, wahan jaake ham apna recording shuru kardenge ji. Sab log rasta dekh rahe hein udhar. Telephone aarahe hein, jaldi aayiye; jaldi aayiye.
Interviewer: Phir hamne Mohd Rafi se poocha ke hindustan ki filmon mein aapko gaate huve, chauthaayi sadise bhi zyada arsa ho chuka hai. Kabhi aapne hisaab lagaya hai ke, itne bahut se barason mein, aapne kul milakar kitne gaane gaaye hein?
Rafi: Aisa jahan tak mujeh yaad hai ki, mujeh isline mein painteez (35) saal hogaye, aur us arse ke andar maine pachheez hazaar (25000) gaane gaayen hein; pachheez - chabeez hazaar (25000-26000).
Interviewer: Achha pacheez-chabeez hazaar gaano mein, aisa nahin hota ke aap, kuch gaanon ke dhoone bhool gayen hon?
Rafi: Aisa tho kuch nahin, jo gaane hit horahe zyada inko, voh gaane yaad rehte hein. Kayi aise gaane bhi hein jo bhool bhi gaye hein.
Interviewer: Achha yeh batayiye ke, yeh jo microphone hein istarah jo aadmi peheli baar iske saamne aata hai tho, usko khauf aata hai. Microphone se kehete hein ke aadmi darta hai; aur, shuru mein kaafi arse taq usse khauf aata hai. Aur aap yeh samajhiye ke painteez saal microphone ke saamne guzare hein; yeh bataayi, ke jab aap, farz kijiye jab aap gaane khade huye the, yahan badla wafa ka bewafaayi ke siva kya hai, us waqt aap ko kaisa mehsoos ho raha tha?
Rafi: Aisa, zara si kuch jijhak aati, thodi si, phir baad mein tik ho jatha hai. Bajne se tho gaane, gaane ke baad phir se dhun aajaayegi.
Interviewer: Ab jab aap, mashallah itne arse se gaa rahein hein tho, ab aapko, microphone ke aage kaisa mehsoon hota hai?
Rafi: Bas, mehesoos kuch nahin hota ji. Ek dam free gaata hun mein bas.
O duniya ke rakhwale song plays.
Interviewer: Kahan hai yeh paakdaar awaaz aur kahan apni neeji zindagi mein, bhole bhale, seedhe saadhe, balke sach poochiye tho kuch, sehme sehme the Mohd Rafi. Yakeen nahin aata. Hamne unse Poocha ke recording studio mein tho aap aksar jaate hein. Lekin ab aap yahan Brittania mein, hazaaron mazhumon ke saamne gaa rahe hein. Kya us gaane mein, aur, is gaane mein kuch faraq hai?
Rafi: Ji haan. Bahut, ek dam change peheli dafa hota hai. Har public ki farmaish poori karni padti hai, aur jaise jaise log farmaish karte hein, waise hi gaana gaana padta hai. Usi Mood mein koyi Rock N Roll, Bhajan, Classical, ji waise gaana padta hai.
Interviewer: Mohd Rafi ki ek badi khoobi yeh thi ke voh thirakte huve geeton se lekar, tehre tehre classici raagon taq, sabi kuch, badi masharath se gaate the. Aise mehero mein unse poocha gaya ke, tarah tarah se filmon ke badalte huve manzaron ke muthabik, aap apne gaane ka andaaz, aur apni kaifiyath ko kaise badalte hein?
Rafi: Aise voh, director ham logon ko batate hein, shuru mein batate hein, yeh gaana voh gaarahein sab, Kayi saal pehele picture aayi thi Neel Kamal, Usmein Ek Gaana tha, Babul Ki Duvayen lethi Jaa. Us mein se, meri ek ladki ki bhi shaadi thi, us ke doosre din mein yeh gaana record kiya. Tho wahan voh ladki gaati hai, tho meri aankhon mein aaraha tha aisa, ke jaise meri ladki abhi jaa rahi hai, doli mein, aisa aisa, tho lagta tha ke, gaane ekdam jazbaat se dil se nikal gaya.
Babul Ki Duvayen Lethi Ja song plays.
Interviewer: Aur Aakhir mein hamne Mohd Rafi se poccha, Ke Aap, painteez barson mein, pacheez se chhabeez hazar gaane gaaye hein, tho kya aap samjhthe hein mausiki ki duniya mein, apni zindagi ka, sab se achha nagma aap gaa chuke hein?
Rafi: Yeh tho dariya hai music ka. Yeh tho kabhi khatam hota nahin bas. Jitne bhi is mein, har tarah khushi ka sana hoti rehegi bas ismein.
Interviewer: Ek dafa Rafi Sahab koyi tees saal huve, maine Illahbaad ke ek tehele mein aapka Interview pada tha. Us mein unhone aap se poocha tha ke Rafi Sahab, aapko apna gaya huva kaunsa gaana sab se zyada pasand hai? Us waqt aapne kaha tha, Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki. Kya apne is bayaan par aap abhi Kayam hai?
Rafi: Ji haan, yeh gaana achha hai, bahut sweet lagta hai bas.
Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki song plays.
July 1st, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Dear Mohan Flora Sahab,
Can you also plz send me some immortal tracks of Rafi Sahab just like you did of ” DIL KE AAIENE MEIN ” which was a best example of YODELLING .
My email address is aries6271@excite.com
July 1st, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Mohanji, Anonymous and others,
A million thanks for the audio links.
Is anyone able to watch Rafisahab’s videos on this site. Somehow, I am not able to watch it even after installing Realplayer 10.5
I am so desperate to watch the GOD of music sing. I don’t know where to get or buy these videos. Can anyone help please ?
A million thanks in advance.
paresh@ourem.org
July 1st, 2006 at 4:48 am
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for the above information. Great!
July 1st, 2006 at 2:33 am
Dear Friends,
The humility of Rafi Sahab reflects in his voice. Thanks to the website for providing the interview!
For those friends who love his live concerts, here are two links.
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/l/29/s/album.5546/
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/l/29/s/album.5547/
June 29th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
I am thankfull to the website Mohdrafi.com to providing us the download to hear Rafi Saab’s voice.
June 28th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
hi mohanflora, Would u please send me Rafi Saab’s live concert,or any one who have it My email peacebird2002@yahoo.com
June 28th, 2006 at 10:31 am
ASSALAM-o-AALEKUM main kya kahum aapki tarif tO jitni ki jaaye wakayi kam rahegi yeh mai nahi aj pOOri duniya jaanti hai Or mai takriban 10 saal ki Umar se rafi sahab ke gaaye huwe geet sun raha hoon Or gaa bhi raha hOOn Or aj meri Age 19th hai yakeen manO tO aisa lagta hai ki ALLAH pak humain unke time mai paida kiye hOte tO dil mai aik tamanna na rehti ki kash hum bhi unka deedar kar pate Or ab tO wOh hamare beech nahin hain tO unke liye dil se aik hi duwa nikalti hai ki ALLAH pak unkO JANNATUL FIRDOS mai AALA SE AALA MAQAM ATA KARAI Or duniya mai tO kamyaabi ALLAH ne unkO dee hi thi ab ALLAH APne jahaan mai bhi unkO KAAMYAABI dai AMEEEN kehna tO bahut hai rafi sahab ki shaan mai lekin sach maanO tO likhne mai hi mere haath buri tarhaan kaamp rahe hain (this is Email- (SAHIL_ASTONISH@yahoo.com) Agar kisi ke pass koi Or site ya live vidio clips hOn Rafi sahab ke tO plzz send mai i will thanks full that person Or jate jaate Aik shair rafi sahab ki shaan mai kehna chahunga MAIN YEH NAHI KEHTA KI BHAGWAAN THE RAFI DUNIYA KI HAR AIK BAAT SE ANJAAN THE RAFI BHAJAN HO GEET HO YA CLASSICAL HO HAR AIK NAGHME KE SAAZ OR TAAN KI JAN THE RAFI YOON KAHO TO HAR AIK SUR KI AAN THE RAFI KARTA HOON QISSA AB YEH MUKHTASAR KI DUNIYA FANAAH HO JAYE PAR HAR MEHFIL KI SHAAN THE RAFI JO KABHI NA WAPIS AA SAKE AIK AISI PEHCHAAN THE RAFI
June 28th, 2006 at 10:19 am
ASSALAM-o-AALEKUM main kya kahum aapki tarif tO jitni ki jaaye wakayi kam rahegi yeh mai nahi aj pOOri duniya jaanti hai Or mai takriban 10 saal ki Umar se rafi sahab ke gaaye huwe geet sun raha hoon Or gaa bhi raha hOOn Or aj meri Age 19th hai yakeen manO tO aisa lagta hai ki ALLAH pak humain unke time mai paida kiye hOte tO dil mai aik tamanna na rehti ki kash hum bhi unka deedar kar pate Or ab tO wOh hamare beech nahin hain tO unke liye dil se aik hi duwa nikalti hai ki ALLAH pak unkO JANNATUL FIRDOS mai AALA SE AALA MAQAM ATA KARAI Or duniya mai tO kamyaabi ALLAH ne unkO dee hi thi ab ALLAH APne jahaan mai bhi unkO KAAMYAABI dai AMEEEN kehna tO bahut hai rafi sahab ki shaan mai lekin sach maanO tO likhne mai hi mere haath buri tarhaan kaamp rahe hain (this is Email- (SAHIL_ASTONISH@yahoo.com) Agar kisi ke pass koi Or site ya live vidio clips hOn Rafi sahab ke tO plzz send mai i will thanks full that person Or jate jaate Aik shair rafi sahab ki shaan mai kehna chahunga
June 27th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
hi mohanflora, can u please e mail any one song of mohd rafi sahab which he has performed live.please.its a humble request.my e mail address is arfat_simple@yahoo.com
June 27th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
hi mohanflora, can u please e mail any one song of mohd rafi sahab which he has performed live.please.its a humble request.
June 27th, 2006 at 7:28 am
Hi Anwar,
I have the CD’s of Rafi Saab’s live concert-not the video.I can send you the CD tracks!
June 26th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
I have no words to explain my pleasure after listening this interview.Rafi sahab is indeed the best singers of all times and no doubt a very nice and simple man. No one could believe that a singer of such popularity and fame can be so soft-spoken,humble and down-to-earth.I had tarted listening his golden voice at the age of 18-19years and till now I am die-hard fan of Rafi.I think that no singer all over the world can sing “O DUNYA KAY RAKHWALAY” like Rafi had sung and immortalized.He was and is like a musical institution for young singers.
Thanks a lot to all those who made it possible for all Rafi fans to listen his voice and Keep It Up.Arshad Qureshi.(PAKISTAN)
June 26th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
mohan ji plz send the video of Rafi sahabs live concert plz send to me. my mail add. is
nickybnd@yahoo.co.in
thanks for that
June 26th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Same here Yash! Pl. send the video of Rafi Live at mohanflora@yahoo.com. I do have two CD’s of Rafi Live in Concert anyone wants, I can send them
June 25th, 2006 at 11:40 pm
hi
yash pls send me that rafi,s live 4 songs iam vry much thankful to
u my email adress is sajeedkhan@yahoo.com
ah rafi saab ki awaz jo dil aur dimag se jaati nahi
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:34 pm
aaj bbc ki interview sun kar lagta nai hai ki yeh wo aawaj hai jis ko sun kar mai bada hua hoonaaj mai is age mai hoon ki mere dost harain hotey hai ki tum ko is aawaj ka ek nasha hai meri har us insaan sey requst hai jik paas koi live program ho aur wo us ki vidio is site per dikha sakey aisi aawaj phir kabhi nai sun saktey koi aur rafi nai ho saktamere paas ek live jis mai 4songs hai hari om suhani raat meri kahni maduban mai radhika
June 17th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
Does anybody have recording of Rafisahab’s program on DD ? It was called the Geet Gata Chal series.
Please please please let me know if anyone knows the source.
Million thanks in advance.
paresh@ourem.org
June 15th, 2006 at 11:15 am
Dear
In this interview has been confirmed that total number of Mohd. Rafi Songs are 25 to 26000 songs from the lips of Rafi. From a long time totally unreliable sources mentioning the number of 4500 and 5000 songs thats can not be proved of discographical record from the sound recording companies at all.
Mentioned 4 to 5 thousand list of songs maybe released Hindi film solo songs only that is not cover from all categories of songs such as released, unreleased, filmi, non-filmi, duets, solos, choruses, ghazals, bhajans, qawwalis, devotional, patriotic, children, parties songs and specially out of Hindi songs peoples don’t know. So be careful.
June 13th, 2006 at 2:42 am
From the day I started to listen music, it was Muhammad Rafi’s voice I heard and being an ardent fan of Rafi Sahib I am glad to have this interview in his own voice. By making this interview available a good service has been done for the fans like me.
June 12th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Hearing his golden voice , “Mere rongte khade kar diye”. How lucky are we who lived on this earth at the same time when Rafisahab also lived. A great human being, NOBODY and I repeat NOBODY will ever come even close to him. He was truly extraordinary !
Thanks a million for this feast.
June 11th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
Heartfelt thanks for providing an opportunity to listen to Rafi-sahab the person, as opposed to Rafi-sahab the artist. Hearing him talk gives the distinct impression that here was a man so modest that he was completely oblivious to his own greatness. I doubt Rafi-sahab understood the legacy that he has created and left behind to enrich us.
June 9th, 2006 at 3:57 am
A million thanks to those who made this interview available. A trillion thanks to Rafi Sahab May Allah bless his soul.
June 2nd, 2006 at 4:23 am
RAFI SAHAB AIK AISA NAM JO KANOON ME PARTE HI RAS GHOOL TA HAI.MAIN UN KE GEET KAFI GATA REHTA HOON.DOOST KEHTEY HAIN KE MAIN RAFI SAAB KI TARAH GA LETA HOON.LEKIN MAIN UN KE PEROON KI KHAAK BHI NAHIN.WOH 1900 TO KIA BALKEH QAYAMAT TAK INCOMPARABLE HI RAHE GYE.ALLAH UN PER REHMAT KARE AUR UN KO KARWAT KARWAT JANNAT NASEEB KARYE.AAMIN.
KHALIL AHMED SOHRABGOTHI
PAKISTANI CANADIAN IMMIGRANT
June 2nd, 2006 at 4:13 am
THANK YOU TAHT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME MORE THAN GOLD IN THE FORM OF INTERVIEW WITH MUHAMMAD RAFI.I WAS IN SEARCH OF RAFI SAHAB’S VOICE IN HIS REAL LIFE.IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO YOU TO PUBLISH HIS LIVE CONCERT RECORDINGS,I WILL BE INDEBTED FOR YOUR ACT OF KINDNESS.
KHALIL AHMED.
FROM CANADA(BRAMPTON.)
June 1st, 2006 at 11:59 pm
I’m really delighted to read the transcript of the interview with Rafi saab. My mind wanders back to a February, 1980, night when Rafi saab sang in front of 12,000 people in Calcutta. Before he came on stage, RD, Asha and Kishore had already sung. And at 10:00 pm, the greatest of them all arrived on stage and was received by Ameen Sayani, the MC for the show. The crowd went wild as Rafi saab alternately waved and did namaste. The first song he sang was Madhuban mein raddhika nache re, the Kohinoor of Indian film music. Before taking a break in the middle, he sang Yahoo chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe and O duniya ke raakhwale. At around midnight he ended the concert with Aaja aaja main hoon pyar tera; the police commissioner came on to the stage to escort him. His voice always touched your heart; the way he would sing “Mahal udas aur galiyan sooni” would make you cry. When he sang the hit qawali “Parda hai parda hai” he played with the words and then said “Rafi mera naam nahin” instead of “Akbar mera naam nahin.” And I remember Ameen Sayani making a personal request for Suhani raat dhal chuki and Rafi saab singing that in his inimitable voice. Who could then know that five months later, this singer’s singer, whom Mukesh, Manna and Kishore adored, whom Mahendra Kapoor, Anwar, Shabbir Kumar, Mohd Aziz and Sonu Nigam emulated, and whom Yesudas, SP Balasubramaniam and Udit Narayan idolized, would leave us forever.