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.
October 9th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
can any rafian send me a song named
‘PIPRA PATWA SARIKHE DOLE MANWA’ {film godan}
vip5km@yahoo.co.in
i will be much greatful to sender
August 5th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Dear Rafians,
This is what we call as a GOD’S PERSONAL TOUCH … When we say can GOD be seen … the answer we give is in YES or NO … but when we listen RAFI SAHAB or see any of his interview or wehn we talk here … we all feel only thing yes GOD is there and his presence is felt when RAFI SAHAB sings …. RAFI SAHAB ke pehlu mein bas itna hi kehna hain…
” KHUDA KA BANDA THA …. KHUDA KE PAAS VAPIS CHALA GAYA … ”
REGARDS
SAGAR
August 3rd, 2006 at 7:02 am
Thank you so much for sharing this rare interview of a GEM of a person and Indian music.
August 1st, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Mohammed Rafi was geat person.He sang about 26000 songs.I think in this universe there is no singer to compare with Rafi Sahab.
July 31st, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Thank you very much sir. I am very pleased to listen such a beautiful voice in interview. I love Rafi Sahib. He is so simple and that makes him special. I do not think that his place will be filled. He is the gre8 and will be the legend of legends. Thanks once again for downloading this interview.
July 27th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
i want to listen “yeh dunia yeh mahfil” this song
July 25th, 2006 at 10:51 am
in 1995 i heard this interview on bbc aftet that almost 10 years i looking for this . now im so happy and thankful of you.
July 19th, 2006 at 4:30 pm
Thank you all,
I m really greatful to you all, I first time in my life heard the great voice of Mohd. Rafi, Since childhood i m listning mohd. rafi’s song. but how he speaks and all, its really great.
thank you verymuch.
July 19th, 2006 at 3:10 am
who would skip Barsat-ki-ek-raat song? I love it!
I’m in tears watching and listening to sweet and simple voice of GuruDev with an ever lasting devine smile, thanks so much Mohanflora for posting such a rare video, specially when July 31 is fast approaching.
July 18th, 2006 at 10:25 am
I have some more of the LIVE RAFI VIDEO!What no one has commented is on how you start appreciating him even more when you find that fame and awards have no effect on him. He is the same son-of the -soil, down to earth personality. This live interview was taken when he was back on top of the world in 1978/1979, but note his humbleness and simplicity!Click on the link and click on his photo after you scroll down i.e. if you first don’t want to hear his song from Barsaat Ki Raat. Your comments are invited after you see the saint singer speak!
http://www.musicnmovies.info/index.php/category/legends/
July 18th, 2006 at 8:35 am
Some more live audio songs of Rafisaab! Click on the link and enjoy.
http://www.abuparker.com/RafiSahab/RSlive.html
July 16th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
Hello Everyone,
This interview is a rare gem. Having heard so many songs by this great luminary of Indian film music, I was eager to know how he would sound when he spoke. I must say, if I was in admiration of Rafi Sahab -the singer par excellence, I am simply in awe of Rafi Sahab the man -an epitome of modesty.
When I heard him speak for the first time in this interview, I was struck by the humbleness in his voice. A voice to die for, a voice that continues to enchant millions even today and to learn that this voice is filled with such simplicity, was a refreshing truth for me.
I am impressed by the sheer greatness of a man who sings like a star, but that star never let the razzle-dazzle of his professional career drown out the voice of the artist.
I have always heard Rafi Sahab sing with voice of a maestro and I today I have heard him speak with the voice of an angel.
I feel truly blessed! Thanks a millions people!
Kudos to everyone responsible in uploading this interview online.
Ciao,
Yunus.
July 13th, 2006 at 6:36 pm
Greatest of all time
Thanks for the memories, Rafi Sahib
July 10th, 2006 at 9:48 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjxn29dfln8&search=mohammed%20rafi
Enjoy Rafisaab’s take on the Beatles” I wanna hold you hand” with Shammi Kapoor film”Janwaar” music Shanker Jaikishen. Just click on the above link and enjoy!
July 8th, 2006 at 7:24 am
I have found it at last, guys!
SEE AND HEAR RAFISAAB LIVE! Just click on the following and scroll down!
http://www.musicnmovies.info/index.php/category/legends/
July 7th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
Its a masterpiece, hats off to the people who made this interview available on the net. Rafi saab, undoubdetly has the divine voice and equally humble personality. I would like to tell you all that among those 25, 26 K songs, he has sung some regional songs also. He has sung some punjabi songs as he was from Punjab and some Marathi songs as well. He was such a versatile person. Its impossible to figure out his best song, they all are best of the best’s even now. Although HE is not with us anymore, but the treasure in term of songs / voice which he has left, will always be with us. I would like you all to make others know what RAFI SAAB was. His death annivarsary is on 31 July, you all know what to do.
July 5th, 2006 at 8:20 am
Hi friends! Please enjoy Rafi’s track which has been a great hit on the web!
http://www.transbuddha.com/mediaHolder.php?id=1409
July 5th, 2006 at 4:18 am
Here a great Mohd Rafi Fan,
I had never thought that I once will hear the great Mohd. Rafi speaking… besides singing. I was overwhelmed by the humble voice of Mohd. Rafi. It is clear that the the voice of Mr. Mohd. Rafi while speaking is absolutely different while singing.
Mohd. Rafi wherever you are… I will love you and your songs till the day I die..
Saheed
July 4th, 2006 at 2:58 am
I am thankful all the members and mostly mohdrafi.com members who given to chance to listen Muhammad Rafi Sahib voice. I am not able to say anything becouse he is Great Legend of sub-continent music.
July 4th, 2006 at 2:51 am
I am thankful who given to change to listen Muhammad Rafi Sahab voice. I am not able to say anything b’coz he is Great Legend.
July 4th, 2006 at 1:12 am
When we read and speak of Divine voice, why should we look elsewhere; it is Rafi Sahab’s voice. Divinity lurks beneath each and every word he sings. It is not an attribute of any song; whatever Rafi Sahab sings, he makes it Divine with his voice. He is God’s gift to mankind
July 3rd, 2006 at 9:04 pm
Thanks Anonymous for links
July 3rd, 2006 at 7:50 pm
Dear Mohanflora saab and Sagar saab
Please could you send me the DIL KE AAIENE MEIN SONG where Rafi saab yodels and if possible the live concert tracks from round the world.
My email is Khalidrashid85@hotmail.com.
Many Many Thanks
Khalid Rashid
UK
July 3rd, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Dear Mohanflora saab and Sagar saab
Please could you send me the DIL KE AAIENE MEIN SONG where Rafi saab yodels and if possible the live concert.
My email is Khalidrashid85@hotmail.com.
Many Many Thanks
Khalid Rashid
UK
July 1st, 2006 at 6:07 pm
Friend here are links to some more live programmes of Rafi Sahab…..from the web….
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/l/29/s/album.5244/
http://www.abuparker.com/RafiSahab/RSlive.html