Disappointing Sonu Nigam at London on Rafi songs
This article is written by Mr. K.S. Ramachandran
Sonu Nigam, much to my expectations, sang Rafi songs very normally. In fact, I would rate him much much lower than what he used to sing when he came in about 13years ago through Saregama. His voice has conspicuously deteriorated with his singing all types of medlee/Hindi pop songs and of that sort.
He was always a fast singer and now-a-days with his singing Hindi pop and medlees, he is even faster. His first song Yaad Na Jaaye from Dil Ek Mandir was like traveling in Nilgiri Express, while the original song by Rafi is slow deep expressive and extremely emotional. This was the general pattern in which Sonu has been singing these days with his impatient attitude to sing slow numbers very fast is very painful. “Muje Teri Mohabbat Ka” from Aap Aaye bahar Aaye” was again a deep number with full of rhythm and Sonu sang like a breeze..
Rafi songs are predominantly slow with rhythm and with so much of labour in his singing – be it depth, dard, range, voice modulation, expression, emotion and what have you.
I was however amazed with the orchestral excellence with the british national giving interlude music to the T. The 75 piece orchestra was par excellence and I could not find anything different from the original music by the composers. Indian orchestra bands doing shows should take this as an example to see how well the symphony was directed and delivered. Another wonderful experience – nothing like original and natural instruments – playing with a 30 team violin for the right interlude music was way way ahead of playing the same tunes today on a key board.
I thoroughly enjoyed the orchestra and was really a treat.
July 1st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Sandeep Sir : U owe mohd rafi fans a meeting at a place and time of your choice. the reason : an international book is being written by a great and competent author on legend mohd rafi saaheb.
the author has more that 35 years of journalistic experience. He is an editor of a national daily and has indepth knowledge about mohd rafi.
now is the call .
ur support for the issue is paramount with your great knowledge / interactions with rafi saaheb.
please comply and help the cause.
binu nair, mumbai rafi foundation. cell : 9833 250 701
i hope you will agree to our request and help the publication.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:58 pm
ref mail 478,Mr Binu Nair, I am in full agreement with you,the so called singer if had any slightest regard would not have accepted the filfare award alongtwith ms.Ivy ( as per Mr.Haldar) FOR THE YEAR 1980.
WAITING FOR FULL ARTICLE FROM YOU SIR.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:34 am
post 474:
sandeep nadkarni : ur points about ashok desai is noted.
i expect rafi lovers who are more educated and well informed to use proper words to fellow rafi lovers.
the use of words by ashok desai such as dirty politicians and work-less speaks about the character of ashok desai - more.
people should not live in glass houses and throw stones at others mr.ashok desai. please redeem yourself.
and let me inform that i move out with industry music circles and i am aware of what respect kk had for mohd rafi post 1972. here was a guy who had joined a band of singers and musicians to undermine mohd rafi and made ready - early retirement plans for the legend.
more of it later by an article, i promise.
binu nair, mumbai
July 1st, 2009 at 9:25 am
Post 462 : kishore worm:
just like the frogs who venture out in the monsoons, this kishore worm comes herein to show his heroes fallacies and limitations.
obviously, he can’t digest the monumental popularity, lead and reach that mohd rafi has reached in his four decade career.
he should understand that kk can never be even a “parchayee”, a shadow of mohd rafi saaheb. truly - the frogs in the well cant think beyond the proverbial “closed well”.
binu nair
June 30th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
savita,
with reference to ur post no 471,472 i thnk ther is some misunderstanding first of all i agree with u meant tht i share the same point of view. secondly i never stated tht u have said rafisaabs voice did not suit dharamji i just siad tht i read it somewhr on this site pls dont take it personally it was not meant that way
i wud stand by my statement tht may be just may be rdb was a big enuf star to no to pay heed to anyones advice also i thnk by tht time rdb had bcome the no 1 md of the hfm industry and kk was at his peak plus the camaraderie they shared was mindblowing so all the factors must have ruled rafisaab out of the equation..!!
i hope i have cleared the misunderstanding i luv rafisaab as much as u do..
June 30th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Mr Sandeep Nadkarni ji,,,,we only aspire of Rafi sahab modesty and devoutness,,,but u proved urself,how can a fan practice it in reality,,,recently I read mentioned allegory about Rafi sahab that how Rafi sahab drank left over of Kish kum tea even though was insulted,,,but u demonstrated that in real,,,hrashness can be answered n also can be difeated through politness by praising someone u critisized u,,a rare treat for human,,,,,,,,,,Now even Mr Desai would repent that why he commented bitterly on such a humble person like u through the surface without giving a damn to the real cause of all these disturbance,,,,,,,,
Sir,,,through ur posts on “door reh kad na kado baat”,,,every Rafian has devloped a deep respect for u n ur work or attitude,,,,Sir we r even indebted that u spare ur time to reply those disturbing elements on this article as well,hence helping us for our cause to contemplate our emotion on this king of melody and man of real gentleness,,,
Sir, its most important that we have developed a pleasent feeling that legend like u r with us,,so remain inact with us always with sometime ur words like a “careless youth” n sometime like a guardian,,,,,,plz retain all the coloures of ur personality,,,we just care for each other, this is what life is all about,,,,,
with love to every one n best of best Rafi sahab,,,namaste!
June 30th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
My dear friend Mr Ashok Desai Saabs comments seems to have been taken very sharply & seriously by Mr Binu Nairjee & Savitaa Garciajee.
Friends and all the ardent admirers of dear Rafi Saab — I would like to inform you that Mr Ashok Desai has been one my greatest & best friend and in fact is a far more better voilinist than me and hence he is still in demand in the music industry though I have retired long back.
He is not only one of the ardent admirers of our beloved king of melody Mohammed Rafi Saab but one can say he is the “bhakt & poojary”
His house situated in the Arera Colony, Bhopal is presently beaming full of Rafi Saabs various large & small portraits and anyone visiting his this residence will be astonished to see his love & respect for the immortal legend.
However he also likes Kishore Kumar a lot and hence probably he was a bit taken aback after surfing this site & especailly when he read the various comments from the KK as well as Rafi Saabs fans.
Binujee & Garciajee — Mr Desai is a great gentleman and also a very soft spoken personality and if at all by his comments if he has hurt the feelings I Mr Sandeep Nadkarni exclusively on behalf of my dearest friend Mr Desai, sincerely apologise & deeply regret for the inconvenience.
June 30th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Refer Ms.Gracia mail and other mails ,Dharamji is my childhood idol and the way Rafi Saab`s voice suited him,it was next only to Shammi Kapoor Sahab.
On the controry Rafi Saab `saab personnal favouries were Shammiji & Dharamji.
Just to add further for the unknown? in an interview in Filmfare-where the cover story was on Dharamji,refrence came for Anupama song - Ya dil ki suno`rendered by Hemant Kumar,where Dharamji says `Rafi Saab `s voice always suited him`
Just to add further all the songs of Betaab were rendered by Shabbir Kumar,a clone of Rafi Saab,although the MD was R.D.Burman.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Mr. abhishek taparia with not just reference to ur post no465 but also with reverence 4 ur love for Rafi sahab,,I would like to tell in st forward way,,that u need not to be agree with me neither more nor less,,,,,it would be better if u remain content with ur attitude of post 1897 of Rafi true voice,,as I don`t worth it for I know so little almost nothing… About rafi sahab,,who am I to make any statement u perhaps misinterpreted my words but plz take the feeling ,it can never mean that rafian ought not to respect other singer,I myself respect not just the singer but everyone,,,,,this what I learnt from rafi sahab,,but I meant to say that,,,,,for chaste women,,prents are adorable,,yet she has special relation with Husband or kids,,I just means to say that Rafi saab is not just entertainment,,,with talent he was personality as well, so even though reching this man via entertainment we develop a unique relation with this divine voice of Md rafi that we can`t have for others but it never mean de-respect others,,,we `ve different feeling for different voice,,,,,,,,,its all relative yet I meant to offer pure oblation to this humblest of person rafi saab through my poor treasure of words plz don`t make it impure through ur allegation,,,n plz don`t be agree with me,don`t even think of me,,u always `ve best option to agree in Name or voice of rafi saab in this site………
Kishore fan ji no matter if u r born in 90s or 40s u need heart to understand nay person its matter of realization,,,independent of time,space causation,,simply matter of feelings…
kishore fan ji,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,important request,,,,,,,,,,plz don`t be so silly that u try to portrait wrong image of mine that I`m trying to sell Christianity over here,,,,there r countless missionary for this purpose,I`ve nothing to do with it,,,, there is nothing personal or public about me other than the fact that I`ve lready stated through one my initial post that,,, Rafi is my God,,,person like binu nair is My God`s messenger,,,n listening Rafi song is my worship,,,,,so u rather not interfere in this personal feeling of mine,,,u enjoy ur life,,,,to me I`m always imbibed in Masti of rafi`s voice if I listen or not,my mind heart keeps on humming this voice,,,,,,though most of Rafians stopped reading ur msg,,,yet I repect u for ur patience and ur dedication so what if its mis directed,,plz try to understand us,,its my humble request to u,,
,anyway,,its for my feeling towards Rafi sahab,,,
“ mohabbat ki ye inteha ho gayieeeeee ki masti me tumhe khuda keh gyaaaaaaa zamaana ye Inshaf kadta raheyyyyyyyyyyy bura keh gya yaa bhala keh gya”””
June 30th, 2009 at 10:53 am
with 465,,I never said even in dreams or while intoxicated that rafi saab voice never suited any singer if it dharmendra or anyone anyway,,,with dharmendra context,binu sir had replyed me and I admit whatever he told,,,,but I only placed that Dharmendra didn`t go out of term for Rafi sahab in sholey,,,,,as he calls Rafi sab frnd,,,as dharmendra was biggest casted actor for the film while casting of sholey all the other actor got bigger after the film so this logic don`t stand that he remained unheard!!!!we `ve one example,,,that at the time of AAdmi,,dilip sahab`s height was biggest in Film industry and monoj kumar,who admits that he has his name manopj and kumar by inspiration of Dilip sahab`s name,,and it was dream come true to work with Dilip sahab for Manoj kum as he was his biggest fan,,,,,,,,,,yet,,,and we all know that Rd burman`s name was not that big at the time of sholey,,,as it was for Naushad saab during Aadmi,Naushad saab was concider best by majority,,,yet Monoj kumar,,,became adamant that the song,,”kaisie haseen aaj””,,would be sung by Mah kapoor not Talat mehmood,,,,and Naushad saab was adamant as well, and recorded the song with tlat mehmood only,,Talat`s version was available for record`s and cassettes,,,,but Monoj kumar`s repepitetive insistence for Mah kapoor`s playback compelled Naushad saab to record this duet of rafi saab with Mah kapoor as well for the film……
….