Discovering Rafi Sahab
Rafi Bhakts present a new tales to the unending saga
Article by A S MURTY, Secretary, Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter – rafimurty@gmail.com
Mohd Rafi
For the past several years now, I have had a very close interaction with many Rafi Bhakts, from across the globe. Fans of Rafi Sahab, like that of any other legend, come from all walks of life. They have very varied lifestyles and come from different cultural backgrounds. Yet they have many commonalities in them. I have found some very dedicated Rafi Bhakts, who indulge in a wide spectrum of activities that spread the works of Rafi Sahab. All of them do it selflessly and purely out of their own personal passion for Rafi Sahab and his songs. Most of them work ceaselessly, devoting a lot of time and money on their activities – unmindful of any rewards. Their only reward is their personal satisfaction of doing what they like most – spreading the fragrance of Rafi Sahab. There are several communities of Rafi Sahab on social networking sites on the internet. Several groups exist in almost all the major cities. These groups conduct musical shows, musical sessions, get togethers, mehfils and so much more. They inter-act and discuss the movies for which Rafi Sahab has given his impeccable renditions and relive the magic of these immortal songs.
Rafi Sahab was a singer par excellence – he surpassed all the known playback singers with his outstanding ability to go into the soul of the song. Writers before me have commented that he actually enacted the songs and nothing could have been truer. This quality alone makes him unique in the large galaxy of some of the finest playback singers that our country has produced. But beyond these extra-ordinary armory that Rafi Sahab possessed, he was a very down-to-earth person. Very modest in disposition and humble in nature. He lived a fairly simple life and had no vices. Foremost, he believed he had to spend quality time with his family. He played games with his children, sang songs for them all to hear and did his riyaz unfailingly. He was a very large hearted person and helped the needy, several times even without the needy seeking alms from him. He encouraged everyone in the industry – from musicians to film-makers to the co-singers. Although Rafi Sahab was at the pinnacle of glory, his attitude was that of a commoner. He won the hearts of everyone in the film industry with his unimpeachable character and was therefore respected by the big and small alike. He was always addressed as Rafi Sahab by not only his contemporaries and juniors, but by seniors and veterans. Rafi Sahab learnt early in his life that respect begets respect and love. His endearing charm lay in his smile as otherwise he was a man of few words.
I have discovered that, listening piously to Rafi Sahab songs for several decades now, his fan following not only has become countless – running into millions I presume. But more than this, his fans who often would like to call themselves as Rafi Bhakts – have themselves imbibed several qualities of their virtuous idol. Many are often seen doing charity services. Rafi Bhakts are trying to become role-models for future generations by their unstinted and selfless acts. Many names crop up, but it would not be proper to name some and forget many and hence individual names are not being lined up. But the picture is very brightly lit before us. Rafi Bhakts are not only earning a good reputation and name, but also enhancing the name of Rafi Sahab in whatever they do. Pages after pages have been written on legendary idols by their fans, including on Rafi Sahab by the Rafi Bhakts. Rich tributes have been paid to some of the very great Rafi Bhakts earlier too in various fora. I have seen youngsters, some of them still in their teens, who worship Rafi Sahab as though they have grown up listening to his songs. Most of these youngsters have been born several years after Rafi Sahab himself bid goodbye to this world. How then this YOUNG RAFI BRIGADE came to be such staunch followers of a playback singer whose songs were recorded several decades earlier. Awestruck, I tried to find answers to these perplexing questions. Men would easily prefer male playback singers and often co-relate their own voices (and singing abilities sometimes) to the well known male playback singers. Their being Rafi Bhakts therefore is understandable. But we do have a very large distaff music lovers who besides being good music lovers and liking the songs of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Geeta Dutt, Suman Kalyanpur, etc. have a very definite and strong leaning towards Rafi Sahab. Their knowledge of the songs of Rafi Sahab is extra-ordinary again. These female fans of Rafi Sahab show equal passion, sometimes more vocally than their male counterparts.
As I have been in close inter-action with such great Rafi Bhakts over the last several years it set me thinking – how they came to become Rafi Bhakts in the first place. What touched the emotional chord in them to be so vociferous in their piety towards Rafi Sahab ? And I set myself to discover their tryst with the one persona they admire and worship more than anyone else – Rafi Sahab. I threw open a topic “HOW I BECAME A RAFI FAN” and within days, a plethora of short but well crafted true accounts of individual infatuations, emotions, convictions, etc. all started pouring in. Careful analysis of most of them tells me one thing very clearly – these write ups are just as honest as ever there can be and have been narrated from the depth of individual hearts of Rafi Bhakts. Just a week before I had asked friends – all staunch Rafi Bhakts – to narrate their story on what makes them a fan of Rafi Sahab. From among the heaps of write-ups that I have already received, it was very difficult to choose one over the other. However, for various reasons I did find one very exceptional write up which I think all the Rafi Fans across the globe would like to read. Perhaps many would see a piece of their own life in such a great essay which has been sent to me by Dr Vasudha Theeratharam.
Dr. Vasudha Theertharam is an Ayurvedic physician and a Nutritionist.She has her own private clinic at Bangalore.She is a senior faculty member in Information and Research centre where she teaches Health and Nutrition on a part-time basis.
Dr Vasudha has herself essayed a fine article on these pages earlier, partnering Gan Sharma and the link to that article (A wide range of fans for one song!) is
A Wide Range of Fans for One Song
Friends I would like you to analyse the following write up of Dr Vasudha on “HOW I BECAME A RAFI FAN” and co-relate the same with your own corresponding thoughts.
I am narrating a tale of untold bliss.
Beneath the layers of my heart lay a cache of images which sheltered millions of emotions.Here friends, take a peek into my heart.
My tryst with Rafi began when I was blossoming into a teenager.
Papa had a ear for good music and he played Baiju Bawra, Chori Chori, Barsaat among various other filmy, instrumental and classical numbers. As a kid I listened to these divine musical delights. Though unable to comprehend the meaning of the songs, the melody, the range, the cadence and the nuances of Man tarpat, Oh duniya ke rakhwaale, Jhoolen pavan ki aayee bahaar, Tu ganga ki mauj mein, Khuli palak mein jhoota gussa, Chupne waale saamne aa etc. touched my heart and Rafi left that indelible mark which till date no other singer has succeeded in erasing. Every note was ingrained in my gray matter.
I was on the threshold of teenage. I was a plain Jane whom nobody would want to give a second glance.
One day a cousin of mine came to stay with us. She had this ‘mane’ mania and the looks of my silky, brown hair caught her eye (That lux and lux alone was the secret of my brown hair is something I would like to share with you all). She loved my hair and made me aware of my asset, the beauty of which used to be camouflaged in a meandering plait or a bouncing pony until then.
She and I often listened to old Hindi songs, crooned and dreamt; though I did not have the necessary qualifications of a teenage dreamer.
It was one of those day dream sessions which was interrupted by Teri zulphonse judaai to nahin maangi thi – I was mesmerized by the melody of the song.
My dream boy was singing for me.
Every mind is fickle and carefree. It has the liberty to date Dev Anand, gaze at the full moon with Dharmendra and reach for the stars with the man of one’s choice. This unbridled exhilaration cannot be snatched from any mind.
But –
I took a tour of the universe with the man of my dreams-Mohommad Rafi.
Rafi’s voice held my mane, entangled it with his hands, lifted my drooping chin and pacified me with Maine kya zulm kiya aap khafa ho baite…
And in the breezy twilight sang Tumhaari zulf ki saayen mein shaam kar loonga… Wow! I had fallen in love with the voice. I did not care to see the face. I exulted in the tantalizingly ‘teenful’ years.
I did have few admirers for my eyes which were pronounced against the backdrop of my prominent cheekbones. I imagined Rafi looking into my eyes and singing Yeh aankhen uff yumma pyaar kyun na hoga and I looked into his eyes with the same level of intensity singing Yeh mausam uff yumma and thus began the journey of ishq, pyar, mohobbat- so exciting, so intoxicating.
Mujhe tumse mohobbat ho gayee hai mujhe palkonki chaao mein rehne do – reverberated in every cell of my body.
Mohd Rafi
On one of my daily trips to school – I remember having told one of my friends – I want to marry Rafi – It was of course told in a lighter vein.
“Rafi? Have you seen him?” she shot back.
As a teenager pining from love, Rafi’s Choo lene do naazuk hotonko, Jaane chaman shola badan pehlu mein aa jao, Chalkaaye jam aayiye aapki, Tum kamsin ho naadan ho were some of the songs which served as an ambrosia and aroused the ‘Mohobbat’ in me.
It didn’t matter how old Rafi was or how he looked I was his ‘Radha’, Prem diwaani. ‘Everything is fair in love’, I told my friend.
I had no Rafi obsessions whatsoever. I loved his singing, that’s all and his songs took me to another land – Phiroo tujhe sang leke, naye naye rang leke sapnonki mehfil mein.
My teens were coming to an end. During my five and a half years of dissecting bodies, learning plant and human anatomy my emotional physiology took a backseat. During the cultural fest in my college I unconsciously sang Rafi songs for music competitions. Bahoaaro phool barsao, Woh jab yaad aaye and mitwa mere meet re. I won the first prize for Bahaaro, and 3rd for Mitwa; somehow woh jab yaad aaye didn’t make the necessary impact.
While practicing Mitwa mere meet re my better half ‘Chinnu’ as I lovingly call him had listened to the song and then said.- ‘You sang very well’. Little had I realized then that ‘Mere mitwa’ was complimenting me.
Today I am happily married and have two sons.
When my elder son who is a Downs baby listens to Oh duniya ke rakhwaale. Man tarpat hari darshan and many other songs in an absorbed manner I feel I have succeeded in transferring my music gene to my progeny.
Was it ‘that’ extra gene that made him a Downs baby? If the answer is in the affirmative I would somewhere, amidst all my sorrow of begetting such a child, feel happy too that an extra pair of genes that was the causative factor for the syndrome, has music in it.
My Papa and Amma are very fond of my son. He grew up listening to his Grandpa singing, among various other songs Raadhike tune bansari churaayi as well. It is sheer pleasure even now to listen to papa singing Bansari churaayi, and my son unfalteringly saying ‘KYA’ and the music session going on for hours.
Now in the transition period of my life I fly with the same gusto carrying lovely memories of my association with songs like Dil bekaraar saa hai, Raat suhaani jaag rahi hai, Aise toh na dekho, Yeh parbatonke daayre, Jaag dil e deewaana, Rhim jhim ke geet saawan gaaye, Yaad mein teri jag jag ke hum –the list is endless.
Rafi the sculptor, the man who kindled the flame of first love in me has succeeded in carrying it to this day with the same brightness making me live every moment, naughtily whispering into my ears—
Tumse kahoon ek baat paron se halki halki halki halki halki–
Vasudha
Many more of Rafi Bhakts have already sent in their write ups and many would do so for several months more. The aim was to discover Rafi Sahab through the Rafi Bhakts and if write ups like the one above keep pouring in from all quarters, the dream of understanding Rafi Sahab better would become a reality for all of us. Activities of these nature are not common and it is in this context that I have always felt that the Rafi Bhakts are just as unique as the master himself. The saga of Rafi Sahab continues therefore in the form of outpouring from the Rafi Bhakts themselves. Some of the experiences and thoughts of these Rafi Bhakts are so out of this world that they resemble fairly tales. But true they are and therein surfaces several aspects of Rafi Sahab that perhaps are yet to be discovered. Go on Rafi Bhakts, narrate your own tryst with Rafi Sahab. Those of you who wish to write about your own personal experiences and thoughts on this subject, may please send me their essays to my personal email id given above, or else follow up this article by posting in your thoughts.
Discover Rafi Sahab, therefore, in the only way his true followers can – as unique and gifted as the master himself.
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dear muthy sir,thanx for sharing nice article with us,i would like to share documentry on rafi saab,produced by films division,i have uploaded in you tube in 8 parts,also you will find rare songs,and interviews of rafi saab,also i would like to inform you about blog,dedicated to our beloved rafi saab,total over 300 pages are there,kindly visit this link,take care
http://www.rafifanblog.blogspot.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/mohamedparvez?feature=mhum#p/u
regards
mohamed parvez
WHY ONLY 31 COMMENTS FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST ARTICLES – STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART…..
IS A SERIOUS QUERY….
Dr.VASUDHA : BRILLIANT IT IS. I READ IT WITH MOISTENED EYES. NOTHING MORE TO SAY.
BINU NAIR
Vatcha
How I wish I had seen Rafi go red in the face out of shyness!Thanks for all the good words.By the by did you also think Rafi sang for you?
Sailor
Rafi always comes in my dreams and hums all my fave nos with so much romance ki poochiye math sailorjee.I look forward to this romantic encounter every night-ha ha.And before i forget salaam salaam for you for the praise.
Prakash shah ji
Your two words said it all.Thanks sir
vasudha
Raj Nbr March 8 a
Dear group members:
This is to inform all of you that Farrukh Viqar – our well known RJ from 89.1 fm Dubai – has started a cause on Facebook, wherein the only motive is to create awareness among all the music lovers and ultimately the Govt of India for Recognizing the magical voice of the Greatest ever Hindi singer, Mohammed Rafi.
This group was created with an aim to support this Cause – and is in no way different from the same. We would therefore request all of you to please join the Cause “BHARAT RATNA FOR RAFI SAHAB” at the following link:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/442092?m=66203b8d
Please join the Cause, Invite your friends and LET US DO IT!!!
PS: In a way to avoid causing confusions, We have decided to do away with this group.. and the final word remains that there is only one cause BHARAT RATNA FOR RAFI SAHAB & no group as BHARAT RATNA TO MOHD RAFI.
many thanks and best regards
Administrators of BHARAT RATNA FOR RAFI SAHAB group
Dr.
Excellent writing.
murtygaru and vasuji,
i have already recorded my comments in rafi.co.in and if i say it is true mysore paak more sweeter everytime you savour it – is not out of place.
your article – a joint one – turly a romantic duet of an ever romantic rafi sahab. it just goes to show what a precious uncut diamond/jewel rafi sahab was.
reading your article again, i felt – to a great extent – you have satiated the hunger and thirst of many a rafi fan/bhakt.
rafi sahab encompassed 360 degrees – i should say vasuji. i should say if rafi sahab could read vasuji’s writings about him – he would forced to beam down and appear in front of / and only for vasuji’s eyes.
murtygaru – aisey hee likhtey rahiyegaa – hamaari knowledge baddh rahi hai aapkey badaulat.
this venkatadri – is he the same gentleman you were talking about – regarding some rare song etc. – murtygaru.?
ramesh narain kurpad.
I request all my rafian friends to kindly click on the link below and vote for our beloved “rafi sahab”…
http://www.whopopular.com/Mohammed-Rafi
Thanks
rajkumar Akela
feel good
immortal. R-A-F-I. He has immortalised himselves in our souls and minds.
RafiJI ‘JAIHO’
Hi Vasudha,
Your eulogy of the legendary Rafi Saab made a fantastic read. Keep it up gal! If Rafiji was alive today he would have turned red in the face from shyness and would have perhaps popped the question. Your article moved me to tears. I bet your down syndrome son is on cloud nine when he is all ears to Rafi’s lilting and evergreen numbers. Rafi has indeed aroused the poet in you as is clearly reflected in your write-up. Rafi’s songa are indeed-
Romantic
Alluring
Narayan saab
I am very much thankful to you sir.Often my heart feels what my mind is unable to comprehend.And I am a great listener of the heart(pun unintended)even without my stethescope!My heart beat only for Rafi saab and believe me he heard it!
Anwar -ul-haque jee
Yes sir 1+1= 11 and I think that was the age I started listening to Rafi saab and even today at 1+1+1+1=44(?)(I think I should not add any more ones -that should reveal my exact age-LOL)I can be as much in love as i was with Rafi saab’s songs and with the same effect.Thank you sir!
Rajujee
Yes-I agree with you-but for me it was not really so since I was not a movie buff.I heard Rafi and imagined pictures in myriad hues -the result was ethereal–Thanks to the world of Audio-Thanks a lot to you too.
vasudha
Hello Doctor yadav
Thank you very much sir–The love of Radha and Krishna in all its glory has always captivated me.The love is immortal as you said–something only the heart can feel.My eyes welled up while reading about your wife and her love for you.She eternally rests in you and that itself should give you the strength.
heartfelt thanks to you once again
vasudha
Hi suresh Venkatjee
Bahout bahout shukriya aapko.the very fact that my narration made you leave a comment is making me rush to the photo studio and get the best picture of a teenager,prem diwaani vasudha.Waise toh main young at heart hoon with my brown hair turning grey and the prominent cheek bones filled up with flesh!Do you still want to see me?
vasudha
Hi NRP
I am pinching myself-Is it true?Am I only 17?I feel like it.Wow–sakha what a profound word!Your comment is bringing back my youth.Thanks a lot NRP-I am extremely elated to be in the threshold of youth all over again.For me your comment was like chyavanprash–it will keep aging at bay!
vasudha
Murty garu and Vasudha ji
Very well presented narration.
It looks so natural and straight from heart
Teenagers experience such emotions.
Indeed when I was young I always felt that Rajendra Kumar sang all those songs himself little realising that a divine and humble human playbacked it. Inever knew that playback singing existed. Steadly the voice was the male singing voice of the nation. Mere Mehboob Tujhe stills captivates me after so many decades.
Murty garu thanks for presenting such lovely write ups.
Keep going………
And yes narayananji, we will come out with the first edition of the book “DISCOVERING RAFI SAHAB” – which will feature all the write ups on the topic “How i became a Rafi Fan”. The book is slated to be out in a couple of months time.
Achalbhai, Nageshbhai, Lt Col Sayyedbhai, nkv ranga sahab, na r padamanbhanbhai, suresh venkat sahab, satyavir yadav sahab, anwar-ul-haq sahab, narayananji and all others. Your comments have given the impetus that such exercises need. You have spotted the fantastic journey of Rafi Sahab through individual lives of the likes of Dr Vasudha and others. I do have some very breathtaking accounts on the subject and slowly I would post them in continuation of this road to discovering Rafi sahab differently. Doston, all the rafi bhakts are equal, their passion for the personal of Rafi Sahab is not only equal but unique in the sense that each of us would strive to do the best in any given atmosphere and that we are constantly guided by the principles that were so dear to Rafi Sahab. There are hundreds of Rafi bhakts who do a lot but never bother about any publicity and accolades. But how can we not bring them to light when their work is so exemplary and selfless ? We will continue with this journey friends and I would request many more Rafi Bhakts to air their trysts with Rafi Sahab, for each of us does have a story to narrate. And each of such stories will spellbound all the other Rafi Bhakts, i am sure. Thanks to all for your encouraging and wonderful thoughts.
Murty garu,
Adaab Rafi !
You are the biggest bakt amongst all bakts bringing out the true emotions of all Rafi sahab’s crazy devotees…
Congrats you have initiated a memorable moments of all fans which can be compiled in a book form for the benefit of all..
Vasudha,
Your narration was free flowing coming from the heart — truly Dil Se…and enjoyed the sweet memories shared by you..
You are a devout Rafi Sahab fan….
Narayan
Dear Murty ji and Dr. Vasudha ji,
What an article (or couple of articles)!!! New concept, brilliant narration and extremely well-written. It is indeed Out-of-this-world stuff, just like songs of Rafi Sahab. What else can I say?
Well, I will not call it a duet; rather it is like a duo (remember the great works of S-J, L-P, K-A). How 1+1 makes 11 (not 2), can be revealed from this brilliant effort.
Many thanks and best regards.
Anwar-ul-Haque
anwarhq25@yahoo.com
Murthy Jee,…Salame-Rafi !!!!.
Kudos and my hearty and sincere thanks to you for your another wonderful and soulful write up and presenting we Rafi Bhakts, the wonderful and so I would say,the immortal relationship and bhakti of Dr.Vasudha ji.
I am sure and certain that your idea of searching the souls of all the Rafi Bhakts world over, won’t let you down for even a moment,forever.You will read and hear the countless wonderful,ecstatic and eternal stories of association and bhakti of Rafi Bhakts.But surely till date I would rate the Rafi bhakti of Dr.Vashudha jee — just incomparable.
dr.satyavir yadav,bhiwani.
Dr.Vasudha ji,,..I am wordless and speechless to write and say something about your passion,selfless love and soul-ful association with the legendary Rafi Saheb since childhood.
It reminds me of the true,selfless,and spiritual love of Shree Radha with the Lord Shri Krishna–an immortal association beyond ages.
It’s a common but wrong assumption that a female human being has the likes of a female singer but in my view and also psycho-socially it is untrue.You have proved my conception to the fullest. My late beloved wife was also a hard and ardent fan of Rafi Saheb like me.I still remember her singing and asking me to sing the songs “tumne mujhe dekha,hokar maharban..ruk gayi ye jamin tham gaya aasman” and “o mere sahe-khuba O meri Jane-janana”when we both met for first time and fell in love in 1987.
Your eternal love for Rafi Saheb and His Legacy is incomparable and we all Rafi Bhakts are proud of it.
God bless you and May Rafi Saheb shower His all the blessings on you,your children and your pedigree…Amen………
dr.satyavir yadav, bhiwani (haryana).
dear Dr. Vasudha,
You have tremendously well written your essay and i must say, it made
a very very interesting read and somewhat different from the other beautiful
articles i read here (but never leave comments). But today I just couldn’t
go with out saying WOWWW…
Saath main aapka photo bhi hota, toh humne bhi pata hota, how does this
Doctor with silky brown hair and prominent cheek bones look like.
Suresh
Thanks Dr Vasudha for your hearty comments and praises. It was your write up that inspired me. But what about this from your comment “small idea that arose somewhere in a tiny corner of your gray matter”, I haven’t grayed as much really. But never mind the pun, thanks again for writing so refreshingly well.
Vasudha,
Having already seen this mail elsewhere, I don’t know how to comment again. But, another look gives so much to write and re-write about!!
The hatke factor is loud and clear. You know that for some of us who participated in this thread, Rafi Saahab was very distant and far ahead of us. But, you have treated him as an equal, as a friend, as a sakha. a la mirabai vs. krishna! And that is precisely why your feelings come out as genuinely euphoric. The directness, the intimacy and the fact that rather than you being his fan, he too in turn being enchanted with you is a great piece of fantasy at its brilliant best.
I know how difficult to even conjure up such thoughts is because in the first instance itself it might look absurd or far-fetched or even both. That is why your account demands respect and regard. Thanks for being what you are. We will expect much, much more from you in future and I know that you will deliver. Murty, too, has excelled while co-authoring this thread. But, then, that will require a separate response.
Padmanabhan NR
Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter and Baar Baar Rafi, Bangalore.
Rangajee
Thanks a lot sir.
Murthysaab’s brainchild only got a little pampered by me-thats all!
Tell me -how did you become a Rafi fan?
vasudha
Jaaved saab
Thanks a lot for all the good words.
Every woman thought that Rafi sang for her but let me tell you an open secret sir -Rafi saab actually sang for me!atleast I think so and it is this thought that makes me elated whenever I suffer from moodswings -The evergreen legend successfully wards off my blues.Such is the power of his songs.-What say you?
vasudha
Hi Sidhanti
It is exhilarating to note that my thoughts made you be-khayaal.
You have nick named me-Zara hatke vasudha,dark horse vasudha and what not.I think I have lived upto your expectations!
Sidhanti, in my journey as a member of the Rafi e-group you are the one who encouraged me and cheered me up.You are the one who constantly reminded me of my potential as a writer.I owe my immense gratitude to you for being my friend philosopher and guide.
Thank you so much dost.Your support is a source of constant inspiration to me.
vasudha
Hi Achal
I always seem to be singing duets.First it was with Gan Sharma and now with Murthyjee though both were meant to be solos – ha ha.But I am proud to say that my writeups became colorful after turning into duets–and I am humming every note melodiously and simultaneously thanking both Gan and Murthyjee.
Now I am here thanking you too as a sole(o) admirer of Rafi –How about a duet with you next–I can see you taking to your heels!
Thanks so much Achal
Vasudha
murthyjee
It was your idea that made me relive every moment of my hey days.It was your idea that made me years younger and it was your idea that brought out the writer in me.As I was writing I felt the adrenalin rush in every vein and it made me euphoric.I became a child , a teenager ,a lover, a young mother each character completely engrossed in that particular role oblivious to the outside world.Rafi had conquered me once again in every possible way.
I reiterate– this was all because of a small idea that arose somewhere in a tiny corner of your gray matter and wow ! what a renaissance–
These ideas can sprout only in a true Rafi fan’s heart–
Pouring out my gratitude–it is overflowing–shukriya shukriya shukriya—
regards
vasudha
Dr Vasudha your presentation, i should say bakthi from chilhood to adolescence
is very good. i appreciate the way you have presented the Rafi saab’s songs .
I thank Murthy garu for presenting amazing story of a Rafi bakth .
Speechless!!!!! Everything so nicely brought out. I too have come across many graceful ladies from civil & army backgrounds who are more staunch rafi bhakts than most of us!! Their understanding of rafi sahabs songs goes much beyond our sensibilities!!! They are above the “Lata-asha mould” & thats something to cheer for them & all rafi Bhakts.
Dr Vasudha- this is definately one of the finest article ever on any subject- covering every aspect from teens to adolescent to mother of two to eternity….
My salutations to you.
Do Well.
Dear Vasudha,
Your submission on how you became a rafi fan, is by far the most
hatke write up i have come across on this forum.
What appeals to me very much, is your un-inhibited style and approach
in letting us know your passionate admiration to the most romantic man.
I loved the way you have woven his songs into your life’s defining moments.
This is by far the most bindaas take on Rafi sab.
With this bid to win Rafi sab’s adulation, you have relegated many
charandaasis into oblivion :-)) and between utthara and yourself, I can
spot ‘do deviyaan’ (with the third one being Bilquis madam herself).
padke aapka kahaani bemisaal
hogaye hum such-much bekhayaal.
Nagesh Sidhanti
Dear Murthygaru
You have presented an amazing journey of a music lover eventually
upgrading to become a Rafi fan. Indeed you are such a passionate
and sincere admirer of the master. You have always wholeheartedly appreciated and encouraged all those who write here.
You come across as a sincere and an unselfish gentleman, and a true
‘Rafi practitioner’.
I wish to take this opportunity to sincerely appreciate and recognise
a gem of a Rafi bhakt.
My best wishes are there with you sir.
Nagesh Sidhanti
the only way i can describe this note is- it sounded like a Rafi-Asha duet. bubbly, endearing, emotional and oh so refreshing!!
murtygaru and vasudha both are great fans and music lovers. and i have no doubt that this “twin”article has had the same effect on all the readers the way any great duet would have had. perhaps on the lines of “aaye hain door se” to “jis din se maine tumko dekha hai” to “goriya kahan tera des re”.
my compliments to murtygaru and vasudha for this great article
warm regards
achal rangaswamy
achal.rangaswamy@gmail.com