Immortal Rafi
This article is written by Mr. Sivanandam
On 31st July 1980, legendary singer Mohammad Rafi left us, leaving behind thousands of immortal songs for us to cherish. Mohammad Rafi, or Rafi sahib as he is always addressed with respect, was not only a great singer, but also a great human being. His versatility was unmatched. He was a master in all types of songs -right from patriotic songs to songs with the sweetness of romance, from songs of utter despair or melancholy to light hearted comedy songs, bhajans, ghazals, quawwalis etc….the list is endless.
Who can believe that the man who had sung “Ye mehlon ye takhton ye tajon ki duniya” for the intense Guru Dutt had also sung “Main Jat yamla pagla diwana” for the macho Dharmendra or the man who sang “O duniya ke rakhwale ” for a staid Bharat Bhushan also sang “ Chahe mujhe koi jungle kahe” for the energetic Shammi Kapoor. Teaching a child “ Tu hindu banega na musalman banega, insaan ki aulad hai insaan banega” was as easy for him as romancing a lady with “Teri ankhon ke Siva duniya mein rakha kya hia” . With intensity he hits out at the society with “Jinhe naaz hai Hind par who kahan hai” for the protagonist Guru Dutt in Pyasa and sings a light-hearted “ Sar jo tera chakraye ya dil duba jaye ” for the comedian Johnny Walker in the same film.
In spite of being a teetotaler he could sing as a ‘sharabi’ with perfection (mujhe duniya walon sharabi na samjho ), and in spite of being very shy (he rarely spoke or gave interviews) sung so many songs with a mischief (one should just listen to the variations in ‘gustakhi maaf’ in the song chehere pe giri zulfen kah do to utha doon mein) . Be it bhajans (Man tarpat Hari darshan ko aaj, Sukh ke sab sathi dukh mein na koi), ghazals (mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki kasam, Na kisi ki ankh ka noor hoon) , and quawwalis ( Na to caravan ki talash hai, hai agar dushman zaman gam nahin) , his fervor in singing these distinct styles was unmatched.
In the cut-throat film world he shone like a beacon, helping the needy and not running after money, fame etc.
For millions of Indians, the day is not complete without listening to his songs. During happy moments or sad moments, his voice is always there to give comfort. Even if we have forgotten him (one Padma Shri award was the best we could give him!!) he wished us all good with “Meri kahani bhoolne wale tera jahan aabad rahe”(even if you forget my story let your life be full of prosperity).
September 11th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
yes this is truth rafiji was a god gift for all indians people who are like music
i have to say my salaam to all rafiji’s fan.
thanks
August 1st, 2008 at 2:47 pm
dear Sivanandam,
1.-Excellent article..we await many more from you..
regards;
shrirang nawathe
August 1st, 2008 at 11:51 am
all the channels barring times now showed news & homages to the god of all gods - in playback singing shri mohammad rafi saaheb. in mumbai the english press by and large saw more opportunities in showing and talking about mallika sharawats, rakhi sawant and their semi-clad ilk in pictures and photos than a simple legend like mohd rafi,well , this is their mentality to take forward the page 3 crowed and advertise them as “national assets”.
and, the times group came up with half paged “paid” advertisements by kothari of golden great group who released the homage ads on rafi saaheb. it had 30 different pictures of rafi saaheb with the songs on it which they played in the evening. well, they got some business on the day from a rafi lover.
the press should remember and should not try to forget that millions of music lovers carry rafi saaheb in their heart in many parts of the world. people of various nationalities love rafi saaheb and mohd rafi is the very few symbols of “NATIONAL INTEGRATION.”
the marwari tycoons in the print media is out only to make profits and flaunt advertisements of minimum dreesed women as one see in their page 3 publications. for them music, melody, mohd rafi and divinity are matters expendable or forgotten. but , the common people , a thousand strong who gathered at rafis graveyard and the crores who remembered rafi saaheb on july 31 - will do exactly the same - each year around.
my heart go out to those hundereds of rafi lovers in the times of india press and other journals who want to “write” on mohd rafi saaheb but are prevented by their masters/policy makers.
meantime, there were about 20 shows in mumbai during the week and the electronic media fully covered the events in mumbai. My special thanks to ndtv, national and delhi, aaj tak -delhi for showing the developing news of july 31 along with a special 30 minute slot story on mohd rafi.
also to the print media including pti, ians and the many who did special stories on mohd rafi in the last week of july.
binu nair.
rafi foundation, mumbai.