Mohammed Rafi
This article is written by Raj Kaushal and contributed by Mohan Flora.
The CBSO celebrates the legendary Bollywood singer Mohammed Rafi, Bollywood’s answer to Frank Sinatra. Like Mohammed Ali, listen to another Mohammed who was simply the greatest.
Mohammed Rafi sung over 26,000 songs in a career spanning 40 years, most of those spent as the undisputed King of Bollywood playback singers.
When Mohammed Rafi was a little boy, a fakir used to wander by his house in Lahore singing songs. Captivated by the beautiful sounds, the little boy would follow the holy man and sing along. So began the musical journey of Rafi, a magical trip that would lead him to Bombay, the blossoming Bollywood film industry and immortality as, arguably, the greatest ever male Hindi playback singer.
Born in 1924 in Punjab to a middle class Muslim family of barbers, Mohammed Rafi was not meant to enter the world of music. His strict father regarded singing as an inappropriate career for his son, but with the help of his older brother, the young Rafi changed his mind and by the age of 7 was being trained in Indian classical music.
By the age of 13 he had amazed an audience of thousands with his debut public performance, and by the age of 18 had arrived in Bombay, ready to conquer Bollywood.
Mohammed Rafi montage
It was clear from the beginning that Rafi had a unique talent which distinguished him from the other playback singers of the era but it was only when he teamed up with the music composer Naushad – most notably in the 1952 classic film Baiju Bawra – that Rafi established himself as one of the greatest playback singers in Indian cinema.
Rafi revealed a golden voice of unrivaled tonal quality and range, which had the power to pitch lyrics from the lowest modulations to high soprano.
This incredible versatility of range soon attracted all the stars and, during the 1950s and 1960s – unquestionably the golden age of Hindi film music – Rafi became the voice of all the cinema greats, from Dilip Kumar and Guru Dutt, to Shammi Kapoor and Dharmendra.
Rafi proved his greatness further with an astonishing display of vocal pyrotechnics that used intonation and inflection to ensure no actor he lent his voice to ever sounded like the other.
But Rafi was more than just an outstanding Hindi playback singer. During his 40-year career he sang over 26,000 songs in all the national languages of India, achieving an unequaled level of success in many genres of Asian music, from ghazals and geets, to qawwalis and bhajans.
Surprisingly, Rafi could have pushed back the musical boundaries even further but in 1980, at the age of 55, he died of a heart attack.
CBSO pay tribute
On the 7th April 2006, the CBSO pays tribute to the legendary Rafi with a concert that showcases many of his much loved songs. It is a creatively bold and pioneering step by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra as they are investing in local artists who will play tribute to Mohammed Rafi
Whilst there are many South Asian musicians worthy of being honoured by the CBSO, it is difficult to think of a better starting point than Rafi to introduce the sounds of Hindi music to the West and the talents of the CBSO to the culturally diverse communities in and around Birmingham.
His influence stretched across generations and musical genres, encouraging and inspiring many of the great Asian singers in modern music. “The singers performing at the concert are local to the West Midlands, yet also have an international recognition, such as Mehboob Chohan who had the privilege of receiving personal tuition from the great Mohammed Rafi.” said Parminder Singh Jutla.
“The other singers are British Asian bhangra legends Shin, who came second in the tribute competition on the first anniversary of Rafi’s death, and Slinder Pardesi, who has recorded two tribute albums to Rafi.”
Shin added: “On the night we will be reliving and paying tribute to the great Mohammed Rafi. The audience will have the opportunity to hear 18 tracks played to a live orchestra, similar to how they would have been originally recorded. It will truly be a magical night for all.”
July 5th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
dear mohd saleem ,
It is better that Mohd Rafi has’t got Bharat Ratna Award because his not only from Bharat he is for all world he is only king on music world.
July 5th, 2006 at 7:56 am
The following is a news clip from Central Chronicle dated Aug. 1 st. 2005. Any follow ups?
BHARAT RATNA DEMANDED FOR RAFI
Agencies
Mumbai, July 31 Maharashtra government will recommend to the Centre to confer the country’s highest civilian award, the ‘Bharat Ratna’, to legendary singer Mohammed Rafi posthumously.
On July 29, a delegation of Sahitya Sangeet Kala Akadami met Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in this regard.
“The chief minister said he has instructed his office to strongly recommend the case of Rafi for the Bharat Ratna,” BJP MLA Babruvan Khandade told reporters on Saturday.
The Akadami members staged a two-day sit-in at Azad Maidan in Mumbai demanding that the Centre confer the ‘Bharat Ratna’ on Rafi, who died on this day in 1980.
July 4th, 2006 at 12:23 am
Mohd rafi was indeed a great singer of all times.
till now no singer has taken his place .
i would like to know if lataji has got bharath ratna, a prestigious and highest award from the goverment of india.why mohd rafi has not given bharat ratna?
its totally bias and discrimintion and double standard by not awarding this prestioguos award to this great legend.
if the goverment considered him or not doent make any different.
mohd rafi is himself a BHARAT RATNA who give his whole life to the contribution to the indian musics.
do you think 26,000 songs in many regional languages is less for getting this award?
please start a revolution to fight against such bias by the government.
July 2nd, 2006 at 11:22 pm
I AM ONLY 15
JANAB RAFI SAHEB LEFT THIS WORLD EVEN TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I ENTERED THIS WORLD BUT FROM THE AGE OF FOUR I AM LISTENING ABOUT RAFI SAHEB, HIS CHARACTER HIS SONGS AND I LOVE TO COLLECT EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GREATEST ANGEL…
YES I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT HE WAS AN ANGEL WHO CAME TO THIS WORLD IN A FORM OF HUMAN BEING.
MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME TO CALL HIM ‘DADA JAAN’
AND I ALWAYS FEEL THE SAME REGARD THAT I USE TO FEEL FOR MY OWN ‘DADA JAAN’
WHAT I HAVE ASSESSED IS………..
MD.RAFI SAHEB IS THE A - Z OF PLAYBACK SINGING.
NOBODY ELSE CAN EVEN THINK TO REACH THE HEIGHTS AND COLOURS OF THIS GREATEST LEGEND, THESPIAN, TREND SETTER…. THE MAN AND THE VOICE INCOMPARABLE.
SADDAM JAWAID
033 3200 9236
July 2nd, 2006 at 11:12 pm
DEAR AVI…..
HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH THE EMOTIONS AND STATEMENTS OF THESE HIGH PROFILE PEOPLES ??????
ARE YOU STILL ON THE CONTROVERSARY????
TAKE A BREAK AT LEAST THIS TIME DEAR.
July 2nd, 2006 at 3:39 am
What the stars say about Rafi Sahab(taken from Geocities website) :-
OP Nayyar(Music director)
“I loved Mohammed Rafi. His death was a big loss to me. When I composed for Shammi Kapoor or Johnny Walker, he managed to sound like them. He sang so many wonderful songs for me. Rafi miyan was a wonderful person. Nobody can ever be compared to him.”
Lata Mangeshkar(singer)
“A man of unassuming temparament, Rafi Sahab was very melodious. It’s my good fortune that I sang the maximum number of duets with him. He sang every kind of song so brilliantly that even those listeners not very conversant with music, would spontaneously break into appreciative wahs - wahs. Singers like Rafi Sahab aren’t born everyday.”
Asha Bhosle(singer)
“His greatest ability was that he could sing at a high pitch and shift to a low pitch immediately. He could manage that very well. One of his songs which I love is Suhani raat dhal chuki.”
Johny Walker(comedian-actor)
“Rafi Sahab was such a dedicated singer that he would take time to meet with the actors and to study the actors’ personalities so that he could match his singing style with the actors’ style, accent and pronunciation. Jab Rafi Sahab mere liye gaate, tab aisa lagta ki main khud ga raha hoon(When Rafi Sahab sang for me, it seemed like I was singing)”.
Laxmikant(music director)
“He was a great human being. He would never ask what he was going to be paid for a song. Apart from waving off payments, he even helped producers financially. He’d help out the needy. He always gave without thinking of the returns.
Once Rafi recorded six songs in a day for us-two for Anjaam, one for Maa Aur Mamta, two for Man Ki Ankhen and one for Pyasi Shyam. Imagine, he could memorise six songs in a day! And he could do this at live recordings and not through the easy dubbing method that’s on today. If any singer claims that he has recorded 25-30 songs in a day, he’s talking nonsense. There’s only one singer in India who can even attempt that and that’s S.P.Balasubramaniam, not anyone else.
The demand for Mohammed Rafi’s songs is phenomenal. No other singer, not even Lata Mangeshkar, has been able to attract such a tremendous following. It’s almost as if he were still alive.”
Shahid Rafi(son)
“If a producer was in a tight spot Abba would’nt accept any money from him. He was a God fearing man. He felt he was an instrument through whom God was singing…whenever he was extra busy he’d ask the producer to give the song to another singer)”.
Naushad Ali(music director)
Tu hi tha pyar ka ek saaz
Nafrat ki is duniya mein
ganimat thi teri awaz
nafrat ki is duniya mein. On Rafi’s death Naushad sahab remarked…
Kehta hai koi dil gaya, dilbar chala gaya
Saahil pukarta hai, samundar chala gaya
Lekin jo baat sach hai, woh kehta nahin koi
Duniya se mausiqui ka paembar chala gaya !!!
“He earned respect and his popularity touched the sky. The magic of his voice enthralled the whole world. His popularity, respect and wealth all increased tremendously, YET he ALWAYS remained modest. Like a fruit-bearing tree, the more he fructified, the more he bent in front of the world. His heart was filled with fear of God and the love for truth. Generosity and altruism were part of his system. God and truth were the only sources of inspiration for him. And he always used to say Tum yahan jaisa karoge waisa bharoge, ye duniya ek mandir hai”
Jagjit Singh(ghazal singer)
“Rafi sahab had immense versatality and an ability to take on the personality of the hero on whom the song was picturised. Every time you hear a Rafi song, you see the hero, you can vividly put in place the situation and correctly access the mood.”
Raj Kapoor(Actor/producer/director)
Raj kapoor’s reaction on hearing the news about Rafi’s death was “In the world of music, the uncrowned king of singing has left us”.
Shammi Kapoor(actor)
Shammi Kapoor acknowledges that Rafi had a lot to do with his success. “It was amazing the way Rafisaab adapted himself to what I wanted him to do. I used to be terribly involved with my songs and go for all the recordings. I used to make it clear how I wanted a certain line sung and Rafisaab always responded. I remember when the song Tareef karoon kya uski (in Kashmir Ki Kali) was being recorded, I wanted the signature line Tareef karoon to be repeated till it reached a crescendo. O P Nayyar, the composer and a friend of mine, objected. He thought it would sound boring. But suddenly, Rafisaab spoke up and said ‘I would like to do it the way the boy wants it because I know what he wants’.” When the film was released, the song was a big hit. Nayyar hugged Kapoor and congratulated him for his foresight, but the actor maintains “it was possible only because Rafisaab had taken the song to such a pitch and had sung each repetition in a different style.” He adds, with a touch of pride, “Though Rafisaab sang for all the actors — be it Dilip Kumar or Johnny Walker — he was especially identified with me. Some songs sung by him and picturised on Joy Mukherjee and Biswajeet were actually my kind of songs. Baharon phool barsao, Pukarta chala hoon main or Teri pyari pyari surat ko — these were my songs, sung in Rafi’s special style for me. I remember when he sang Main gaoon tum so jaao for Brahmachari, I told him how I wanted him to sing one particular line. When he saw the picturisation he came and kissed my hand and said, ‘it’s very beautiful, why didn’t I think of that?’ I felt as if my own voice had been lost and could not utter a word for hours when I heard this shocking news of Rafi Sahab’s death.”
Shabir Kumar(singer)
“I have been singing Rafisahab’s songs since 1968 when I first started performing on stage in my hometown of Baroda. I have met Rafisahab only twice and both meetings were very moving. He was so nice and kind to me even though I was a nobody at that time. The first time I met him at Famous studio in 1972, there were a lot of people waiting to meet him. I used to sketch then and drew a sketch of him when he was recording. As soon as he passed me I showed the sketch in his hands to get his attention. He encouraged me a lot. Even today, there is a large audience for Rafi’s songs.”
Anand Bakshi(lyricist)
Even today when I write something I imagine how it would sound if Rafisahab had sung it. His place can never be filled again.”
Nitin Mukesh(singer)
“Amongst his contemporaries, my father’s favourite singer was Mohammed Rafi. He loved Rafisaab’s voice, and believed that nobody could replace him.”
Udit Narayan(singer)
Udit Narayan talks about his FIRST recording with Rafi Saheb “As it was a dream come true I was obviously excited, and to add to my excitement I was to sing none other than with Rafisaab, that very singer whom I worshipped as my guru, whose voice I used to hear on the radio, was in front of me! I can’t describe my ecstasy. But I was a bit nervous too. Rafisaab, realised this and the angel that he was, he comforted me by saying ‘You remind me of myself. I too was of your age when I came in the industry. Do not worry keep going.’(Mohd. Rafi was a chorus singer at the start of his career.) ”
Khayyam(music director)
“Rafisahab was the pride of India. His voice and his memories are still with us even though his body has left us.”
SD Batish(singer of 40s)
“His extremely humble way of showing respect for my seniority, before all gathered, left an impression of utmost respect and regard in my mind. Time went by, and Mr. Rafi, with his, ever flexible good voice and sensitively flexible behavior, did not waste much time, in becoming the favorite playback singer of the film industry. It had been observed that he would not disappoint any film producer or music director who would invite him to sing. Whether he could pay or not. This created no problem for the generous Mr. Rafi. At the appointed time, the song would be recorded to the satisfaction of the music director.”
Manna Dey(singer)
“Despite being an educated singer, I could never reach Rafi’s height of popularity. And he sang very good songs that I could never hope to sing. His style was unique. I sing Rafi’s songs to myself when I am alone. He was a singer par excellence. He was an uneducated singer like Lata, but their voices are gifts of God. It cannot be anything else!”
“I have been singing for many years now. I have seen and heard so many singers. But the most brilliant of all singers and all songs are the ones sung by Mohammed Rafi! ”
“Mohammad Rafi was king, and Manna never grudged him his success because he genuinely believed that Rafi was better than he was! ”
“In my time, there were giant singers. Rafi was there, and he was such a great singer. He used to sing for everybody — the hero, the villain and the comedian. ”
“How can you ever dream of singing what legendary singer like Rafi have sung? I do not claim to come up to his standards. ”
Dharmendra(Actor)
On being asked “Hemant Kumar, Mukesh, Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar… all of them provided playback for you. Whose voice suited you the best?”, macho man Dharmendra said: ” Mohammad Rafi’s contribution to my career is immense. From numbers like Jaane kya dhoondti rehti hain yeh aankhen mujh mein (’Shola Aur Shabnam’) right till Main jat yamla pagla deewana (’Pratigyaa’) have remained evergreen. The other singers have also made huge contributions to my career. I can never forget that. But Rafi saab is a personal favourite. ” - Source: Filmfare 2000
Sonu Nigam(singer)
“Rafi Saab is God to me. I have grown up listening to him and imitating him in my early years. Rafi Saab sounded only like Rafi Saab if he sang Chahe koi mujhe junglee kahe from Junglee, or Man tarpat Hari darshan ko from Baiju Bawra which is what made him the legend he was.
June 30th, 2006 at 1:57 am
Rafi, the voice of purity, spirituality, life immemorial - why compare it with any one. You just can’t have that pure, soul stirring everlasting emotions without utmost purity in heart and love for nature and its infinite forms. Rafi has given me so much solice in my depest despairs, in my happiness -may that mother be blessed who gave birth to him.
June 29th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
If anybody have his VIDEO CLIPS please send me to my mail.
my mail add. is nickybnd@yahoo.co.in
June 21st, 2006 at 3:02 pm
Rafi is Rafi, Frank Sinatra appendage does not do any good to his stature, most Indians would find it rather undermining. Unlike Rafi, Frank Sinatra of the west is highly publicised, thanks to Hollywood. What Rafi is to Indians has to be judged from the admiration, love and respect he is cherished with in every Indian heart, or rather in the whole of the sub-continent. When a male voice yearns to achieve something in the sub-continent, his dream is anchored in one voice alone- the unreal yet true heavenly voice of Mohammad Rafi. His name is pronounced very softly with the love and reverence of the most beloved of deities any myth can produce. Rafi lives on eternally from one age to another.
June 21st, 2006 at 2:59 pm
Rafi is Rafi, Frank Sinatra appendage does not do any good to his stature, most Indians would find it rather undermining. Unlike Rafi, Frank Sinatra of the west is highly publicised, thanks to Hollywood. What Rafi is to Indians has to be judged from the admiration, love and respect he is cherished with in every Indian heart, or rather in the whole of the sub-continent. When a male voice yearns to achieve something in the sub-continent, his dream is anchored in one voice alone- the unreal yet true heavenly voice of Mohammad Rafi. His name is pronounced very softly with the love and reverence of the most beloved of deities any myth can produce. Rafi lives on eternally from age to another.
June 14th, 2006 at 11:44 pm
YAAD NA JAEY………….
—————————-
Seene mein teri yaad ke soote ubal rahe hain
aansoo hamari aankh mein ab bhi machal rahe hain
guzri hui baaton ka tasalsul nahi rukta hai….
yadon ke shikanje jo dil ko masal rahe hain.
Har su tumhara zikr ho har pal tumhari baat
‘Arman yehi lekar ghar se nikal rahe hain’
‘Dhal jaey agar din to satati bahut hai raat’
lamhe tumhari yaad ke har gaam chal rahe hain.
Duniya mein koi aur RAFI aa nahi sakta ab
yeh baat koi aur ke manzar badal rahe hain
EJAAZ HAI YEH TERA EZAAZ HAI YEH TERA
KITNE HI ‘RAFI’ BANKAR DUNIYA MEIN PAL RAHE HAIN.
………………. aap logon ko meri is baat se inkaar hai???
mujhe aap logon ke comment ka intezaar hai.
JAWAID NASEEM
jawaid77in@yahoo.com
June 14th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
mohd rafi is best singer in world
June 14th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
It was the year 1995 when i started a programme”NAZRANA’95″ on RAFI SAAB and tried my level best to reach to the Rafi lovers. I got compliments from Naushad saheb, Rajindra Kumar, Dharmendra and some other digniteries of the film industry. I was lucky enough to have success and compliments in my pocket, by then I am always in an edeavor to do my best for Rafi saheb as my shardhanjali. TIME WAS PASSING DOWN and I was in my efforts but unfortunately I could not perform anything bigger due to the lack of support and interest of other peoples whom I contacted but still I was related to almost all the programmes organized on Rafi sb. And then on the occasion of the 23rd Death Anniversary we made it happen.
MD.RAFI award was introduced in Calcutta for the first time with a very touching concept ” WOH LOG JINHO NE RAFI SAHEB KO DEKHA CHHOOA AUR MEHSOOS KIYA”.
The Awards were given to P.RAJ & M.SHAKOOR. and some musicians who had played with Rafi saab.
It was a pleasure indeed to get a very warm response by the viewers with an assurance to come forward for this noble cause but ultimately nothing happened in real. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CHAIN IN BETWEEN US AND I AM TRYING TO ESTABLISH THAT VERY CHAIN WHICH SHALL BRING US TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING REMARKABLE IN THIS CONTEXT.
I am grateful from the deepest core of my heart and pay thanks to my friends MD.TAJ, MD.SALIM, ROSHAN ABBAS, and immense thanks to my dearest friend SABIR KHAN…… a very ardent lover of Rafi saab. without whose co-operation it is totally impossible for me to be a part of this noble cause.He is just like a torch in the darkest path of life.
I WOULD REQUEST GLOBALLY TO ALL THE RAFIANS AND RAFI LOVERS TO COME FORWARD AND BE A PART OF THIS MISSION.
JAWAID NASEEM
jawaid77in@Yahoo.com
June 14th, 2006 at 11:32 am
LOG KEHTE HAIN……………
ZAMEEN EK HAI
CHAND EK HAI
SURAJ EK HAI
PER KOI MUJHE YEH BATAEY KE KIYA RAFI EK NAHI???
APNI AAWAZ MEIN?????????
APNE ANDAAZ MEIN????????
APNI MITHAAS MEIN???????
APNI SHAKSHIYAT MEIN???
AAJ UNKE JAANE KE PACHEES SAALON KE BAAD BHI KYA KOI RAFI KA SAAYA BHI NAZAR AAYA HAI????
TO LOG DILSE UNKI AZMAT KA ETERAAF KYUN NAHI KARTE??
KYUN UNKE SAATH UNKI ZINDAGI SE LEKAR ABTAK NA INSAAFIAN HI HOTI RAHIN HAIN???
KYUN UNHE WOH MAQAAM NAHI DIYA GAYA JISKE WOH HAQDAAR THEY??
LOG KAHENGAY…………..
KAISI NA INSAAFI??
UNKE NAAM PE RAASTE KA NAAM RAKHA GAYA
UNKE NAAM PE STAMP JAARI KYA GAYA
UNHE SINGER OF THE MILENIUM KA KHATAAB DIYA GAYA
BUS EK SAWAL MAIN POOCHHNA CHAHTA HOON
KYA UNLOGON KE PAAS DOOSRA KOI RAASTA THA?????
JIS RAASTE KA NAAM UNKE NAAM PE RAKHA GAYA WOH RAASTA NAHI EK GALIYARA HAI.
JAHAN BAHUT SAARE LOGON PE LOT KI SURAT MEIN SARKAR NE STAMP PUBLISH KIYE UNMEIN EK NAAM INKA BHI DAAL DIYA GAYA TAAKE HUM RAFIANS KHAMOSH RAHEN.
SINGER OF THE MILENIUM KA KHATAAB AGAR RAFI SAHEB KO NA DETE TO BHALA BATAIYE KISE DETE??????
KOI THA YA HAI UNKE MADDE MUQAABIL??????
SARI DUNIYA SE POOCHHTA HOON LAA SAKOGAY USKA JAWAB??????
YEH INDIAN IDOL YEH SAREGAMA AUR UNKE LINKS AUR TAQREEBAN HAR CHANNEL PE STAR SINGER KI HODE MACHI HAI,,,,, BUSINESS BHI HORAHA HAI TALASH BHI HORAHI HAI LEKIN KAHAN SE LAOGAY????????
TO PHIR AAO MILKAR UNKI AZMAT KA ETERAAF KAREN.
RELIANCE KE R-WORLD KI TARAH HUM BHI EK R-WORLD BANAYEN……
“R-WORLD YAANI” RAFIANS WORLD. EK DOOSRE SE E-MAIL, PHONES AUR LETTERS KE ZARIYA CONTACT PAIDA KAREN, APNE MAALOOMAT AUR EXPERIENCE, PHOTOGRAPH, VIDEOS AUR AUDIOS JO RAFI SAHEB KE BAARE MEIN HAIN EK DOOSRE SE SHARE KAREN, EK DOOSRE SE KHUD KO INTRODUCE KAREN…. AAPAS MEIN EK CHAIN BANAYEN EK RISHTA PAIDA KAREN TAAKE HUM SAB MILKAR RAFI SAAB KE LIYE WOH KAREN JO ABTAK NAHI HUA.
AAP HAMARE SAATH HAIN NA??
June 13th, 2006 at 11:23 pm
Rafi saheb 24 December 1924 ko is duniya mein aaye unki nazr kuchh lines hain jo aap sabhi Rafians ke liye hain.
Taareekh thi chaubees ki chaubees ka san tha
Utra tha aasman se zamin uska watann tha….
Woh shaksh apni zaat mein ek gang-o-jaman tha
Phoolon pe khaak daaliye woh khud mein chaman tha.
kisi ne kaha tha……….
hazaron saal nargis apni benoorii pe roti hai
badi mushkil se hota hai chaman mein deeda-wer paida.
Sangeet ki duniya bhi usi nargis ki tarah pichhle pachees saalon se rorahi hai lekin aaj tak Rafi jaisa fankaar jahan ko nahi milsaka aur mera daawa hai ke is jaisa fankaar ab sangeet ki duniya ko dobaara naseeb na hoga.
kashish wohi hai geetonn mein tumhare aaj bhi lekin
woh pehle phool barsaate they ab daaman bhigote hain.
aur bheegay huey daaman ka taar taar sisak sisak kar bus yehi kahta hai ke…… hum tumhe yuun bhula na paengay.
jab kabhi bhi sunengay geet tere,
sang sang hum bhi gungunaengay.
June 10th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Rafi saheb ke bbare mein itna kuchh kaha jachuka hai ke ab alfaaz bhi saath nahi dete bus apni jaanib se apne alfaaz ko yuun bayan karta hoon ke…..
Ek zamin ek chaand ek suraj
aur naghmon ka Khuda ek RAFI
Tujhse pehle na tere baad koi
gar koi hai to faqat ekRAFI.
June 7th, 2006 at 10:14 am
I think RAFI SAAHAB as a legend to all the Amateur singers of today because his voice is uncomparable and such a versatile singer .
If anybody have his VIDEO CLIPS please send me to my mail.
June 4th, 2006 at 8:41 am
It’s futile to compare Rafi with any western singer. No western singer can ever come anywhere close to our all time great.
May 30th, 2006 at 9:31 pm
Rafi Saheb cannot be compared to any singer because his voice is a special gift from the Almighty. And, Rafi Saheb was not so called”Bollywood” singer. He is and will be an Indian Singer a classic legend. I cannot describe the sweet melodius talent that was given to him by our Creator.
Prakash S.A
Hyderabad-India
May 30th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
No way 2 compare the King Mohd Rafi 2 any singer
May 30th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
I like listening to the Golden Voice of the legendary Frank Sinatra, but please, please keep Rafi sahab out of , and far away from any comparison with these singers.
Rafi sahab was the Greatest, is and will remain the greatest of them all. do not bring him down to any level with the others. I would hate to see another round of mails on the topic to just prove who is what to the east or west. its their bad luck in the west if they could not experience the soulful voice of this magician of the east.
My salaams to Rafi sahab in heaven.
shahid.
May 29th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
i want to collect the interviews of the enduring singer muhammad rafi because there is no more like this legend.so please help me in this way.
THANKS A LOT
May 25th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Sorry!
CBSO : City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
May 21st, 2006 at 10:34 am
Excellent response,kg! Whatever you have said about the Guru of Songs,Rafisaab, is 100 percent to the point.The CBSO(City of Birmingham Symphony Society-United Kingdom- has done a great service to bring RafiSaab’s all conquering rendering of voice pyrotechnics to the fore! He surely is the greatest ever!
May 21st, 2006 at 12:10 am
Excellent article!.. But rafisaab does not need to be introduced as “Bollywood’s answer to Frank Sinatra”. Yes, Sinatra was a great singer in his own regard, but Rafi was great with an additional essence- his voice is endowed with that extra dimension of spiritualilty ( truly god inspired).The voice that stirs not just the heart and the mind but the soul. The reason why he is still so popular is this extraordinary element of spirituality in his voice… That’s why every song of his is evergreen.