Article by mohdrafi.com

There have been couple of articles on the legend now and then. But I fail to see articles that are based on fans of Rafi. How much Rafi means to them? I’ve managed to collect couple of such information from the Internet and here articulating them in this article. Hope you like it.

Even after Twenty five year of his death, his fans continue to venerate his memory.

From Southern India a man of humble needs; a coolie by profession is obsessed with the singer. Meet Mr. P.M.Dunjli Soppy. He resides in Alapuzha, Kerala. He has named his house as Rafi Manzil and his son as Mohammad Rafi. He feels proud about it. He holds musical evening, Rafi Nite on the singer’s death anniversary every year. He holds this show entirely at his own expense and coming from such humble background it sure is a challenge. Any additional money collected from the musical evening is donated to different charities. He has requested one particular song also to be played at his funeral.

Rafi fans are dispersed all over the world. They are distributed almost across. Rafi is cherished from every corner of the globe. His songs are available and introduced to many in many ways.

The 48-year-old businessman from Mahe, Kerala, Mr. P.P.Failzal has been a Rafi fan since he was five. Mr. Faizal left his job in 1984 to set up his own music store, Sahara Recording, in Bur Dubai. His immense passion is to stay surrounded by records, cassettes and CDs. He says its not a hobby, but, admiration of Rafi Sahab. He considers himself a dedicated follower. He has a flat in Bur Dubai. Anyone who visits Faizal’s flat; would take a moment at the door of his living room and stare. The carpet is covered with stacks and stacks of Rafi records:- 78rpm, 45rpm and 33rpm discs wrapped in a protective cover. One one side stands a Sanyo radiogram made in 1940; on the other a showcase with a classic HMV gramophone player and a 62 year old halle radi. Where we generally place our family photographs, Faizal has placed photographs of Rafi Saab with other legendary people like S.D.Burman, Asha Bhonsle and Rajesh Roshan are lined up on the table, shelf and radiogram.

Mr. P.P.Faizal claims he is one amongst the largest collectors of Mohamed Rafi memorabilia anywhere. He has nearly 6000 Rafi records. Rafi has sung 9,867 songs in Hindi films and he approxes it to almost 85% of them. Mr. Faizal has a total of 25,000 records of different singers. He does not store all his records in Dubai. Around a thousand of them are stacked neatly in shelves and the rest are looked after in India. He says he has a flat roof lined with hay and has hired a lady to pour water on it during summer, to keep the record room cool. He is planning to return to his hometown to look for the missing 15% of the Rafi’s songs eg., he is looking for music of the Shammi Kapoor starrer College Girl.

Remembering Rafi on his 22nd death anniversary, Faizal says, ‘Every song Rafi has sung is perfect. There can never be another singer, like him.” Its true that even after 25 years after his death, his songs remain evergreen; his albums sell; his songs are played on radio. He truly had a golden voice and will always be missed.

To be continued…

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