Rafi Saab’s Favourite Photo
This is written by Perry Khan (Mazher Mahmood) @ HF
In fact Rafi Saab’s last interview was given to my father Sultan Mahmood just a couple of weeks before his death. The article for Indian film mag Shama has been widely circulated. However, I would like to share a small anecdote. As Rafi Saab was a family friend the interview was very relaxed and light hearted. At one point my father told Rafi Saab that interviewing him was quite an irritating task for any journalist as he would only offer short, well rehearsed replies. Similarly he was too shy to give TV interviews and to talk on stage to his fans. My father asked him why he was so scared to talk.
Rafi Saab replied: “Asal mein Sultan bhai meri awaz achi nahin hai! Radio peh mujhe presenter ki naukri kabhi na milti. Waqeh jab mein bolta hoon mujhe lagta hai meri awaz achi nahin hai“.
My father asked him where his singing voice came from. The voice that will mesmerise fans until the end of time.
“Mujhe khud nahin patta lagta. Yeh sab Allah ki merhbani hai. Main toh kuch nahin hoon. Mujhe gaane ka bohat shauk hai, main gaata hoon aur logon ko bohat pasand aajata hai. Sab upparwale ka karam hai!”
After the interview a series of photographs were taken, Rafi Saab changed out of his kameez and lungi, donned his watch and posed for a series of pics. He happily posed around the hotel room at the photographers beck and call. I remember that as the photographer had finished his posed shots, Rafi Saab quietly suggested:
“Ek foon ke saath foto ho jaye?”
He then posed for the photo below holding the hotel phone to his ear. I later accompanied my late father to see Rafi Saab and I took along some of the photos asking him to sign them for me. He shifted through the bundle of photos and found the one with the phone. He said with a child-like innocence: “Yeh mein ne kichwayi thi. Achi ayi hai na?”
On Rafi Saab’s death anniversary as the world still weeps at his passing, I know that Rafi Saab would have liked me to share this photo with his fans. I know that the great man would also have been overwhelmed by the fact that so many people around the world would want to see his photo. So as my tribute to on Rafi Saab’s 26th death anniversary this is my gift to his army of fans.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:21 am
Rafi was truly a singer for the masses and not for any particular class. His voice appealed to all, the old, young, rich, poor, men and women. He was always ready to entertain jawans at the border whenever approached. Pandit Nehru once invited him to Delhi to hear him sing. “That was the happiest moment of my life” said Rafi. No wonder then that his patriotic songs like Kar chale hum fida (Haqeeqat) and Watan pe jo fida hoga (Phool Bane Angaray) are still popular.
Rafi brought cheers and smiles to millions of his fans through his songs. In his songs like Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya, Rafi tried to inspire the dejected and give hope to those who had lost faith in life and God
August 8th, 2006 at 8:13 pm
HI YUSOOF AND VIJAY KUMAR—MY NAME IS SANJEEV AND I AM FROM BOMBAY IN INDIA,CURRENTLY LIVING IN CHENNAI(TAMIL NADU)–I, LIKE THE REST OF THE MILLIONS OF RAFIANS, AM A BIG FAN TOO.
I AM A COLLECTOR OF RAFIS SONGS.I HAVE A HUGE COLLECTION OF RAFIS RARE SONGS AND SONGS SUNG IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SUCH AS ENGLISH, ASSAMESE,KONKANI ,TELUGU, KANNADA, GUJRATI, BENGALI, PUNJABI, MARATHI.
ALSO I HAVE RAFIS GHAZALS AND BHAJANS AND AN MP3 OF ISLAMIC QUAWALIES.
THIS MAIL IS IN REGARDS TO GETTING MORE SONGS TO UPDATE MY COLLECTION AND TRANSFER MINE TO ALL THE OTHER FANS WHO LOVE TO COLLECT RAFIS SONGS.
I WANT THIS MESSAGE TO BE READ BY YUSOOF AND SPECIALLY VIJAY KUMAR WHO POSSESSES THE 12 CDS OF RAFIS LIVE PERFORMANCES AND A DVD TOO.MR. YUSOOF AND VIJAY KUMAR, PLEASE HELP ME TO GET YOUR COLLECTION BY MAILING ME AND ILL BE GLAD TO PAY FOR IT. MY EMAIL ID IS monty_ch2005@yahoo.com and my contact number is 09994146695.pls contact me as early as possible.
August 10th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
A simle truely from the heart. “DIL SE”
August 11th, 2006 at 12:24 am
Mr. Vijay Kumar,
Mr. Sanjeevrajput mentioned that you have a DVD of Rafi. Is the DVD of Rafi singing live? If yes, then I would like to request you to make at least one live song downloadable.
August 11th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
he is a legend wat can i say about him the world knows about him his voice,he is a great persona in his own. I had been to the graveyard and i had also met mr. shabbir kumar we had a talk for about an houlf hour and we have planned to make a memorial so i have a request to all the rafi fans if they all so would like to contribute plz contact me on my mailing address saifuddingandhi@yahoo.com
August 11th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
Dear Mazer Sir,
Thank you for sharing this pic with us and the memory of your late father and Rafi Sahab.
RAFI SAHAB - WE LOVE YOU AND RESPECT YOU AND WE MISS YOU
TUMSA NA KOI HAIN .. TUMSA NA KOI PAIDA HOGA
Regards
Sagar
September 6th, 2006 at 5:24 am
Excellent article!
May 17th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Perry,
Thanks and salute to sharing a Rafi saab foto.
God bless you.
in future hope more from you about short & sweety real incident with Rafi saab.
Prakash Shah>>>> 09426287666
May 18th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Hi Perry !
You are one of the most lucky persons in this world who met Rafi Saab. Thanks for sharing your experience and his beautifuf photo with we Rafians.
In the year 1965-66 I was a school student. During those days I used to write letters to filmstars…and in this series I wrote a letter to Rafi Saab too. And my great fortune I received his reply with an autographed photograph. My joy knew no bound. I showed the photograph to a to z whom I knew. It was an assette to me. Time passed…and I lost this photograph alongwith a lot of other photographs. Now I can assume what I have lost…
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:06 pm
same
August 30th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Perry Bhai Salam alaikum.
I saw this photograph just now. Its absolutely superb. We can make out the simplicity of Rafi sahab from the photograph by way of his child like looks , holding the receiver with a saintly smile.
I astonish his simple and truthful way of answering that his voice is not good while talking.
I was telling my friends the other day that ‘ jab Rafi sahab baat kartey hain to unki awaaz log mushkil sey sunpatey, aur wahi rafi sahab jab mike pakadtey hain to chat udaa detein hain’
Mr raju gorti the editor of DNA was telling me on 31st july at the mazhar of rafi sahab that it was very difficult to take Rafi sahab’s interview as he was not looking eye to eye, and most of his answers were ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This is the symbol of shyness & soberness. What to tell about such person who is the most sought after celebrity with such qualities?
We can proudly say Rafi Sahab is a saint.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Yes , rafi sahab is a saint no doubt on that , or ealse why we are still die hard fan of his havenly voice..?
September 7th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Perry Bhai,
Salam alaikum.
Rafi sahab’s favourite photo is now my desktop both in home as well as office.
Dawn to dusk I am in front of him.