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Remembering Rafi Sahab on his birth anniversary

By Souvik Chatterjee

Mohd Rafi Sahab

Music lovers all across the world remember, the unforgettable musical maestro Mohd Rafi, on his birth anniversary on 24th December, 2015. He had died in 1980 and 35 years passed after his death. Yet he had created an everlasting appeal during his 35 years illustrious career which has not faded away at all.

Whenever his reference comes music-lovers imagine about “do sitaron ka zameen par hai milan” composed by Naushad, “mai gayoon tum so jao” composed by Shankar Jaikishan, “ab kya misaal doon” composed by Roshan, “chaudavi ka chaand” composed by Ravi, “mai zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya” composed by Jaidev, “janewalon zara” composed by Laxmikant Pyarellal, “pukarta chala hoon mai” composed by OP Nayyar, “teri aankhon ke siva” composed by Madanmohan, to name a few.

Very significantly he was associated with all the leading actors of bollywood industry in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, which starts with Bharat Bhushan, Pradeep Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Rajender Kumar, Raj Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukherjee, Biswajeet, Guru Dutt, Balraj Sahani and extends upto Big B, Rishi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, etc. Even comedians like Johnny Walker, Mehmood, Rajendranath were indebted to the maestro for his modification of the voice in favour of them which entertained the audience to a big extent.

Rafi had raised us from sleep, he had made us sleep too. Almost all emotions of human beings are captured in the songs of Rafi. Listeners hear Rafi’s songs to keep away from stress and strain. What is important at this point is to revisit his songs and help the new generation to hear his songs. A huge number of the Rafilovers themselves had heard around 10000 songs and still require to hear his private albums, bhajans, ghazals, etc.

Rafi had sung 26,000 songs in 35 years and that covered the creations and compositions of the most talented composers and lyricists of India. Hardly any singer can be compared or equated with the giant singer. Audience of the modern generation is more used to hear fast numbers due to the trend of music available at this moment. If Rafi’s songs are prioritized in the media, the taste of melodious music can be revived, because Rafi had taken music to a higher dimension. Rafi had not been substituted. The sweetness of voice that God had given him was unparallel.

The media can devote separate programs on Rafi’s association with Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan, Roshan, Khayyam, Madanmohan, Ghulam Mohammad, OP Nayyar, etc., and also his association with giants lyricists like Shakeel Badayani, Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, etc. The landmark musical blockbusters like Taj Mahal, Jahanara, Baiju Bawra, Mere Sanam, Kohinoor, etc., are required to be shown in the popular channels and scanned. Any research on Rafi can only enlighten the listeners about rich music of different class including Hindustani classical, bhajans, ghazals, westernized songs, folk songs, etc. We all pay are best tribute to noble soul Mohammad Rafi.

Souvik Chatterjee
Souvik Chatterjee, the author of this article

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10 Blog Comments to “Remembering Rafi Sahab on his birth anniversary”

  1. MS says:

    Just wanted to draw Jyoti Mohanty’s comments below. I hope she intended to say ‘nuances’ and not ‘nuisances’…!

    Of course Love Mohd. Rafi Saa’b! My ultimate musical God! Worship his soul…only one of a kind, unique singer of our era.

    God Bless his immortal soul!

  2. JYOTI MOHANTY says:

    a lot of musical nuisances and harkats came with him .Only the records remain to enthrall all of us all the time…..Long live the GOD..

  3. Syed Jalal Haider says:

    What an article.
    Fantastic

  4. Binu Nair says:

    Good and sincere attempt sir. But, no proof of 26000 songs. Pls avoid this without any back up from you.

    Or Say it with Solid Proof. we are RAFI SAAB fans and Perfection is the Goal.

    Good luck.

  5. Sauvikji. Great write up. Our farishtha’s songs are daily mantra’s to us. Keep writing. Hats off to you.

  6. shammi says:

    Great article as always Souvikji and can we all keep pressure for the Bharat Ratna to be given in Mohammed Rafis name, even after 35 years since he passed away this injustice bugs me so much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

  7. Chandan Roy says:

    The Legend lives on – fascinated by Mohd Rafi during my school days in late 80s the voice continues to define everything which is musical to my sensory perception. One can safely conclude that this country will never be able to produce an extraordinary singer of his calibre ever again. But we don’t need to ! We have Rafi sahab for us…generations will continue to discover him as my 8 year old son has suddenly declared that ‘ chaudvin ka chand ho ‘ rendered by the Master is his favourite song…that will be still he finds another Rafi gem. May you live forever in our hearts. To the greatest singer and a exceptional human being, many happy returns of the day !

  8. Ahamed Kutty says:

    “Rafi Saab had raised us from the sleep,he had made us
    sleep too.”It is just like some one written in this forum
    that “after the preliminary needs of human being such
    as food,clothing and shelter Rafi Saab’s song is a must.”

    Wonderful Souvik ji.

    Before Rafi Saab there was no sky to look at it and with his
    versatility and golden voice he made the sky to look at it
    for the singers who came after him,the huge fan who
    followed him and still following.It will continue up to the
    end of the world……..

  9. Israr Mohammed Khan says:

    Mohammed Rafi Sahab ko Janam Din Bhut Bhut Mubarak.

  10. My beloved inspiration for music
    Happy Birthday
    Miss You a Lot

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