Written by N R Padmanabhan, President, Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter.

PROLOGUE : “ …..in July this year, we had thought of making such musical get-togethers with Rafi bhakts from other centres to join us. Instant response from all our members gave us the idea to talk to our friends in Chennai and Bangalore and spend two days in the company of all the known Rafi Bhakts at one central place – calling the meet as RAFI HOLIDAY. Go on a Holiday friends, take a RAFI HOLIDAY “.

Rafi Holiday

A rose is a rose is a rose……….

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet … Shakespeare.

Thus goes the phrase. Yet, when it was presented to each one of us at the Bangalore Railway Station, the inherent statement unfolded in the next two days only.

The seeds germinated from Hyderabad, where some of us were members of the e-groups in Bangalore and thru that interactive with members from Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Oman, Toronto and the USA etc. It was watered by them and finally bloomed in the garden city of Bangalore. We had thought of making such musical get-togethers with Rafi bhakts from other centres to join us. Instant response from all our members gave us the idea to talk to our friends in Chennai and Bangalore and spend two days in the company of all the known Rafi Bhakts at one central place – calling the meet as RAFI HOLIDAY. (more…)

Musings by Ramesh Narain Kurpad.

Mohd Rafi

Divinity

Rafi Bhakton – since a long long time – I cherished and nurtured the idea of writing about our dear Rafi Sahab and his amazing human form deep within my innermost feelings and after a long drawn battle with my own self – I have taken it upon myself to write in my own style about a person who once lived, sang, gave us some memorable melodious songs and just vanished even without saying bye.

If lovers of melody had been given the choice of choosing the span of life of our Rafi Sahab – then – like in the epics – Rafi Sahab – would have had to reveal his true self and that he was truly an avatar of god. His exit then would have been a well explained – planned one. None of us would have been saddened as we are today and shall be forever. (more…)

This song review is written by Mr. Anmol Singh.

Mohd Rafi with Jaidev

As individuals we all face a lot of ups and downs in life. Many occasions there are problems where we just don’t know what to do. We gradually learn to live with our problems. We realize that there is no point in thinking over the issues which practically have no solution as such.

MEIN ZINDAGI KA SATH NIBHATA CHALA GAYA
HAR FIKAR KO DHOEIN MEIN UDATA CHALA GAYA

When we experience a worst case situation in our lives, we just let go our problems like a passing moment of life speaking to ourselves “YE WAKHT BHI GUZAR JAAYEGA“. (more…)

This is a review written by Gan Sharma, of a song that is well-known but probably not listened to with the passion it deserves!

Mohd Rafi with R.D.Burman

It is well known that Rafi saab’s ability to sing a woman’s praise is unparalleled. There are hundreds of such songs that Rafi saab has sung, and many have been reviewed in this excellent website.

However, there is one song that I have not paid close attention to, and which falls in this category. You know how it is. Although it is a sin to fast-forward any Rafi song, you tend to gravitate towards your favourites, and skip songs in your iPod or CD to get to the next one. I have been guilty of this too! (more…)

This article is written by Mr. Souvik Chatterji

Mohd Rafi with Asha Bhonsle and Kalyanji

Mohammad Rafi was the uncrowned king of bollywood music in the 50s and 60s. After the composers like Naushad, Shankar Jaikishan, Roshan, Madanmohan, Ghulam Mohammad, OP Nayyar, and others realized the range of voice of Rafi, they made him the first choice during a period when able singers like Mukesh, Manna Dey, Talat Mehmood, and others were at the top of their career.

But Kalyanji Anandji’s association with Rafi in the 70s require special mention considering the fact that RD Burman and SD Burman sidelined Rafi to promote Kishore Kumar and with the death of Jaikishan, Roshan and many composers the only challenge that could be put forward before RD Burman was done by LP and KA. (more…)

This article is written by Bina Krishna – Rafi Saab Ke Charnon Mein

Mohd Rafi with Lata Mangeshkar and Jaikishan

I could never decide with certainty whether Rafi Saab sang better with Lata or with Asha. Everytime I hear a dulcet duet of Lata-Rafi I instinctively opine that it is Lata who is best suited for Rafi Saab and this twosome is matchless, Then when I hear a marvellous duad of Asha-Rafi and that perfect taal-mel between them I unabashedly change my opinion and my leanings and apologize to Lata Didi in my mind. (more…)

This article is written by Mr. Achal Rangaswamy

Mohd Rafi with S.D.Burman and Guru Dutt

Arey dekhi zamaane ki yaari
bichhade sabhee, bichhade sabhi baari baari
kya le ke milen ab duniya se, aansu ke siva kucch paas nahi
ya phool hi phool they daaman mein, ya kaanton ki bhi aas nahi
matalab ki duniya hai saari
bichhade sabhee, bichhade sabhi baari baari

what a song!! What lyrics!!
And what a rendering!!!

Chronologically speaking, this song is 50 years old today!! But honestly, doesn’t it reflect a lot of how the world works today?? (more…)

This article is contributed by Mr Gaurav.D.Bijoor

Mohd Rafi with C. Ramchandra

C Ramchandra was born in the year 1918 in a small town situated in Puntamba in the Ahmednagar District. He joined the movie industry playing the lead role in the film “Naganand” and also some small roles in the films “Saeed-e-Havas” and “Atma Tarang”.

Mr C Ramchandra in-fact greatly loved, admired and respected our beloved King of Melody Mohammed Rafi Saab the most. In-fact he was the one of the few initial music director’s who was very much instrumental in rendering the required break to Mohammed Rafi Saab at the very start of his career in the industry almost in the period 1944-1945. (more…)