Source: Internet

Recently Indian cinema completed 100 years and on this occasion, the BBC Asian Network online listed about 100 songs and asked the readers to choose the favorite song from the list. The readers selected Baharon Phool Barasavo, the romantic song from 1966 film, Suraj, starring Rajendra Kumar and Vyajayntimala Bali. (more…)

By : Suneil K Makwana

Tribute To Rafisaab

88th Birthday celebration of the Legend Padmashree Mohd. Rafisaab under a banner “ Rafi Ki Yaadein” on 24-12-2012 at Juhu Jagraan Hall, Mithibai College, Mumbai. All Rafi lovers and talented singers like Shree A. Narayan (Nari), Shree Kishore Makwana, Shree Manikrao Bhise (Voice Of R.D. Burman), Master Mohd Patel, Shree Santosh & Female Singer Smt. Rani Kaur pay their homage to the legend.. (more…)

By: H.A.K. Walijah

Rafi Sahab with Laxmikant and Pyarelal

Mohammed Rafi imprinted his name on the musical firmament with his appealing voice. His songs do not fail to mesmerize us, he is still fondly remembered for his captivating songs in Hindi films.  What is it about Rafi that pulls people 31 years after his death? Surely not just his singing – but also something deeper, sublime, spiritual to his melodious and mellifluous voice. That voice which strikes a chord with millions even today, young and old, and is claimed to be divine. Rafi was a life force, a joy that could not be contained in songs. Rafi’s voice is not a thing to be summed up in words. It comes from a place of deep joy and profound pathos. It is a voice you internalize before you can fully appreciate it. Mohammed Rafi was the true embodiment of the Golden Era of music and melodies of Hindi Cinema, at its very unique zenith and he epitomized its finest artistic grandeur, splendor and original creativity. (more…)

By Prakash Gowda and Achal Rangaswamy

A short film on Rafi Sahab

Rafi Saab lives on, even more than thirty years after his departure for his heavenly abode.

This film, made by Prakash Gowda, a music lover and friend of mine, is a dedication to our idol Mohd Rafi Saab, who continues to inspire so many of us with his songs, the stories that surround his life, and the teachings left behind by him for all of us. (more…)

By Shrirang Nawathe

Mohd Rafi with Dilip Kumar

A song is an outcome of Team work, but, a memorable melodious song is an outcome of Dedicated Teamwork. A small difference makes the dividing line. It was a Golden Era of Hindi Film Music in sixties when Music Directors, Singers, Lyricists made an everlasting impact due to their sincere devotion to the profession. Another dimension to make these songs worth listening was their mutual understanding and adjustments for a common objective. Practically they were tuned to equal wavelengths. We thus had  distinguished groups like RK Studios who had a team of  SJ/Shailendra/HasratJaipuri, Navketan Films had  Majrooh Sultanpuri/SDB,Nasir Husaain used to have RD Burman from Teesri Mamzil onwards. There was a trio following the same tradition and their team was like a TRIVENI SANGAM of Shakeel/Naushad/Rafi who could deliver the best products. Film Industry is indebted by their contribution. (more…)

By Nagesh Sidhanti.
A humble tribute to composer Madan Mohanji on his 87th birth anniversary by an ardent Rafi fan

Mohd Rafi with Madan Mohan

Of all pursuits, love is the most profound, be it sensuous or sublime.

This legendary love story of ill-fated couple, an epitome of pure love, ‘Heer-Ranjha’ was written by Sufi poet Waris Shah. Little did he know that about 200 years later, his seminal work’s intimate aspects would receive its rightful interpretation in the form of a surreptitious musical dialogue, arranged by three of the greatest legends, one, an exceptional composer and the other two, genius singers of their era.

Kaifi’s lines are lyrically simple but never frugal in this unique duet from Heer Ranjha, which is rendered in low notes, complimenting essentially a covert love story.   The lyricist who is known for his earthly imagery, has penned the lines with a dash of mystical aura the story deserves. Although not spoken in the same breath as some of his distinguished contemporaries, Kaifi Azmi yet again proves a point that beneath the layers of sophistication & hyperbole, lie a treasure trove of emotions, which could flourish in the realm of a deeper understanding of LOVE and LIFE. (more…)

By: H.A.K. Walijah

Mohd Rafi

“Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri Mohabbat Ki Kasam” is a famous and romantic poem of Shakeel Badayuni sung by Rafi Sahab while legendary music director Naushad Saab composed this song based upon Raag Jhinjhoti for the movie “Mere Mehboob” (1963) – a muslim social in the backdrop of nawabi culture. The effect of such slow and romantic song is amazing; magic is in the lyrics plus melody.  It was amazing to watch it yet again and enjoy the velvety voice of Mohd. Rafi Sahab. It is one of the most romantic, melodious and all-time-favorite title songs of Mere Mehboob. Rafi Sahab has poured his soul in this amazing extra long six stanza song which has no break at all in the middle and considered till today the best soft romantic songs for the range of voice and its melody of lyrics with music.  Almost all music directors used Rafi’s voice to give life and a magical quality to their tunes. Rafi Saab used to build concept about the actors for whom the songs were recorded and went to great lengths to change his style to suit the actor and the scene. (more…)

By A S MURTY – rafimurty {at} gmail {dot} com

Mohd Rafi

PROLOGUE :

A Concert is a live performance (typically of music) before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, some then call a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band. Concerts are held in a wide variety and size of settings, from private houses and small clubs, dedicated concert halls, entertainment centers and parks to large multipurpose buildings and auditoria. Regardless of the venue, musicians usually perform on a stage……….

For sometime now, I was thinking of classifying some special songs of Rafi Sahab as these were a step beyond mere playback singing.  Playback singing can be of any song of any genre in any fashion and hfm has had a host of the very best to very poor songs composed and recorded by the playback singers. (more…)