It's been three decades since Md. Rafi's sublime voice was silenced forever and yet for a nation whose average age is under 30 there isn't any dearth of young Rafi fans. It was in 1980 that a career spanning over 40 years and 26,000 songs ended but tune into any radio station playing classics and Rafi's voice still greets the ears.
Mohammad Rafi's Initial Years
Trained under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Rafi's first public concert was at the tender age of 13 where he sang in a concert that featured KL Saigal as well. Rafi started singing in the mid 1940's and managed to make Pandit Nehru his fan with his rendition of Suno Suno Ae Duniyawalon, Bapuji Ki Amar Kahani in 1948 after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
One of the most respected people in Hindi cinema Rafi was a colossus who was the undisputed king of male playback singing. In its initial years Filmfare never made a distinction between male and female singers and it was during these years when it gave out only one award that Rafi won it the most number of times. He also holds the distinction of maximum nominations (23).
Rafi's Success Era & More...
While in the 1950's and 60's Rafi was unparalleled, his output decreased in the 1970's once Kishore Kumar scaled dizzying height post Aradhana. In some sense of the word Kishore Kumar, the playback singer, owes his success to Rafi more than anything. Rafi had recorded two songs for SD Burman for the Rajesh Khanna-Sharmilla Tagore starrer but while the singer was away on Haj; SD Burman fell ill. Dada Burman's son RD Burman took over the film with his favorite singer Kishore Kumar singing the remaining songs and the rest like they say is history. Prior to Aradhana Kishore Kumar, the singer, would either sing for himself or Dev Anand and an odd number like Tum Bin Jaaon Kahan (Pyar Ka Mausum) which were filmed on secondary characters. Strangely enough Rafi is the only singer who has ever sung for Kishore Kumar, the actor, in films like Raagini, Baaghi, Shehzaada and Shararat!
Unknown Facts about Rafi
With his excellent Hindi and Urdu enunciation Rafi could easily switch moods that was further highlighted thanks to great range. Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanjh Sawere from Dosti is one shining example of Rafi's sheer genius; the song was planned as a romantic lament but ultimately used in as sad cry of a friend and Rafi's effortless change in emotion transformed the song. Besides Hindi Rafi also sang in numerous Indian languages that included Konkani, Oriya, Sindhi, and Assamese amongst others. The singer crooned many hits in English, Spanish and Dutch!
Unlike Kishore Kumar, Rafi in his death has transcended borders in a manner he'd have never imagined while he were alive. Rafi's songs have been included in the soundtracks of films like Monsoon Wedding (Aaj mausum bada beimaan hai), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Mera Mann Tera Pyasaa) and Ghost World, where the film starts with the lead character dancing to the hypnotic Jaan Pehchan Ho from Gumnaam.
A Nostalgic Evening
There are hundreds of Rafi songs that come to mind the moment you think of Rafi and each one vies for a favorite spot. The singer's 31st death anniversary will witness a nostalgic evening featuring Roop Kumar Rathod and Shahid Rafi, the maestro's son as well as Anand Raj Anand who'd be paying tribute to a singer who needs no introduction. The master of many moods some of Rafi's songs would be rendered pitch perfect in Rathod's mellifluous timbre and if gene pool is to go by Shahid wouldn't be a bad bet!
I am a Delhi-based author who writes for Buzzintown.com. To know more about music concerts mumbai 2011 or concerts bangalore 2011 please visit Buzzintown.com
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