Kolkata: One of the most versatile playback singer Mohammad Rafi, whose voice has mesmerised generations of listeners, was paid tribute by a large number of fans here in the city on his 37th death anniversary today.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today paid sincere and heartfelt homage to legendary singer Mohammad Rafi on his Death Anniversary
“My sincere and heartfelt homage to legendary singer Mohammad Rafi on his Death Anniversary,” Ms Banerjee tweeted.
Legendary playback singers of the Indian film industry, Rafi Saab left this world on July 31, 1980 at the age of 56 in Mumbai.
Exactly 37 years have passed since we lost this great singer, but even today, he is alive among us. Not only our elders, but the young generation also likes the songs of Rafi, one of the die-hard fan of Rafi fans Club here at Bowbazar in Central Kolkata Goutam Roy told UNI today
Voh Jab Yaad Aaye, Bahut Yaad Aaye ? the line that so unwaveringly holds so fit on our beloved Mohd Rafi Sahab. Today, a day that will never be forgotten for years to come. Its been 34 years since we lost Rafi Sahab to the absolute power called God, said another Rafi fans club member here at New Market area Chintu Singh said.
For us Rafians, Rafi is no less than a GOD. Many of us idolise Rafi Sahab and adapt his humble self in our day to day life and activities. There never has been a single day that we have not heard Rafi Sahab, Chitu added.
Millions of Kolkatians shed a tear remembering this singing colossus on this day. To mark the day, televisions and different FM radio channels played several popular numbers from his varied repertoire, that include soft romantic songs, qawwalis, tragic compositions and peppy numbers — all delivered with equal elan. Fans visit his grave and pay their respects in their own humble way.
The man with a golden voice, Rafi Saab, started his singing career in 1942 with Shyam Sunder. In the year 1944, he got an opportunity to sing in a Hindi film as a chorus of noted music composer Naushad Ali. Due to his magical voice, very soon Rafi became a favourite of Ali and sung innumerable hit songs for him. Ali provided him a good chance to sing the song ‘O Duniya ke Rakhwale’ for the hit movie ‘Baiju Bawra’. The particular song changed Rafi’s life and he became the first choice for the music composers of that era.
From the late 1940s to 1960s, Rafi rose to new heights of success and remained at the top among the male playback singers. In his 40 year long career, Rafi sung different genre of songs like sad, romantic, happy, devotional, ghazals and many other types of songs.
Rafi gave several hits with renowned musicians of that time Shankar?Jaiskishan and Laxmikant?Pyarelal. He also shared a good rapport with co-singers, prominent among them were Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. Rafi’s romantic as well as sad duets with Late Mangeshkar made many movies musical hits and still those songs are very popular among music lovers.
Rafi sang memorable songs like ‘Chaudhvin ka chand’, ‘Jo wada kia vo’, and ‘Kya hua tera wada’ in his career spanning over more than four decades. He has given all time hits with virtually every music composer and sang for all leading actors including superstar Dilip Kumar.
The decade of 1970 basically belonged to Kishore Kumar and he made a successful pair with music director RD Burman. But Rafi also gave a number of hits during that period. He won the Filmfare award and the National award in 1977 for ‘Kya Hua Tera Vaada’ song in the movie ‘Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi’.
The great legendary singer of bollywood won the Filmfare Award six times and was honoured with Padmashree in 1965.
In the last phase of his career, Rafi sung for hit movies such as Dostana (1980), The Burning Train (1980), Abdullah (1980), Shaan (1980) and Naseeb (1981). On July 31, 1980 after singing the song ‘Shaam phir kyun udaas hai dost’ for the movie ‘Aas Paas’ with Lata Mangeshkar, Rafi left for home and died the same day due to heart attack.
His last composition was with Laxmikant-Pyarelal, who had been music composers for most of his compositions. Other than Laxmikant-Pyarelal, he had worked in award winning compositions with Shankar Jaikishan, RD Burman and Naushad Ali.
Rafi had sung over 25,000 songs in his musical career and when he died, it was considered death of a musical era.
UNI
