Remembering Mohammed Rafi on his death anniversary

(Web Desk) : Mohammed Rafi is rightly regarded as the greatest male playback singer in history. The much admired music star sadly passed away on July 31, 1980, aged just 55, but left behind a remarkable legacy and inspired the generations who followed in his giant footsteps.

He loved singing and loved his art. He was musically versatile, technically correct and had an amazing ability to mould his voice to the persona of that actor he would be singing for.

He gave life to the lyrics. He sang flawlessly in various languages and styles. He was a perfectionist and made it look easy.

Sonu Nigam, an unabashed admirer of Rafi, had stated categorically, in one of his interviews, that ‘Mohammad Rafi’ is the greatest singer India can ever produce in the world of playback singing.’

Sonu further added, ‘The experts on music have a very tough time judging the best performance of Rafi, whether his ghazals are the best, or his songs with an intoxicated atmosphere, or whether his pure classical numbers.’

A casual look at the musical scenario familiarises us with the fascinating fact that Rafi’s popularity, even after four decades of his passing away, is soaring despite radical transformation in taste, technology, and culture.

Statistics reveal that Rafi remains the most heard ‘Indian singer on the internet.’ To put on record that Rafi sang nearly 4,500 mind-blowing songs, a record of sorts. Rafi’s popularity transcends artificial human barriers, and his birth and death anniversaries are celebrated across the world.

Rafi’s tonal quality and ability to sing any type of song melodiously exercise endearing appeal to music lovers. Romantic, tragic, patriotic, Hindu devotional songs, etc.,

Rafi excels in all genres, and his soulful singing touches the minds and hearts of music lovers.

Analysing some of the all-time hit songs will throw light on the mesmerizing singing skill and ability of the maestro. ‘Deewana hua badal’ from ‘Kashmir ki Kali,’ ‘Tere mere sapne(Guide), ‘Pukarta chala hoon (Mere Sanam), ‘Likhe jo khat tumhe,(Kanyadan), ‘Mast baharon ka mei asique,(Farz), ‘Aye dil hai muskil’ ( CID) ‘Jo wada kiya. (Taj Mahal), etc., are some of the best romantic songs.

The same voice has sung tragic songs like ‘Yaade na jaye, beete dino ki, (dil ek mandir), Tute hue khawabon ne’ (Madhumati), etc., with remarkable poise. ‘Kar chalein hum fida(Haqeeqat) is the quintessential patriotic song evoking tears from the admirers.

Rafi’s repertoire adds further: ‘Sufi Qawwalis, Shabad Gurbani, Ghazals,’ and one feels the canvas of Rafi is as tall and vast as that of the Himalaya.

Rafi ji was a pious man. Never drank in his life. But when one listens to the immensely popular song, ‘Choo lene do najuk hoto’ (Kajal), one is astounded by his rendition as a drunken man.

Born on 24th December, 1924, Rafi’s death on 31st July 1980, at just 55 years, dealt a big blow to Hindi Cinema and left his fans grieving for years.

In 2001, Rafi was honoured with the “Best Singer of the Millennium” title by Hero Honda and Stardust magazine. In 2013, Rafi was voted for the Greatest Voice in Hindi Cinema in the CNN-IBN poll.

Everyone from Lata Mangeskar, Dilip Kumar, and Meena Kumari to Rishi Kapoor, etc., called him the “Voice of God.” Unlike any other recorded human voice, male or female, “Rafi was endowed with an incredible texture, finesse, and range that are akin to marvels of nature.”