JOIN USTribute to one of Bollywood's greatest
Considered among the greatest Indian male playback singers of all time in Bollywood, Mohammad Rafi was awarded with prestigious awards such as National Film Award, Best National Singer Award, six Filmfare Awards and even the Padma Shri in 1967.
Adding to the glory was the title of Best Singer of the Millenium. But the biggest award that Rafi perhaps received and continues to, are the glowing tributes and increasing numbers of fans even 20 years after his death.
The singer whose career spanned about 35 years and who was noted for his ability to sing songs of different moods and varieties is now being remembered on his 32nd death anniversary by cultural societies SAKHA and Rafi Smriti in collaboration with Epicentre, Gurgaon. The tribute is being organised a fortnight before Rafi’s 32nd death anniversary (He died on July 31, 1980) and will include live performances by different artists who will render Rafi’s solos and duets. This would be in addition to a discussion on Rafi’s contribution to the film industry as a whole. The speakers will include veteran journalists Pankaj Vohra, Vinod Viplav, radio anchor Irfan and musicologist RP Sinha.
The event co-ordinated by Amarjit Singh Kohli will have glimpses of some of Rafi’s rare numbers and an audio-visual presentation of his live shows.
A video CD paying homage to Rafi titled Rafi Tu Hai Chanda sung by Tarlochan Tochi, lyrics by Daljit Singh Arora, (both of Mohd Rafi Memorial Society, Amritsar) will also be released.
Born in a small village in Amritsar on December 24, 1924, Rafi is best remembered for an expansive repertoire of songs ranging from classical and raga-based compositions to patriotic songs and highly romantic numbers apart from qawwalis, ghazals and even bhajans. His USP lay in the techniques that he used to mould his voice according to that of the actors on screen.
Biographies of Mohd Rafi in Hindi and Urdu titled Meri Aawaz Suno written by Vinod Viplav and translated in Urdu by Delhi University’s Dr Syed Tanvir Hussain will also be released on the occasion. Playback singer Tarlochan Tochi will sing Rafi’s songs. Lily P Singh, Col RC Chadha and Arun Goela will render duets.
The programme is slated for July 18 at Epicentre, Gurgaon.