When I was young I saw a movie called, 'Krodh' starring Sanjay Dutt..... it's a nice movie, nothing out of the ordinary but what's more memorable is one beautiful song in the movie; sung by Mohammed Aziz and composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal.... this I think is one of the first songs in Hindi cinema on a singer; if there are others, I apologize for I have not come across them so far
Na Fankaar Tujhsa Tere Baad Aaya
Mohammed Rafi, Tu Bahot Yaad Aaya
No artist of thy compare ever came after thy departure
Mohammed Rafi, we miss you a lot now, here and after
It's so strange to write about some one whom you grew up listening to, though I should confess he had left for the heavenly abode long before I was capable enough to even understand music but right from the first moment of my living life, if there was a song that moved me to tears, if there was a song that filled me with joy, if there was a song that resonated in my pain and if there was a song that spoke to me of my desires, inevitably I would find the magic of Rafi behind it... somehow, he connected with me when I was not even capable of understanding my own self and still does when I am again incapable of understanding myself...
There have been other voices too, each and everyone of them worth it's price in gold and enriched uranium but somehow the range and sweetness and beauty of this one voice is what propels me all the time.... It's futile to fight over who was better or who was worse, what's important is to remember that there could be comparisons and comparisons but what really matters is not those comparisons but the value of that man's brilliance and talent....
A Diamond will always shine and it does not make a difference if the diamond is set in the crown of England or the crown of India..... it will still remain a Diamond....
I am an atheist, a confirmed one but still the voice of Rafi compels me to listen to such beautiful gems as 'Man Tadpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj' and makes me feel so much as a theist at times.... Bhajans like 'Hey, Naam Re' and 'Badi Der Bhai Nandlala' could make me feel the devotion of the temple-goer and even today I do not find issue with humming these beautiful gems.... neither do I find any issue with the beautiful 'Parvardigaar-e-Aalam' that makes me go gaga over the miracles of a God that I know does not exist....
Or look at the Ghazals like 'Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri Mohabbat Ki Qasam" or "Tujhe Kya Sunaoon Main Dilruba" ... the pristine nature of love captured in the most beautiful and innocent of ways.....
I can go on and on.... the thumris, the Quawaalis, the songs of romance, the songs of pain, the songs of separation, of pathos and hurt, each and every one of them so painful, so deep; there is no emotion that cannot be captured that escapes the maestro.... he is in his prime in every moment, every second, every tune....
Maybe that's the reason we say..... Mohammed Rafi is the voice of God if he exists!
I agree with what Shankar-Jaikishen composed for Rafi and made him sing...
Tum Mujhe Yoon Bhula Na Paoge
Jab Kabhi Bhi Sunoge Geet Mere,
Sang Sag Tum Bhi Gungunaoge......
I miss your voice sir.... I wish we could have you back here with us
Na Fankaar Tujhsa Tere Baad Aaya
Mohammed Rafi, Tu Bahot Yaad Aaya
No artist of thy compare ever came after thy departure
Mohammed Rafi, we miss you a lot now, here and after
It's so strange to write about some one whom you grew up listening to, though I should confess he had left for the heavenly abode long before I was capable enough to even understand music but right from the first moment of my living life, if there was a song that moved me to tears, if there was a song that filled me with joy, if there was a song that resonated in my pain and if there was a song that spoke to me of my desires, inevitably I would find the magic of Rafi behind it... somehow, he connected with me when I was not even capable of understanding my own self and still does when I am again incapable of understanding myself...
There have been other voices too, each and everyone of them worth it's price in gold and enriched uranium but somehow the range and sweetness and beauty of this one voice is what propels me all the time.... It's futile to fight over who was better or who was worse, what's important is to remember that there could be comparisons and comparisons but what really matters is not those comparisons but the value of that man's brilliance and talent....
A Diamond will always shine and it does not make a difference if the diamond is set in the crown of England or the crown of India..... it will still remain a Diamond....
I am an atheist, a confirmed one but still the voice of Rafi compels me to listen to such beautiful gems as 'Man Tadpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj' and makes me feel so much as a theist at times.... Bhajans like 'Hey, Naam Re' and 'Badi Der Bhai Nandlala' could make me feel the devotion of the temple-goer and even today I do not find issue with humming these beautiful gems.... neither do I find any issue with the beautiful 'Parvardigaar-e-Aalam' that makes me go gaga over the miracles of a God that I know does not exist....
Or look at the Ghazals like 'Mere Mehboob Tujhe Meri Mohabbat Ki Qasam" or "Tujhe Kya Sunaoon Main Dilruba" ... the pristine nature of love captured in the most beautiful and innocent of ways.....
I can go on and on.... the thumris, the Quawaalis, the songs of romance, the songs of pain, the songs of separation, of pathos and hurt, each and every one of them so painful, so deep; there is no emotion that cannot be captured that escapes the maestro.... he is in his prime in every moment, every second, every tune....
Maybe that's the reason we say..... Mohammed Rafi is the voice of God if he exists!
I agree with what Shankar-Jaikishen composed for Rafi and made him sing...
Tum Mujhe Yoon Bhula Na Paoge
Jab Kabhi Bhi Sunoge Geet Mere,
Sang Sag Tum Bhi Gungunaoge......
I miss your voice sir.... I wish we could have you back here with us
