Mohammed Rafi Pushed Boundaries And Explored New Frontiers
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
24 December
2022
On His 98th Birth Anniversary - Rafi Was
Humility Personified And That Quality Cut Through His Singing To Become Obvious
------
Mohammed Rafi
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More often
than not, birth and death anniversaries become perfunctory occasions to
remember that person and the very next day, we forget him/her. But there're
people who remain etched in our collective memory and irrespective of their
birthdays and days of departure, we remember them with uniform intensity. The
legendary Muhammad Rafi was one such great singer whose 98th birthday falls
today, Dec 24.
It really
inspires people, how a humble boy born at Kotla Sultan Singh in district
Amritsar, reached the stratosphere of dizzying success in just 55 years. By the
way, he passed away on July 31, 1980. Rafi was born to sing. In an interview to
BBC, he smilingly said, " Mujhe Gaane Ke Alaava Aur Kuchh Nahin Aata "
(I know nothing barring singing). He indeed knew how to sing soulfully.
His 7,000-odd
numbers (the general tenor that he sang more than 26,000 thousand songs is
unfounded) amply prove his versatility and the astounding range of his ethereal
voice. Much has been written on his singing prowess. In fact, so much has been
written on his songs that there seems to be no new facet left.
Yet,
connoisseurs and ordinary music lovers don't get exhausted and never feel ad
nauseam when it comes to Rafi and his singing persona. The aura of Rafi
increases as time glides by. His mojo articulates Jameel Mazhari's famous Misra,
" Woh Almaas Hoon Chamak Jis Ki Badhti Jaati Hai " ( I'm a
diamond with increasing effulgence).
The same
can be said about Rafi. Even after 42 years, his huge popularity is
undiminished. I once asked one of his contemporaries, " Rafi Itne Azeem
Gulukaar Kaise Bane? " ( How Rafi became such a great singer?). He
told me, " Kyonki Ve Ek Azeemtareen Mutrib Hone Ke Saath Hi Ek
Behatareen Insaan Bhi Thay " (Because in addition to being a great
singer, he was also a great human). Latin poet Virgil opined, " A great
singer sings from the recesses of his heart and immortalises his songs. And
only a singer with a golden heart can sing soulfully."
Rafi had a
heart of gold. That's why, his songs are heart-felt. Whether he was singing for
the redoubtable Balraj Sahni or Baldev Khosa (Apni Aakhon Mein Basa Kar Koi
Iqraar Karoon....., Film, Thokar, lyricist- Sajan Dehlvi and
composer- Shaamji-Ghanshaamji, 1974), he never condescended. He also never
considered any lyricist or composer to be inferior and sang for everyone. How
many people have heard the name of the composer Dattaram Wadkar? But Rafi sang
for him and immortalised the song, " Hum Aap Ki Mahfil Mein Bhoole Se
Chale Aaye...." ( Film: Jab Se Tumhein Dekha Hai, lyricist:
Shailendra, 1963). Rafi always treated everyone equally and never bad-mouthed.
Composer
Anil Biswas didn't have a very positive opinion of Rafi's singing abilities and
was rather critical of him. But Rafi always respected Anil Biswas and never
said anything bad about him. That was his intrinsic greatness. The sine qua non
of greatness is to have disarmingly humane attributes. Greatness coupled with
arrogance is an unhealthy combination which's soon forgotten by people. Rafi
was humility personified and that quality cut through his singing to become
obvious. A devout man, he never displayed his devoutness. Remember, ' Koi
Yoon Hi Makhsoos Nahin Hota, Kuchh Toh Khaas Hota Hai Us Ki Shakhsiyat Mein'
(It's not for nothing that one's famous/ There's something very special about
him....Fahmida Riyaz).
Muhammad
Rafi will always be remembered by his countless admirers.
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/mohammed-rafi-frontiers-/d/128704