Author: Yasmin Khalid Rafi
Translator(s)/ Editors(s): Rupa Srikumar/A K Srikumar
Publisher: Tranquebar
Year: 2012
Language: English
Pages: 190
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9789381626856
Description
An intimate portrait of one of the best-loved singers the world has ever known.
Famed music director Naushad Ali described Mohammed Rafi as India's new Tansen. In a singing career spanning 35 years, Rafi came to be regarded by many as the greatest playback singer the Hindi film industry has ever known.
Apart from Naushad, Rafi worked with all the well- known music directors of his time, including S D Burman, Shankar-Jaikishen, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and O P Nayyar. One of his hallmarks was his ability to sing in a variety of styles, ranging from classical and patriotic songs to qawwalis, ghazals and bhajans, though he is best known for his romantic songs and duets.
He became the voice of most of the actors across the decades including Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan. He also playbacked for superstar Rajesh Khanna on a few occasions including Gun guna rahen hain bhanware khil rahi hai kali kali and Baagon mein bahaar hai, kaliyon pe nikhaar hai in the film Aradhana.
It was songs like these and countless others like Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki (Dulari), O Duniya ke Rakhwaley (Baiju Bawra), Yeh Zindagi ke Meley (Mela), Naseeb Dar pe Tere Azmaney Aaya Hoon (Deedar) and Shabaab pe mein zara si sharab phekoonga (Amar Akbar Anthony), that have made Mohammed Rafi live on in the hearts of millions long after he passed away in 1980. Yasmin Rafi grew up as a devoted fan of Mohammed Rafi, little knowing that she would one day meet and marry his son, Khalid.
This transition from fan to family as she puts it, led to this heartwarming memoir of an artiste who was an icon for the world, but for his family, a simple, caring and loving man who delighted as much in good food, flying kites with his children, and driving his parrot-green Fiat through the streets of Mumbai, as he did in the numerous awards that came his way, including six Filmfare awards and the Padma Shri in 1967.
ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:
Yasmin Khalid Rafi was born in 1951 in the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. At the age of 19, Yasmin immigrated to England after her marriage to Khalid Rafi in 1971. She has spent most of her life as a housewife and bringing up her four children. She is also a proud grandmother to six grandchildren. Five years ago, Yasmin came up with the inspiration to write a book on her legendary father-in-law something for coming generations of her own family, and for all those ardent Rafi fans around the world.
COMMENTS:
“Mohammed Rafi was a Sufi who could sing in God’s voice. There never will be another Rafi, because God doesn’t duplicate.”
= Salim Khan, Veteran Script-writer
Contents
Contents
Acknowledgements
Preface
Rafi family Tree
1. The end of an Era
2. The Making of Mohammed Rafi
3. ‘Tansen’
4. From Fan to Family
5. Life in London
6. Mohammed Rafi : The Perfomer
7. Life in “Rafi Vi'
Appendix: Song and Film References