TRIBUTE TO RAFI STALLED
For the first time in 35 years, pandemic halts gala tribute to legendary singer Mohammad Rafi
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 35 YEARS, RAFI EXCELLENCE AWARDS FOR YOUNG SINGERS, BEING PLANNED ON JULY 31, HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
The stage was set since last year for the 35th Rafi Excellence Award for young singers, on the death anniversary of the legendary singer (July 31). This was to be followed by Rafi Nite on his birthday December 24, which was to be graced by yesteryear star Sanjay Khan in Chandigarh’s Tagore Theatre.
This tradition, which was set in the city by Rafi-eYaadgar Society, and continued uninterrupted for 35 years nurturing the region’s talent, was brought to a halt by the covid pandemic.
The moving spirit behind Rafi-e-Yaadgar, BD Sharma says: “Along with BM Kalia and Anil Verma, we built this society in 1986 and with the efforts of our members, we were able to sustain the events without interruption. But sadly, we have had to give it a miss this year due to Covid-19. However, we will sing Rafi’s songs at our homes and wait for the day when young singers can be back on stage.”
Interestingly, Sharma fell in love with Rafi’s voice as a sixyear-old after listening to the singer’s film bhajan ‘Zara saamne to aa ja chhaliye’ at a paan shop in Ambala. His great compliment to the singer is: “When the Almighty wants to sing to people, he takes the form Mohammad Rafi.”
There are hundreds of Rafi memorial societies in India for such was the power of the songs he sung, but this society is special as the singer hailed from the Punjabi soil and enthralled the country with his voice. Yaadgaar-e-Rafi spotted adolescent singers including Amritsar’s Vipul Mehta and Ludhiana’s
Ishmeet Singh, who went on to become Indian Idols, and Rinku Kalia, who became a SaReGaMa singer.
The society made a special effort to include people who were connected to Rafi and were thrilled when Shahid Rafi, son of the singer, graced Rafi Nite with his mother and wife. Among other famed people who have been guests of honour are music directors Naushad, Ravi, Kalyanji Anandji, Pyarelal, lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri, Hasrat Jaipuri, singers Suman Kalyanpur, Bhupinder and Mitali, actors Rajendra Kumar, Biswajit, Asha Parekh, Zeenat Aman, Shatrugan Sinha, Mala Sinha, Vyjanthimala & others.
When the Almighty wants to sing to people, he takes the form Mohammad Rafi. BD SHARMA, OF RAFI-E-YAADGAR SOCIETY