The Last Journey - Mohammad Rafi Sahab

The Last Journey - Mohammad Rafi Sahab

Mrs. Mohd Rafi on Mohd Rafi Sahab

Today, when I look back I am grateful for the children we have borne. They have been wonderful sons and daughters, and have been my strength for the last /// years, after his passing away. But yet there are moments when I wish I was 13 years old and Rafi saab was 19. There are times when I wish he would come to me like he would nearly every evening, sit beside me and ask me, What is troubling you? Tell me your troubles and they will all go away.

The next day, he sat for rehearsal from 9:30am and was in pain, but he refused to tell us anything till 12:30 in the afternoon. We scoulded him about it, but he told us,ËœThose who come to the Rafi residence, should never return empty-handed. These were his last words.

He was in a lot of pain and was sweating profusely. It was also in the month of Ramzan, so he was hungry. His hands and feet were yellow. The doctors asked us to shift him to a hospital, explaining that Rafi saab had suffered a very major heart attack. The end came soon after that.

"Tu kahin aas paas hai dost" (You are some where around, my friend) -

the last song sung by Mohammed Rafi sums up what millions of music lovers feel about the legendary playback singer even 26 years after his death.

 As the shocking news of Rafi Sahab's demise was redeived. The sad news spread like wild fire throughout the country. Songs turned into a dirge. The angels wept in the sky and tears were shed in the form of raindrops over his namaaz-e-janaza (funeral prayer), His funeral procession started amid heavy

rain and thunder, people gathered on the top of buildings, trees and in windows to catch a last glimpse of their favourite singer. The procession reached the Juhu graveyard.

A LEGEND IN HIS LIFETIME, THE MASTER WAS NO MORE

MOHAMMAD RAFI (1924 - 1980)

The date of his passing away was perhaps

divinely pre-ordained, for it is said that one who dies in the

holy month goes to heaven. There was no person more deserving of that status than the pious and God-fearing Rafi, who never touched a drop of alcohol, who never told a lie, who never had a harsh word for anyone, and who worshipped his work. A man whose songs wiped away many a sorrowful tear from the eyes of those who were struggling under the burden of life and brought tears of ecstatic joy to many more.

Although 32 years since our Legend Singer has passed away but he is still in everyone's hearts with his songs generations by generations.. I just don't feel that Rafi Saab is no longer with us, because i listen to him all the time ! ..... 

My Prayer be with him - May His Soul Rest In Peace...Ameen..

Needless to confess that among singers no one has left such an indelible mark on the consciousness and hearts of millions of his fans around the world and I’m one of them. Mohd Rafi is an institution of play back singing, an icon for generations of music lovers who have happened to listened to him during his lifespan and even right now his legion of fans are spread right across the globe where ever the Urdu/Hindi speaking communities of the sub continent resides.

My personal love for Mohd Rafi Sahab has dated back to the early days of 1993 when I had the honour of listening to his remarkable and soul shaking songs in an audio cassette format and ever since then I have become his die hard fan till this day. 

A Tribute Song For Rafi Saab...

Mohammad Rafi Sahab, means the golden voice that the human race will never ever get to hear again, in the lifetime to come. But we are so much blessed to listen to his multi-various renditions – so soothing, human, emotional with that magical, mesmerizing vocal delivery, even after many years of his demise.

It is often said that Mohammad Rafi sang with a full force, delivering not only his golden voice but the much needed emotion, depth, feel, shruthi laya, range and a totally satisfying rendition, over and beyond the expectation of the music directors. He sang from his chest, entire body and soul and not merely from his throat. When there was song in a movie which meant challenge, the music directors often, invariably, fell back on Rafi Saab. One such song, which comes to my mind, is Sadpe Heer from Mera Naam Joker. Rafi Saab sang this song for Raj Kapoor in this movie, when most of the songs in the movie were obviously sung by Mukesh Saab for Raj Kapoor. There are many such songs of Rafi Saab and I am not here to list down the songs, which would only mean listing down the countless stars in the sky!

There are many singers, including the highly accomplished living (and even past) legends, trying to imitate his style and renditions, but no one is still able to conquer the unexplainable blend of the voice qualities and more importantly the “delivery” that Rafi Saab ensured in his renditions. It would not be an exaggeration, if we say that there would be no one, in times to come, to even, in the least, match his quality of singing.

It is also often said that the goodness of a human being is shown in their act and behaviour and in our Rafi Saab’s case; it was shown, in no uncertain terms, in his singing. A singer par excellence and no one, I am sure, can explain, in its entirety, the goodness of the human being called “Rafi Saab”!! He was truly a “Prodigy of God”.

After almost three decades of his demise, our hunger and desire to unearth his unique renditions, maintains a rapid pace, year after year and this momentum and growing speed would never end, for a lifetime.

Quotes said by Rafi Sahab

"Film-making wasn't merely a business proposition during those days when institutions reigned supreme and free-lancing hadn't become popular in the film industry. Believe it or not, I used to be paid a meager amount of Rs. 75/- in those days for one song!"

"Though I insist on being paid my price by commercial film-makers who can afford it, I sing for small budget films, including regional films, for a much lower price. Money isn't the only criterion for me to accept a film. Out of my earnings, I keep aside a sizable amount for charitable purposes but I prefer not to tom tom it because I do not want to seek publicity for those acts."

Rafi Sahab with Family

Rare Footages of Rafi Sahab's Life Moments

1. Documentary on Rafi Sahab

2. Rafi Sahab with Family

3. Rafi Sahab's last Interview

4. Rafi Sahab speaking about his earlier days