He is going to give his tribute to Rafi Sahab on AIR FM Gold in Mumbai at 8:30 AM onwards. Listen to this gem radio presenter who has lent his voice to many programs like Chayaa geet, Independence Day parade etc.

The 90 solos and 56 duets which Rafi Saab sang for Madan Mohanji have become a part of music history. Even today, despite the fast changing tastes in music, their fans yearn to hear any tune composed by Madanji and sung by Rafi Saab.

Ten songs recorded by them in their lifetime, remained unreleased, as the films stopped midway, and the songs remained unheard, till they were located on Madanji’s master spools. Some of these were released on 1980 on a LP, while seven of these were released on the album Tere Bagair – Madan Mohan in 2009, which also featured songs by other singing greats. Three of these were never released except on Madanji’s website www.madanmohan.in very recently.

Kaise Kategi Zindagi

For the first time, all these ten songs by Rafi Saab are now being compiled on a single CD, aptly titled Kaise Kategi Zindagi, a refrain of his countless fans and the mukhda of the pathos-laden opening track of this CD.

The following rare songs have been released on the album, “KAISE KATEGI ZINDAGI”

1. Kaise Kategi Zindagi Tere Bagair
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi
Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

2. Har Sapna Ek Din Toote
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi

3. Mera Paighaam
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan

4. Kadamon Mein Tere Aye Sanam
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi
Lyrics: Prem Dhawan

5. Mere Dilse Aake Lipat Gayi
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi with Asha Bhosle
Lyrics: Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

6. Mehbooba Meri Mehbooba
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan

7. Jahaan Mile Dharti Aakash
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan

8. Ya Illahi, Ek Haseena Ne
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi

9. Dhadkan Hai Tu Har Dil Ki
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Balbir & Brij Bhushan
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan

10. Yeh Tera Husn
Singer(s): Mohd. Rafi
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan

“KAISE KATEGI ZINDAGI”  is being released by Yash Raj music.

I am ready with my first list of videos. These videos have some small collection of the special moments we spent together in Bangalore.

Right now I have uploaded them to our YouTube Channel and reproducing them here.  I would like to tender my apologies to viewers in advance for not keeping good quality in these videos. It is really tough to maintain good quality in web enviornment upload and I am also not a professional videographer

Please enjoy the videos of first day, I will soon update the videos of second day also and then I will start updating individual people video performances.

1)For  the song “Man mora bawra……” in film RAGINI Kishore Kumar requested to Rafi Sahab to sing this song for him because this song was a semi classical and Kishore kumar said that-”RAFI SAHAB CAN SING THIS SONG BETTER THAN ME” and really Rafi Sahab did a true justice with this song as listeners know.

2) The song “ajab hai dasta teri ae zindagi…” was first given to Kishore Kumar to sing and he sung the first half of antara very well but in the second half he faced some trouble and after  many retakes he unabled to give the effect that Shankar Jaikishan wants, and finaly song given to Rafi Sahab to sing and he again did full justice with this song.

Rafi Sahab sang 6 songs for Kishore Kumar!

Rafi Sahab had lent his voice to Kishore da for the following songs:

1.”Hame Koi Gham Hai,Tumhe Koi Gham Hai, Mohabbat Kar, Zara Nahin Dar hai…”

Film:Bhagam Bhag(1956)
Producer- Bhagwan Brothers
Director-Bhagwan
Music Director- O.P.Nayyar
Lyrics- Majrooh Sultanpuri
Singers- Rafi and Asha

2.”Maseeha Ban Ke—Chale Ho Kahan Kar Ke Zee Beqarar….”

Film:Bhagam Bhag(1956),
Producer- Bhagwan Brothers
Director- Bhagwan
Music Director-O.P.Nayyar
Lyrics- Majrooh sultanpuri
Singers- Rafi and Asha

3. “Man Mora Banwara, Nis Din Gaaye Meet Milan Ke….”

Film: Raagini(1958)
Director- Rakhan
Producer- Ashok pictures
Music Director-O.P.Nayyar
Lyrics- Jan Nisar Akhtar
Singer-Rafi

4.”Ajab Hai Daastan Teri Yeh Zindagi,kabhi hansa diya rula diya kabhi….” (Fast)

Film: Shararat(1959)
Producer- Roshni films
Director- H. S. Rawail
Music Director-Shankar Jaikishan
Lyrics- Shailendra
Singer- Rafi

5. “Ajab Hai Dastaan Teri Yeh Zindagi…” (Slow)

Film:Shararat(1959)
Producer- Roshni films
Director- H. S. Rawail
Music Director-Shankar Jaikishan
Lyrics- Shailendra
Singer- Rafi

6.”Apni Aadat Hai Sab Ko Salaam Karna…”

Film:Pyaar  Deewana( 1972)
Director- samar chatterji
Producer- Jaideep pictures
Music Director- Lala Sattar
Singer- Rafi

Both the Rafi-Asha duets from Bhagam Bhagh (1956) mentioned above are very nice ones, especially the Song No. 1.Hame Koi Gham Hai, Tumhe Koi Gham Hai. In this duet, O.P.Nayyar makes good use of duet beats of Flute and Harmonium to very good  effect!

Next, both  solos composed by OP Nayyar and Shankar Jaikishan from Raagini(1958) and Shararat(1959) respectively are indeed very great ones!

The  solo of the film “Raagini”, Man Mora Banwara Nis Din Gaaye Meet Milan Ke, composed by OP Nayyar  is a semi-classical composition written by Jan Nisar Akhtar. A great, divine rendition by Rafi Saab indeed!

The Next one from the Film:Pyaar Deewana(1972), composed by Lala Sattar is quite a nice composition.

Shakti Samanta produced Aradhana with Rajesh Khanna where he played double role of father and son, both as Air Force pilots. The film became a golden jubilee hit.

Movie : Aradhana (1969)
Director : Shakti Samanta
Singers: Mohd Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar
Music Director : Sachin Dev Burman
Lyricists: Anand Bakshi
Cast : Rajesh Khanna, Farida Jalal

Well, I’m not trying to confuse the readers by using the word ‘Kurukshetra’. No! Neither it has anything to do with a war, nor is it any competition.
It’s all about the story of a “Rang-Bhoomi” not a “Ran-Bhoomi”!! It’s all about a musical exhibition of talent under the firmament made up of the “God’s blessings”. Again, to make things clear, I must tell you that the word “God” here doesn’t mean a religious figure. My statement points to an Indian God who has followers/disciples belonging to all religions. Yes! I’m talking about the “God of Singing”, the maestro “Sir Mohammad Rafi”! Hope I made my statement clear, so let’s move on..
I was talking about the “Rang-Bhoomi” which was arranged in the outskirts of Hyderabad, a place called “Dhola-Ri-Dhani”! Musical warriors and disciples set themselves towards the aforementioned destination, in their respective chariots.

• Chandar sir and Radha ma’m holding their divine weapons (Karaoke Cds/DVDs) stepped into their chariot named “Swift” and carried Santosh (me) along with them

• N.R.Padmanabhan sir boarded his chariot named “Maruti 800” and headed towards the destination. Satyendra and Yashwant joined him.

• Other musical warriors like Ramakrishna sir (with his nuclear weapon ‘Harmonica’), Padmanabhan couple, Subhrammanyam duo, the great commander in chief (A.S.Murty sir and his consort) and spectators headed towards the “Rang Bhoomi” in a Pushpak Viman otherwise known as “Bus” arranged by the management of Dhola-Ri-Dhani.

Assemblage at Dhola-Ri-Dhani
Chandar sir and his troupe were the first to reach the destination. They directly went towards the venue and started to test the auditorium and the weaponry (Sound boxes, sound system) and started fine-tuning them when we, the youngsters – Satyendra, Yashwant and Elias – stepped inside the open air auditorium. Soon everybody dispersed to have a survey of that beautiful place. That was around 3:30 PM. Soon other members arrived at the venue.

Soon decoration of our God’s idol, (read “Rafi Saab”) begun, and few people started to make necessary arrangements on stage. Meanwhile everyone was waiting with bated breath for one more army, the “orchestra troupe”.
I want to mention one important thing here; which is, despite the existence of security checks at the main gate, none of us were scrutinized. One single word, “Rafi”, worked wonders, and made a smile run across the faces of the security personnel. “Rafi Saab”, this word could do such a magic, I never knew that!

( the garlanded photograph of Rafi Sahab )

the birthday of a Shahanshah (Rafi Sahab) being celebrated by cutting of the cake.

“Birds of a feather tend to flock together!!”
This section header seems weird isn’t it? We’re discussing about a musical event and we’re not supposed to divert the topic to discuss/learn English idioms, phrases and proverbs!! Hold on a minute!
It’s very much sync with the current narration and no way deviates us away!

Well, we’ve been hearing this proverb for ages, but on 25th Dec’08 I could see it practically! When all of us were hanging around the stage doing something or the other, two ladies, out of whom Mrs Sumitra Shastry, was a septuagenarian, the mother of Bhanumati ji (name of the lady accompanying her), entered the venue. The elderly lady was not even able to walk properly. They were just gazing around at the strangers when Murty sir went forward and talked with them. Bhanumati ji was holding a cutting of a news paper in her hand.

It was a very pleasant awe mingled surprise for everyone when we heard the following words from the mouth of Bhanumati ji, who is a teacher in Kendriya Vidyalaya. She said, “Hum logone is programme ke bare mein ek newspaper mein padha aur yahan chale aaye. Hum log Rafi Saab ke bahut bade chahne waale hain, hum log to bachpan se unke hi gaane sunkar bade hue hain! Humare ghar mein unke hi gaane sune jaate hain aaj bhi”

Those sweet words filled everyone with utmost happiness as like as the sweet sound of cukoo ripens mangoes.
They were humbly welcomed inside by Murty ji and they were asked to be seated and enjoy the programme.
Meanwhile Orchestra troupe made their entry and they started fixing up their systems.

Mortal Combat Begins
Again there isn’t any combat among the musical warriors. All were set to combat today’s noise polluted environment by releasing their divine weapons in the air, which were designed by our god, Rafi saab long back. Each weapon released, made uncanny positive effects on the audience and the foreign crown present near the vicinity started getting mesmerized, and got themselves gravitated and pulled towards the Rang-Bhoomi under a divine trance of Rafi saab’s weapons (read Songs).
The first Rafi-enthusiast to exhibit his devotion towards our God was Yashwant who took the stage by storm when he rendered a beautiful, soulful and divine Bhajan of Rafi Saab – Duniya Na Bhaye Mohe Ab To Bula Le” from the film Basant Bahar .

THE FULL CACHE OF WEAPONERY
1. Duniya Na Bhaye Mohe _ Basant Bahar YASHWANT
2. Dil Mein Chhupa Ke Pyar Ka – AAN – Subramanyam
3. Jaiye aap kahan jaayenge – MERE SANAM – Mrs Radha Chandar
4. O Duniya ke rakhawale – BAIJU BAWRA – Sheikh Elias
5. Maine Rakha Hai Muhobbat – SHABNAM – Santosh
6. Mujhe Kitna Pyar Hai Tumse – DIL TERA DIWANA – ASM & VIJAYA
7. Tere Bin Soone Nayan Hamare – Meri Soorat Teri Ankhen – N R P
8. Pukarta Chala Hun Mein – S Chandar
9. Likhke jo Khat Tumhe – R Padmanabhan
10. Hum Ko Man Ki Shakti Dena (Guddi) – Mrs Meenakshi Padmanabhan
11. Parda Hai Parda Hai – AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY – Yashwant
12. Badan Pe Sitare Lapete Huye – PRINCE – Satyendra
13. Choudvin Ka Chand Ho – Chaudvin Ka Chand – Subramanyam
14. Tumhi Mere Mandir – KHANDAN – Vijaya
15. Ude Jab Jab Zulfe Teri – NAYA DAUR – S Chandar & Mrs Radha
16. Jaane Walon Zara – DOSTI – Harmonica recital by Ramakrishna
17. KOI SAGAR DIL KO BEHLATA NAHIN (D D D L) – N R P
18. Rang Aur Noor Ki Baarat – GHAZAL – Sheikh Elias
19. Jaane Wale Zara Hoshiyar – RAJKUMAR – A S Murty
20. Ik Na Ik Din Yeh Kahani – GORA AUR KALA – Santosh
21. John Jani Janardhan – NASEEB – Sheikh Elias
22. Huyen Hai Hampe Ashiq Hum – MERE SANAM – Harmonica – S R K
23. Yeh Parbaton Ke Dayre – VAASNA – R Padmanabhan & Mrs Meenakshi
24. Ankhon Se Jo Utari Hai Dil Mein – P W D L H – Mrs Radha Chandar
25. Hum Intezar Karenge – BAHU BEGUM – S Raghavendra Rao
26. Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche – BRAHMCHARI – S Chandar & Mrs Radha Chandar
27. Yesh Desh Hai Veer Jawano Ka – NAYA DAUR – ASMurty, Yashwant,S Chandar & Shaikh Elias
28. Bole Re Papihara – GUDDI – Mrs Radha Chandar
29. Chhup Gaye Sare Nazare – DO RAASTE – Ms. Sheela & Krishnamurthy
30. Dance by NARSING (a dwarf dancer of Dhola Ri Dhani) on the song HUM KALE HAIN TO KYA HUYE DILWALE HAIN. He was accompanied by Naresh (dressed up as a lady) for this wonderful dance item.

Excellent rendition by our members was interspersed with compering by A S Murtyji. He has abundance of ammunition under his belt, what with innumerous sher-o-shayari to describe almost every song.

Within no time, entire auditorium was almost filled with spectators. It would be surprising to note that the no. of external visitors was greater than the members of this event. That was again mostly due to the trademark associated with the event, “Mohammad Rafi”!!
It was around 10 in the evening when the musical talent exhibition culminated. But that wasn’t the end, there were two guest warriors who proved to be above all of us by releasing nuclear weapons mesmerizing all of us. They were Dhola-re-Dhani staff viz.,

• Naresh, who dressed like a girl and danced fabulously. She (read He) was accompanied by a little artiste, a dwarf -NARSING . They danced on a famous Rafi number, “Hum kale hain to kya hua dilwale hain”

• Next was the turn of another hero – Bhati. He exhibited his superb skills of physics. He was a master of Newtonian mechanics. He danced with 2 cycle wheels in his hand and circled them on various parts of his body; with such an ease and expertise, that had there been Newton in the vicinity, he would have been taken aback at that spectacular act of balancing object movements