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Three decades have passed since the death of legendary singer Mohammad Rafi but the tunes of Chaudhvi Ka Chand Ho and Kya Hua Tera Vaada continue to linger in our heads even today.

Six of Mohammad Rafis unreleased songs see the light of day decades after they were recorded

Three decades have passed since the death of legendary singer Mohammad Rafi but the tunes of Chaudhvi Ka Chand Ho and Kya Hua Tera Vaada continue to linger in our heads even today. While we may be content listening to his melodious numbers over and over again,heres another surprise treat for Rafians,as his fans are popularly calledsix of his unreleased songs have been released in an album called The Last Songs.

Rafi recorded these songs in December 1979four at the Film Center studio and two at Mehboob Studio with music director Chitragupta for a film called Sorry Madam,which was to be directed by Dilip Bose. Bose,who was known for his previous films Chandi Ki Diwar,Sansar,Thokar,Sikka and Badnaam,was to remake this Bengali hit,but soon after the preliminary shoots in 1978-79,Boses wife expired and subsequently the film got shelved. His youngest son Bobby Bose reminisces,My father couldnt cope with the loss,he almost lost his mental balance and the film never got made. The music spools had been lying with my brothers since then and when I learnt of it,I acquired the rights from them and decided to release them for the public. Its not too late to release them,since the songs are very contemporary and go with the times.

Milind Srivastava of the popular music duo Anand-Milind and son of Chitragupta also feels that these songs need to reach the audiences. Rafi saabs popularity cannot be measured. It is timeless. Releasing the songs is a wise decision because people will love to own them even today. The album will be a collectors item, says Srivastava,who remembers the singer as a simple man who always dressed in a white shirt and white trousers and led a modest life despite the adulation he enjoyed.

Srivastava fondly remembers the rehearsal sessions with his father and Rafi which were quite an experience. The rehearsal session would start at 9 am at our house and Rafi would arrive on time in a jazzy orange-blue Fiat. During the practice session he would sing in a very low tenor,but he would transform into a different individual at the recording. We often wondered where this energy and enthusiasm came from.

The album,available on Universal Music and priced at Rs 150,is a touching tribute to not just the singer,but also to Bose and Chitragupta who have been names to reckon with in Hindi cinema. None of them are alive to see these songs being released. But I am sure they will be happy to hear about this,wherever they are.

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