Journalism of Courage
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.
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.
