Bollywood singer Mohammed Rafi remembered

Bollywood singer Mohammed Rafi remembered

By Punjab Newspaper Service on December 26th, 2009

Decades have passed since the death of legendary singer Mohammed Rafi, but his memories are still fresh in the mind of millions of his fans. On the eve of his 85th birthday a number of his fans and music lovers gathered yesterday to remember their favourite singer at Film Division Auditorium.

On this occasion a short film on the life of and songs of legendary singer was screened. This film, titled Rafi-Tum Bahut Yaad Aaye, has been produced by the Films Division.

The biography on the life of yesteryears’ Bollywood beauty and Mohammad Rafi’s contemporary Madhubala (Madhubala : Dard ka Safar) was also released on the occasion by Sh Rashid Alvi (MP). This is the first biography of Madhubala in Hindi and is written by prestigious Bhartendu Harishchandra Award winner Mrs. Sushila Kumari. This book is published by Sachi Prakashan. “Madhubala is generally remembered for her matchless beauty and seductive smile, but very few people know that her life was full of pain and struggle, said Mrs. Sushila Kumari.

On this occassion Mr. Kuldeep Sinha, the Producer and Director of the Film said that making of a film on Mohammad Rafi is like an old dream come true. He had been thinking about making a film on Rafi Sahab, since the death of Mohammad Rafi in 1980. He had actually discussed with Great Music Director Naushad about his dream project and he had promised to give full cooperation but due to some unavoidable reasons he could not make this film at that time.

A seminar on the songs and different aspects of the singer’s life was also organised. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Amarjit Singh Kohli, Chairman of Sakha and Yaadgar- E- Rafi, said that Rafi due to his versatility has the greatest fan following amongst young upcoming singers. The possibility of training young singers through a course of Rafi’s songs (classical, light & other shades)selected by music researchers, could be seriously explored. Former Director of Doordarshan Sharad Dutt said that genius of Rafi can be gauged from the fact that Shanker Jaikishan used Rafi’s voice in song “Ajab Hai Dastaan Teri Ai Zindgi” (film Shararat) which was picturised on singing hero Kishore Kumar. Music Expert Dr. Mukesh Garg said that Rafi’s popularity is increasing with time & he has defied age. Singer Priyamvada Vashisht, daughter of music director Husan Lal (of Husan Lal-Bhagat Ram fame) said that Rafi’s range was matchless. She said Rafi’s song “Suno suno ai duniya walo, bapu ji ki amar kahani” composed by her father Husan Lal after the death of Mahatma Gandhi, had become a rage in those times. Sh Manpreet Singh Badal, finance minister, Punjab, in a message to Society said “ I am a great fan of Rafi Sahib for he epitomized the human excellence in the field of music blended with finest qualities of man. I would be happy to be part of any such programme anywhere and anytime”.

Writer and Journalist, Vinod Viplav, author of the first biography of Mohammad Rafi Meri Awaz Suno said that the contributions of Mohammad Rafi have been neglected on various levels. People usually remember him as the best singer or the best man while he is more than that – he is the symbol of communal harmony, secularism and national integration and he must be remembered in this form.

Biopic on Mohammad Rafi released

NEW DELHI: A documentary film ‘Rafi-Tum Bahut Yaad Aaye’ made by Kuldeep Sinha, the Chief Producer of Films Division, was launched in the capital recently.

The documentary relates the story of the legendary singer through interviews with his son and several music directors and singers, sequences from his recordings, and song sequences from many memorable films. The event was held to coincide with his 85th birth anniversary which falls on 24 December.

A biography on the life of a contemporary of Mohammed Rafi and a beauty queen of yesteryears, ‘Madhubala: Dard ka Safar’ by Bhartendu Harishchandra awardee Sushila Kumari in Hindi was also released on the occasion by member of Parliament Rashid Alvi. The book has been published by Sachi Prakashan, which had earlier published ‘Meri Awaaz Suno’ by Vinod Viplav, whose organization ‘Rafi Smriti’ organized the event.

“Madhubala is generally remembered for her matchless beauty and seductive smile, but very few people know that her life was full of pain and struggle”, the author said.

On this occasion, Sinha said that the making of a film on Mohammad Rafi was an old dream come true since he had contemplated doing this when Rafi died on 31 July 31 1980. He had actually discussed the issue with the renowned composer Naushad, but was unable to make the film all these years.

A seminar on the songs and different aspects of the singer's life was also organised. Speaking on the occasion ‘Sakha’ and ‘Yaadgar-e-Rafi’ Chairman Amarjit Singh Kohli said Rafi still had a great fan following even among upcoming singers because of his versatility. The possibility of training young singers through a course of Rafi’s songs (classical, light and others) selected by music researchers could be seriously explored.

Former Doordarshan Deputy Director General Sharad Dutt said the genius of Rafi can be gauged from the fact that Shanker Jaikishan used Rafi’s voice in song “Ajab Hai Dastaan Teri Aie Zindagi” (from the film ‘Shararat’) for singing hero Kishore Kumar.

Music expert Dr Mukesh Garg said Rafi’s popularity is increasing with time and he has defied age. Singer Priyamvada Vashisht, daughter of music director Husan Lal (of Husan Lal-Bhagat Ram fame) said Rafi’s range was matchless.

She said Rafi’s song “Suno suno aie duniya walo, Bapu ji ki amar kahani” composed by her father Husan Lal after the death of Mahatma Gandhi had become a rage in those times. Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal in a message read out on the occasion “I am a great fan of Rafi Sahib for he epitomized the human excellence in the field of music blended with the finest qualities of man. I would be happy to be part of any such programme anywhere and anytime”.

Writer and Journalist Vinod Viplav, author of the first biography of the singer in Hindi said the contribution of Mohammad Rafi had been neglected on various levels. People usually remember him as the best singer or the best human being, but he was much more than that: he was the symbol of communal harmony, secularism, and national integration.

Rafi, whose career spanned four decades, sang in many Indian languages including Hindi, Urdu, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, Sindhi, Kannada, Gujarati and Telugu. He also recorded English and Persian songs.

His first public performance came at the age of 13, when he was allowed to sing at a concert featuring legendary singer K L Saigal.

The singer is still famous for songs like 'Ae gulbadan ae gulbadan' ('Professor'), 'Chhoo lene do nazuk hothon ko' ('Kaajal'), 'Pardah hai pardah' ('Amar Akbar Anthony') and 'Dard-e-dil dard-e-jigar' ('Karz'), among others, and is a source of inspiration for upcoming singers.




This article has been publishe on Radiomusic

Rafi remembered on his 85th birthday

A biography on Madhubala was released on the eve of Mohammad Rafi's birthday.
It was the eve of the 85th birthday of legendary singer Mohammad Rafi on Wednesday. Rafi fans gathered in numbers to celebrate the birthday of their beloved singer at the Film Division Auditorium.

Prominent personalities like Rashid Alvi, Member of Parliament, Amarjeet Singh Kohali, President of Sakha, Sharat Dutt, former Director of Doordarshan and Mukesh Garg were present on this occasion to share their memories and views regarding Rafi.
“Rafi was very simple and down to earth even after achieving such high acclaim in the film industry,” said Dutt. All of them hailed and remembered his simplicity and advised today’s singers to take inspiration from him.
A documentary film based on the life and songs of the legendary King titled ‘Rafi-Tum Bahut Yaad Aaye’ was also screened. The film was produced and directed by Kuldeep Sinha.

This news was published in the Indian Express.

Recalling great singing legend - Mohammad Rafi

फिर बहुत याद आये मोहम्मद रफी
नयी दिल्ली, 23 दिसंबर। अमर गायक मोहम्मद रफी के गुजरे वर्षों बीत गये हैं लेकिन संगीत प्रेमियों के दिलों में उनकी यादें आज भी ताजी है। अपनी सुरीली आवाज के दम पर लाखों दिलों पर राज करने वाले मोहम्मद रफी को याद करने के लिये राजधानी के संगीत प्रेमी एवं रफी प्रेमी अपने प्रिय गायक के 85 वें जन्म दिन की पूर्व संध्या पर आज नयी दिल्ली के फिल्म डिविजन सभागार में जमा हुये।

सभागार में मोहम्मद रफी के जीवन के अनछुए पहलुओं को उजागर करने वाली 70 मिनट की एक लघु फिल्म रफी-तुम बहुत याद आये दिखायी गयी जिसका निर्माण फिल्म डिविजन ने किया है। इसका निर्देशन फिल्म डिविजन के प्रमुख श्री कुलदीप सिन्हा ने किया है।
इस मौके पर मोहम्मद रफी की समकालीन नायिका मधुबाला की जीवनी मधुबाला: दर्द का सफर का भी लोकार्पण किया गया जिसे प्रतिष्ठित भारतेन्दु हरिश्चन्द्र पुरस्कार से सम्मानित लेखिका सुशीला कुमारी ने लिखा है। अप्रतिम सौंदर्य की मल्लिका और अपने समय की उत्कृष्ट अभिनेत्री मधुबाला की हिन्दी में यह पहली जीवनी है जिसे साची प्रकाशन से प्रकाशित किया गया है। इस जीवनी की लेखिका सुशीला कुमारी ने कहा कि आम तौर पर मधुबाला को उनके सौंदर्य एवं मोहक मुस्कान के लिये याद किया जाता है लेकिन उनका जीवन संघर्ष एवं दुखों से भरा हुआ था और तमाम दुखों को सहते हुये बिना चेहरे पर शिकन लाये उन्होंने कामयाबी के सफर को तय किया।
मोहम्मद रफी पर बनी फिल्म का निर्माण एवं निर्देशन करने वाले श्री कुलदीप सिन्हा ने कहा कि मोहम्मद रफी पर फिल्म का निर्माण उनके लिए वर्षो पुराने सपने का साकार होने जैसा है। उन्होंने 1980 में मोहम्मद रफी के निधन के समय से ही इस महान गायक पर फिल्म बनाने के बारे में सोचा था और इस संबंध में उन्होंने मशहूर संगीतकार नौशाद से बात भी की थी जिन्होंने इस फिल्म के निर्माण के लिये पूरा सहयोग देने का वायदा किया लेकिन कुछ कारणों से यह फिल्म पहले नहीं बन पायी। इस फिल्म में मोहम्मद रफी के जन्म से लेकर मृत्यु तक के विभिन्न पहलुओं, उनके संघर्षो, कामयाबियों, महत्वपूर्ण गीतों तथा उनके बारे में संगीत एवं फिल्म से जुड़ी विभिन्न हस्तियों के विचार आदि को शामिल किया गया है।
इस मौके पर मोहम्मद रफी की पहली जीवनी मेरी आवाज सुनो के लेखक विनोद विप्लव ने कहा कि आम तौर पर मोहम्मद रफी के योगदानों की सरकारी एवं गैर सरकारी स्तर पर उपेक्षा होती रही है। उनके योगदानों से अनभिज्ञ होने के कारण ज्यादातर लोग मोहम्मद रफी को एक बेहतरीन गायक या एक बेहतरीन इंसान के रूप में याद करते हैं जबकि वे इससे कहीं अधिक हैं - वे साम्प्रदायिक सद्भाव, धर्मनिरपेक्षता एवं राष्ट्रीय अखंडता के प्रतीक हैं और उन्हें इसी रूप में याद किया जाना चाहिये। श्री विनोद विप्लव ने कहा कि आज के सामाजिक, जातीय एवं धार्मिक संकीर्णताओं के इस दौर में वह इंसानियत, मानवीय मूल्यों, देशप्रेम, धर्मनिरपेक्षता एवं साम्प्रदायिक सद्भाव के एक मजबूत प्रतीक हैं। आज भी उनके गाये गीत नैतिक, सामाजिक एवं भावनात्मक अवमूल्यन के आज के दौर में जनमानस को इंसानी रिश्तों, नैतिकता और इंसानियत के लिये प्रेरित कर रहे हैं।
इस मौके पर बीते दिनों के निर्देशक हुस्नलाल की विधवा निर्मला हुस्नलाल ने अपनी पुरानी स्मृतियों को याद किया।
इस मौके पर रफी स्मृति की ओर से मोहम्मद रफी के गीतों एवं जीवन के विभिन्न पहलुओं पर विचार गोष्ठी का भी आयोजन किया गया। इस विचार गोश्ठी में दूरदर्शन के पूर्व निदेशक शरद दत्त, यादगार ए रफी तथा सखा फाउंडेशन के अध्यक्ष अमरजीत सिंह कोहली, संगीत विषेशज्ञ डा. मुकेश गर्ग और गायिका प्रियम्बदा वषिश्ट समेत सिनेमा एवं संगीत के अनेक जानकारों ने मोहम्मद रफी के गायन के विभिन्न पहलुओं को रेखांकित किया।

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Preface of the Biography of Madhubala (Madhubala : Dard Ka Safar)

अपनी बात

हमारे देश में फिल्म लेखन को गंभीरता से नहीं लिया जाता है, जबकि जनमानस पर जिन विषयों का सबसे अधिक प्रभाव पड़ता है उनमें सिनेमा अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण है। आज भले ही फिल्म निर्माण व्यवसाय में तब्दील हो गया है और फिल्में बनाने का एकमात्रा लक्ष्य मुनाफा कमाना रह गया है, लेकिन एक समय था जब फिल्म निर्माण का उद्देश्य केवल मुनाफा नहीं था और उस समय की फिल्मों तथा फिल्मों से जुड़ी हस्तियों ने सामाजिक चेतना को साकारात्मक तरीके से प्रभावित किया। जनमानस पर जितना प्रभाव साहित्य और कला का रहा संभवतः उससे अधिक प्रभाव सिनेमा का पड़ा।
जनमानस को गहराई तक प्रभावित करने वाली सिने हस्तियों में मधुबाला भी शामिल रहीं। मधुबाला को गुजरे कई दशक बीत चुके हैं इसके बावजूद अपने सौंदर्य और अपने अभिनय की बदौलत वह आज भी भारतीय सिनेमा की आइकन बनी हुई हंै। मधुबाला के समय की तुलना में आज का समाज बहुत बदल गया है लेकिन आज भी मधुबाला की तरह बनना और दिखना ज्यादातर लड़कियों का सपना रहता है। अत्यंत निर्धन परिवार में जन्मी और पली-बढ़ी मधुबाला ने लोकप्रियता का जो शिखर हासिल किया वह विलक्षण प्रतीत होता है। लेकिन इतना होेने के बावजूद भी मधुबाला के जीवन के ज्यादातर पहलुओं से लोग अनजान हैं। इस पुस्तक में मधुबाला से जुड़े उन्हीं अनछुए पहलुओं को टटोलने की कोशिश की गई है। मधुबाला की कहानी गर्दिश से उठकर सितारों तक पहुंचने की कहानी मात्रा नहीं है बल्कि कठोर जीवन संघर्ष की एक मुकम्मल गाथा है जिसे पढ़ने पर पता चलता है कि जो कामयाबी और शोहरत दूर से अत्यंत सुहानी लगती है उसे पाने के लिए कितना कुछ खोना और सहना पड़ता है। मधुबाला की कहानी को पूरे ब्यौरे के साथ जानना इसलिए जरूरी है ताकि यह समझा जा सके कि कामयाबी का सफर जितना सुखद दिखता है दरअसल वह उतना सुखद नहीं होता बल्कि अक्सर उसे कांटे भरे रास्तों पर चल कर पूरा करना होता है।
मधुबाला का जीवन बहुत छोटा रहा। महज 36 साल की जिस उम्र में उन्होंने मौत को गले लगाया उस उम्र में लोग अपने करियर की कायदे से शुरूआत करते हैं लेकिन उन्होंने इस उम्र में ही सबकुछ पा लिया - बेपनाह शोहरत और समृद्धि। लेकिन इसके बाद भी उन्हें वे चीजें नहीं मिलीं जिनके लिए वह जीवन भर तड़पती रहीं। मधुबाला की कहानी जीवन के इस कड़वे सच को समझने के लिए भी जरूरी है।
मधुबाला की कहानी एक और तरह से भी महत्वपूर्ण है। बाल कलाकार के रूप में जब मधुबाला का पदार्पण हुआ और 1942 में फिल्म बसंत में जब वह एक छोटी सी भूमिका में अवतरित हुईं तब भारतीय सिनेमा विकास के आरंभिक चरण में था और जब 1971 में उनकी अंतिम फिल्म ज्वाला रिलीज हुई तब भारतीय सिनेमा का स्वर्ण काल उतार पर था। मधुबाला भारतीय सिनेमा के सबसे सुनहरे दौर की गवाह रहीं और इस तरह मधुबाला के जीवन से गुजरने का मतलब भारतीय सिनेमा के सबसे सुनहरे दौर से गुजरना है।
इस पुस्तक को भारतीय सिनेमा की अनेक प्रतिभावान एवं कामयाब अभिनेत्रियों के बजाय मधुबाला के जीवन पर केन्द्रित करने का फैसला करने के लिए उपरोक्त कारण ही मुख्य रहे। इसे पढ़ने के बाद अगर आपको यह अहसास हो पाए कि मधुबाला को जानना और समझना वाकई जरूरी था तो मैं पुस्तक लिखने के उद्देश्य को पूरा हुआ समझूंगी। इस पुस्तक के आपके हाथ में पहुंचने में कई लोगों का योगदान है लेकिन हैदराबाद की असीमा राय चैधुरी के सहयोग के बगैर यह पुस्तक संभव ही नहीं थी जिनके कारण यह पुस्तक लिखने की प्रेरणा मिली और जिन्होंने इस पुस्तक के लिए अत्यंत जरूरी जानकारियां एवं दुर्लभ फिल्मों की सीडी उपलब्ध कराई।
सुशीला कुमारी
01 जनवरी, 2010

Capturing Madhubala’s pain (Review of the biography of Madhubala in The Hindu)

Anuj Kumar

If the name Madhubala stands for boundless beauty, it also stands for limitless pain. But few could see the other side of the face that continues to be the ultimate parameter of beauty in Bollywood. When others of her era have been long forgotten, Madhubala's posters graced with her mischievous smile can still be found jostling with Aishwarya Rai and Katrina Kaif at the roadside vendor. Similarly the Internet is brimming with wallpaper options with her face.

“Her face is a rare combination of innocence and mischief. You could never predict when one will give way to the other,” says Sushila Kumari, who has revisited the painful side of Madhubala's journey in her biography, “Madhubala – Dard Ka Safar”.
The seasoned writer says people were so mesmerised by her beauty that they never cared for the actress. “Nobody appreciated her performance. She never won an award. She was even ignored for her performance as Anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam.” It was Bina Rai who walked away with the Best Actress trophy at the Filmfare Awards that year for an average performance in Ghoonghat.
Sushila agrees things could have been different had she gone on to do “Naya Daur” opposite Dilip Kumar. Talk of the film opens the tormented personal life of the actress, who started as a child artiste to help her impoverished family make ends meet.
“Her father was a disciplinarian Pathan, who didn't want his daughter to mingle with her co-stars. She was not allowed to go for on-location shoots. When she was signed for Naya Daur, she was deeply in love with Dilip Kumar. But Kumar had a condition that she has to leave her family and work after marriage. Her father feared this prospect as she was the sole earning member and hence didn't allow her to go for the on-location shoot of the B.R. Chopra film. Things went to court, where it is said that Dilip Kumar accepted his love for the actress, but Madhubala could not cut her links with her family and hence the two parted ways on an acrimonious note.”
But rumour mills are abuzz about her affairs with director Kidar Sharma, Kamal Amrohi, Premnath and even Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. “See, all these were one-sided expressions of love by men who were besotted by her beauty. Even Shammi Kapoor is said to have evinced interest. She was bubbly and at times used to greet her co-stars with a rose. Some used to take it otherwise. Bhutto was a frequent visitor on the sets of Mughal-e-Azam.”
Working in pain
Despite all this attention, nobody cared that Madhubala was suffering from congenital heart disease. “She kept working in pain. Neither her father, nor her so-called benefactors understood her problem. When her husband Kishore Kumar took her to London it was already too late.”
Sushila says Madhubala's tie-up with Kishore Kumar was a marriage of convenience. It never worked. “Madhubala apparently wanted to show Dilip Kumar that she can marry anybody. Kishore Kumar was the antithesis of everything Dilip Kumar stood for. Kishore Kumar was going through bad times and wanted some financial security by marrying Madhubala. However, when he realised her medical condition, he lost interest in her.”
Sushila calls Madubala's story a reminder for all those girls and parents who are blinded by the glamour world. “It shows what it takes to be successful in this heartless world. When Filmfare magazine approached some big stars to write a self-portrait, only Madhubala refused. She said when she has lost herself how can she write about herself. She is only living a character from childhood.”

This review was published in The Hindu. To read original posting click follwing

Capturing Madhubala’s pain