I think more can be done. He could be awarded the Dada Saheb award posthumously or could have an award named after him. He was the greatest singer India has produced and we should give him his due. Today there is nothing to remember him by.
The awards in India are always controversial. One should compare the awards received by singers such as SP Balu, Susheela, Asha and assess them with what they actually deserve. I don\\\\\\\'t think Balu received anything beyond Padmasri or even the great Telugu singer Ghantasala received anything beyond padmasri. Some artists receive undue attention (be it their luck or public attention or their political connections). The awards are given mostly based on political reasons. MGR received Bharat Ratna and not many other great politicians. Mother Teresa received it but not Baba Amte. Satyajit Ray and Ravishankar received it only after outsiders recognized them. Government awards are no indication of one\\\\\\\'s greatness. Rafi is great and he received public admiration like very few others have ever received.
It is surprising that we are trying to compare Rafi with other singers. Show me one singer who can change his voice to suit the actor, even with out knowing the cast you will know for whom Rafi Saab have sang. His crystal clear voice is incomparable; I wonder sometimes, with todays latest technology what he would have done. No body can come close to him, be it classical, regular songs, qawalis, gazals or patriotic songs, religious songs, there is no parallel. Can any song come close to Maduban dikhana, 'O' Dunya ke Rakhwala etc? Show me singer whose songs are enjoyed by the young generation even after so many years after his death. He has a truly Immortal voice. The Govt. need to create a bigger award than Bharat Ratna, give it to him and close the award. Only the other person who can come close to Rafi Saab is Lata. May his soul rest in peace.
The awards in India are always controversial. One should compare the awards received by singers such as SP Balu, Susheela, Asha and assess them with what they actually deserve. I don't think Balu received anything beyond Padmasri or even the great Telugu singer Ghantasala received anything beyond padmasri. Some artists receive undue attention (be it their luck or public attention or their political connections). The awards are given mostly based on political reasons. MGR received Bharat Ratna and not many other great politicians. Mother Teresa received it but not Baba Amte. Satyajit Ray and Ravishankar received it only after outsiders recognized them. Government awards are no indication of one's greatness. Rafi is great and he received public admiration like very few others have ever received.
Rafisab should be given "Dadasaheb Falke" Award. i peronally believe that yet india hasn't got any palyback Singer like "Rafisab". He is simply a great singer as well as human being also.
Last time in the comments I had said he got more than his due. I apologize for that to all Rafi fans. I've never been a huge Rafi fan. But I totally think he was a great singer, who really didn't get his due. After reading ur column how fair were they to Rafi I realized he had tough time in the industry. I feel everyone should read that column. :(
RE:I apologize
by Raja Mohan on Sep 05, 2006 11:04 AM
I agree with Shilpa. It is true that Latha acted nastily on many decent people. Rafi saab was one among them while others included great musicians Shankar JaiKishan. Latha being a great singer didnt have great heart to encourage other people in the industry. She was impatient when singers such as Vani jayaram and Sharada were tried. These singers who were good were no way competetors to Latha. Still Latha was particular and ensured their elimination. In that process even Shankar Jaikishan who introduced Sharada were effected. Surprisingly, the industry was behind Latha instead of being fair. Same thing happened to Rafi Saab as well, when he tried to be fair with the industry. The summary is that industry doesnt deserve the fairness, instead head strong and arrogant people were respected more.
I think the question is not framed correctly. In my opinion, Rafi was given his due, but others (lesser singers, male and female) were given more than their due.
Only when this injustice strikes you could you say that Rafi saab was not given his due.
To name one, Kishore was a great singer, but Rafi was a greater singer (I know, die-hard fans of KK will objetc to this, but the fact stays). Door darshan and AIR have special programmes in KK's memory, but Rafi is OFTEN neglected... . Is there a voice which can even come remotely close to Rafi's, at least in Hindi film music? . In my opinion there is only one Indian singer who is on par with Rafi, but he is not a Hindi singer in the accepted sense, though he is a universal singer. It is but KJ Yesudas. Except Rafi and Yesudas, all the others are merely good, sometimes very good,singers. That's all.
The only reason I have not participated in this debate till now is because of the meaningless question you have asked ! Has Md Rafi been given his due? Never. Have they been fair to him ? Never. Md Rafi is the greatest male playback singer we've had- his singing is incomparable. Give him please, posthumously, a Dada Saheb Phalke Award or a Bharat Ratna. Atlong, long last,when at least the thought has come,please implement it. Of course even if one does not,Md Rafi lives forever! Surekha Tenneti Venugopal
And even better National Award for Playback singers be named after Rafi Sahib. That would be a tribute that befits the doyen among the legends. Rafi Sahib has enriched the Hindi Film music and continues to inspire a newer generation of singers
Rafi Saheb was well neglected by Indian Government but not by People..still he is legend ..and in heart of All Indian.We still loves his sound tracks and listen like our daily routine.
But Govt. totally .Can we believe Rafi Saheb even not get any prestigious award from Govt. of India.I will pray to Govt of India to give his proper respect for what he deserve.
"A man like Mohd.Rafi is born once in 1,000 years. He was God gifted and could sing songs from any genre,"
He must get..Dada Saheb Phalke Award and ofcourse Bharatratna.
