As many have agreed in this column and more, the musical era of Hindi film music ended with the 60s. Rafi was instrumental to a large extent in making this and era of Music.
Ghazals, Devotional, Fast & Peppy numbers, Sad songs, romantic, classical, qawwalis.....whatever the kind of songs, a list of the best 5 songs of any of the above categories would not be correct or complete without a Rafi song. Such is his contribution to the music world.
A reality check of his accolades:
1. Till the late 60s he was the singer awarded the maximum number of Filmfare awards 2. This was despite the fact that there was no "Best Playback singer" category in Filmfare awards for a major party of 50s 3. This was also despite the fact that till early 60s there was only One Category "Best Playback singer" and not separate awards for "Best Male Playback" and "Best Female Playback". 4. He was awarded the Padmashree about 3-4 years before Lata Mangeshkar was honoured with a state award.
A Bharat Ratna and Dadasaheb Phalke award is but obviously deserved by the legend.
For us "Rafians" his treasure of music is adequate to last us a life time.
Rafi was one of the most gifted Indian singers and a true gentleman. He did not hanker for any awards like many lesser mortals.He enjoyed what he did till the very end.
He deserved more that what the Indian babu's gave him, but, I am sure that he did not give a damn. His golden voice will continue to live forever in the hearts and minds of every music loving Indian irrespective.
Why are we even discussing this? Just because some Bngladeshi guy thinks that Rafi didn't get get his due?? What exactly makes this guy an expert in this field anyways. He did get Padma award and a national honour, for crying out loud, and people still live him for his music. He's still loved and honoured, and thats something.
Its really funny how any 2-bit outsider can cause such a stir, over something this irrelevant. Somebody please ask this dude to go get a life.
So much has been written about RafiSaab and his admirers world over are anguished by the fact that he did not get enough recognition from the government. Simply put, Rafi deserves to be given the Bharat Ratna and no less. Will the government listen and correct its mistake in ignoring this humble man?
I agree, if Lata Mangeshkar could be honoured with award of Bharat Ratna, Mohd Rafi too should have been honoured with award of Bharat Ratna. He was no less than Lata Mangeshkar. He should also have been honoured with Dada Saheb Phalke Award.He richly deserved it. colonelrajan@rediffmail.com
I totally agree with Bhartan about his view on the total negligence towards the singing stalwart like Rafi Post-Aradhana. Only one more point. With total humility, i must correct Mr Raju Bhartan about the fact that Rafi got his Fifth Filmfare Award for Shankar Jaikishan's 'Dilke Jharokeme' and not for 'Main gaoon tum so jao' in Brahmachari, as told by Mr. Bhartan.
The establishment ( govt & film industry) have actually not given him & Asha Bhosale their actual dues in totality while they have gone overboard with other singers who are far less deserving than these two.However,both Rafi & Asha have got their dues from the mango public(aam janta),which is what matters in the final analysis !Both are the best that India ever had,has & will have in times to come..
I don't know how can one say that Rafi saab got his due !! I say, even Dadasaheb Phalke award and Bharat Ratna if bestowed, were even too less. Rafi saab,even after his death....26 years, people love him the same. We all love rafi saab's evergreen songs, that will never be faded away. That is his achievement and people's love for him is his biggest award. BUT YES, Rafi saab should have been awarded with country's highest Civil and Filmi honour.
