James Travis Reeves (1923 ' 1964) was an American country and pop music singer-songwriter popular in the 1950s and 1960s who also gained a wide international following including India.
Jim Reeves was born in Galloway, Texas, a small rural community. Winning an athletic scholarship to the University of Texas, he enrolled to study speech and drama, but dropped out after six weeks to work at the shipyards in Houston. Soon he returned to baseball, playing in the leagues, before signing with a professional team in 1944 as a right-handed pitcher. He stayed with the team for three years before seriously injuring his ankle and ending his athletic career.
Reeves began to work as a DJ, and sang live between songs. His musical break came when one singer was late for a performance and Reeves was asked to fill in. Reeves became known because of his warm, velvety voice. His songs were remarkable for their simple elegance highlighted by his rich light baritone voice. Songs such as “Adios Amigo,” “Welcome To My World”, and “Am I Losing You?” demonstrated this approach. His Christmas songs have been perennial favorites, including “Silver Bells,” “Blue Christmas” and “An Old Christmas Card.”
At times he was popular more internationally than in USA. He was particularly well loved in South Africa where he starred in a film also. In South Africa he had greater following than even Elvis Presley. His songs were also very popular in Britain, Ireland and Norway where he had visited and performed live. Even after forty eight years of his death he has a great fan following in India including me.
On July 31, 1964, Reeves and his business partner and manager Dean Manuel were flying in a single engine Beachcraft Debonair aircraft, with Reeves at the controls. While flying over they encountered a violent thunderstorm. A subsequent investigation showed that the small plane had become caught in the storm and Reeves suffered spatial disorientation. It was later believed he was flying the plane upside down and assumed he was increasing altitude to clear the storm. The plane faded from radar screens at around 5:00 p.m. and radio contact was lost. When the wreckage was found some 42 hours later, the plane’s engine and nose were buried from the impact.
On the morning of August 2, 1964, the bodies of Reeves and Manuel were found in the wreckage. At 1:00 p.m., radio stations across the United States announced Reeves’ death.
Reeves has a large fan following in both India and Sri Lanka since the 1960s, and is likely the all-time most popular English language singer in Sri Lanka. His Christmas carols are especially popular, and music stores continue to carry his CDs or audio cassettes. Two of his songs, “There’s a Heartache Following Me” and “Welcome to My World,” were favorites of Indian guru Meher Baba.
Robert Svoboda, in his trilogy on aghora and the Aghori Vimalananda, mentions that Vimalananda, considered Reeves a gandharva, i.e. in Indian tradition, a heavenly musician, who had taken birth on Earth. He had Svoboda play Reeves' “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” at his cremation.
Dear friends, here I am giving you one of my all time favorite morning worship bhajan sung by Jim Reeves. You too can enjoy his voice, song and music and get into a mood to worship the Lord each morning!
It is one of Indian Cinema’s tragic ironies that a sensitive and poetic film like Teesri Kasam(1966) sank without a trace indirectly leading to its producer lyricist Shailendra’s death due to stress of financial problems caused by the failure of the film. The irony is even more so as today the film is recognised as one of the all time great films of Indian Cinema.
The film was based on Phanishwar Nath’s short story Mare Gaye Gulfam. Shailendra acquired the rights to the story and began filming the film in 1962. Shailendra was warned by friends like Raj Kapoor, who had taken only one rupee fee to act in the film, that he should not fall into the trap of making films but he refused to listen and the Raj Kapoor seeing that he was adamant even advised him to make some changes in the story to make the film commercially viable but Shailendra was firm that he would stick to the original story and made it the way he wanted to. The film plagued by production problems took more than three years to make and finally hit the screens in 1966 only to falter at the box office.
Teesri Kasam is also perhaps Basu Bhattacharya’s best and most well known film as Director. He had worked under Bimal Roy earlier and it shows in the film. The rhythm of the film is lyrical and ever so gentle and rarely has rural ethos been captured so beautifully on the Indian screen. The film, refraining from conventional drama, flows like the song of the film (Duniya Bananewale)beautiful, eternal and moving.
Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman literally live their roles in the film. Though a trifle old for the role, Raj Kapoor more than compensates with his performance as a naive country bumpkin. However Waheeda dominates the film with her sterling performance and perhaps the best acting of her career, her films with Guru Dutt and Guide nothwithstanding. The film offered her a great opportunity to showcase both her great acting ability and dancing talent and it goes without saying that she excels in both.
Rarely does one see a film where music is so well integrated into the film. Shankar-Jaikishen have given an outstanding musical score in the film.Simple melodies rooted in folk music. The music is much enhanced with the use of flutes, traditional string and percussion instruments. Sajanre JhootMat Bolo, Sajanwa Bairi Ho Gaye Hamar, Duniya Bananewale all rendered by Mukesh and Pan Khaye Saiyan Humaro sung by Asha Bhosle stand out. It is interesting to see that in keeping with the realistic and human look of the film, Raj Kapoor is just one of the revellers in the song Chalat Musafir and not the lead singer as is the case normally in our films.
Teesri Kasam in spite of its box-office failure went on to win the President’s Gold Medal as the Best Feature Film of 1966. However the film had taken its toll on Shailendra and he passed away, a broken man, on December 14, 1966 on good friend Raj Kapoor’s birthday.
Dear Friends, Teesri Kasam was a flop film, but it is one of my favorite because of its music and great black and white photography and of course the wonderful performance by Waheeda Rahman. I saw it on TV sometime back. If you get such an opportunity do not miss it!
Demands are being made in India to legalize Gay relationships. Delhi High court has already given the ruling that gay sex between consenting adults is not a criminal act. The ruling overturns a 148-year-old law which describes a same-sex relationship as a criminal offence. The court said that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code is an "antithesis of the right to equality.”
Homosexual acts are punishable by a 10-year prison sentence. Gay groups have long argued that the law violates the human rights. Delhi’s High Court ruled that the law outlawing homosexual acts was discriminatory and a “violation of fundamental rights.” Many groups are considering challenging the Delhi high court ruling in the Supreme Court.
Who knows these gay groups may even win the case even in the Supreme Court. The way things are happening around in the world, anything is possible these days. What has happened in the West? We need to learn the lesson from observing what has already happened in other parts of the world. One Canadian friend had remarked to me long back, while observing the magazines in a book store that India is going the way West had gone in sixties when it comes to pornography and sex.
Probably next in demand will be legalizing pornography in India in the garb of freedom of the free speech and ex-pression. In many countries pornography is not only legal but enjoys the status of being an industry as in the United States. After that, demands will be made again to legalize prostitution and soon it will become and industry as well; like in Thailand.
West had Ten Commandments. One of the commandments clearly stated "You shall not commit adultery" still they continued in committing it again and again. What commandments we have here with us? If the fear of AIDS is taken away there is going to be an explosion which no moral law or ethics can control. A great explosion of sex seems to be brewing to happen inspite of such fears.
And if such things keep getting legalized the day is not far when we will leave the West far behind in the area of free sex. A family, community and a nation can survive a natural calamity like floods, earthquakes are man made calamities like wars including nuclear one. But a total moral breakdown when people stoop to become like animals with uncontrolled lusts resulting in teen age pregnancies, unwed mothers, divorces, sicknesses, breaking families and entire societies. In two generations time a nation and a civilization can get destroyed.
Dear Friend, the West has learnt it the hard way and they are again trying to build the morals and families. Do we want to learn from their experience or we too want to learn it the hard way or we do not want to learn it at all! The choice is ours!
Kids are excited all over the world!'Transformers 2' has been released around the world including India. Finding the name of Steven Spielberg as the Executive producer I too became interested in the film and was forced by my kids to accompany them to a local cinema theater and watch the movie the very first day.
It is again about the fight between good and evil. It is a science fiction a science fantasy! Earlier the good meant angels in white dresses with wings and demons in black robes with horns. Now for the new generation kids they are coming in the form of Robots. Good robots and bad robots! And the fight is for the earth. All the robots have scientific sounding names and these names are on the lips of today's kids.
Now to save the earth good robots must side the invincible hero. There is a robot who is real hero Optimus Prime! And there is a human hero also so there has to be a beautiful heroine .in this film this duty has been done by Megan Fox who truly looks stunning. And if it is the question of saving the earth or rather the sun; the entire military force of USA has to get involved. So we have computers, satellites, fighter planes, helicopters, ships, aircraft carriers and soldiers with their nasty looking guns and all the modern gadgetry you can or cannot imagine.
So when these robots fight there has to be a lot of loud metallic crashing sounds. At times you won't have a clue that who is fighting whom. It gets fast, loud and full of action and explosions, of crashing things, walls and all other such objects. And location moves from United States to the great pyramids of Egypt. And there right around and on the top of the pyramids the final battle erupts. And when the hero gets hurt and all efforts to revive him fail; the heroine just whispers in his ear 'I love you’ and he opens his eyes and gets ready for the final and victorious assault on the enemy.
And when it comes to filming wars on such location you can not beat Hollywood. With their technology, resources and capability to blow billions for filming such things; what results is the grandest cinematic experience one can have.
My friends, if you are around fifteen years old; or if you are older but you have still got a child's heart somewhere inside you this film is for you. Go see and enjoy it or just miss it.
I had flown to Kolkata in the early morning from Guwahati. From the airport I took a taxi for Howrah station, from where I was booked in a train in the night for my onward journey.
I realized I had a full day's time in Kolkata again. While I have lived in other three metros for longer and shorter duration, Kolkata only I have always been on transit visits; changing trains and flights for my trips to Darjeeling, North East or Bangkok.
I had travelled from Guwahati in a very formal dress. I decided to change into something very casual for my day in Kolkata. While changing the shirt I noticed that it had become totally blackened in the back as if I had leaned against a coal wall. I put on my tee shirt and jeans and after keeping my things in the clock room with just a small back-sack I came out from Howrah station. I was ready for the day!
I took a tram for Esplanade. While in Kolkata I always try to travel in three basic modes ' trams, metro rail and human rickshaw. I like trams very much. Though little crowded they are always better then buses. And in Kolkata so far I have never been in a bus. Trams are slow also but I find them relatively comfortable and they are down to earth cheap. And just think of it - you cannot have this experience anywhere else in India.
Travelling leisurely in a tram from Howrah station to Esplanade you get to introduced very slowly to this great city. HowrahBridge still overwhelms me each time I see it. Past the bridge city starts unfolding before your eyes. Each visit tells me that city is making progress. Looks cleaner on each visit then ever before. Gone are the days when I saw heaps of garbage just lying around on the roads soaking in the pools of leaking taps on road sides. Grand old buildings of British time are on both sides of the road.
Esplanade is quite an open area and seems the heart of this great Metropolis. Probably this is also the best part of the city. I have not got time so far in all my trips to venture deeper inside the city. I have just walked around Esplanade and have visited the Victoria Memorial and seen the EdenGardens from a distance. I see a great number of people playing football and cricket in the great open lawns. Kolkata is a sports loving city, a paradise for lovers of arts and culture.
I decide to make a visit to Kalighat. I get down to the Esplanade Metro station; take an underground train to Kalighat station. People give me the direction for the Kalighat temple. I see the temple. Just behind the temple is the Mother Teresa's ashram as well, just as I had read in the book 'City Of Joy'. It is a life time experience. The front door opened in a hall. There were several beds. There were old and crippled, deformed bodies lying on neat beds. Some sisters dressed in their usual white sarees with blue borders and some foreigners were taking care of the sick. They look at me with a smile on their faces. They can see that I am a tourist. I just stand for less than two minutes turn back and come out.
What type of humans these 'Missionaries of Charity' people are? I whisper a prayer to God to give them more grace and strength for the marvellelous work they are doing. Such deformed human bodies that I find difficult even to look at, they are washing the wounds of those very bodies? I find myself so inadequate, helpless and so humbled by the experience.
I take the Metro back to the Esplanade. I go around in New Market for window shopping and lunch. Try to walk around as deeper inside as possible. Finally I decide to buy an embroidered bed sheet. It's a famous handy craft of Bengal. On a cream color cloth they weave patterns by colored threads. It's beautiful. I know my wife will love it.
Now I take a rickshaw back to Esplanade tram station get back to Howrah and take the train home. Next day my wife takes the shirt out from my suitcase and before tossing over into the washing machine asks me with horror:"hey what happened to your new white shirt it's all black on the back!" "Oh, it was the dirty seat on a Kolkata taxi from airport to Howrah station" "My God! A taxi seat and your shirt has become black like this? what sort of city Kolkata is?" she exclaimed. "Kolkata is great, dear and it has some good cabs; but it seems that I only got into a wrong one."
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know You are a teacher Who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven?the Son of Man.Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God’s one and only Son.
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
Dear friends, we too need an inward transformation, an inward renewal, a heart change, a new birth to be able to enjoy God's companionship and spiritual power to live a life that is model for others. Let's ask Lord Jesus Christ to give us the New Birth
I trust that most of you, my friends, have gone through my earlier posts on this topic in the category 'love'. Seeing your tremendous response from many of you in my mail box I wish to continue on it for a couple of more times. It's in continuation to what I have written in my last two posts.
Progressing in Love:
After initial get to know period, misunderstanding, fights and some sleepless nights and anxieties you discover that after all it is not just an infatuation but the love for the other person is persisting. After overcoming all this small problems it's time for you to move forward in love. These problems are like small foxes that enter an orchard and ruin the blossoming vineyards. You got to catch such little foxes and throw them outside your life.
Accepting each other:It's time that you discover and accept that your love for the each other is stronger than the differences you have.You accept her in spite of her background and upbringing or whatever past baggage's she might have brought with her in relationship with you. You also discover that at times she goes through drastic mood changes; sometimes she appears shola sometimes shabanam. But it doesn't bother you at all. You have learnt to be patient and kind to her. You give her freedom to withdraw and come back to you again when she is through her bad patch. You accept each others dressing habits, eating habits and table manners etc etc. And all such things do not bother you any more.
You are no more touchy about certain things or words spoken to you by her. You now just ignore such things. You don't get hurt by anything and everything. You do not keep record of what the other person said or did or did not do. You have learnt to overcome such trivial issues. You have learnt to forgive and forget each others mistakes.
Appreciating each other: You continue to enjoy each other. And it is not simply based on outer appearances. Even if he appears one morning unshaven and looking untidy it doesn't bother you much, he still looks handsome to you and you appreciate this fact. Or if she comes before you without makeup or in a dress that you really do not like, it makes no difference to you. You are now past the initial stages of red roses, chocolates candlelight dinners and like. Such things do happen but now you are more willing to face together the harsher realities of life.
Freedom from fear: Now you are not fearful of being misunderstood. You speak from you heart. You are becoming honest in each others presence and you do not fear of being rejected or fearing unknown: something going wrong in your relationship. You are also not possessive about the other person. You give her freedom to be on her own. You are also not worried or terrified by long periods of silence and separation. Your heart is in perfect peace and rest. You are truly in love. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Dear Friends, I hope that you will make steady progress in your love. These are only guidelines and all relationships are different and subject to individuals and their own experiences. If it helps you in any way my purpose of writing will be fulfilled. Wish the very best for you both!
It appears that monsoon has progressed and has kissed Mumbai! The news of traffic dislocation and water logging in Mumbai promises that if everything goes well; it will reach central India in a week.
Monsoon means a lot to this subcontinent. It simply means life! Without monsoon nothing is possible around here. People wait for it; all summer, in the scorching heat of 45 degrees plus in anticipation of cool showers to take away all their woes. We here in this part of the country wait for the news of it reaching Mumbai. The transformation from hot burning heat to dark clouds suddenly appearing in the sky and pouring down cool liquid gold in full glory is just awesome.
No wonder Bollywod is obsessed with monsoon. There are countless movies made on this theme. There are hundreds of songs filmed on rains. It has to do something with the friendly weather of Mumbai as well. While in some other part of the world climate is so cold that people run for shelter the moment rain drops start falling. But Mumbai is different. It has a very moderate climate; and great life outdoors. Have you seen thousands of people just living on footpaths in Mumbai? No such thing is possible in Delhi. The harsh winter will kill anybody in a single night left unprotected outdoors on road.
Therefore in hot and humid Mumbai when cool raindrops fall and lash and caress your body it's a heavenly experience. It's a romantic experience. And when it comes to romance the Bollywood film industry is best at it. Stars singing and dancing in pouring rains is a theme used again and again. This also gives some chance to some directors for exposure and vulgarity.
There are hundreds of songs filmed on the theme of rains. But from these hundreds I have selected the best in my personal opinion. This again is surprisingly from the same movie I gave the song to you in my post of 23rd June, 2009. This is the title song from the movie Dil Tera Diwana (1962).
This is a movie from the black and white era. Starring Shammi Kapoor and Mala Sinha and directed by B.R. Panthelu. Given the fact that this is generation old movie and the director must have had the technological limitation but see the camera movement and the pace of song. The photography is also great; the effects of dark clouds gathering; of lightening and thunder is awesome. And the rains? They are just pouring!
And I like the way Mala Sinha pulls Shammi Kapoor out in the rains. She also looks gorgeous in a wet saree. There is no suggestion of any vulgarity. She runs, dances, plays in the water but is extra careful not to drop the pallu of her saree even once. Perhaps today's starlets need to learn a lesson here. To look hot you don't need to drop your clothes always. Dil TeraDiwana literally means 'my heart is mad for you'. The lyrics, the music the rains What to talk about love and romance? It's just total madness!
My friends, it's a very old song. But it's romantic and hot. In those days it must have put our parents and grand parents aflame. You too enjoy it today. Wish you a very Happy Rainy season ahead!
There seems to be a delay in monsoon. A kind of panic is spreading in so many towns and cities of India. There is just not any water to be supplied to millions of people even for drinking. These cities include India's Metros and state capitals. There is no water for any purposes. You can not imagine the situation in smaller towns and villages. There are news of riots and murders for drinking water.
In advanced countries if you have an electric connection, power is supplied 24×7. If you have a water tap; it runs 24×7. In India we are used to water being supplied one hour a day or half hour a day. It has become a habit. We cannot think anything else. That's the first shock an Indian gets when he goes outside India. In the bathrooms he doesn't find bucket and tumbler; and he doesn't know how to take bath in a running shower! In India the rich who have showers in their bathrooms also always keep bucket and tumblers in their bathrooms just in case shower goes dry! It has now become part of our Indian mentality. Most Indians like to squat on floor or sit on a stool and bath with bucket and tumbler, but such things are not always available outside India; and Indians go out and make a fool of themselves.
Do we want to become an advanced nation with bucket and tumblers in our bathrooms? How long these water scarcities will continue? The supply of water for all purposes rests with municipal bodies in India. These are the most corruption ridden government organizations in this country. They have no vision, no plans and mostly they claim they have no money. They start making contingency plans when monsoon is delayed or if there is some problem, otherwise they keep sleeping or eating public funds.
Secondly water is the basic need. It is considered punya, a good deed; giving water to the thirsty! So water is supposed to be given free. People want water, but they want it free. Nobody wants to pay for the water willingly in this country! If they pay they want just to pay nominal charges; most people in this country want to get water without paying for it.
On the other hand it's frightening but it's true that the Union Government of India and all the state governments have no vision, no plans, and no allocation for the drinking water for its citizens of over one billion. All focus has been on water for irrigation purposes or for generating power from hydro power plants. Rest of the water is allowed to flow freely in the Bay of Bengal or Arabian Sea. My friends; if you are facing water problems; do not blame God. This problem is man made. Enough water God gives each year to this country. Remember last years floods in Bihar? We are only mismanaging this God given precious resource.
Well; I agree that the first priority has to be irrigation to grow more food. But after each meal people need a glass of water also. Can't we have a National Water Grid of giant pipe lines to connect all parts of India? Can't we have dams and reservoirs interconnected exclusively for drinking purposes? If we can have pipelines for petroleum products and gas we can very well have pipe lines for drinking water. Can't the major corporate houses of India or overseas be given this responsibility rather than local municipal bodies? But we will need to pay for this water. Imagine how many jobs it will generate. How many economic activities it will catalyst all over the country! It will change the face of this country.
When people do not have water even for drinking it's seems like a sin to talk about swimming pools. But why do we have pools only in the five star hotels or for the privileged few? But each locality, each colony and each village of India need to have a pool if not most homes. Then only we can come anywhere near being called an advanced or developed nation. When will we win our first Olympic Gold Medal in swimming?
My dear friend; if we are facing water problems in India; I repeat, God is not to be blamed for this. Even this year enough water on an average will rain all over the country sufficient of our needs. But are we prepared and ready to manage it and supply it to all corners of the country? Do we have will and infrastructure ready to handle this water?
Miyan Tansen or Ramtanu Pandey (1506 ' 1586) is considered among the greatest composer-musicians in Hindustani classical music. He was an extraordinarily gifted vocalist, known for a large number of compositions, and also an instrumentalist.
He was among the Navaratnas; nine jewels, at the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar gave him the title Miyan meaning learned man.Tansen as a historical personality is difficult to extract from the extensive legend that surrounds him. It is reasonably certain that he was born into a Hindu family, possibly in 1506, though some legends give it as 1493; possibly in a village near Gwalior, MP. His father Mukund Mishra was a poet and accomplished musician, who for some time was a temple priest in Varanasi.
The legendary musical prowess of Tansen surpasses all other legends in Indian music. Several of his raga compositions have become mainstays of the Hindustani tradition, and these are often prefaced with Miyan ki (”of the Miyan”), e.g. Miyan ki Todi, Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Mand, Miyan ka Sarang; in addition he is the creator of major ragas like Darbari Kanada, Darbari Todi, and Rageshwari.
Among the legends about Tansen are stories of his bringing down the rains with RagaMegh Malhar and starting fires with the legendary raga Deepak. Other legends tell of his ability to bring wild animals to listen with attention or to talk their language. Once, a wild white elephant was captured, but it was fierce and could not be tamed. Finally, Tansen sang to the elephant that calmed down and the emperor was able to ride him. Many people are convinced that his death was caused by a conflagration while he was singing the raga Deepak.
Tansen died in 1586, and Akbar and much of his court attended the funeral procession. Tansen was buried in the mausoleum complex of his Sufi guru Shaykh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior. The picture above is of his tomb at Gwalior, MP. There is an imli tree there; people still believe that by eating the imli of that tree voice improves and becomes melodious. Every year in December, an annual festival, the Tansen Samaroh, is held in Gwalior to celebrate Tansen.
Mohammed Rafi (1924 '1980), an Indianplayback singer whose career spanned four decades. A versatile singer, Rafi sang in many Indian languages including Hindi, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada and Telugu. He also recorded English and Persian songs. He is primarily remembered, however, for his Hindi songs, which still remain very popular and will continue to be that way for generations. Along with Mukesh and Kishore Kumar, he was one of the leading male Bollywood playback singers from the 1940s to the mid 1980s. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1965.
Rafi’s first public performance came at the age of 13, when he was allowed to sing at a concert featuring the legendary K. L. Saigal. In 1942, Rafi, under Shyam Sunder, made his debut as a playback singer in the duet “Soniye nee, Heeriye nee” with Zeenat Begum in the Punjabi film Gul Baloch (the film was released in 1944). Soon after, Rafi was invited by the Lahore radio station to sing for them.
In 1944, Rafi moved to Mumbai, Rafi contacted the famous music director Naushad, who initially used him as part of the chorus. Rafi’s first song with Naushad was “Hindustan ke hum hain” with Shyam Kumar, Alauddin and others, from A. R. Kardar’s Pehle Aap (1944). Around the same time, Rafi recorded another song for the 1945 film Gaon ki Gori, “Aji dil ho kaaboo mein”. He considered this song his first Hindi language song.
In 1945, Rafi appeared on the screen for the song “Tera Jalwa Jis Ne Dekha” in the film Laila Majnu. He sang a number of songs for Naushad as part of the chorus, including “Mere sapnon ki rani, Roohi Roohi” with K. L. Saigal from the film Shahjahan (1946). Following partition, Rafi decided to stay in India and had his family flown to Mumbai.
In 1948, Rafi sang “Sun Suno Aye Duniya Walon Bapuji Ki Amar Kahani”, written by Rajendra Krishan, which became a huge hit. He was invited by the Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to sing at the latter’s house. In 1948, Rafi received a silver medal from Nehru on the Indian Independence Day.
Fifties and sixties belonged to Mohammad Rafi. His voice was heard everywhere. He became the voice of Dileep Kumar, Devanand, Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar and all other heroes of Bollywood films. Personally I am just crazy about all his songs in combination with Shammi Kapoor.
On Thursday, July 31, 1980, Rafi died, following a massive heart attack. His last song was “Shaam phir kyun udaas hai dost” (Aas Paas), which he had recorded with Laxmikant-Pyarelal several days before his death.
Dear Friends, I know you are also a fan of Rafi; here I am giving you a link from thousands of his songs; a melodious romantic duet with Lata Mangeshkar from Shammi Kapoor and Mala Sinha film Dil Tera Diwana. 'Mujhe kitna pyar hai tumse'
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