Mir Mohsin Ali Saudi Gazette RIYADH — On 35th death anniversary of the legendary singer Mohammed Rafi, a cultural group paid a musical tribute to the popular playback singer with a program titled “Yaad E Rafi” (Remembering Rafi). The event hosted by Young Talent Musical Group under the patronage and sponsorship of many Asian business personalities of the city, proved to be a big draw with the singers' rendition of timeless musical pieces from a reservoir of Rafi collection. The sparkling night was started by young artists Mirza Omar Baig and Syed Sayeed by belting out some of the famous songs of Mohammed Rafi. During the “Yaad E Rafi” event the autobiography of the legend was also revealed. Rafi sung for all Bollywood heroes of his time and won six Filmfare Awards in his career and achieved many more awards and recognitions, including the Padma Shri by the government of India. One of India's most loved playback singers of Bollywood, Mohammed Rafi, died on July 31, 1980. The singer had a heart attack while on stage at a concert. The famous song “tu is tarha se meri zindagi mein shamil hai, jahan bhi jao yeh lakta hai teri mehfil hai” was fully enjoyed by audience. The jam-packed audience enjoyed the melodious renderings for the whole night and the program continued well into the early hours of the morning. Such social gatherings play a vital role in the Indian culture that fosters healthy community living and a bit of fun and recollection in life. The artists Mirza Omar Baig, Syed Sayeed, and Mohammed Asif captivated audience with some of Rafi's famous songs. Guest singer Syed Abdul Rafay of Jeddah, who thrilled the audience with all-time hit songs of Mohammed Rafi, provided the tempo for the evening with the rendition of hit Rafi numbers. Syed Mozzam Ali, patron, Golden Telangana Welfare Association NRI's, feted all the artists and organizers with gift packs. In recognition of their community services a special award titled ‘Jeena Iska Naam Hai' was presented to Saleem Khan and Shaikh Khadeer. Taher Bin Jaffer, President, Golden Telangana Welfare Association NRI's conducted the felicitation ceremony. The singers paid due tribute to the Late Mohammed Rafi by singing before the audience all genres of songs like bhajans, ghazals and folk that Rafi excelled in. Rafi had proved his eloquence in both romantic and tragic songs during his reign as the playback king of his times, and his untimely death left a major void in the Bollywood music industry that has yet to be filled. Until now no one in the Bollywood has touched the doyen's class. Mohammed Rafi is remembered every year on his birthday and on his death anniversary and several programs are conducted in different parts of the world. Abdul Ghafoor, an attendee, while providing encouragement to the singers and the presence also stressed the need to conduct such events regularly for in order to keep the legend's memory alive. Following this, a programs extolling another playback Kishore Kumar is expected to be held in Riyadh in near future. Untiring efforts of Shaikh Moin and Abdul Quddus resulted in a large gathering and a successful staging of the “Yaad E Rafi” event. On behalf of Young Talent Musical Group flower bouquets were presented to the selected guests and the chief guest. Syed Mozzam Ali, Muzaffer Uddin, and Chief Guest, S. Mujtaba Hussain, support was instrumental in making the event successful. Dauli Holidays, Garden Tea Point, AlDiyafa Club and Rukoon Trading sponsored the event while S. Mujtaba Hussain and Abood Bazher were the prominent guests.
