So Why Is Rafisaab The Greatest Singing Legend?, Fans of Rafisab share your views & experiences Options

[suhana_safar]

With thousands of unbeliveable renditions in a career that stretches back into the mid forties to 80's, Rafisaab began his career as a playback singer in Indian Film industry that in course of time is being regarded as a landmark in HFM.

So what is fscinating about this genius and his career? What are the key featueres of his skills that even made his colleagues who were class singers in their own right look upon him as their hero/idol?. What are the things that keep people still so attached to his songs?


Over the years everything connected with the industry changed:

1. The taste and trends of the audience
2. The technolgy and nature of the recording rooms
3. The style of the actors
4. The styles of the MD’s
5. The words of the song writers
6. The promotion strategy of the music companies
7. The pay cheques
8. The competition
9. The entry of new actors and styles
10. The quality of the audience
11. The politics and power groups in the industry


and many more factors could be added to the list above.

With all the above dynamic changes, for a simple, shy, modest and a genuine down to earth person to not only excel but establish unreachabe standards in playback singing during such a long period is simply more than just an extra ordninary feat. How often we take take for granted the consistent quality of Rafisaab’ singing without giving much thought how difficult and challenging is the art of playback singing specially in the context of the above dynamic changes.

How many times do we care to fathom that extra class that he instilled in the song and thus raised the standard of both the composition and the lyrics not to mention that his voice is also associated with the success of those actors who became stars just because Rafisaab playbacked for them.

Playback singing is a precise and difficult and challenging art, and Rafisaab is rightly acknowledged as a master of this unique genre by both, the masses and the experts.

So what exactly are the attributes and characteritics of this legend of legends that makes him a class apart. What is the exclusive quality/qualities of his singing that makes him a benchmark in playback singing.?

Please share your views with concrete examples and kindly refrain discussing any other singers in this thread as this discussion is only about the one and only, Rafisaab.


I welcome all to come on board (with a positive attitude) and specially the learned and knowledgeable who know about this uniqe art and more importantly about this unique singing phenomenon, Rafisaab.

[venkat]

Suhana Safar Ji,

You have asked me to say something. On this, I am reminded of what MD, Ravi ji always starts with, when asked about Rafi Saab. He typically pauses and starts with, "Ab Rafi Saab Ke Baar Mein Kya Bolun!" In that starting sentence and by the way he says it, we can make out that he believes Rafi Saab is no ordinary personality and that it is very difficult to even try and analyse such a great man!

As far as I am concerned, my relationship with Rafi Saab is "Love and Worship at First Hearing!" Even before I knew his name, etc., I was fascinated with that Voice and the way it sings so many different kinds of songs. This was during my childhood when I first happened to hear him on Radio.

And this relationship of Love and Worship has continued on and on without any break. If anything, the intensity of the Love and Worship is increasing year after year.

SS Ji, in fact, if you ask me who is the one person, ever to live in this world, that I hold very very dear to me, it is RAFI SAAB! All my family members and relatives know this only too well.

Now let us ask "Why".

SS Ji, this grossly unfair and irrational world lifts to skies singers who have even just 15 or 20 great songs. And here is a Divine singer who has recorded at least 750 to 800 real gems of songs! And this unfair and irrational world lifts him also just to skies, not knowing that he is at least 50 to 60 times greater than the other great singers!

I, for one, am always amazed at such very large number of his excellent songs. What is more confounding is that I still cannot say that I have come to know all his excellent songs so far. Every day, week and month (especially after joining this great HF), I am discovering more and more of his excellent renditions.

My 21 year old son has first seen the Video of Film:Pyasa about 15-16 years back. When the Yeh Mahalon song was reaching its peak scale at "Jala Do", he was crying, obviously disturbed by the tremendous intensity that the singer was creating! He too did not know who was singing.

During my childhood, when my friends and I used to listen to the "Lakhon Hai Nigaahon Mein" song from Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon, we used to wonder what a handsome and stylish man this singer with such a voice must be!

As SPB has told me personally and also during many other occasions on TV, great singers like Lata, Talat, Asha, Mukesh, KK, Ghantasala (in Telugu) were all very good, but the ultimate ecstasy that Rafi Saab has delivered to me by his many great songs was not delivered by any other great singer.

Now, add to this his saintly human qualities and the countless number of small MDs that he helped and encouraged!

That is why he is the greatest singer of all times!

Venkat