Rafi Madanmohan Night in Kolkata.

Rafi Madanmohan Night in Kolkata.

To mark music icon Rafi Sahab's, 30th death anniversary, the Rafi Lovers Circle conferred their 6th Mohammed Rafi Award 2010, posthumously, to honour music composer Madan Mohanji, an an event in Kolkata on Sunday, 1st Aug 2010, at The Satyajit Ray Auditorium, Indian Council of Cultural Relations, in Kolkata.

Rafi Sahab, the undisputed music icon and Madanji the legendary composer, created many memorable melodies together....many of them will be remembered forever. Titled Remembering Madan Mohan with Sanjeev Kohli, the concert opened with a video clip of 31st July, 1980, and then panned to some stunnings footage showing Rafi Sahab live, including him singing a few uncommon songs in his inimitable style. Seasoned RLC singers also chipped in with some vintage melodies like Aap ke pehlu mein aa kar ro diye, Ek haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya, Yun rootho na haseena meri jaan pe ban aaege, Zameen se hamein aasman tak, Ye maana meri jaan mohabbat saza hai, Rang aur noor ki baraat kise pesh karoon, Main Nigahen tere chehre se hatau kaise, and Tere paas aake mera waqt guzar jata hai.

Preceding the Award presentation, was the screening of a 20 minute exclusive Film Meri Awaaz Suno conceived and produced by by Madanji's illustrious eldest son Mr Sanjeev Kohli, the erstwhile GM of HMV ( EMI India ) and the creator of the popular HMV / Sa Re Ga Ma music Cd's and Cassettes. in the Legends, Golden Collections, Revivals and Anmol Ratan . Connoisseurs of Hindi film sangeet will recognise this as a veritable treasury of timeless music and evergreen songs.

The Rafi Lovers Circle headed by Founder President, Ruhi Khan, instated this award from 2005, and awards it to a music personality who has worked closely with Rafi Saab. Earlier receipients have included composers Ravi and Omi ( of Sonik- Omi ), Singers Sharda, Mubarak Begum and a postumous honour for Mahendra Kapoor, recived by his son Ruhan Kapoor. Considering the fact that Rafi Saab worked closely with Madanji from his 1st film Ankhen to his last unfinished work, Laila Majnu, it was indeed an ardous task of honouring these stalwarts with dignity and honour. The committee rose as one and very soon the 6th Mohammed Rafi Memorial Award
was being recived by Mr Sanjeev Kohli.

Post award, Sanjeev ji spoke from the heart about the recognition denied to Madanji both by the industry - Not a single Filmfare Award -inspite of a string of chart busters, and also from the Govt of India, who did not honour Madanji even with a Padma Shri, perhaps because he was an upright honest man who refused to pamper the egos of the decision makers. He pleaded to music lovers to always give good music composer, or singer his due during his lifetime. He said he was very happty to be in Kolkata with his son, Akshay Kohli and was delighted to receive the award on his behalf of his father, who passed away at the young age of 51. He thanked the circle President for inviting him to Kolkata and requested all music lovers in the audience to support organisations like Rafi Lovers Circle, who are constantly making an endeavour to revive / recreate that golden songs of yesteryears.

The evening ended with a soft ballad wafting in the background, an ode to the titans.
The title number, from the unreleased collection of Madanji songs all in 1 cd / casste, tiltled Tere Baghair.
..........Kaise Kategi Zindagi, Tere Baghair, Tere Baghair.
The awaaz, unmistakeably Mohammed Rafi Saheb.
The music, Madan Mohan Sb all the way,

Hashim Khan
Convenor

Mubarak Begum Program.

Mubarak Begum program.

Rafi Lovers Circle organized a musical concert Remembering Melody Queens with Mubarak Begum to confer Mohamed Rafi Memorial Award 2009, on Mubarak Begum, reputed Playback Singer of yesteryears . The programme was held on 25th Oct, 09 at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium, Rabindranath Tagore Centre, of The Indian Council for Cultural Relations Kolkata. First of all rich tributes were paid to the incomparable Rafi Saheb by Calcutta's famous aspiring singer Debajit Dutta of Indian Idol and Sa Re Ga Ma fame, who sang Kabhi Na Kabhi To Kahin Na Kahin and Hui Shaam Unka Khayal Aa Gaya.

The Programme took off with a Rafi Saheb and Mubarak Begum Cutain Raiser song....... 1966 film Sushila. Noorjehan, Suraiyya, Shamshad Begum and Geeta Dutt were fondly remembered by crooning their hit songs by the local artists and circle members, as well as by Smt Ruhi Khan, Founder of the Circle who concieved and executed the 3 hour audio visual event. Some of the other songs which cast a slow mesmerising spell on the audience are listed below :

Awaaz De Kahan Hai - Noorjahan ( Anmol Ghadi )
Dil-e Nadaan Tujhe Huva Kya Hai - Suraiyya ( Mirza Ghalib)
Milte Hi Ankhen Dil Huva - Shamshad Begum ( Babul )
Rim Jhim Ke Tarane Le Ke - Geeta Dutt ( Kala Bazar )
Sun Sun Sun Sun Zalima - Geeta Dutt ( Aar Paar )
Mehlon Mein Rehne Wale - Mubarak Begum ( Shabab )
Mujh Ko Apne Gale Laga Lo - Mubarak Begum ( Hamrahi )

When the singers begun the song Meri Neendon Mein Tum, Mere Khwabon Mein Tum... the hall was amused and enthralled. The Hamrahi song "Mujhko Apne Gala Laga Lo..." was the centre of all discussions even during personal talk. Members in audience used to humm this song several times as if it was the Signature song to remember Mubarak Begum. She fondly remembered this song and sang it on the stage. She also sang Bemurrawwat Bewafa, and Kabhi Tanhaiyon mein, Hamari Yaad Aayegi, which also got similar weightage and applause from the well attended concert.

After tributes were paid to the Melody Queens of yesteryears, The Rafi Lovers Circle Founder President Ruhi Khan conferred the Mohd Rafi Memorial Award, along with a stream of gifts by the Executive Committee members, Circle members. Many of the Guests who were invited also came forward and presented her gifts.

A documentary on Mubarak Begum produced by Film Division was also shown during the programme which went very well with the proceedings When asked to speak about her association with Rafi Saheb, Begum Saheba said that Rafi Saheb was a very pious and simple person, during song recordings his focus and committment was divine. he used to be self absorbed, oblivious of his surroundings and totally immersed and in command of the song. He performed Hajj multiple times including Hajj-e-Akbar. At the end of the concert, on behalf of the Circle, Begum Saheb presented to the entire orchestra, all the singers and technicians, a replica of the Mohamed Rafi Memorial Award 2009.

Truely a vintage evening, and after Music Director Ravi Sb ( 2005 ), Music Director Omiji of the Sonik - Omi team ( 2006 ) Music Director & Playback Singer Shardaji ( 2007 ) and Mahendra Kapoor Sb, posthumously in ( 2008 ) another well deserved Mohamed Rafi Memorial Award given to an artist of Rafi Saheb's era who had the good fortunate to rub shoulders with him. Subha Na Ayee, Shaam Na Ayee.... Jis Din Teri Yaad na Ayee. The program had been compiled by Sudershan Pandey of Shankerjaikishen.com Forum.

Mubarak Begum was remembered by Rafi Lovers Circle.

Mubarak Begum was remembered by Rafi Lovers Circle.

On 25.10.09 Rafi Lovers Circle organized Remembering Melody Queens with Mubarak Begum to confer Mohamed Rafi Memorial Award 2009 to the Singer of so many nice songs.

The programme started at around 6.10 pm at Satyajit Ray Auditorium, Rabindranath Tagore Centre, ICCR, Kolkata with a brief introduction by Shri Hashim Khan, one of the founder members and Chief centre of all these enthusiasm.

First of all rich tributes were paid to Noorjehan, Suraiyya, Shamshad Begum and Geeta Dutt by crooning their hit songs by the local artistes as well as by Smt Roohi Khan, Founder of the Circle.

And here at this point viewers were compelled to think whether in their attempt to promot or use Lata Mangeshkar, Shankar-Jaikishan did injustice to themselves as well towards those beautiful female singers who were in demand that time, except Noorjehan who had left India by the time SJ stepped in. They should have exploited potential of other female singers as well and would have introduced / experimented with new voices like they did with Subir Sen, CH Atma, etc etc.

In the programme most of the songs chosen were composed by OP Nayyar, Naushad and others. When the singers begun song “Meri neendo mein tum mere khwabon mein tum...” the hall was amused and enthralled
For SJ+Mubarak Begum fans, only relieving factor was the Hamrahi song "Mujhko apne Gala Laga Lo..." which was the centre of all discussions even during personal talk members in audience used to humm this song several times as if it was the Signature song to remember Mubarak Begum. She also fondly remembered this song and sang it on the stage. Though her, "Kabhi Tanhaiyon mein, hamari yaad aayegi..." got similar weightage.

A documentary produced by Film Division was also procured by Shri Hashim Khan. An edited version of the docu was shown during the programme in which few of her photographs with Rafi Sahab and others were depicted, but I did not found any Shankar Jaikishan photograph there in the docu. I will have to check it with Hashim Khan Sahab whether in the documentary there any photograph of SJ or either of them is depicted in the documentary.
The report was compiled by Sudershan Pandey of Shanker Jaikishan dot com.