Cultural Societies SAKHA and Rafi Smriti in collaboration with Epicentre, Gurgaon are organizing a Unique Function in memory of late playback singer Mohd Rafi on the evening of July, 18 at Epicentre, Apparel House, Sector 44, Gurgaon.
In this unique programme which is being organized a fortnight before Rafi’s 32nd death anniversary (He died on July 31, 1980), besides live singing of Rafi’s solo and duet songs, there will be a discussion on Rafi’s contributions to the film industry. The speakers include veteran journalist Pankaj Vohra of Hindustan Times, Vinod Viplav of UNIVARTA, radio presenter Irfan and musicologist RP Sinha. Art promoter Amarjit Singh Kohli who first started the tradition of organizing music competitions in memory of Rafi in India way back in 1984 that led to the discovery of Sonu Nigam, will be co-ordinating.
In this programme glimpses of some of Rafi’s rare songs and songs sung by him live in stage shows will also be shown. On this occasion a video CD of homage to Rafi entitled “Rafi Tu Hai Chanda” sung by Tarlochan Tochi, lyrics by Daljit Singh Arora, (both of Mohd Rafi Memorial Society, Amritsar) will be released. This Amritsar based Society which was formed immediately after the death of Rafi is the first such Society in India and has been continuously organized programs in Rafi’s memory in Amritsar for the last 31 years. Rafi was born in a small village in Amritsar District on December 24, 1924.
Biographies of Mohd Rafi in Hindi and Urdu entitled “Meri Aawaz Suno”, written by Vinod Viplav & translated in Urdu by Delhi University’s Dr Syed Tanvir Hussain will be released on this occasion. Playback singer Tarlochan Singh alias Tarlochan Tochi who has sung in many Punjabi Films will sing Rafi’s songs. Also singers Lily P Singh, Col RC Chadha and Arun Goela will render a few duet songs of Rafi.