"He is my musical father."
Mohammad Rafi remains one of the most iconic playback singers in the Indian film industry.
Rafi began singing in 1944 and continued to enchant Bollywood music lovers for over 35 years.
He sang a wide variety of songs, including peppy tracks, ghazals, and qawwali.
December 24, 2024, marked his birth centenary.
In honour of the occasion, many remembered the singer and paid tribute to him on social media.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Remembering the legendary Mohammad Rafi Sahab on his 100th birth anniversary.
“He was a musical genius whose cultural influence and impact transcends generations.
“Rafi Sahab’s songs are admired for their ability to capture different emotions and sentiments.
“His versatility was extensive as well. May his music keep adding joy in the lives of people!”
Remembering the legendary Mohammed Rafi Sahab on his 100th birth anniversary. He was a musical genius whose cultural influence and impact transcends generations. Rafi Sahab’s songs are admired for their ability to capture different emotions and sentiments. His versatility was…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 24, 2024
The popular singer Sonu Nigam has often been compared to Mohammad Rafi. On Rafi’s birth centenary, Sonu performed a special concert in Mumbai.
Sonu’s first performance happened when he was aged four. He sang Rafi’s classic, ‘Kya Hua Tera Waada‘, from Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977).
Speaking about Rafi, Sonu said: “He has helped me be what I am today, and I still keep learning from him. He is my musical father.
“They will compare, but they must understand that he is my father. You cannot compare a father and son.
“The father will always be the father. No matter what I sing, I will never be able to be like him.
“I’ve done hundreds of cover versions of his songs. That has been my net practice.
“I used to make notes from his songs and add pointers. I’ve studied Rafi Sahab properly.
“I’ve gone into the detailing of Mohammad Rafi like nobody else.
“Rafi Sahab was an amazingly versatile singer. I’ve tried to imbibe that quality in me. I’ve also tried to sing all kinds of songs.
“Rafi Sahab was an introvert, and I’m not an introvert – I speak. Rafi Sahab wouldn’t speak that much.”
Madhuri Dixit stated: “I remember, when I was in school, I used to perform to one of his songs – ‘Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Re’.
“I used to do Kathak to that song. That’s why I remember his voice so beautifully and so well.
“I was just five or six years old when I had danced to that song.”
In his illustrious career, Mohammad Rafi sang evergreen numbers for many actors including Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Johnny Walker, and Rishi Kapoor.
He passed away on July 31, 1980, at the age of 55.
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