"Took me 50 years back, connecting my youth."
Desi Central Events has organised a dazzling tribute to the Bollywood music legend, Mohammad Rafi.
Titled Remembering Rafi, the show is led by Chirag Rao.
With the backing of a hugely talented five-piece band, Chirag brings to life some of Rafi’s unforgettable numbers.
Meanwhile, the duets are performed with the gifted and skilful Priti Kaur.
The event kicked off at Solihull’s Core Theatre on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
Chirag, Priti, and their multifaceted band took dozens of Rafi fans down memory lane, creating an evening of melody and charm.
Some of the songs sung in Remembering Rafi included ‘Kya Hua Tera Wada’, ‘Aaja Aaja’, and ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho‘.
The evening also included a tribute to the late Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 89.
Mohammad Rafi sang over 100 songs for Dharmendra, and in this portion, Chirag sang some of the best songs from this winning actor-singer combination.
Remembering Rafi in Solihull was enjoyed and applauded by many.
On Instagram, one viewer commented: “It was a truly wonderful program.
“I travel here from India every year, but the way you organise such high-quality events is truly commendable.
“Despite being born and raised in the UK, Chirag’s incredible command over melody (sur) and rhythm (taal), along with his deep understanding of Indian music, is worthy of great praise.
“I would love to attend such programs again and again.”
Another added: “Chirag Ji, such an awesome voice. Took me 50 years back, connecting my youth.”
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In the show, both Chirag and Priti’s adoration and love for Rafi were evident. Remembering Rafi truly contained some touching moments and soulful renditions.
Mohammad Rafi was born on December 24, 1924.
Through a playback singing career that spanned nearly four decades, he gifted the Indian film industry with over 7,000 unique and iconic songs.
He sang in a variety of languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Dutch, English, and Creole.
Rafi worked with legendary music composers such as Naushad, Shankar–Jaikishan, SD Burman, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, and Rajesh Roshan.
He also sang duets and group songs with singers, including Mukesh, Suraiya, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Geeta Dutt, and Udit Narayan.
Rafi sang for almost all the leading actors of his time, such as Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Shammi Kapoor, Johnny Walker, and Rishi Kapoor.
Mohammad Rafi passed away on July 31, 1980, at the age of 55, leaving behind a mellifluous legacy.
This legacy is admirably being kept alive by talents like Chirag and Priti, and by Desi Central Events.
Remembering Rafi will continue in Coventry, Harrow, and Leeds later in 2026.
You can find out more information here.
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