31st July - Not Another Day
July the Thirty First has come and gone, but not many are aware that two Greats are associated with this day. Legendry poet, novelist and writer of short stories - Munshi Premchand was born on this day 125 years ago, while it's also marks the death anniversary of legendry playback singer Mohammad Rafi.
In the times, when writers used to pen the stories around fantasies, kings, royals - Premchand's hero would invariably be a common, downtrodden man especially, a villager. He gave literature a new hero, who fight the system for his survival (Godan). Perhaps the hardships and struggle which he himself suffered throughout his life, found vent in his pen. Nobody else have conserved the more truer picture of an Indian village at that time. Like most of the other writers he was also a true patriot and that could be seen in his writings (Karma Bhumi). He even gave up his job at Mahatma Gandhi's call . Courtesy my mother, I have had a brief introduction to his wroks at a very early age. I have read his Godan, Gaban, Karm Bhumi, Rang Bhumi and Nirmala. I have also enjoyed short stories like Pariksha, Namak Ka Daroga and Kafan. Sadly, not many remember him these days.
Premchand's ignorance is understandable, but Mohd. Rafi's is bewildering. On every Radio, TV channel one can listen countless, timeless Rafi songs aired daily, but hardly any one cares to show a remembrance. He was a complete singer with no formal training. He could sing a romantic, sad, patriotic, bhajan, classical with equal élan. No could touch his level of popularity and success for two decades. Not even Kishore. That is of course, before Aradhna happened. They said Kishore didn't sing from mouth but from the heart. But Rafi seemed to sing from even more deeper down - the gut. He was most breathtaking when music was minimal. He let his voice carry the whole sung. Kishore was never able to achieve this and always admired Rafi for this. Rafi even sang for Kishore in a few films.
My top 3 favourite Rafi songs are
- Mai Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya ( Hum Dono)
- Yeh Dunia Usi ki Zamana Usi Ka, Mohbbat Mein Jo Hogaya Ho Kisi Ka ( Kashmir Ki Kali )
- Kahin Koi Ek Nazuk Si Ladki, Bahut Khoob Surat Mangar Sanwali Si( Shankar Hussain)
Let's spare a thought or two for them.
In the times, when writers used to pen the stories around fantasies, kings, royals - Premchand's hero would invariably be a common, downtrodden man especially, a villager. He gave literature a new hero, who fight the system for his survival (Godan). Perhaps the hardships and struggle which he himself suffered throughout his life, found vent in his pen. Nobody else have conserved the more truer picture of an Indian village at that time. Like most of the other writers he was also a true patriot and that could be seen in his writings (Karma Bhumi). He even gave up his job at Mahatma Gandhi's call . Courtesy my mother, I have had a brief introduction to his wroks at a very early age. I have read his Godan, Gaban, Karm Bhumi, Rang Bhumi and Nirmala. I have also enjoyed short stories like Pariksha, Namak Ka Daroga and Kafan. Sadly, not many remember him these days.
Premchand's ignorance is understandable, but Mohd. Rafi's is bewildering. On every Radio, TV channel one can listen countless, timeless Rafi songs aired daily, but hardly any one cares to show a remembrance. He was a complete singer with no formal training. He could sing a romantic, sad, patriotic, bhajan, classical with equal élan. No could touch his level of popularity and success for two decades. Not even Kishore. That is of course, before Aradhna happened. They said Kishore didn't sing from mouth but from the heart. But Rafi seemed to sing from even more deeper down - the gut. He was most breathtaking when music was minimal. He let his voice carry the whole sung. Kishore was never able to achieve this and always admired Rafi for this. Rafi even sang for Kishore in a few films.
My top 3 favourite Rafi songs are
- Mai Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya ( Hum Dono)
- Yeh Dunia Usi ki Zamana Usi Ka, Mohbbat Mein Jo Hogaya Ho Kisi Ka ( Kashmir Ki Kali )
- Kahin Koi Ek Nazuk Si Ladki, Bahut Khoob Surat Mangar Sanwali Si( Shankar Hussain)
Let's spare a thought or two for them.
posted by Unknown at 11:46 AM
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