Celebration of Legendary Singer Mohammed Rafi’s Birth Anniversary with Music and Cake Cutting in Lucknow
Lucknow – The centenary celebration of the legendary singer Mohammed Rafi was held with much fanfare at the “Umrao Jaan” restaurant in Kaiserbagh, where music enthusiasts gathered to mark the 100th birth anniversary of this iconic artist. The event was graced by the presence of prominent guests, including former MP Daud, who shared his thoughts on Rafi’s unparalleled legacy. He expressed that no artist like Mohammed Rafi would ever exist again, and the magic of his singing continues to captivate audiences.
The program was organized by Mohammed Ali Sahil, Khurshid Khan Raju, Bilal Saharanpuri, and Manju Srivastava, the Editor of “Photo Voice.” The event was presided over by the internationally acclaimed poet Wasif Faruqi.
On this occasion, Athar Nabi reminisced about his experience of bringing Rafi Sahab to Lucknow, recalling with deep emotion Rafi’s humility. Wasif Faruqi, too, shared personal memories of meeting Rafi Sahab, noting that during one gathering, Rafi had sung Mahendra Kapoor’s songs before his own, showcasing his genuine modesty.
The audience, including members of the Media Photographers Club and Rafi’s admirers, celebrated by cutting a cake in honor of the singer. Famous Lucknow-based singer Pradeep Ali, along with singer Akanksha, kicked off the program with renditions of Rafi’s timeless songs like Tum Mujhe Yun Bhula Na Paoge and Mujhe Chhoo Rahi Hai Teri Garm Saansen. The duo then continued to captivate the audience with a collection of Rafi’s beloved songs, including Mujhko Mere Baad Zamana Dhoondega, Yaad Na Aaye Beete Dinon Ki, and Ye Reshmi Zulfein.
The performances were met with great appreciation from the gathered crowd. Poet and former police officer Mohammad Ali Sahil expressed his pride in the fact that Mohammed Rafi’s 100th birthday was being celebrated not only globally but also in Lucknow, a city that holds the honor of hosting this event.
Aslam Khan, who traveled from Mumbai for the occasion, shared a story highlighting Rafi Sahab’s humility. He recalled how, during an era when Kishore Kumar demanded 50,000 rupees for a performance, Rafi Sahab came to Lucknow for only 5,000 rupees, illustrating his modesty and character.
The event also saw the participation of several local personalities, including prominent cultural figures, poets, and teachers such as Jyoti Kiran Awasthi Ratan, Malikzada Javed, Ahmad Jamal, Amir Mukhtar, Athar Nabi, Qamar Ali, Arshad Azmi, Wasim Haider, Pervez Malikzada, Advocate Salahuddin, Miraj Haider, Advocate Arif Hashmi, Advocate Anil Chandra, Abdul Qadir, Arvind Singh, Kaleem Ahmed, Irshad Ahmed, Aziz Siddiqui, Abdul Waheed, Zubair Ahmed, Murtaza Siddiqui, Noor Alam, Ahsan Rais, Shakeel Siddiqui, Zubair Khan, and Maria Alam.
The event was hosted by RJ Anwarul Hasan, and it was a grand tribute to the great singer Mohammed Rafi, reflecting his timeless influence on music lovers and artists alike.
The celebration was organized by International poet and former police officer Mohammad Ali Sahil, renowned poet Bilal Saharanpuri, and Khurshid Khan Raju,senior journalist.
