MOH AMMAD Rafi, the legendary playback singer, died this day 45 years ago, but his art and craft continue to be as alive today as they ever were. Moving from Lahore to the then Bombay in the early 1940s, Rafi ruled the Indian film industry for four decades that coincided with the indisputably golden era of film songs in the subcontinent.

Over this period, Rafi sang a total of 4,956 songs; 4,516 for Hindi films, 112 in other languages and 328 non-film songs. Rafi achieved tremendous fame with the song O duniya ke rakhwale for the movie Baiju Bawra in 1952. In this song, he touched the higher notes with masterly ease. Thereafter, he continued to sing film songs with a wide range till the end.

Two other top film singers of this era were Kundan Lal Saigol and Kishore Kumar. Besides having a mellifluous voice, Saigol was also the architect of a new style of film singing. Kishore had a heavier voice than both Saigol and Rafi, which mesmerised the audience in cinema halls. Rafi had such a command over singing that he would change his style commensurate with the style of actors lip syncing on the screen.

In addition to having strict adherence to the melody and possessing singing prowess, Rafi would render the lyrics with correct pronunciation and without distorting any word. Over the last more than seven decades, many singers, including the professionals, have kept trying to emulate Rafi`s singing, but none has succeeded. It is fair to say, none will.

ParvezRahim Karachi