‘My Legendary Father Mohd Rafi-Saab Was An Expert At Kite-Flying, Badminton And At Carrom’ : Son Shahid Rafi

Chaitanya  Padukone

Today 31^st July is legendary singer  Mohammed Rafi’s 39^th death anniversary. But for millions of  Rafisaab’s ardent loyal fans he is still ‘alive’, in their hearts. What with some of his evergreen soulful songs like ‘Tum Mujhe Yun, Bhulaa Naa Paaoge’, and ‘Woh Jab Yaad Aaye,  Bahut Yaad Aaye,’ As a young student, in 1977,  I had the privilege to attend a ‘live’ recording of Rafi-saab at Film Center ( 2^nd floor) under the baton of genius composer R D Burman. The fabulous song was ‘Kya Hua Tera Vaada’, which much later, fetched Rafi-saab, both the Filmfare Award and the National Award. When the gentle, soft-spoken benevolent Rafi-saab, entered the hall, where the musicians were rehearsing, they all stood up voluntarily out of sheer respect and affection. Later it was a ‘surreal’ moment for me, when unassuming Rafi-saab saw me sitting in a corner and walking  towards me and spoke to me courteously for a couple of minutes. Obviously, I was nervous and I fumbled . Sensing my nervousness, the modest iconic singer asked the Film Center third floor canteen-boy to get some snacks for me and instructed him not to ask money from me.

Chaitanya Padukone with Shahid Rafi and composer Anandji-Bhai

 Cut to the present---his enterprising singer-son Shahid Rafi, goes into nostalgia mode, “Abbujaan (Rafi) always lived and breathed music, but he also enjoyed sports, especially badminton. They had formed a team comprising Yusuf-saab (Dilip Kumar), Naushaad-saab, lyricists Anand Bakshi and Shakeelbhai and of course, my dad who would play often at the local gymkhana. He was also a carrom champ and an expert at kite-flying. He would be elated at watching a kati patang descend, but would also feel sad that woh kite ‘out’ ho gaya. Listening to cricket commentaries was another passion,” recalls Shahid, whose family has displayed sentimental memorabilia at Rafi Mansion in Bandra , which includes his precious harmonium

Shahid Rafi