Chandigarh:
Legendary playback singerMohammed Rafi's native village Kotla Sultan in Punjab'sAmritsar district remembered him on his 31st death anniversarytoday, with scores paying a tribute to him.
"We organised a function in the village. A number ofpeople and Rafi sahab's fans thronged to pay tribute," Rafi'schildhood friend Bakshish Singh's grandson Jodh Singh Samratold PTI.
Samra, district president of the Youth Akali Dal and SGPCmember, said village sarpanch Kuldeep Singh along withsarpanches of some neighbouring villages took part in thefunction, that also had many school children participating.
"A singing competition was also organised for thechildren," Samra said.
He said that government should help the villagers set upa library, which will have a collection of Rafi's songs.
Rafi was born in Kotla Sultan village, about 30 kms fromAmritsar in Punjab and about 250 kms from here. Born onDecember 24, 1924, Rafi died of a heart attack in Mumbai onJuly 31, 1980. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1967.
Rafi, who began singing by chanting the notes that afakir sung in his village, went on to lend his voice toBollywood megastars including Amitabh Bachchan, Shammi Kapoor,Dharmendra and Dev Anand in his career as a successfulplayback artist.
He has numerous hit songs to his credit including severalduets with famous playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and AshaBhosle.
Working with music directors like OP Nayyar, LaxmikantPyarelal and RD Burman, Rafi delivered some evergreen hitsincluding Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil, Chura Liya Hai Tumne, OHaseena, Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho and Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan.
Samra recalled that Rafi was a simple man who used tospeak from his heart and help everyone in need.
He said that the village is trying to do its own bit tokeep the memory of the singer alive.
"We organised a function in the village. A number ofpeople and Rafi sahab's fans thronged to pay tribute," Rafi'schildhood friend Bakshish Singh's grandson Jodh Singh Samratold PTI.
Samra, district president of the Youth Akali Dal and SGPCmember, said village sarpanch Kuldeep Singh along withsarpanches of some neighbouring villages took part in thefunction, that also had many school children participating.
"A singing competition was also organised for thechildren," Samra said.
He said that government should help the villagers set upa library, which will have a collection of Rafi's songs.
Rafi was born in Kotla Sultan village, about 30 kms fromAmritsar in Punjab and about 250 kms from here. Born onDecember 24, 1924, Rafi died of a heart attack in Mumbai onJuly 31, 1980. He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1967.
Rafi, who began singing by chanting the notes that afakir sung in his village, went on to lend his voice toBollywood megastars including Amitabh Bachchan, Shammi Kapoor,Dharmendra and Dev Anand in his career as a successfulplayback artist.
He has numerous hit songs to his credit including severalduets with famous playback singers Lata Mangeshkar and AshaBhosle.
Working with music directors like OP Nayyar, LaxmikantPyarelal and RD Burman, Rafi delivered some evergreen hitsincluding Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil, Chura Liya Hai Tumne, OHaseena, Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho and Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan.
Samra recalled that Rafi was a simple man who used tospeak from his heart and help everyone in need.
He said that the village is trying to do its own bit tokeep the memory of the singer alive.
