Mohammed Rafi’s music has been part of singer Rajiv Singbal’s life since childhood. His admiration for the playback singer saw him start an annual tribute in 2009, which has continued, with a two-year break during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest edition, ‘Phir Woh Bhooli Si Yaad’, will be held on October 11, 5 p.m. at the Institute Menezes Braganza hall in Panaji. Kala Surabhi, a cultural and artistic organisation, is organising the programme in association with the Directorate of Art and Culture, Goa, and the institute.
Singbal says he started the tribute at a time when Goa had few structured musical programmes for singers. “I wanted to create a programme around Rafi’s songs and also give singers an opportunity to perform with an orchestra.”
The programme has been conceived and organised by Siddha Poojary. She says Rafi’s repertoire covered a wide range of genres and that he also changed his voice to suit the actor and the situation on screen. “The song and the screen should be good. That was his main motive,” she adds.
Singbal also recalls seeing Rafi during his school years in Mumbai, when he would sometimes spot the singer travelling between Bandra and recording studios.
Each edition of the tribute has a different title and a variation in its presentation. This year’s programme will open with Rafi’s ‘Phir Woh Bhooli Si Yaad’, which gives the edition its name.
The programme will feature singers Vibha Algundgi, Chiraag Tripathi, Sandip Dalvi, Damodar Wagle, and Mahesh Talaulikar. They will be accompanied by musicians Vishnu Shirodkar, Bogen Singh, Rohit Bandodkar, Rohan Naik, Prakash Amonkar, professor Taranath, Avdhut Chari, and Bhushan Rahate.
The annual tribute also gives emerging singers an opportunity to perform. Three newcomers performed last year, while another young singer will make his debut this year after Singbal heard him at one of Kala Surabhi’s regular public singing sessions. The sessions are held on the first and third Sundays of every month at a public garden and are open to anyone who wishes to sing.
Entry to the programme is free. Singbal says, “I want people to be able to come and listen to the music without worrying about whether they can afford a ticket.”
The programme will be compered by Dr. Charumitra Ranade, with Maya Kharangate as master of ceremony, and professor Taranath as coordinator.
