Song of the Day: Mohammed Rafi “Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanj Savere”

Mohammed Rafi

Song of the Day: Mohammed Rafi “Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanj Savere”

From the age of four, I began watching Bollywood movies and listening intently to Hindi film songs. My introduction to this vast and deeply rich genre, was at the the Sharma household, a couple of cul-de-sacs down the road from my Columbia, Maryland home. Here, with one of my best childhood buddies, many a sleep overs were had. With his mother, father, sister, and a rotating cast of extended family members and friends, we savored each movie, each scene, each song, each moment of each song, like it was some really special occasion.

Mohammed Rafi stands as one of the greatest playback singers of all-time. “Chahoonga Main Tujhe Saanj Savere”, is one of his most beloved performances. With music by Laxmikant Pyarelal, the dynamic duo, and lyrics by the great Urdu poet Majrooh Sultanpuri, this evergreen classic from 1964 comes from the film Dosti. Directed by the multi award winning Satyen Bose, this film tells the story of two friends, one crippled and the other blind, who find one another through a series of tragic twists of fate. They go on to support one another and survive amidst further tragic twists of fate by forming a musical partnership. More tragic twists of fate follow, but the power of love prevails, as my love for Mohammed Rafi‘s golden voice will always prevail!

Mohammed Rafi (December 1924 – July 1980), was hands down, one of the most successful and popular singers in the Hindi Film Industry. He recorded over 7,000 songs in 20 different languages. His voice and spirit were capable of adapting to a staggering range of emotions and musical styles, and he is widely considered to be the most influential singer on the entire Indian subcontinent. Hailing from the Punjabi region of India, as a young boy, he began imitating chants of a Fakir, who sang in the streets of his native village. He went on to study Indian Classical Music with Abdul Wahid Khan, and quickly go on to begin a successful career in Mumbai. This was followed by the epic career in music that has earned him millions of fans the world over.

 
Mohammed Rafi