Shahid Rafi, son of Mohammed Rafi, is all set to launch a music academy in memory of the legendary playback singer. “The Mohammed Rafi Music Academy will be launched in Mumbai on July 31, the 30th death anniversary of my father,” he told The Hindu.
“I know there are several music academies across the country in the name of my father and they are conducting several shows; now they will have to affiliate to the proposed academy,” said Shahid, who was in the city to attend a private function. “The aims of the academy include honouring musicians and lyricists from previous generations, conducting cultural shows and establishing a music school,” he said.
He said he was expecting some of the biggest names from Bollywood for the launch ceremony. Actors Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan and Oscar winners A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty were among the big names likely to grace the function. “And there would of course be composers and lyricists who have worked with my father,” he said.
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Shahid said he was often moved to see the kind of affection music lovers still had for his father. “It is amazing to see so many young kids admiring his music; I believe my father was blessed by God.”
He said he enjoyed singing Rafi's songs in live shows. “I have performed across the world and in my shows I sing different kinds of songs from my father's repertoire; be it melodies, sad songs or fast numbers,” he said. “I took to singing rather late though, after my father's death in fact.”
Shahid said his fondest memories about Rafi included the songs he would sometimes hum at home after coming back from the recording studio. “He was very much a family man and didn't like socialising at all.”
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On Friday morning, Shahid sang a couple of evergreen Rafi melodies for the inmates of the Juvenile Home here —“Badi door see aaye hain…” ( Samjhauta ) and “Baar baar dekho…” ( China Town ).