Singers-larger than life

Wanted to write about two legendary singers that made my childhood colorful and cheerful by their voice. Their voices are dearer to me more than mine.

Rafi Saheb

Mohammed Rafi is the greatest of play back singers ever produced by Hindi film industry. His honey dew voice has that magic that I used to believe even when he snores, that will come out as music! As early as a five year old kid, I remember listening to Rafi Saheb's recorded version of London program in our old tape recorder and I liked this song a lot. Even now I like that song with the same intensity as I used to. The song is from a film called 'Baiju Bawra'. 

Beautiful Baiju Bawra story-abridged

Baiju was one of the greatest singers of Mughal emperor Akbar’s time. In Akbar’s court was Mia Tanzen who was supposed to be the greatest musician of that time. It was a rule then that nobody should sing in the city other than Tanzen. If anybody want to sing, they have to first defeat Tanzen in music. Baiju’s father was caught singing one day and was killed by the sentries when they forcefully attempted to take him to court. Before dying he told Baiju to avenge for his death. Thus Baiju’s whole life had only one aim; to defeat Tanzen. But he falls in love with Gowri, a boatman’s daughter, and slowly starts forgetting his aim. Then Gowri came to know that he will be able to sing very well out of emotional ecstasy only and makes herself bitten by a snake and Baiju believe that she is dead.

Baiju now becomes a Bawra (mad person) and start singing the above song, with that much sadness that even Lord Shiva sheds tears (the filmi version of this song always makes me emotional, it’s here starring Bharath Bhushan).  Hearing Baiju sing in city, people try to stop him, but he doesn't hear. He is eventually taken to court and there he defeats Tanzen. The story ends tragically when Baiju tries to reach Gowri by crossing a river on spate; he gets drowned along with Gowri.

Coming back to Rafi Saheb:

Rafi saheb has sung approximately 25,000 songs and almost all of them were cherished by the industry and people. He had great clarity of voice, ranging from very lowest to highest pitches and gives great expression to words when he sings which made him unique among playback singers of that time.

Yesudas

Every Malayali (Keralite) would be proud of their dear Yesudas. Starting from 1960’s he had been singing and still continuing without much change in popularity. He started getting popular in his early days by singing Rafi songs. He has sung film songs, devotionals, carnatic music concerts and even folk songs. He also has amazing voice clarity, and great power of voice modulation and control. It would be tough to pick a song that I like since there are so many of them.

So picking this song which starts with Yesudas’ beautiful humming of which the third stanza enchants me always like this,

In search of my divine mother's shrine

Where million sunflowers bloom;

Along the way that I travel

Your words have spread flowers

I think of how my Guru’s words have been showing the path to me and millions like me to reach their favorite destiny. One such word is what I heard couple of days before;

“Muskurathe raho, eeshwar thumhare dil mein hai”. (Keep on smiling. God resides in your heart)

PS: Writing about singers, I am short of words and so deliberately digressed to write Baiju Bawra story:-D