On Tuesday, December 24, 2025, people paid tribute to singer Mohammed Rafi at his native village Kotla Sultan Singh near Amritsar. Photo courtesy: PTI
“He is still alive in the hearts of millions of his fans,” says Om Prakash, who came from Jammu to visit his favorite singer Mohammad Rafi on his birth centenary on Tuesday, at his birthplace in Kotla Sultan Singh village near Amritsar.
Mr Prakash is among the many fans who make the annual pilgrimage to the legend’s village, but this time was special as it is the 100th birthday of the music icon, who is considered one of India’s most famous voices.
Mohammed Rafi
“Rafi sir ‘s songs are as popular today as they were when he was alive,” he said.
Apart from Mr Prakash, there was also 80-year-old Adarsh Kumar Pruthi who had come from Delhi with his wife to pay homage.
“I really wanted to meet Rafi sir His village on his 100th birth anniversary. It feels great to be here,” Mr Pruthi said.
Over 50 Rafi fans from different parts of the country cut a cake in his memory and mingled with the locals.
Hardeep Singh, an 82-year-old village elder, took it upon himself to guide the tourists around the spot where Rafi’s old house once stood. Mr Singh’s grandfather had purchased the land from the singer’s family years ago.
Many fans also gathered near his statue in the village to pay floral tributes and visited the school where Rafi studied.
Rafi started singing by imitating the mantras of a fakir of his village. But his first public performance came when he turned 13, when he sang a KL Sehgal song in Lahore.
In 1944, Rafi moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in singing and started playback singing. village girl Which was released next year.
He later lent his voice to Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Shammi Kapoor, Dharmendra, Dev Anand and Rishi Kapoor in his career as a successful playback artiste.
She has many hit songs to her credit, including several duets with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle.
Working with music directors like Naushad, OP Nayyar, Laxmikant-Pyarelal and RD Burman, Rafi delivered evergreen tracks. This world, this gathering , you have stolen , heybeautiful lady , Youwho metyes , fourteenth moonyes , Shirdi wale saiDad And Today the weather is a very nice ,
Rafi died of a heart attack on 31 July 1980 in Mumbai.
published – December 25, 2024 09:07 am IST
