MUSICAL SESSION - 27TH SEPT 2009

Adaab Rafi to all,

Friends, the moment I logged on to my emails after we returned from our Musical Session, I found a message from Nitin Dhepe and before I proceed to detail today's musical session, I quote below the relevant portion of his email conveying greetings to one and all on the eve of Dusshera : QUOTE

Dear Murthy,

I was in mumbai from 23rd and arrived at hyderabad in the afternoon today. I am seeing your mails just now. I am feeling bad to miss the musical session today especially the magic sing karaoke. Next time we will meet.

WISH YOU AND ALL OTHER MEMEBERS OF RAFI FOUNDATION HYDERABAD VERY HAPPY DASEHARRA.

UNQUOTE Normally, the Dhepe's always convey to us their participation or their absence for any reason and I was wondering why there was no message from them this time around. But then as we can see from the message of Nitin, he sent the message towards the afternoon by which time I was already on the move to go to Marredpally.

And now about today's musical session : As informed to all, Satyendra had earlier informed me and NR Padmanabhan his inability to attend the Musical Sessions owing to his preparations for forthing exams. Nalin Ranjan too sent me an SMS just before the start of our Musical programme expressing his inability to attend today due to some personal work. VBG Krishnamurthy had called me up this morning from Varanasi (I had sent him an SMS as he does not have email/internet facility) and as he is away from Hyderabad, he would not be attending. Other than these few friends, others who did not attend our Musical Session today may have had their own personal engagements, etc. but we did not get any information from them.
Today, a total strength of 12 members attended - a rather thin attendance for the second time this month - something which should be treated as an exception rather than as a rule. Despite not being well, Mrs Prema Pannicker not only arranged for the booking of our venue, but also arranged the music system well before N R Padmanabhan and I reached the venue around 3.00 p.m. She also sat for a good two hours listening to our songs (she did not sing herself today as she was having fever) and later decided to go to her flat and rest while we were still halfway to go.
Besides her, the following attended the Musical Session today : S Chandar and Mrs Radha Chandar, K Sivaram, Mrs Sivaram and Ms Shanti, Mrs Padmaja, N R Padmanabhan, A S Murty, R Padmanabhan, S K Elias, Sanjay Deshpande and Sachin Deshpande.

Though the attendance was too thin, the almost four hours that we all spent was on quality singing and enjoyment. Lot of fun is to be seen these days with everyone's active involvement, commentary and the pun and the fun. Today most of us sang with the help of KARAOKE which was hitherto the forte of the Chandars. We had tried singing on Karaoke earlier too but were never as comfortable as today. Some of the songs were also rendered without the Karaoke music. Forty songs were thus rendered in today's musical session. Some of us even rehearsed some of our songs that we intend presenting at Bangalore during the RAFI HOLIDAY. Incidentally, the topic "RAFI HOLIDAY" was discussed every now and then during the Musical Session. The full list of songs is as under :

1.Pukarta Chala Hun Mein (On Karaoke) - A S Murty
2. Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki (On Karaoke) - A S Murty
3.Mujhko Is Raat Ki Tanhai(On Karaoke) - R Padmanabhan
4.Mere Tute Huye Dil Se (On Karaoke) - R Padmanabhan
5.Radha Na Bole Na Bole Re - Mrs Padmaja
6. Yun Hasraton Ke Daag - Mrs Padmaja
7. Chanda O Chanda Kisne Churayi (On Karaoke) - S Chandar
8. Chanda O Chanda Kisne Churayi - female version(On Karaoke) - Mrs Radha Chandar
9.Mehbooba Mehbooba Banalyo Mujhe Dulha (On Karaoke)- S Chandar
10. Baharaon Phool Barsao - K Sivaram
11. Mile Na Phool To Kanton Se Dosti Karli - K Sivaram
12. Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho - S K Elias
13. Saaw Ho Tum Awaaz Hun Main - S K Elias
14. Ae Maalik Tere Bande Hum - Ms Shanti
15. Yeh Mere Dil Pyar Ka Diwana - Ms Shanti
16. Bhooli Huyi Yadon Mujhe Itna Na -(On Karaoke) - N R Padmanabhan
17. Mujhko Is Raat Ki Tanhai - (On Karaoke) - N R Padmanabhan
18.Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat Kise Pesh Karun (On Karaoke)- A S Murty
19. Jhilmil Sitaron Ka Aangan Hoga (On Karaoke) - A S Murty
20. Kaun Aaya Ke Nigahon Me Kasak Jaag Uthi(On Karaoke) - Mrs Radha Chandar
21. Thoda Ruk Jayegi To Tera Kya Jayega (On Karaoke) - S Chandar
22. Main Dil Hun Ik Arman Bhara - R Padmanabhan
23. Mujhe Bhool Jaana (from the film Taqdeer) - R Padmanabhan
------as is his trade mark, RP always comes up with atleast one very rare song --
24. O Sajna Barka Bahar Aayee - Bengali version - Mrs Padmaja
25. He Raam Vishwas Hamare (Bhajan by Lata Mangeshkar) - Mrs Padmaja
26.Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Ho Jo Makaam - K Sivaram
27. Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz - K Sivaram
28. Koi Jab Raah Na Paye (On Karaoke) - S Chandar
29. Shaadi Ke Liye Razamand Karli - A S Murty (on personal request of Sachin)
30. Mere Dost Kissa Yeh Kya Ho Gaya - S K Elias
31. O Duniya Ke Rakhwale - S K Elias
32. Piya Piya Na Lage Mora Jiya - (On Karaoke) - Mrs Radha Chandar
33. Nazar Woh Jo Dushman Pe Meherban Ho (On Karaoke) - S Chandar
34. Kya Hua Tera Wada - Ms Shanti
35. Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas - Ms Shanti
36. Ae Chand Zara Chhup Ja -(On Karaoke) -duet by S Chandar & Mrs Radha Chandar
37. Badi Der Bhayi Badi Der Bhayi - K Sivaram
38. Dil Khush Hai Aaj Unse - A S Murty
39. Saranga Teri Yaad Mein (On Karaoke) - N R Padmanabhan
40. Darpan Ko Dekha Tune Jab Jab Kiya Singar - R Padmanabhan

While we were in the midst of our Musical Session, our friend from Delhi - Zareef Ahmed - rang me up to enquire what were the final decisions with regard to the RAFI HOLIDAY to Bangalore. He also informed me that he will take a flight into Bangalore on the 14th Nov and be with all of us for two days. He will cover the entire proceedings in his digital camera, video cameras and also upload periodically on the two days the files on "youtube" where a folder by the name of RAFI FOUNDATION has already been created by him.

The final entourage that will proceed on RAFI HOLIDAY from Hyderabad will have lesser number than visualized earlier. Mrs Shubada Deshpande and Sachin have had to opt out and Raghavendra Rao has also not confirmed his participation. The others have all paid up for booking of the train tickets which should be done in the next four to five days. About 15 of us will therefore by taking the RAFI YATRA on the 13th November to spend the next two days of RAFI HOLIDAY with fans of Rafi Sahab and other Music lovers from Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi (hopefully from Mumbai too). We all intend to return to Hyderabad on 16th November as no one has any plans to overstay in Bangalore or proceed anywhere else from there.

I will be finalizing a host of other programme details in the coming days with members of the BBR and other friends in Bangalore. I will keep you all posted with all the details on a regular basis, so that we are all fully informed of all the activities.

Some of us have also agreed to assemble at the house of the Sivarams next Sunday (4th Oct 2009) for further practice of songs on Magic Sing and Karaoke. Anyone else interested to join us too are most welcome. We will inform separately about the timings for the coming Sunday.

Until we meet again through emails and at our Next Musical Session, here is wishing each one of you and your family a very HAPPY FESTIVE SEASON and in particular a very HAPPY DUSSEHRA.

A S MURTY

RAFI HOLIDAY

Adaab Rafi to all,

Now that the dates of 14th and 15th November 2009 are set aside for the RAFI HOLIDAY at Bangalore by all the Rafi-bhakts and Music Lovers of Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore, some of the arrangements are being now attended to.

We at Hyderabad will be booking our to/fro rail tickets by the end of this month. Our members will also be arranging for their respective stay at Bangalore. Members are also busy selecting and practicing their choicest of songs. Now, let us be clear on one thing. We have no restrictions on the type of songs and when on holiday, we will all sing our hearts out. Hence, songs of any singer from the Hindi films are most welcome and although we have phrased the RAFI HOLIDAY, it does not mean that one has to only pick on songs by Rafi Sahab.

I have talked in recent times to :

BG Raj,Ashok Dalmia, Narayanan, Manish Jagirdar, Mukund Pandurangi, Asha and Bina, the main activists of the Baar Baar Rafi Fan Club, Bangalore.

They are all eagerly awaiting our visit to Bangalore to be with them all to spend two days of musical sessions. We are also informed that booking of a suitable hall at Bangalore has already been looked into by Narayanan. Bina will co-anchor the programme with me on these two days. Asha-Vijay, ace Antakshri programmer will make our brains rantle with her preludes, interludes, clues, mukhadas, antaras etc etc. Our friends in Chennai - K S Ramachandran (Chandanbhai), Chandrakant Boske and Jagat Tarkas too are finalizing their presentations. Chandanbhai has been performing on the stage for several years now and sings amazingly very high pitched songs of Rafi Sahab, and at ease. Chandrakant Boske too sings very well all the fast numbers of Rafi Sahab. Jagat Tarkas can whistle his way into our hearts presenting the songs of Rafi Sahab with his near perfect whistling.

R Padmanabhan will put us all to test with his Quiz on Hindi Films and he is already preparing how best to make it most absorbing.

I had thought of conducting the Antakshri myself, but as Asha is around, I think she will do a much better job and I can participate too.

After our travel tickets are booked by the end of the month, we will then chalk out the fineries of the programme, polishing the same on a day to day basis.

Friends, we intend to make this RAFI HOLIDAY an annual event and would like to host the same next year at Hyderabad. Those who are joining us to this wonderfultrip to Bangalore, will have a unique experience. As of now, the following are confirmed participants in this musical journey (RAFI YATRA) to be part of the RAFI HOLIDAY :

1. N R Padmanabhan ( total 3 members)
2. A S Murty (2 members)
3. S Chandar (2 members)
4. R Padmanabhan (2 members)
5. Raghavendra Rao (2 members)
6. Sanjay Deshpande (3 members)
7.Satyendra (1 - self)
8. K Sivaram (3 members).
9. S K Elias (1 - self)

this makes 19 as of now. Three more from Chennai and two from New Delhi are also coming.
Added to these 24 music lovers from outside Bangalore, the BBR will put up a show of a minimum of 25 members from their side. Thus a motely of close to 50 music lovers will be gathering at Bangalore for two days to know one another and to sing their choicest of songs.

In case any one else from Hyderabad wishes to join us all, then the decision will have to be taken real fast. In any case, on the 27th Sept 2009 we would like to collect the amounts towards travel arrangements so that the final rail bookings can be accomplished by the end of this month. Having come thus far, we would not like to be stranded for want of rail reservations and hence the deadline of 27th Sept 2009.

We will keep you all posted of other developments on this subject from time to time.

Here is wishing you all a wonderful FESTIVAL SEASON ahead and Musical tidings always.

A S MURTY
SECRETARY
RAFI FOUNDATION HYDERABAD CHAPTER

RAFI HOLIDAY

RAFI FOUNDATION

HYDERABAD CHAPTER

Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.

“Cinderella”

THE RAFI HOLIDAY – A DREAM TO BECOME A REALITY

The Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter takes a great pride in announcing the launch of the RAFI HOLIDAY during October/November 2009 by visiting Bangalore and spending two days in musical company with members of the Baar Baar Rafi Fan Club and other music lovers.

Some of our members will leave Hyderabad on a Friday during the above period to reach Bangalore on Saturday morning. We will make our own travel and accommodation arrangements and request our friends in Bangalore to arrange a suitable hall for all of us to be together for two full days. The programme on Saturday and Sunday will begin by about 10.00 a.m. after breakfast and we will have singing sessions, quizzes, antakshri, group singing etc for the entire day. Lunch will be from 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. and there will be tea breaks around 12.00 noon and 4.00 p.m. on both days. On Saturday, the programme will continue upto 6.00 p.m. and then our members can go for sight-seeing/visit their relatives or friends etc. On Sunday, we plan to return to Hyderabad by the evening train so that we reach Hyderabad on the morning of Monday. Hence on Sunday, the programme will be wound up by about 5.30 p.m. Those leaving from Hyderabad will travel together (RAFI YATRA) in the same train. On our return though, our members may choose to stay back in Bangalore or visit any other place and return to Hyderabad after an extended holiday.

We had announced this RAFI HOLIDAY by email earlier and also discussed in our subsequent Musical Session on 17^th Aug 2009. Since our last email on the subject, we now have quite a big gathering of our members intending to take the plunge :

1. A S Murty & Mrs A Vijayalakshmi
2. S Chandar & Mrs Radha Chandar
3. N R Padmanabhan & Mrs Swaran Lata Padmanabhan
4. R Padmanabhan & Mrs Meenakshi Padmanabhan
5. S Raghavendra Rao & family
6. S Ramakrishna
7. Sivaram & family
8. Satyendra
9. S K Elias

Those of our other members who are not in a position to give their names immediately, may plan according to the above and confirm to us at a later date.

After discussing with most of our members, we have fixed the dates as under :

14^th & 15^th November 2009

Departure : Leaving Hyderabad by KACHIGUDA-BANGALORE EXPRESS on 13^th November 2009.

Return trip : 15^th November, 2009 by same train.

Friends from Chennai too may make similar arrangements to reach Bangalore on the morning of 14^th November 2009.

Mode of Travel on either side : 3-tier sleeper class.

We will book in group booking for our onward/return journey as per above dates. Those who do not wish to return as per above, may make their return ticket booking separately. Arrangement for our accommodation at Bangalore will also be attended to by us. However, those who need accommodation to be arranged at Bangalore by the BBR, may please let us know immediately.

Friends from BBR have been constantly talking to us and enquiring about the dates as they have to make some arrangements like hall booking etc. The above details will give them information on what needs to be looked after at Bangalore.

MUSICAL FIESTA AT BANGALORE FOR TWO DAYS

JASHN-E-RAFI

On two consequent days, the music lovers from Hyderabad and Bangalore and possibly also a few from Chennai would assemble at a hall arranged for this specific purpose from 10.00 a.m. We will have singing of songs by various members – solos, duets, group singing, etc, besides conduct of an Antakshri and also Quiz on Hindi film songs. The programmes will be co-anchored by Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter and the Baar Baar Rafi Fan Club, Bangalore. Simply stated : JASHN-E-RAFI by all counts.

At the hall, the following would be required to be arranged :

1. MUSIC SYSTEM WITH DVD PLAYER
2. SOUND AND MIKE SYSTEMS ( four cordless mikes )
3. ARRANGEMENT FOR WATER/TEA & SNACKS, ETC.
4. Placing of Banners of Rafi Foundation and Baar Baar Rafi Fan Club
5. Seating arrangement.
6. LUNCH ON THE TWO DAYS.

Since the duration of the singing on two days is very lengthy, our members would get maximum time to present their choicest songs. Hence it is imperative that we go there fully prepared – lyrics, music tunes in CDs, etc.

The duets should be also rehearsed extensively so that we get to hear the best renditions in a clinical manner.

Our members would do well to prepare their list of songs from now onwards and equip themselves with all the necessary ingredients like the lyrics, names of movies etc, karaoke tunes wherever necessary etc.

Since the programme will be co-anchored, we require the full list of songs of each of our participants in advance. This is a must so that meaningful announcements can be made and there is little loss of time.

We will get to meet and interact with the best of music lovers at Bangalore viz. Asha, Manish, BG Raj, Ananya, Hemanth Sharma, etc, to name only a few of them. There are many more of them. We will also get to meet some of the best enclopaedias on Hindi Films.

Those unable to sing with Karaoke tunes, will possibly be also assisted by some Tabla/Harmonium locally arranged at Bangalore. We will discuss these and many more issues with the BBR and send info to all our members through emails in the coming weeks.

The RAFI HOLIDAY must be made an annual event from now onwards. We at Hyderabad would like to host it the next year and extend invitation to Rafi-bhakts from Bangalore, Chennai and elsewhere to spend two days around the same time next year (2010) in Hyderabad. Chennai would get to host the same event in the year thereafter and so on and so forth.

Friends, dreams are made of thoughts and emotions. There is a certain aura of dreaming as long as they are all positive thoughts. And to achieve them takes only a little effort and will from us. There is no gainsaying in postponing such dreams for eternity – that will only leave us leading a life half-done. We certainly can never attain everything in life, for our dreams cannot be curtailed. But wherever possible and according to the needs and times and our own interests, we do tend to realize some of them every now and then. Also we all travel to go sight-seeing, pilgrimages, visits to relatives for functions and marriages etc and in all the focal reason has always been to ‘enjoy life’. Have any of us ventured into a musical journey earlier ? Perhaps yes, and maybe not in many cases. So why not utilize this opportunity to realize our cherished dream of being in the company of all like-minded music lovers – at least those known to us. We will all carry the memorable event for the rest of our lives in our memory. Photographs will be taken, video coverage will be made for all of us to re-live the occasion again and again in the later years.

We are sure many more from Hyderabad will opt for this upcoming and one of the most enchanting phases in our lives. We will try to make this a regular feature from next year onwards, but like it was said elsewhere above, postponement of our dreams can only dilute the fulfilment value attached to it.

ONWARD TO THE UPCOMING “RAFI HOLIDAY” – plan a trip that no-one would have thought of earlier. More on this subject through emails on a regular basis.

A S MURTY

SECRETARY

Rafi Foundation,

Hyderabad Chapter.