Mangalore, Feb 3
Thirty years have passed since the great playback singer of Bollywood Janab Mohammed Rafi passed away on July 31, 1980 leaving his golden melodies as memories for his countless fans.
However, sensational singer Tagore Das emerged with sheer talent to sing just like the late Mohd Rafi and has kept his voice alive all these years. He has attracted huge audiences with his classic programme ‘Ek Shaam Rafi Ke Naam’.
From childhood, Das learnt classical music and musical instruments like harmonium, tabla, guitar and the like. He bagged many prizes for music and drama in school and inter-collegiate competitions at the state level.
At the age of 15, he started singing Rafi’s songs. In 1973, he was awarded the title “Mohd Rafi of South India” in Kerala. In 1996, India’s legendary singer P B Srinivas recognized him as the ‘reincarnation of Rafi’.
He has been appreciated by famous Bollywood music directors like Shankar Jaikishan , Nausad Ali, and Ravindra Jain . His live music concert at Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium, Bangalore, in 1986 was well-appreciated by the cricketers of the Indian team.
His voice being similar to Rafi, Das is aptly called ‘Rafi Ditto’. He is well-versed in playing many musical instruments and is a music composer too.
In 35 years of performances, he has staged over 6,000 music concerts in India and abroad with dedication. His systematic, methodical, and perfect performance has brought him laurels everywhere.
To mark Rafi’s 28th death anniversary, a non-stop 12-hour record breaking show was organized under the banner of ‘Taraana Association Mangalore/ Udupi’ at Syndicate Bank Golden Jubilee Hall on 19 July, 2008, titled ‘Subah-O-Shaam Rafi Tere Naam’.
Das sang the golden hits of Rafi for 12 hours without referring to any written script from 2 pm on 19 July, 2008, to 2 am on 20 July, 2008, and created a new national record. The programme was sponsored by Syndicate Bank and ‘Udayavani’, Manipal.
The programme was inaugurated at 1.45 pm by Gautam Pai, executive director, Manipal Media Network, along with honourable guests Jerry Vincent Dias of Mandavi Promoters and Developers, Pramod, general manager of Syndicate Bank , Ashfaq, businessman of Udupi.
Secretary of Taraana Association Ivan D’Souza, as well as conveners of the programme Ganesh Nayak and Dr Ravindranath Shanbogue were present on the occasion.
Das began the concert at 2 pm with ‘Jaanewale Kabhi Nahi Aate’ followed by ‘Ye Reshmi Zulfe’ (‘Do Raaste’), and all other hits from ‘Kashmir ki Kali’, ‘Dil Tera Deewana’, ‘Asli Nakli’ , ‘Hum Dono’, ‘Sasural’ , ‘Chowdhwin Ka Chaand’, ‘Baiju Baawra’, ‘Basant Bahar’, and ‘Kohinoor’ amongst others.
His excellent performance and his golden voice enthralled the audience. A variety of songs which included ‘ghazals’, classical songs, sentimental songs, and fast numbers were presented.
Das is a rare and special artiste who only comes by once in a lifetime. This son of Mangalore, Tagore Das, who specializes in all of Rafi’s songs can sing in any style as the occasion demands.
His international concerts have been appreciated by all expatriate Indians and the locals and it is a real treat to listen to Das who brings back all that is great and well-known about the legendary Mohd Rafi.