Legends re-lived at Rafi-Kishore-Mukesh musical concert

More than 700 people gathered at Dorothy Winston Centre on Saturday, March 4 for the Rafi-Kishore-Mukesh Night, an evening of music and nostalgia for the Indian community. The annual concert is a tribute to the legendary yesteryear singers Md Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Mukesh.

The concert featured three lead singers representing each of the legends’ voice and style. Arif Zia vocalised Md Rafi’s songs, Joseph Jose performed Kishore Kumar’s hit numbers, while Viraj Maki sang Mukesh’s songs. The trio was accompanied by Vidya Teke, Arpita Chanda, Shweta Shirsat, and Srishaa Iyer and a band that delivered perfect background music to the songs.

The show commenced at 6:30 p.m. with Mukesh’s Ek Din Bik Jayega from the film Dharam Karam in the voice of Viraj Maki as the audience settled for the musical ride of the evening.

Joseph sang some of Kishore’s most popular songs such as Mere Mehbook Qayamat from Mr X In Bombay, Chingadi Koi Bhadke from Amar Prem, Khaike Paan Banaraswala from Don, Jeevan Ke Har Mod Pe from Jhoota Kahin Ka, Ghum Hai Kisi Ke Pyar Me from Raampur Ka Lakshman and Nakhre Wali from New Delhi.

Arif introduced himself on the stage with a Md Rafi medley and entertained the audience with hit numbers such as Din Sara Guzara from Junglee, Aaj purani rahon se from Aadmi, Jane Wale Zara Hoshiyar from Raajkumar, Chalkaye jam from Mere Humdum Mere Dost, and Hum Premi Prem Karna Jaane from Parvarish.

The four most respected stalwarts of Indian cinema—Mukesh, Md Rafi, Kishore, and Lata Mangeshkar—came together for the first and the last time in 1977’s film Amar Akbar Anthony. The magic of the song Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar Kya Karein was recreated at the concert by Joseph, Arif, and Viraj accompanied by Vidya Teke.

The audience joined Viraj in the song Dum Dum Diga Diga from the film Chhaliya, and then Kahi Door Jab Din Dhal Jaye from Anand, Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai from Shor, a Mukesh medley, and Sath Ajoobe Is Dunia Mein from Dharam Veer.

The show was hosted by Humm FM’s RJ Kashika Singh who engaged with the audience with trivia and some not so well-known facts about the three legends. With every seat occupied, the theatre echoed with evergreen songs.

All the seven singers are well known to classical music lovers in Auckland and have performed in many events and concerns across New Zealand, Fiji, and India. At the end of the show, the performers received a standing ovation from the audience.