Rafi’s unreleased songs rediscovered

Two unreleased songs sung by legendary singer Mohammad Rafi have been lying in a vault in Meerut for the past 40 years. The songs will be released in a locally produced film in Meerut

rafi

Two unreleased songs sung by legendary singer Mohammad Rafi have been lying in a vault in Meerut for the past 40 years. The songs are in possession of octogenarian Ved Prakash Sharma. “I’ve kept these songs close to my heart for 40 years,” says Sharma, the lyricist who penned the songs for the 1970 film

Pyaar Ek Ret Ki Deewaar

, which wasn’t completed.

The film was Sharma’s own production and was being directed by Raj Jalandhri. Sharma says the songs —

Vaada karo pyaar nibhaane ka

and

Zamaane ke haathon sataye gaye hain

— were composed by music director Roshan and recorded in Rafi’s voice for Rs 3,000. They were shot on actors Ravindra and Devika in Meerut and Mussoorie. Two reels were still to be shot when the film was dumped due to financial problems.

“His (Rafi’s) voice sounds so soothing over today’s loud music,” says Sharma who now plans to release the songs in a locally produced film in Meerut. “I want these songs to reach millions of Rafi fans. It would be my tribute to him.”