Saira Banu pens down emotional note for legendary singer Mohammad Rafi on his death anniversary

Heartfelt tributes have poured in from across India on the 44th death anniversary of the legendary playback singer Mohammed Rafi. Bollywood icon Saira Banu shared a touching tribute to the singer, highlighting his immense talent and deep connection with her late husband, actor Dilip Kumar.

In her Instagram post, Saira Banu expressed her deep respect for Mohammed Rafi, calling him "one of the greatest playback singers." She admired Rafi's ability to sing in various styles with a blend of melody, emotion, and energy that resulted in countless memorable songs.

Saira Banu also reminisced about the special bond between Dilip Kumar and Mohammed Rafi. She quoted Dilip Kumar, who described Rafi as a "mystical" figure and his voice as an integral part of his own. According to Dilip Kumar, Rafi's ability to adapt his singing to fit the mood and nature of a film character was remarkable.

One memorable moment Saira Banu recalled was when Dilip Kumar worked hard to learn the sitar for their collaboration on the iconic song "Madhuban Mein Radhika Naache Rey" from the hit film Kohinoor. Saira Banu shared that Dilip Kumar practised the sitar for 7-8 months to perfect his performance.

Saira Banu also shared a heartwarming story from 1962, shortly after the Indo-China War. Mohammed Rafi and Dilip Kumar had planned to perform for the armed forces at the border. Unfortunately, Rafi developed a severe sore throat and lost his voice. He was deeply upset at the thought of disappointing the soldiers who had sent requests for their favourite songs.

Dilip Kumar tried to help Rafi by giving him a mixture of ginger and honey, a remedy from his mother. Saira Banu recounted how this simple home remedy worked wonders. The next day, Rafi's voice returned, and both Rafi and Dilip Kumar were overjoyed. The soldiers' performance went ahead as planned, and the soldiers were delighted.

Saira Banu concluded her tribute by promising to share more personal stories about Mohammed Rafi in the future. Her heartfelt words reflect the deep admiration and respect she and Dilip Kumar had for the legendary playback singer.