NEVER CURSE A POWER CUT

It’s a knee jerk reaction to curse when the lights go out in a power cut. And on a hot, sweltering day, when the fans stop whirring or the ACs go kaput, the first instinct is to mutter an expletive, even if it is under one’s breath.

Imagine then, just this hot sweltering day in 1941 in the city of Lahore (then in undivided India), when a crowd inside a concert hall was restlessly awaiting the arrival of Kundanlal L Saigal, the actor/singer who was the reigning heartthrob of those times. The word was that he was in the hall, fine-tuning the pitch and timbre of his voice before he could step onto the stage. There was an excited, but nervous anticipation in this expectant crowd. Would he sing “Ek Bangla Bane Nyara” and “Diya Jalao”, his chartbusters? Or would he give the crowd the privilege of listening to his latest songs that were previously unheard?

The program emcee requested the presence on stage of the great K L Saigal to the rousing cheers of the crowd. And that was when one of those infernal Lahorian power cuts struck, taking with it the electricity of the crowd. Several minutes passed and when there were Itno signs of the power coming back, the cheers were replaced by jeers, the applause by catcalls.

It was unthinkable for a star like Saigal to sing without a microphone in front of this large gathering…a gathering which also wanted their money’s worth and was fast losing its patience.

Present among them was a young Mohammad Rafi who had accompanied his elder brother and his friend to the concert. The brother’s friend quickly suggested to Rafi and his brother, that this was a golden opportunity – could Rafi keep the crowd entertained till the power returned. Rafi, then a thirteen year old with an enthusiasm to match readily agreed; but his elder brother wasn’t quite sure. His friend however quickly convinced him and they took the young Rafi backstage to meet the organizers.

By now a good fifteen minutes had passed since the power cut and the crowd had progressed from restless to agitated. The organizers knew that unruly mobs in those days were notorious for burning down theatres if they felt they had been taken for a ride. So without any great regard for a young Rafi’s safety, he was quickly announced as a singer of great promise, who would keep them entertained till the power returned.

Rafi took the stage and for the next forty five minutes kept the audience enthralled. Present among the crowd was a producer of Hindi films – Shyam Sunder, who was amazed by the voice and control the young Rafi had displayed. He met Mohammad Rafi after the programme was over and invited hi  - promising him work...and possibly a bright future.    

And as the next four decades would go on to show – what a future it would turn out to be. A future that was initially sparked off by a power cut.

The following song is a rare live rendition by Rafi Sahab of the song, "Main Wohi Wohi Baat" from the film Naya Din Nayi Raat that released in 1974.

Main Wohi Wohi Baat - Mohammad Rafi Live