*Sonu Nigam’s second Mohammed Rafi tribute concert - Sau Saal Pehle 2.0 - Ek Baar Phir Se - a grand success*
Music lovers were in awe as they attended Sau Saal Pehle 2.0 - Ek Baar Phir Se, Sonu Nigam’s heartfelt tribute to the late legend Mohammed Rafi. Organised by NR Talent & Event Management, the concert was a fitting tribute to Mohammed Rafi's enduring legacy, with Sonu Nigam paying homage to his musical father. The audience, comprising many who travelled from across the country, sang along as the Padma Shri recipient rendered close to 50 songs in a 3.5-hour concert at the Grand Theatre, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), without a break.
The lineup included iconic songs from Mohammed Rafi's timeless repertoire, accompanied by a live orchestra. The audience was visibly moved by Sonu Nigam's renditions of classics like 'Tu Kahan Ye Bata', 'Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho', 'Main Zindagi Ka Saath', 'Rang Aur Noor Ki Baraat', 'Parda Hai Parda', 'Pukarta Chala Hoon Main', 'Dard-e-Dil', 'Suhaani Raat', 'Kya Hua Tera Waada', among others. Two highlights of the lineup were a soul-stirring unplugged section, which saw Sonu Nigam sing Rafi’s all-time classics 'Phir Miloge Kabhi', 'Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par', 'Abhi Na Jaao Chodkar', 'Jaane Kya Dhoondhti Rehti Hain', 'Jo Waada Kiya Wo', 'Chaudavin Ka Chand', among others. The candid and engaging conversation between Sonu and the audience was a key highlight of the concert. Also, a 20-minute non-stop tribute to late actor Shammi Kapoor was a show stealer.
A heartfelt moment at the concert was when Sonu invited the children of both his gurus - Mohammed Rafi and Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan - on stage. While Shahid Rafi, son of Mohammed Rafi, was accompanied by his wife, Firdaus, Rabbani Mustafa Khan, son of Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan had wife Namrata Gupta Khan, also his business partner, for company. The audience cheered on and gave a standing ovation as an emotional Shahid Rafi sang 'Chand Mera Dil' and 'Gulabi Aakhein', leaving many in the audience teary eyed.
Speaking at the show, Sonu Nigam said, “Mohammed Rafi sahab was my first guru. And I am so grateful to the Almighty and my parents for giving me an opportunity to learn from my musical father. It was my father who introduced me to Rafi Sahab's music, and it was Rafi Sahab who made me who I am today… Rafi Sahab ki wajah se main hoon, mera wajood hai. Hence, this concert holds a very special place in my heart as it’s like a bhakt showing his devotion to his guru.”
Hosts Rabbani Mustafa Khan and Namrata Gupta Khan of NR Talent & Event Management jointly said: “We feel honoured that God chose us to organise an event like this. Given the resounding success of Sau Saal Pehle on Rafi sahab’s 100th birth anniversary on December 24, 2024, we knew that it was the beginning of something profound and long-lasting. We are so grateful to our brother, Sonu Nigam, who always supports us in all our endeavours and who better than him to celebrate Rafi sahab. We can’t wait to bring many more such shows for our audiences.”
