By: Rajanikanth Shenoy, Kudpi
Pics: Prakash Kamath, Kanthavar and from archives

Published Date: Mangalore June 4, 2007

It was a summer evening in 1981. The place was Town Hall in Mangalore. The Hall was jam packed and many people swarmed around the place were left with hopes that at least they could hear the voice of the singer who was going to perform.

Curtains opened, music started playing and the young singer started to sing the song -

"Badi door se aaye hain....pyar ka taufa laayen hain...!"

The crowd hysterically cheered and applauded! The show went on....

Many songs following that one, and the crowd cheered and danced to numbers like -

"Hum Kaale hain to kya hua dilwale hain...!"

The show went on till 9.30 P.M. when the orchestra stopped playing.

The mad crowd kept on shouting "Once more!"

A moment's silence.

An appeal from the organisers to the crowd to keep their cool and vacate the venue.

Nothing happened for five minutes. One section of the crowd went up the stage into the Green Room and literally carried the singer on their shoulders, brought him back to stage, to repeat the last song that he sang!

It happens rarely in Mangalore, especially when a local singer performs with his orchestra.

It certainly distinguishes one local singer from the rest of the lot - 'Tagore'!

Tagore is dedicated to sing mostly Mohammed Rafi Saab's songs with his unique voice, gifted by his dedication for Rafi Saab's songs!

His show is called 'Ek Shaam Rafi Ke Naam'.

No other singer in this Country has ever attempted to sing exclusively Rafi Saab's songs within a life time on stage successively for more than 35 years!

Tagore Das Mallya, popularly known as Tagore was Born fifth among nine children to Late Narayana Mallya and Mrs Rathna Bai on 6.8.1954 in Mangalore.

He had his schooling in Ganapathi High School. He was blessed with not only singing at his early age, but also with sports like Kabaddi and Cricket, if not with other arts like painting and stage performances!

At the age of six, he started playing the Table and Harmonium, being affectionately hugged by the noted singer Kalinga Rao in appreciation of his skills in playing the Tabla at such a young age!

Tagore's father was a drama artist and also a famous Harikatha exponent during his times.

From his childhood days, Tagore used to appreciate Mohammed Rafi Saab's songs.

He later went on to study Hindustani Classical singing under training from Master Ramesh and accomplished himself as a perfectionist in voice modulation.

For a few years, he performed with a few local groups, never finding enough recognition for his talents.

He later formed his own orchestra and started performing in shows named - "Ek Shaam Rafi Ke Naam".

He has performed in over 5000 shows within India and abroad so far. His achievement like singing without mike for continuous 3 Hours in a show is quite remarkable!

Back in year 1973, when he was called to perform with a local orchestra in Calicut in Kerala, people started shouting slogans against the orchestra which failed to start the program due to the band not being able to reach the venue with the musical instruments on time. Tagore performed with just a Harmonium and a Tabla to entertain the crowd, and ever since, he was identified with Mohammed Rafi Saab for his unique mesmerizing voice!

He has performed in the presence of famous performers like Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad Ali, Vishnuvardhan, Mithun Chakravarti, Rajnikanth, Kamal Hasan, Padmini Kolhapure, Anita Raj, Ambarish, Sounder Rajan, P.Susheela, Malaysia Vasudevan and others.

Back in year 1986, he has won the acclaim of all the Cricket stars and the Board of Controllers in Chinna Swamy Stadium in Bangalore in a performance, there.

In the year 1996, in a show held at Jaipur, veteran South Indian singer P.B.Srinivos had acclaimed Tagore as the 'Re-incarnation of Rafi Saab'. 

His performances in the Gulf countries have taken the spectators by storm, often people awarding him with garlands studded with jewels or with currency notes!

Tagore has also written lyrics and given background score for a few cassettes in Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada and Konkani.

With an ambition to develop his skills in music and lyrics, he aspires to cut his own private albums in Konkani and Kannada.

Tagore is a shy person, never over-exposing himself but firm and dedicated enough, when it comes to work. He often sits round the clock to write lyrics or compose a new tune.

Let's meet the modern South Indian Mohammed Rafi - Tagore, and find out what he has to tell us about himself!

What made you a singer?

I used to listen to Mohammed Rafi's songs during my school days. Rafi's songs inspired me into singing.

When was your first stage performance?

It was in 1967 that I started singing on stage. It was at a school function.

Do you have any formal training in classical base for singing?

During my school days, I have learnt Hindustani Classical singing from Master Ramesh.

Do you play any musical instruments?

Yes. I play Tabla, Harmonium, Keyboard, Guitar, Drums and a few others.

Do you sing exclusively Rafi songs or do you sing others as well?

Mainly my programme 'Ek Shaam Rafi ke Naam' is for exclusively Rafi solo and duets.

Of late, we have been having other variety musical shows in which I sing songs of Manna Dey, Hemanth Kumar, Talat Mahmood, Mukesh, Mahendra Kapoor and Jesudas.

Do you have your own orchestra or do you get them from outsourcing?

I have my own 50 piece band which we employ according to need and demand, depending on the show. There are instances where we have performed with a hundred piece orchestra.

Is singing an exclusive profession for you, or do you have any other enterprise?

Apart from singing, I have a home industry manufacturing condiments. I also market cosmetics and beauty products.

Tell me about your present family

I married Deepa Pai in the year 1982. We are blessed with a daughter Ekta who is 12 years old.

May I ask you about your hobbies?

Certainly! I like to listen to Hindi film songs and Hindustani classical music. I write song lyrics. I also like to act on stage in amateur plays. I also love to watch cricket.

Someone told me, you also sing Konkani songs to the tune of Rafi Saab's music. Do you intend to bring out an album on this?

I sometimes sing a few Konkani songs in private mehfils in Konkani to Rafi Saab's tunes. The most popular one is "Hum Kaale Hain to Kya Hua Diwale Hain" which I often sing with lyrics written in Konkani by myself!

However, with all due respect to Rafi Saab, I am not serious about singing them commercially or releasing an album too! I sing such songs with an intention to bring about smiles on the faces of the spectators and not with the intention to make money!

Which is the most memorable moment in your life?

Firstly, I remember the evening when Rafi saab performed in 1975 at Nehru Maidan. I had personally met him, touched his feet, and he had whole heartedly blessed me! Later, in 1981 after Rafi saab passed away, when I had conducted 'Ek Shaam Rafi ke Naam' in Town Hall Mangalore where the crowd was so huge, that at least 3000 people had gathered to watch the show and many had to stand outside Town Hall and listen to my singing! When the show ended, many people crashed into the green room and literally lifted and carried me back to stage and made me sing again! This was a unique experience for me and the most memorable one!

Mohammed Rafi Saab was a legend in his times. Not many could carry forward his legacy to the masses in present times. His own son Ibrahim Rafi migrated to Pakistan and became a singer there. His memories are kept alive not only with his songs, but those who sing the songs keep his memories cherished for years to come!

Tagore is dedicated to Rafi Saab's songs, much more than any other artists in India today, with a voice perfectly crafted like that of Rafi Saab's at it's best!

For bookings or enquiries, please contact: tagoredasrafi@gmail.com

More articles by Rajanikanth Shenoy, Kudpi:

Herbal Coolers For Scorching Summer!

Jim's Spirit Rejuvenated In Kannada