Rafi Sahab was an evergreen singer

Rafi Sahab, who was ever green singer in Bollywood, died 27 years ago. But his legacy of thousands of songs, including ghazals, qawwalis, bhajans, rendered during four decades of his singing career lives on, virtually unchallenged and un-imitated.

Bollywood's music trends may have changed drastically of late, but Rafi is still considered a reference point when it comes to judging good singing and dedication to music.

Only a few among the late singer's contemporaries continue to remain active in the industry today. One of them is eminent music director Khayyam, who himself will be 81 years old next February.

Khayyam's association with Rafi dates back to 1950 when as an upcoming music director he had a chance to score music for the film "Bibi".

The success of the film's music cemented the bond between Rafi and Khayyam. Though they worked together in only a few films, the friendship lasted till the inimitable crooner died of cardiac arrest in 1980.

The national-award winning music director of films like "Umrao Jaan", "Razia Sultan", "Trishul", "Kabhi Kabhi", "Noorie", "Bazaar", "Sawaal" and many others, Khayyam recalled that, in the '50s, when Rafi's singing career was already ascending with people taken in by his mellifluous voice and unique singing style, the singer once called on him and made an unusual request.

"He said that he had a desire to sing some bhajans - Hindu devotional songs," Khayyam said.

"In fact, Rafi himself gave me some bhajan tunes and asked me to compose music taking those tunes as a base. That album containing these memorable bhajans was one of Rafi's earliest non-film albums," said Khayyam.

"In each film, if the music director permitted, he attempted to introduce some novelty to his rendition and modify his style suitably. He always kept himself abreast with the times," he said.