A musical meeting with “Chota Rafi” Saurav Kishan

By Kavita A Chhibber

I first heard him sing Mohammed Rafi Sahib’s ‘Teri Ankhon Ke Siwa Duniya Mein Rakha Kya Hai” when Ustad Zakir Hussain appreciated it. Then a friend of mine shared the video on Facebook. More than his effort at capturing Rafi’s melodious voice, I was struck by another thing about Saurav Kishan. He was smiling as he sang, and that smile was as endearing as Rafi’s. As was the purity of his aura.

It was interesting that when I forwarded his video to global icon and master musician Sonu Nigam (because Saurav is a fan), Sonu ji said, “I can see his soul from his voice. Glad people are loving him so much. God bless him.” Sonu ji was the only person to single out what I saw, among the global legends and icons of this world. Others were just enamored by Saurav’s voice and how much he sounded like Rafi Sahib.

I remember sending Saurav a tweet that he does not have to be anyone’s clone because then he will be limiting himself. But if he had to capture anything of Rafi Sahib it should be his goodness. I believe your soul is always reflected in your work.

When we spoke later it was fascinating to hear about his journey. Born in Kerala to South Indian parents, it was his grandfather Dr. Ramakrishnan, a physician, who became a major influence in his life. “From the time I was born, I only heard the sounds of music on my grandfather’s gramophone day and night.  Later I realized that everyone loved the old legends. Mohammed Rafi Sahib was a constant in our home as were Kishore da, Lata ji, and Asha ji.”

Saurav has been singing since he was 3 and a half years old. It was Doordarshan’s Gandharva Sangeetham program where his rendition of “Suhaani raat dhal chuki’ caught the attention of  well known music director the late Johnson Master, who encouraged the young boy to concentrate on Rafi sings. “He felt I captured the emotions and the way Rafi sahib sang, very well.”

It was followed by a meeting with Rafi Sahib’s son Shahid Rafi at a wedding. Shahid Rafi sang “Badi door se aye hain” and was followed by young Saurav. “I sang ‘Aane se uske aye Bahar’, and he came over and complimented me. We have remained in touch.”

Starting with Mehfils, Saurav began to be known as “Chota Rafi” (Little Rafi) in Calicut music circles until he had to leave for China to study medicine. “I thought that was the end of my musical career. What would I do in China musically? I was really sad, but much to my surprise within a week I met Chinese students who loved and practiced music and taught me so much. Chinese music is amazing! I learnt to play Erhu (known by many names but the most familiar name is Chinese violin or Two-stringed Chinese fiddle). The Chinese love Bollywood films and Bollywood music and soon I was doing concerts for them in college. It also helped me explore other kinds of music. It has been exciting.”

The global lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic has been something of a blessing in disguise. Saurav returned home and then started putting his songs on YouTube. When Anand Mahindra, the chairman of the Mahindra group, tweeted about “Teri Ankhon ke siwa”, it was soon followed by compliments from the brilliant musician Shankar Mahadevan. Saurav became an instant viral internet sensation. But how does he (a South Indian) sing Rafi so flawlessly especially when he cannot read, write, or speak Hindi or Urdu?

“I spent hours watching videos of the songs of the films and how Rafi Sahib emoted and sang them. I can never sing any song by Rafi Sahib to perfection ever. He was a God-sent genius. But I try my best.”

His manager Shaluu Beadi, a passionate music lover, could not get over Saurav’s voice and contacted him. She helped him set up his accounts on social media. “He had not even seen the tweet by Anand Mahindra until then,” said Shaluu who is overseeing his career pro bono. “I never got a chance to meet Rafi sahib, but I am so grateful to have met Chota Rafi. Saurav and his parents are very simple and pure-hearted people. I want to make sure that his talent is recognized in the right way.”

Rafi is not all that Saurav sings. His move to China opened his mind and he sings Elvis Presley and Kenny Rogers with the same ease with which he sings Rafi  and other legends.

With A.R. Rahman talking openly about the music mafia in the North Indian film industry that has stopped him from working in films there, Shaluu and Saurav are very careful about the next steps. On hearing about the fact that Sonu Nigam’s younger sister Teesha got her first break from the well-known South Indian music director M.M. Kreem, and winning awards with her very first song (despite Kreem having no idea who she was) was heartening for him to hear.

“I have prepared myself for a long time but I am going with the flow. I have so much support from my parents and extended family so there is no rush. I will continue to work hard and am incredibly grateful for the love shown to me. I am extremely fortunate.”

If he stays as grounded as he is at 23 and works hard, Saurav Kishan will continue to hit new peaks. And of course, the medicine man that he soon will be, he will undoubtedly add some ragas and melodies to his healing potions!