The story of my deep romance for Lata Mangeshkar (28.9.1929 – 6.2.2022)
Lata Mangeshkar is no more – her mortal body that is. She was over 92, she had been in and out of hospital in recent days, and had been on ventilator support for her last couple of days. This was bound to happen some day – जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युः. But can she ever go out of our lives? I don’t remember a time when I was not aware of her songs, nor can I think of a time when her voice would vanish from the face of the earth.
My abiding romance for Lata Mangeshkar happened despite my early upbringing under the tutelage of my grandfather, firewalled from any bad influences. Dadaji had a modern university education, he was also employed in the education department, but he was renowned as a traditional Sanskrit scholar and astrologer. He ran his household as an austere gurukul. His idea of a child’s education comprised assorted shlokas and mantras, texts like ‘Amarkosh’ and ‘Hitopadesh’, Samachar from Devaki Nandan Pandey, Nesfield’s Grammar and Chakravarty’s Ankganit. Distant relatives, too, would drop their children for different periods for learning some good values from Dadaji, one of which was that films and film songs were ashleel.
At some stage the parents would realise that the child also needs to go to a school. Thus when I was taken for my first school admission at the age of 9, I was a strangely-abled child, far ahead in some strange areas, but clueless about some basic facts about the world around me. My first exposure to the real world came when a boy in the class sang, Mori chham chham baaje payaliya. I suspected that this song was ashleel, because the next line went, Aaj milenge mohe saanwariya.
Even a starker exposure to the real world came my way soon after, when I was deputed to represent my family in a baraat party, as all the elders were on similar baraat duty in the busy marriage season. As this was the baraat of a big Babu Saheb, a Baiji from Banaras had been engaged to entertain the guests. As the baraat settled down in the janvaasa, the Baiji emerged from her green room with a melodious, Do hanson ka joda bichhad gayo re, Gazab bhayo Rama julam bhayo re. But the baraatis found it tepid, and there was a clamour, Kuchh phadakata hua ho jaaye. The Baiji went inside and came out with a swift gyration, Dhoondho dhoondho re saajna dhoondho re saajna, more kaan ka baala. The baraatis erupted in joyous whistles and yells. The boundary line between श्लील and अश्लील was now withering away.
Dadaji could no longer stop the songs from falling into my ears. Those were very loud and public days. When a new film was released, its publicity was through the streets on a hired rickshaw with loudspeaker mounted on its top, blaring the film’s songs, and the announcer describing the story in his colourful language, ending with a suspense, ‘Kya Raj aur Shanti mil payenge? Aaiye dekhiye aaj se Avantika ke rupahle parde par AVM ki mahaan paarivaarik film..’ He would throw coloured pamphlets at the children running after the rickshaw.
The market nukkads always blared film songs. No mela, religious festivity, family function was complete without this contraption – a rickshaw would arrive with a loudspeaker, a couple of boxes, wires, battery etc. The man would mount the loudspeaker on some pole or housetop. Down below, one box would contain gramophone records in sleeves, another box, the disc player which would start rotating after a few turns of the handle. He would take out the record with some ceremony and put it on the player. Out came the song. The children swarmed around this wonder. The sleeve contained the names of the songs and other details. One voice reigned over others and I was able to put a name to it – Lata Mangeshkar.
College was my own coming out of shackles as the radio played Kaanton se kheench ke ye aanchal, tod ke bandhan baandhi payal/ Koi no roko dil ki udaan ko, dil wo chala. But I was also getting ensnared by a Pied Piper of Radio Ceylon, called Manohar Mahajan, who would inexorably draw me to the radio every week in the night to his ‘Hamesha Jawan Geet’ programme with:
Khushiyon ke din manaaye ja, dil ke taraane gaaye ja
Tujhko jawani ki qasam, dil ki lagi bujhaye ja
Aaja piya, aaja piya, abhi to main jawan hun
Abhi to main jawan hun, abhi to main jawan hun
After college, getting a job meant it was time for marriage those days. Any protest that I was not yet ready was met with incredulous looks. Here was this सर्वगुणसम्पन्न कुलीन कन्या, and among several worthy suitors, I, a mere I was getting married to her! But what ultimately mattered with me was what her cousins told me, that she sang Tum na jaane kis jahan mein kho gaye and Aaja re pardesi.
Marriage meant courtesy visits. Our first port of call was Mr and Mrs Bhagawat Prasad. After pleasantries, we made a tentative request to Mrs Prasad to sing us a song. She was a shy person with a thin voice, but her demur suggested that she would sing with some pleading. And once she started with one after another song – Rahte the kabhi jinke dil mein hum jaan se bhi pyaron ki tarah/ Baithe hain unhin ke kooche par hum aaj gunehgaron ki tarah; Mere sapne mein ana re sajna and Nigahon mein tum ho, khayalon mein tum ho, jidhar dekhti hun nazar aa rahe ho – it was a divine experience. Her voice was untrained, there was no musical instrument for support, but she was living the emotions, Lata Mangeshkar’s spirit pervaded there. Thanks to Mrs Prasad, many decades later, I remember the songs and the lyrics.
In larger gatherings, whenever Shipra Biswas was sighted, there was a collective roar, Shipra, Tumhein yaad karte karte. And one may forget her name, but that didn’t matter because her identity was Tumhein yaad karte karte, jayegi rain saari. Many years later, in our social get-togethers of tennis court families, Mrs Sarojini Pathak would render a most melodious Jo dil ko sataye, jalaye, dukhaye/ Aisi mohabbat se hum baaj aye. And Pathakji, when he was at his highest point, always ended the evening with Tere sadke balam, na kare koi gham, ye samaan, ye jahaan phir kahaan.
My bonding with Lata Mangeshkar was complete. Later, I read many things about her, some quite unflattering, that she was haughty, she was vengeful and she used her might to squash competition. These were written by learned people and I had no reason to disbelieve them. But did I care how she was as a human being? She was a pure voice, unsullied by what others wrote about her.
Then when I started writing this blog, I was seen as a Lata Mangeshkar-partisan. I was surprised, how could one be a Lata-partisan? She was The Female Playback Singer, up above others. One could be an Asha Bhosle-partisan, or a Geeta Dutt-partisan. But there is one and only Lata Mangeshkar, there never was a Lata Mangeshkar before her; there would never be another Lata Mangeshkar.
Lata Mangeshkar lives forever with me and millions of music lovers with her songs. I end my tribute with some songs which have moved me beyond words, gave me enormous joy over the years.
1. Khushiyon ke din manaye ja…Abhi to main jawan hun from Afsana (1951), lyrics Gafil Harnalavi, music Husnlal-Bhagatram
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Qkw35wZc8
2. Na main jaanun aarti bandhan, na puja ki reet..Ae ri main to prem diwani mera darad na jaane koy from Naubahar (1952), lyrics Meerabai/Saryendra Atthaiya, music Roshan
3. Aaj mere man mein sakhi bansuri bajaye, koi pyar bhare geet sakhi baar baar gaaye from Aan (1952), lyrics Shakeel Badayuni, music Naushad
4. Tumhare bulane ko ji chaahta hai from Laadli (1949), lyrics Bahzad Lakhanavi, music Anil Biswas
5. Main to tum sang nain milake haar gayi sajna from Manmauji (1962), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Madan Mohan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kISh6TGbCjc
6. Dil ki dunaiya basa ke sanwariya, tum na jaane kahan kho gaye from Amar Deep (1958), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music C Ramshandra
7. Rang dil ki dhadkan bhi laati to hogi from Patang (1960), lyrics Rajendra Krishna, music Chitragupta
8. Haaye jiya roye from Milan (1958), lyrics Prem Dhawan, music Hansraj Behl
9. Pyasi hirni ban ban dhaaye koi shikari aaye re, Chori chori fanda daale baanh pakad le jaaye re from Do Dil (1965), lyrics Kaifi Azmi, music Hemant Kumar
10. Raja ki aayegi baraat, rangili hogi raat. magan main naachungi from Aah (1953), lyrics Shailendra, music Shankar-Jaikishan
Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
The song links have been embedded from the YouTube only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights.
{ 74 comments… read them below or add one }
Pujya Lataji – “Na Bhuto Na Bhavishyati”
Wonderful post
SS Dubey,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Loved reading the personal connection, AK. That is also how I choose to remember her. If I may?
https://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-music-stills.html
Excellent tribute to the greatest voice of India, with an engaging narrative. Loved it.
Much as I love the songs you’ve posted, what I must really applaud is what precedes that – the very personal feel of that section is absolutely wonderful. Thank you, AK. Beautiful tribute.
During the support commentary that Harish Bhimani was providing during the live broadcast of Lata Mangeshkar’s funeral procession, he recalled that on one occasion he had asked her about her one song that spontaneously comes to her mind. This was the song that Lat Mangeshkar recalled:
Bairan Neend Na Aaye (Chacha Zindabad -1959) – Lyrics: Rajinder Krishna – Music: Madan Mohan
https://youtu.be/MqRzzBlLcSw
On being asked the same question to him by Lata Mangeshkar, Harish Bhimani recalled
Man Mohana Bade Jhoothe ..- Seema (1955) – Lyrics: Shailendra – Music Shankar Jaikishan
https://youtu.be/rKM2eEehOa0
If I apply the same test to me, the two Gujarati songs that pop up are:
Have Sakhi NahiN BoluN NahiN BoluN Re – Lyrics: Dayaram – Music: Purushuttom Updhyay
https://youtu.be/zlbkO8XRUNI
Rk RajkaN Suraj Thavane ShamaNe UgamaNe JaI UDe – Music: Harindra Dave – Music: Dilip Dholakia
https://youtu.be/d81TpJHj9jg
Anu @4,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. You have written a lovely tribute. Now I have to struggle to post my comment there.
Sanjay @5,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Madhu @6,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I consider myself lucky that I fell in love with Lara Mangeshkar head over heels from an early age.
Ashokji @7,
Bairan neend na aye is a beautiful song. It is possible she could instantly recall this song.
A beautiful tribute indeed! What I liked the most was how your personal connection with Lata Mangeshkar developed over the period of time. Absolutely loved that part.
Most of the songs on the list are my favourites too.
To add,
Tum Kya Jano Tumhari Yaad Mein
https://youtu.be/GJ3D6kPzWQc
Chhed gayo mohe – I always get tears in my eyes due to overwhelming feelings. There’s something in the song that touches me.
https://youtu.be/sZfnyWldsyo
And,
In addition to the one from naubahar that you have added, there’s this one,
I can’t say how much सुकून I get after listening to this one.
Dekho Jee Mera Jiya
https://youtu.be/bUxEcQC778w
And,
I also adore,
Aaj kal mein dhal gaya from Beti Bete.
The list would never end. Thank you so much for the heart-warming post.
Anup,
Thanks a lot for your appreciating my connection with Lata Mangeshkar. Her favourite songs are endless. She was at her best in the 1950s.
A very fine tribute to Latha Mangeskar the nightingale
Mr Vasudevan,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
This is such a lovely tribute. Such icons, while they are very good at their key vocations, they become ‘iconic’ because of the era they help define.
I saw ‘Rocket Boys’ on Sony Liv on Saraswati Puja. It narrates the story of Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai. And next day when Lata ji passed away, reminded me as to how the last remaining connect with that India was forever gone.
Ak ji
The tributes paid by you to Lataji were as if the collective feelings of all her fans.
All of us may have gone without listening to the voices of near and dear ones at some point of time in our life but we have listened to the Lataji’s voice everyday from the day we recognised it.
I have almost similar memories to different songs of Lataji for the first time.
Like I had already said here aasma ke neeche was the first song registered on my mind.
My father acted like your Dadaji and had a very clear opinion about HF & HFM . As there was a portable transistor radio occassionally it was possible to take it in some isolated place like terrace and listen to Hindi songs. On one such occassion I for the first time listened to kab tak hujoor and it is still one of the top favourite for me.
Then in the first year of my college my elder brother took me to a shop where you would pay chat Anna and you got to listen one song of your choice. The shop did not provide any other frills including tea. During those days I was ignorant about anything other than RDB, LP or KA ( SDB was an exception though).
The song my brother chose was yu hasarto ke daag and it changed my perspective about golden era music.
Finally 3 years later my maternal uncle who resided in Mumbai played Royal Albert Hall LP and again for the first time l listened to number of songs which included Thandi Hawaye.
It seems that the cliched concept of time value of money is turned on its head by Lataji. As you go deep in the past from 90s to 50s the joy of listening increases progressively.
Thanks again for expressing our feelings in such a poignant way.
Here are my tributes to Gaankokila
Tum na jane kis jaha me
https://youtu.be/uSkgzTahEfg
Yu hasarto ke daag
https://youtu.be/i0XYKC2YQ9w
And a marathi song
Tinhisanja sakhe milalya
https://youtu.be/Oz9ZBMIrPlo
AKji, I enjoyed your tribute which traced your journey alongside Lata’s. All of us who are addicted to golden era Hindi film music have our own stories of how we actually began to appreciate good music. Since I belong to a generation after yours, a lot of what you have shared about your childhood is perhaps not applicable to me. But despite being a true blue south Indian, I was fortunate to have grown up in the Hindi heartland at a time when only Vividh Bharati ruled radio and DD, television. Programmes like Man Chaahe Geet, Chitrahaar and Rangoli were our favourites. Imagine getting up by 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning just to watch Rangoli!!
Those were the times when there was paper ballot voting and election results were eagerly awaited not because we children were interested in the results but because old hit films were shown on DD as the counting was in progress, which also meant some lovely songs. It was but natural to hear and see old songs – and even record a few on them!! This is how Lata became a part of my life. So much so that I was not able to distinguish between Lata and Suman Kalyanpur’s voice for a long time. Lata’s voice had really captured our imagination.
While her voice gradually changed from the 1940s to the 1980s, from the thin, nasal voice to the slightly thicker one, the melody in the voice persisted. I personally feel that her best was over by the beginning of the 1990s as far as film music was concerned. That also is evident in the dwindling number of songs she sang in the late 1990s and thereafter.
Early 2000 saw the launch of FM channels on Radio. I was now in college. In south Indian households, there is a tradition of beginning our day with Suprabhatam sung by M.S.Subbulakshmi. However, as my father would jokingly say that my Suprabhatam was completely different. It was the retro music that played on FM which usually began with the long prelude of one of Lata’s popular songs from Aakhri Khat – Baharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Sawaaro (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dEE5v9ULWs). In fact, when I do shows on radio, I still use this as the background score while taking small breaks.
Two of my favourite songs of Lata are Ajeeb Dastan Hain Yeh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7GR1S-HNGo) from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi and Jaane Kya Baat Hain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWEZ2EOVgxg) from Sunny. I am not good at writing tributes and thus did not write one on my blog. I felt I was better off commenting on blog posts of others.
Abhigyan @16,
Welcome to SoY, and yours is such a lovely comment. Lata Mangeshkar had become an icon and a legend when she was a still active playback singer in the 1950s and 60s. The last surfing connect to that India has gone. But through her songs she will live forever.
Mr Muli @17,
It is so nice to see your connection to Lata Mangeshkar, we have all gone through our own discovery and then lifelong romance, with just a phase difference. Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Your first two songs are iconic.
Anita @18,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. Nice to hear your own story about Lata Mangeshkar. There is something ethereal about ‘Baharo mera jeevan bhi sanwaaro’. This is a wonderful tune and its instrumental prelude very apt as a signature tune for a radio programme. So you are also an RJ, my compliments! I would like to hear one of your programmes.
Thank you for this heartfelt and personal tribute, the best one that I have read so far. I also commend you for overcoming the overwhelming sadness that you must have no doubt felt and going ahead and writing this – it must have been really very difficult to do so. I hope it was cathartic, even if only to a small extent.
The song that has kept coming back to me, again and again, these past 2 days is ‘Jana paLabhara mhaNatila haaya haayá’……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Ekbkb8iNM
(Poet – Bha Ra Tambe, Music – Vasant Prabhu)
A thing that puzzles me is people Tweeting asking for people to respond with their favourite Lata song. I can’t imagine anyone, especially Lata bhakts, having only 1 favourite Lata song…
It’s a wonderful tribute Anil bhai, yet it feels like you wanted to write much more. You have the Lata songs, the music flowing in your blood, and you don’t know where to begin, where to end. Blood flows in a circle, it has no beginning no end. I have been humming Jana tha humse dur….for the last three days. It refuses to leave me . I can’t imagine anyone else making the same impact singing this song. That is the uniqueness of Lataji. She and the songs were made for each other.
Ashwin 22, 23,
Lata Mangeshkar is a living presence with me, you and most music lovers. But yes, it was difficult. I could pen down something only about midnight. The song Jan palbhar mhantil is wonderful. Thanks for introducing it. The translation of lyrics, combined with her divine voice is very moving. My tributes to the poet. It is a universal song, except that Lata Mangeshkar lives forever.
I am puzzled and shocked by insensitive pictures of her last days in the hospital, floating in the social media.
Mrutyunjay,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. We are on the same page about Lata Mangeshkar. Think of Lag ja gale ki phir ye haseen raat ho na ho; Kabhi to milegi, kahin to milegi, bahaaron ki manzil raahi; Raat ki mehfil sooni sooni; Ye zindagi usi ki hai, jo kisi ka ho gaya – the thought of comparison does not even occur to me. Songs are endless, but I had to choose only some.
For those of us growing up in the 60s and 70s ( Earlier, some ), Radio Ceylon, Vividh Bharti, padyaavalis, Screen, Picture Post, Filmfare.
.were part and parcel of our lives.
Above all, was Lata. The constant. For all moods, for all seasons, for all reasons.
Having grown up in a Marathi neighborhood, having family friends from Mumbai, Pune, Sangli and Kolhapur ( V N Bhatkhande ‘s close relative being my childhood best friend ), we would hear first hand accounts of Lata Bai ( mind you, not idle gossip; only positive, heartening things ).
Lag jaa gale…All time favorite.
Aaj kal mein dal gaya.
Rangeela re tere rang mein..
Na jaane kyon hota hai…
Rasik balma…
Megha chhaye aadhi raat..
Bai battoor Bai battoor..
Tu Chanda main Chandni..
Rula ke gaya sapna mera..
Bachhe man ke sachhe..
Every one of these kindles some personal memories.
AK ji,
Very personal, heartfelt tribute.
Dr Shetty,
It is nice to know that many share the same feelings for Lata Mangeshkar. Lag ja galey ki phir ye haseen raat ho na ho is also my all-time favourite.
Lataji lived her life happily for many years but deeply regret her end due to the Chinese originated virus. Grateful to her for giving me pleasure through so many songs, no Romance just respect as per true Bharatiya Sanskruti.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0W8Wh-8UCg
Agree, such a melodious number…. Oozes emotions!
Befitting tribute to the legend Lata Mangeshkar. It is very difficult to choose her best 10. We have grown listening to her and connect every happy and sad moment with her melodies.Tum Na Jaane Kis Jahaan Mein Kho Gaye, Tum Kya Jaano Tumhari Yaed Mein Hum Kitna Roye, Tera Jaana Dil Ke Armaanon Ka Lut Jaana…..& many more..
A well meaning tribute Sir. While in such an occasion it is not possible to include compositions from all the composers from the available information her songs for composers who did not do many films also made to the top. For example , her songs rendered for N Dutta in the films like Mr John and Sadhana (1958). Similarly her songs for stalwarts like Salil Choudhary who gave her more difficult songs . So the numbers do not really matter, quality of composition matters.
Gandhi Vadlapatla @31,
KB @32,
We are all together in our tribute to her.
AK ji,
Very beautiful and a heartfelt tribute to one and only Lata Mangeshkar.
Her voice is so much part of our lives. I have been listening to her from the day I started listening to the songs. She has and will always remain my favourite.
As everyone mentioned it is almost impossible to select her best songs (whether 10, 50 or even 100).
The 2 vinyl records -“Lata Forever” and “From Lata with love” are among my most cherished possession.
Thanks once again.
Siddharth,
Thanks a lot for your sentiments. We are all together in this loss. HMV (later Saregama) brought out her several compilations. One was her concert in Royal Albert Hall, London, which had introduction by Dilip Kumar. There was another 4-set pack containing her songs from beginning till the 1990s. But now of course, everything is available on YT.
AK,
What a nice Shradhanjali! I use this word because tribute does not convey the true sentiment hidden in such a write-up. The personal connection touched a chord in my heart. My Dadaji died before I or even my elder sister was born. He was a chronic patient and knew he would not live long, so he married off my father, the eldest song, at 19 which was not even abnormal in those days. My Dadiji was his second wife, the first having died issue-less after about 3 years of marriage. So he was a frustrated person, in an otherwise contented life. So I would say both you and your Dadaji were lucky to have such a close relationship. Our elders were prohibitive because they worried about our future. Many of our generation spoiled their lives due to films when they became mad for them before it was appropriate.
Coming back to Lata Mangeshkar. Her life was a great example for people. In fact the song lines ‘ajeeb dastan hai ye kahan shuru kahan khatam’ fit perfectly. Her life started with her struggle for keeping the kitchen fires burning after early death of her father and ended with the whole country giving her a standing ovation. After Dilip Kumar ditching us just before his century, everybody was expecting Lata to give us that happy moment because of her simple life. But alas this could not be. This reminds me of the period from 1975 to 80 when we music lovers lost SDB, Madan Mohan, Mukesh, Sahir and Rafi in quick succession.
So what can I with for her, except saying ‘har khushi ho wahan tu jahan bhi rahe’ in her own voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUJXocYrTr0&t=21s
Her fans are left crying with her song ‘baadlo barse nayan ki kor se’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8-P5hqFAqA
Besides the mainstream cinema Lata also contributed her mighty voice to historic, devotional and other such films. The above song is an example of that. Despite the money-minded tag attached to her, she lowered her fees for singing for stalwarts like Vasant Desai and SN Tripathi. There was another song ‘na na barso re badal’ in Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan which conveyed the same sentiments as in the above song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmpREt4ePOQ
I was in Rohtak when I heard the news and when I was returning with my family, music was playing from the pen-drive. After 3-4 songs, it randomly played ‘ye zindagi usi ki hai’ which ends with ‘alvida, alvida, alvida’. The last lines of the song just fit ‘ae zindagi ki sham aa tujhe gale lagaun main’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA0oh0cWgkM
There are two mistakes in the above comment. Read ‘son’ instead of ‘song’ in the fifth line of the first para and ‘wish’ for ‘with’ in the first line of the third para.
Hans,
I am grateful that so many people felt connected to my slice-of-life tribute to the legend. ‘Spoiled their lives’: I don’t think there is any formula whether a control works or not. I have been lucky to get passionate about music, and now films too. I am watching more films today than I watched in my younger days, thanks to so many wonderful things available on the net.
Lata Mangeshkar’s talent was a combination of hard work and divine gift. Thanks a lot for your appreciation of my very personal tribute.
It’s been three days but the sadness of her death refuses to leave.
My first fuzzy memories of Lata Mangeshkar are a that of a very beautiful Meena Kumari in Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi singing Ajeeeb Dastan Hai Yeh. It was telecast during election time and I was mesmerized by Meena Kumari and the voice. I was just a kid and did not know much but Meena Kumari’s beauty and angst in the song stayed with me. So did the voice. Lata was always around us with her songs and so were other singers but Lata was always the prominent one.
My re-introduction to Lata happened with DDLJ. Ho Gaya Hai Tujhko Toh Pyaar Sajna, Mere Khwabon Mein Jo aaye . These were like love anthems for us.
After DDLJ my time travel actually started, I began going back into her career and started collecting her songs 80s, 70’s, 60’s, 50’s, 40’s. There was not a single emotion she could not emote.
I was hoping against hope that she would come out of this, alive. The fact that she is no more even as I listen to her songs is a bit painful. Only if there had been no corona, only if we had booster shots available she would have been with us.
These are some of her songs, some of them are so sad, I listen to them very rarely, the emotions in these songs get you.
#Akhercha Ha Tula Dandavat . She composed it herself under pseudonym Anandghan, Lyrics by Yogesh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN2ctZl-7tg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfAePW69ZPY
#Rangeela Re from Prem Pujari S D Burman, Neeraj.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD_UK0Noszg
#Ya Chimnyano Parat Fira – Srinivas Khale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qqy48B8-aI
#Abhi To Mai Jawan Hu – Afsana 1951 Husnlaal BhagatRaam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XwHDrnkfYU
#Bhay Ithle Sampat Nahi – Hrudaynath Mangeshkar, Poet Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmxmphxi164
#Naina Barse Rimjhim Woh Kaun Thi 1964 Madan Mohan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w5iETwBs2o
#Dheere Dheere Machal Aye Dil-E-Bekraar Hemant Kumar, Kaifi Azmi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3RiMIAZ1vY
#Tu Kya Jaane O Bewafa – Kalyanji-Anandji, Gulshan Bawra – Haath Ki Safai 1974
# Do Ghunt Mujhe Bhi Pila De Sharabi – RD Burman, Anand Bakshi – Jheel Ke Us Paar 1974
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8xALJ3lUNY
Tera Mera Pyaar Amar – Shankar Jaikishan, Shailendra – Asli Nakli – 1962
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV0-rrdPJKw
Yahomati Maiiya Se – Satyam Shivam sundaram – Laxmikant-Pyarelal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEkqroCKLMo
Thank you Lata .
Shakti,
Welcome to SOY. What a beautiful tribute with a great bouquet of songs. Among Hindi songs, Abhi to main jawan hun is my special favourite which I have kept at #1. Ajeeb daastaan hai ye, kahan shuru kahan khatam is a universal favourite. Everyone can relate herself with this song.
I am grateful–along, I presume, with the rest of your readership–that grandpa or no grandpa, you developed a taste for filmi music! Lovely to learn about some of the reminiscences associated with Lata’s songs for you. Few things bring us back to old memories as vividly as music can.
AK ji,
Thanks for your post on Lata ji, which came up as I had expected here.
I would consider your today’s post as the best written post among all your posts so far.
I was completely glued to it till I finished reading it.
Thank you very much.
-AD
AKji,
Lata Mangeshkar’s songs are living history. Admiration for her is highly personalised because she is intimately linked to the emotions of millions of music lovers through her songs. No bond could be stronger. Your “Shraddhanjali” , as Hansji has aptly said, amply amplifies the fact.
Her voice, through her songs, will remain immortalised for generations, and there will be an infinite number of hearts that will carry her imprint for years to come.
Thank you AKji for the unique tribute.
Shelomit @41,
My experiences are so culture-specific, I don’t know you if were able to relate to it. Many readers already had a very heightened sense of film-music. Only one thing I an claim, in many readers I was able to develop a taste of film-music of the 1930s and 40s. Thanks for dropping in.
Arunji @42,
Thanks a lot for your nice words. I am happy that you could relate it. For earlier generations this would be a common experience with some variation.
Venkatarmanji @43,
You are welcome. You are absolutely right, we all have shared memories with Lata Mangeshkar’s songs.
Dear AK ,
एक मधुरपि मधुरम् अमर स्वर को आपने दी
बेहद सुरीली गीतांजली !!!
लता के प्रेमवीरोंकी कतारमें आपके साथ मैं भी शामील हूँ ।
आपके जीवन धारा में बचपनसे लेकर … दोनों कांठोंपर साथ साथ चल रही लता का आपने बयाँ किया हुआ सफर बहोतही रोचक था
श्लील – अश्लील के किस्से और मोरी छमछम बाजे पायलियाँ , ढूँढों ढूँढों रे साजना … मजेदार ..।
मिसेस प्रसाद एवं सरोजिनी पाठक और क्षिप्रा बिस्वास के गानोंकी बातें भी मनोरंजक रही ।
लाऊडस्पीकर वाली रिक्षा .. वाह .. आपका वर्णन बडा ही चित्रदर्शी हैं .. आँखोंके सामने सारा देख सका मैं .. लता कैसे आपके जीवनका अभिन्न अंग बनती गयी ये आपने बखूबी लिखा AK जी …
” जन पळभर म्हणतील हाय हाय ” के बाद उन्हीं प्रतिभाशाली कवी भा. रा . तांबे जी का एक अमर गीत मैं जोड रहा हूँ ..
उपर उपरसे तो प्रतीत होता हैं की ये किसी नववधू की अपने होनेवाले पती के प्रति प्रगट की हुई भावनाँए हैं .. लेकिन नहीं … इसमें कवी स्वयंको नववधू के रुपमें कल्पना कर रहा हैं और ईश्वर हैं उसका होनेवाला पती .. अब ये ध्यान में रखते हुए गाना पढियें और सुनिए .. लता ने कवी की भावना पूरी ताकतसे हमतक पहुँचाई हैं
“नववधू प्रिया मी बावरते ”
https://youtu.be/aSMzPWNAD5c
( इस मराठी गीत से सैगल के बाबूल मोरा की याद उजागर होना स्वाभाविक हैं )
AK जी ,
आपने सच कहा .. लता तो हमारे साथ forever रहेगी .. लता के गानें , उनका मधुर शब्दोंमें बोलना , खिलखिलाती हँसी हमारे दिलसे कभीभी नहीं जाएगी
“न वो हमसे जुदा होंगे ”
https://youtu.be/iG2cxlniMz0
AK ,
लता को अर्पित इस गीतांजली के लिए बहोत बहोत शुक्रिया ।
प्रमोद गोडबोले
प्रमोदजी,
आपने तो अपने उद्गार में अपना दिल उँड़ेल दिया है. मैं देख रहा हूँ कि लता मंगेशकर के ‘प्रमवीरों’ में आपने अपना सर्वस्व समर्पित कर दिया है. मराठी गीत आपकी व्याख्या के साथ बहुत ही मार्मिक है. इससे हुबहू मिलती भावना हम अमीर खुसरो में पाते हैं – देस बिदेस में घूमी फिरी हूँ, मोहे तोरा रंग भायो निज़ामुद्दीन. इस तरह के और भी.
मुझे बहुत ख़ुशी है कि आपने मेरी लम्बी यात्रा को पसंद किया.
AKji
“If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all.” “ Hamlet” Hamlet ponders over his state before going to have his final fight with his cruel uncle. Hamlet was always in the shadow of death.
And so we all are!
Lata’s death was going to come sooner or later! And it will be followed by other as well.
The present tribute to Lata over her death is an excellent one and of course it is difficult for one who grew up with Lata’s singing voice so many decades from the gramophone records played in various households from morning till late night like AK, myself held the thumping heart when it was announced on our British TV early morning with the Clips of Lata singing with her orchestra when she had the Indians and Pakistanis and African Indians and Indonesian Indians and other Indians who listened to her songs here in the UK when there was a rise of Indian Restaurants and her song were played on the tapes while people ate Indian food.
They were top of the pops whatever the Beatles, and Bob Dylan and other pop singers dominated the TV and Radio media.
There was a generous Tribute on the TV, Radio etc. though there was hardly any public Tribute due Covid-19 restrictive laws.
In the present tribute some Marathi readers had rightfully remembered Lata’s sweet songs especially those of one Marathi poet Tambe’s famous Marathi Poem “Madhu Magashi Mazya Sakhya Pari…” The Poet Tambe came from the famous house of Tambe famous for Jhansi Ki Raani”. This song was many times played by our neighbour on many occasions. It is a sad song foretells the shadow of death.
Like your Marathi readers I too heard a Marathi song of Laa’ts “Tuz Swapani Pahile Re Mohana”… and I was attracted to the magical or rather wizardry song went deep in my memory. If I am not wrong the notes and tune of this song was used by Shankar Jaikishan in the famous film “Chori Chori 1956. The song was “Rasik Balama….”.
One could remember many golden nuggets songs of Lata and one will find days and nights and weeks have passed and year may pass as well but Lata’s songs will never end.
Lata is “Amar” and forever.
Shalan Lal
Your post reminded me of a lesson from my Hindi textbook in class 8 or 9 about the value of literature. The author, whose name I forget, said that a writer reveals more of himself/herself in writing than in interpersonal interaction. The story of your early life, particularly of Dadaji – my shradhanjali to him – is new for me despite knowing you closely for two-thirds of our lives!
As you well know my favourite female singer is Geeta Dutt. I have no hesitation, however, in admitting that Lata is miles ahead of her in every aspect of singing. To put it in numbers, I like almost every song of Geeta, and maybe 20-25% of Lata. But given the sheer numbers of Lata, her songs in my personal collection outnumber the next three put together.
Lata didn’t sing much in the last couple of decades. Knowing that she was there, and watching the occasional video of her blessing some young singer was a source of comfort. Her departure still feels like a great loss. ‘End of an era’ is a cliche, but in this case it rings true.
Ak ji
Pramod ji has chosen a very appropriate marathi song
Navvadhu Priya .
One of the interpretation of this poem ( and I think it is almost unanimously agreed) is that it addresses death as the pati .
Highly respected poet Tambe ji has written number of such poems alluding to impending death. Shalan ji has quoted one of them .
Kala jya lagalya jeeva and kashi kalnagini are others that come to my mind. All, obviously, are rendered by Lata.
Kala jya laglya
https://youtu.be/UC3zFtUtS00
Kashi kalnagini
https://youtu.be/FAYV7XhrIiI
Shalan Lal @49,
Thanks for your detailed observations. You would have longer reminiscences of Lata Mangeshkar’s songs than any one of us. Her Marathi Bhavgeets are really full of emotions. I believe the song you are referring to means, “I saw you Gopala in my dreams.” I don’t see traces of ‘Rasik balma’ in the song. But I leave it to music experts.
Tujha swapani pahile Gopala
https://youtu.be/7XwkYpfVprs
Madhu magasi majya sakha pari is also a wonderful song:
https://youtu.be/Q-8Q_U__VT8
Thanks for introducing me to these two gems. I have been more familiar with her Bengali songs. Now I am getting into Marathi songs, thanks to the readers.
Subodh @50,
I guess writing still gives a feeling of anonymity when one can open more. There a postscript to Dadaji’s story. My wife often says, Dadaji in heaven must be ruing ‘what a great fall of his pupil’.
I had in mind Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle partisans, but Lata Mangeshkar was a class by herself.
Thanks for your nice words.
AKji:
You know how to touch a chord with the SoY family. Everyone here will have a falling-in-love story with the voice known as ‘Lata’, one’s list of favourite songs, and one’s explanation for what made her the phenomenon she was.
I grew up with Lata’s voice waltzing with the strains of violin in ‘Thandi Hawayen’ and later found the expansive sound of ‘Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega’ haunting. These were the two songs that were part of a small collection of music that I would take to audiophile shops when I was trying to buy a pair of speakers. I noticed that while I enjoyed Saigal’s songs the most on the bigger, expensive systems, the sound of his songs seemed to suffer a lot on less costly, smaller systems. That was not the case with Lata’s songs which sounded divine across equipment.
My guess is, part of Lata’s magic could be because her songs sound equally good on a transistor radio costing a couple of hundred rupees playing on a paan shop and a costly electrostatic panel speaker in an air-conditioned drawing-room. Thus, while Saigal’s music was appreciated by the classes, and Asha’s (say) by the masses, Lata could span the two with ease.
Knowing pretty well this topic is on the great Latha, but with reference to comment no 50 above, I would like to add that Geetha would have given or sung far more super duper songs but for her personal life which was not as good as it should have been. My view Sir.
Canasya,
You are giving an interested perspective on sound quality across different devices. They once brought out Saigal’s LP with stereophonic sound. That sounded horrible. Saigal kind of voice and singing was once in history thing. Lata Mangeshkar and music of the era defined playback singing.
Blogmaster AKji’s reminiscences and a brief lifting of veil to show his initial years of life under a stern grandfather (most of the grandfathers of that generation belonged to a distinct genre of disciplinarians) is superb to say the least. I always know his introductions of his own or guest’s post were great masterpieces but in this post he has excelled it and I salute a genius and once again I assert he is my fidus achates.
Lata Mangeshkar is an incarnation of Goddess Saraswathi sent by the Almighty entity of the Universe to bring great happiness to humanity by her song rendition. One could write a book about her abilities and singing skills and I am least endowed for such an attempt. Here is an excerpt of an interview of the late illustrious lady by Pakistan journalist Kamran Shahid. It is averred that it is the only time any interviewer was able to enthuse Lataji to sing extempore. Please listen to the entire episode. Lataji was an epitome of humility unaffected by the praise showered on her.
https://youtu.be/DZslgutm3NI?t=2235
Mr Rangan,
Welcome back to SOY after a long gap. It seems your computer has come back to life. Thanks a lot for your nice words. Thanks for sharing the link of the interview of Lata Mangeshkar. It is very enlightening.
AK ji
The news of Lata ji’ demise made everyone sad. Well, she had to go when her time was up. It is her innumerable memorable songs which make her immortal.
Your reminiscences make this post even more interesting. I am prompted to bring up a day about 50 years back. It was the last week of January 1972. I was in my college library making notes from a reference book. 400 metres away, in the open lawn of Law Faculty( Delhi ‘versity), a fete was on and film song records were being played. The sound of songs like ‘kitna pyara vada hai in maltawi ankhon ka’ or ‘ zaraa sa usko chhua to usne machaa diya shor’ did not distract me much. But as I finished work and got up, a song came up which was new to me — ‘ nazariyon ki maari mari Mori guiyaan’. To find out about this song, I made my way to the site of fete. Along came another new song : ‘thaade rahiyo o baanke yaar’. The disc jockey explained that these songs were from a new movie but were composed and recorded several years back. He played more Lata Mangeshkar songs from film Pakeezah. I was already a big fan of Lata, but I couldn’t resist telling the disc jockey that this was true worth of Lata’s greatness – she was capable of making a song reach such a great height that the composer and film maker of that song remained amazed, such was the quality of dazzling rendering by Lata.
Regards
A very well written and prompt tribute to the greatest female singer of Hindi films. Dedication, hard work and great discipline took her to the highest level and she won the hearts of crores.
It is said that she recorded around 30,000 songs in a career spanning around 70 years . That is a phenomenal average of over one recording per day for around 70 years ! She may have recorded even 4 songs on some days . MDs and others were very comfortable when working with her as she could very quickly grasp any situation and give the best. Some time back I saw a list at SOY showing the 100 MDs she worked with and also, she has given her voice to numerous stars for 70 years !
I feel she gave her 100% to each of her songs . Every song of hers is great. Nobody can fault her singing. If Lata’s songs did not become a hit then it is only due to the so many other factors. A randomly picked song of hers.
‘ Ro ro ke …’/ JANUARY 26 / 1956 / Rajinder Krishan / CR / Lata
https://youtu.be/tpkj7_MEH5Q
Lata will live forever through her songs.
2) More books would be published and studies on Lata would continue. The link to the excerpts published in Deccan Herald from the book ‘ Lata Mangeshkar…in her own voice’ (Niyogi Books )
https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/from-madhubala-to-shah-rukh-khan-when-lata-mangeshkar-gave-her-frank-opinion-on-bollywood-a-listers-1078560.html
Tyagiji,
Thanks for your nice words and for sharing your personal experience. I am sure everyone would have some reminiscence of their connection to some immortal song of Lata Mangeshkar.
Rajkumari’s song in Pakeezah was lost in all the acclaim of Lata Mangeshkar songs. Thanks for mentioning it. Reminds us that once upon a time she sang some gorgeous mujra songs.
AK @52
Thanks for pointing my confusion with “Mohana & Gopala.”
It is for a long time I have not heard it as I have not connection to see Maharashtrian person who has collected this song.
I think I had listened to this song when I was very young.
It is very interesting that so many readers of this post are bringing out their memories.
These themselves are excellent tributes to Lata.
According to my idea that Lata’s memorial should be as apart of of the Museum at the Kala Ghoda near Apollo Bunder. Because she is as great as that Museum and also if all her songs are kept and other memorabilia as well people could go freely and enjoy this great heritage of India.
We have got British Library which is huge and one can get all kinds of records, books, pictures etc. and enjoy in general about the world heritage of human beings and animals and stars in the sky etc. You name the thing and they will get it for you.
It is open to all people in the world.
Shalan Lal
Mr Joseph @60,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation. I can say with certainty that 30000 songs is a gross overstatement. We know that Lata Mangeshkar’s primary career was Hindi film songs. Now it is well documented that her film songs are not more than 5500. You extrapolate how much she would have sung in other languages and non-film songs. Her total recorded songs in all languages, including NFS should be less than 8000.
Such numbers were bandied around in pre-HFGK days, and these also made it Guinness Book of Records. No longer. These entries are now cleaned up. Now I am finding some friends from South throwing figures that S Janaki sang 48000 songs. This too should be an overstatement.
‘Ro ro ke’ is a very nice song. Those days C Ramchandra-Lata Mangeshkar did not get one note wrong.
Thanks for sharing the link of Lata Mangeshkar’s interview with Nasreen Munir Kabir.
Shalan Lal,
Lata Mangeshkar is such an icon that I am sure central/state government should be able to keep her memory alive in a suitable manner.
AK Ji,
Belated comment from me! Didnt know what to write after the departure of the voice that God might have carefully picked from his inventory of vocal cords (after selecting one for Rafi!-my personal facvourite) . Nice article about your personal initiation to Lata ‘s songs.
Like so many fans of Hindi Film Music, for me not a single day goes without listening to at least one song of Lata. Whatever she might have been as a person ( which we can only know from what has been written) , there can be no doubt that she was perfection-personified.
In Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan’s words: “Kambakht kabhi besuri nahin hoti, kya Allah ki den hai [she never goes out of scale, what a gift of God]!”
There are many many singers whom I listen to appreciate..but for me personally there are two voices that act like therapy–whatever mood I am in–Rafi & Lata.
Some of her rare but terrific songs ( I know it is impossible to list like this…but still)
1) Ae Dilruba Nazren Mila-Sajjad Hussai-Rustom & Shohrab
2) Saanware Saanware..kahe mohse karo -Pt RaviShankar -Anuradha
3) Raaton Ke Saaye Ghane-Salil Chowdhury-Annadata
4) Bhaiyan Na Dharo-Madan Mohan-Dastak
5) More Naina Sawan Bhadon-V Balsara-Vidyapathi( not to be confused with the more popular RDB -KK -Mehbooba!!)
List is endless…She will always-” Rahe Na Rahe Hum Mehkaa Karenge Banke Kali, Banke Sabah, Baag-E-Wafa mein
AKji,
An excellent heartfelt tribute to the Singer of the Nation!
And an apt title!
Lata Didi’s immortal voice and songs will live forever and enthral generations of music lovers. One always assumed that she will also remain with us in person forever.
But then, each of us, including the Nightingale, have a finite life journey with an inevitable end.
There are very few people like her, who have lived a long and complete life and departed with state honors, mourned and remembered by millions.
Last Sunday, I attended a Marathi live music program ( my first since the pandemic). which was dedicated to Lata Didi.
Posting some of her evergreen NFS composed by renowned MD Shrinivas Khale, that were covered in the program…
1. Neej majhya nandlala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6wlluElUsQ
2. Shravanat ghan neela barasala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Ehun8Ahk4
3. Bheti lage jeeva laga lagallisi aas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQIDL2fFDJY
And Baaje re muraliya baaje by Lata and Bhimsen Joshi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP6dt_qW5qE
AK ji,
Ref to # 49 and 52
I think the sad song in Marathi about Death, which Shalan ji wanted, is not the one which she mentioned, but another song by the same poet-“जन पळभर म्हणतील हाय हाय, मी जाता राहील कार्य काय “.
The song is very sad and it means in short, ‘ after I am gone, people will condole for few days, but nothing will stop in this world. Sun will come, Moon will rise and people will continue doing their daily work….”
The song is sung by Lata beautifully, as usual, here…
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2rhfg2
-AD
Mr Sivanandam Palamadai @65,
You have summed up everyone’s sense of grief. Thanks for adding her songs. It is good that you alerted us about “More naina Sawan Bhaado“, excellent song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHvr6-1BQTU
Dr Deshpande @66,
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and for adding Marathi songs. Most of us were not familiar songs.
Arunj @67,
Thanks a lot for the confirmation. I am floored by this song. This song was added earlier by Ashwin.
One tremendous song I remember from Haqeeqat (1964) Khelo na mere dil se . I do not know the picturisation or whether this song is included in the movie. Similarly , two Madan mohan compositions (solos) from the film Samunder (1957) Chain nahi aaye and aaja kahin se stand out. Finally, Mai re from Dastak (1970) which was also so well sung by the composer himself!
@ 71
This song was not included in the film, perhaps due to some change in the script. But during radio days this was played quite frequently. Great lyrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIBNbpbkIWU
There was another song which was played on radio, but has since been forgotten a bit – ‘Aayi abke saal diwali’. This year’s Holi and Diwali will be without her being with us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuU9H6RJxj8
Dear AK Ji,
What a wonderfully written tribute it is. Lata Ji has been an intrinsic part of all our lives, our memories of the very same song contextualised to our situations and frame of mind when we heard it first or heard it repeatedly during a particular phase of life. Everyone has a personal Lata only for themselves. Very few artists can enter our lives so effortlessly and make permanent space in our memories.
Though her passing away was expected, I have been feeling sort of bereft since then, as if a large part of my life went away with her. It did too. I started with her 70s songs and went backwards. Now hardly listen to anything beyond the 50s. Even now keep discovering many hidden gems which I had never heard. Thanks to you and SoY.
Would like to recall one song of hers which I heard on the erstwhile Worldspace, I was so blown away by it, that I still remember the exact setting, my mood and what I felt when I heard it the first. Her perfection has many a times lifted my dark moods and showed me the immense strength of possibilities.
https://youtu.be/51fb9R7AbXk
Malyada,
Thanks a lot for your nice words. And what a heart-felt tribute you have penned. It is so true, “Everyone has a personal Lata Mangeshkar only for themselves.” Ghaya hiraniya main ban ban dolun has been also among my top favourite songs. I can perfectly understand that this song would have blown you away.