The AT Word: Lataji’s decades of playback for Indian cinema’s heroines
On Sunday morning I, like so many others, woke up to the news of Lata Mangeshkar’s sad passing after a few weeks battling Covid-19 and pneumonia. She was 92-years-old and, in a way, we all hoped that she was strong enough to pull through. For me, despite the limitation of everyone’s time in the world, she is someone I honestly thought would live forever, perhaps in a similar way beliefs often do, permeating through the generations to come. It didn’t matter whether you lived in her lifetime. It only matters that you knew of her, her contribution to Indian cinema and the truly irreplaceable talent she had which still keeps everyone mesmerised in the present day and will do in the days to come.
As the tributes for the Nightingale of India, as she has always been fondly referred to, poured in, I was taken back to one of the most vivid memories I have of Lataji from a relatively young age. I was a teenager at the time and a concert called ‘An Era In An Evening’ was broadcast on terrestrial TV in the UK – quite an exceptional treat at the time. We recorded it on video tape, to be able to view it for years to come. And we really did enjoy it more than once. It was a concert she headlined with other artists such as Sudesh Bhosle and SP Balasubramanyum and she sang through all her popular tracks during this concert. However, what struck me and what stays in memory is that there was a separate segment in this concert which showcased how many Indian actresses she had sung for through the decades she had been doing playback – in 1997, when the concert happened – this meant 50 years of Indian actresses. At that time, it was evident that her voice suited so many well-known and much-loved actresses. However, what was even more fascinating for me was the range of songs she sang and the expressions she brought in for them all, all different to one another and each one a highlight in itself. Yes, there have been other singers – within her own family too – but this voice, these expressions and this talent was truly unmatchable. Noone could touch Lataji’s vocals or match them. This is a once-in-a-lifetime voice which I thought would definitely not be matched, certainly in my lifetime.
I know that for all followers and fans of Indian movies, there are an untold number of favourites when it comes to songs that Lataji has sung. She’s sung playback for so many heroines through the decades that it is really record-breaking that her voice has spanned generations. Right the way from Madhubala’s Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya to Nargis’ Ghar Aaya Mera Pardesi, from Meena Kumari’s Inhi Logon Ne to Geeta Bali’s Shola Jo Badhke, from Nutan’s Woh Chand Khila to Waheeda Rehman’s Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai, from Nanda’s Allah Tero Naam to Saira Banu’s Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par, from Asha Parekh’s Sayonara to Mumtaz’s Bindiya Chamkegi, from Rakhee’s Kabhi Kabhie to Hema Malini’s Naam Gum Jayega, from Rekha’s Pardesiya to Sridevi’s Mere Haathon Mein, from Madhuri Dixit’s Didi Tera Dewar to Manisha Koirala’s Kuch Na Kaho, from Kajol’s Mere Khwaabon Mein to Tabu’s Paani Paani, from Twinkle Khanna’s Madhosh Dil Ki Dhadkan to Aishwarya Rai’s Humko Humise Chura Lo, from Rani Mukerji’s Jaane Dil Mein Kabse Hai Tu to Preity Zinta’s Hum To Bhai Jaise Hain. The list is by far not extensive but showcases a small glimpse of the span of Lataji’s career and the love she got from all of these songs mentioned and many, many more.
As we all mourn her loss, I hope we can also feel extremely privileged to have lived in a time where she fought for the value of her assets before others even came to know what that meant or the impact it had. We lived through a time where her music was already well-known in our parents’ and grandparents’ generations and this is something we can pass on to the forthcoming generation. Because a life without Lataji’s music is, quite frankly, not one anyone in today’s generation of music lovers can foresee.
Rest in POWER, Lataji. We will miss you.
Much love,
AT x
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of this website.
