Lata, the Legend
DEAR FRIENDS, LADIES & GENTLEMEN
Let us fondly Remember late Lata Mangeshkar Jee on her 3rd Punya Tithi that has just passed (February 6).
A Nightingale or Sur Kokila, she had an unthinkable talent, nature and patriotic spirit. Her voice was not just music: it was emotion, nostalgia, and the soul of generations. Even after her passing, her melodies continue to live in our hearts.
She sacrificed her entire life to the service of music. One will always get solace in her songs.
A giant personality with exceptional humility, passion and professionalism, she would mix very well with everyone. She would make it a point to bow before and after a performance, something rarely seen nowadays in public life.
A person who began singing at a young age of 12 years had to take responsibility for the entire family. She also took adequate care of the singing career of three sisters and a music director brother. While taking up such responsibilities, she made a hard decision “Not to enter wedlock”.
During her long and glorious career, she had the distinction to sing thirty thousand songs in thirty languages, all delivered with command, acumen and universal following. Recording a song at the ripe old age of 90 years is not easy. Only Lata Didi could do.
It is not only her in-born rare talent that needs to be mentioned, her devotion and stamina were more than apparent when she stood for 8 hours at a stretch to record the song “Luka Chuppi” for the director Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra.
Lata Jee also had a very good following in Pakistan. Noor Jahan, the erstwhile singer of Hindi films, paid her rich tributes from Pakistan, while recording an Interview with B.B.C.,Urdu.
Mangeshkar recorded songs in over thirty-six Indian languages and a few foreign languages, though primarily in Hindi, Bengali and Marathi. She received several accolades and honors throughout her career.
In 1989, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was bestowed on her by the Government of India. In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, becoming only the second singer to receive India’s highest civilian honour. In 2007, France made her an Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the country’s highest civilian award.
She was the recipient of three National Film Awards, 15 Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards, four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards, before declining further ones, two Filmfare Special Awards, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award amongst others. In 1974, she became the first Indian playback singer to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England.
She appeared in the Guinness World Records as the most recorded artist in history before being replaced by her sister, Asha Bhosle.
Singer Kavita Krishnamurti had the following to say on the departure of Lata jee:
“From the time I have known what music is, she has been an Angel in my life.”
Shreya Ghoshal, many consider her to be Lata ji’s successor, expressed thus:
“Ma Saraswati took her blessed one with her.
Even the birds, trees and wind are silent today”
AMEN,
OM SHANTI
(The author is former Chief Secretary, Sikkim)
