Lata Mageshkar
Latabai Mangeshkar, who, as a playback singer, enjoys today, a clout, which
even the movie moguls of the country's film industry cannot dream of.Lata
Mangeshkar's songs have captured the hearts and imagination of millions
of
her admirers around the world. They have become an inseparable part of
the daily lives of Indians - wherever they may be. Words fail to express
the depth and scope of Lata Mangeshkar's genius. Lata Mangeshkar has
come to symbolise India in a way that no one else has, or ever will for
years
to come. She has charmed her fans with thousands of songs she has sung
as a
playback singer in films, her name was in the Guinness Book of World
Records for singing the maximum number of
songs way back in 1974 sung in over 20 different
languages. Perhaps only mother's voice sounds
more magical than Lata's. The name of Lata
Mangeshkar (b.1929) is a byword in Indian
semi-classical music. A soprano with over three octave
range, she has an indescribable, unsoiled
purity in her voice. It is delicate, sharp and clear in
difficult note patterns. Her rendition is
marked with a rare sense of rhythm and lyrics.
It was after India’s losses in the India-China
war in 1962 that a
young Lata had sung the song, “Aye Mere Watan
Ke Logon, Zara
Aankh Me Bhar Lo Pani”. The song, written
by Kavi Pradeep,
moved the then Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal
Nehru, to tears
and he confessed “Beti toone mujhe rula diya.”It
is at this time
when the Pakistani Prime Minister said that
he would gladly
exchange Lata for Kashmir" such is the aura
of Lata Mangeshkar.
Lata’s reign over the world of playback singing for female characters has
been undisputed over the decades and she has lent her voice to heroines
from
Meena Kumari to Sreedevi to Urmila. She has surprised even her fans with
the range of her singing in the film DIL SE with the song "Jiya Jale" on
her
turning 70, which was a huge hit and was recorded in just 40 minutes.
Lata is a legend in her lifetime and undeniably
the best singer India has ever produced. As
renowned Classical singer Ustad Bade Ghulam
Ali Khan said for lata "Kambakht Kabhi Besura Gati
Hi Nahi". Her contribution to making music
popular throughout India and the world is incalculable
and she has reigned supreme all through the
last six decades.
Lataji's Personal Favourites
1. Aayega Aanewala [MAHAL]
2. Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya [MUGHAL-E-AZAM]
3. Aaja Re Pardesi [MADHUMATI]
4. Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil [BEES SAAL BAAD]
5. Allah Tero Naam [HUM DONO]
6. Naina Barse Rim Jhim [WOH KAUN THI]
7. Aa jaane ja [INTEQUAM]
8. Bindiya Chamkegi [DO RAASTE]
9. Dil Deewana [MAINE PYAR KIYA]
10. Jiya Jale [DIL SE]