As Lata Mangeshkar celebrates her 90th birthday, younger singers from Bollywood fondly recall the influence she has had on them
Sunidhi Chauhan
I was young and clueless when I had gone for the Doordarshan show, 'Meri Awaaz Suno'. I was not sure if I would get through the rounds. But I wanted to be in the show because I wanted to meet Lata ji. I was lucky enough to clear the rounds, enter the mega-finals and win the competition. The result was that I got the trophy from her, and got to see her really close. That is one of the most memorable moments in my life. She was god-like. She told me to reach out to her if I needed anything. Those words stayed with me.
I met her many times after that day, but I freeze whenever I see her. Whenever we meet, she keeps telling me to sit with her and talk to her. But I am so much in awe that I wouldn't know what to do whenever I meet her. I know that she talks fondly about me with people and praises my singing.
Every time I listen to her songs, they take me to another world. It is a dream-like experience.
Shashaa Tirupati
I was five years old when, while playing with toys, I hummed Jao Re Jogi… from Amprapali (1966), sung by Lata Mangeshkar. My parents, who had an impeccable taste in music, realized then that I could sing. From then on, they began to pick songs, write down the lyrics and make me learn them. I was growing up in Canada then. Over the years, I may have learnt at least 4,000 songs, most of which were either Lata ji’s or Rafi saab’s. These are two singers who have inspired me the most.
Forget about the contemporary songs of Lata ji, I know her songs from back in the 50s and the 60s. Songs like Jeena Teri Gali Mein, Marna Teri Gali Mein….(from Shabab, 1954) are close to my heart. I used to perform these songs live, and had become popular as an old soul prodigy while growing up. Lata ji’s songs defined me, and continues to define my taste in music. The finesse of her voice, her breath control, the way she finely takes up the notes—there is nothing that I have not learnt from her songs.
It breaks my heart, however, to say that I have never been able to meet her. I have even sung a song for the album 'Raunaq' for which Lata ji too sang, but even then I couldn’t meet her. At this point in time, I would do anything to meet her.
Akriti Kakkar
Lata ji has been an indirect guru for me since the time I wanted to sing. We bought audio cassettes and all I did was hear it back to back and be amazed at how impeccable she is. I still continue to be amazed by that. The first song that I ever sang was Piya Tose Naina Lage Re from Guide. I was five years old then. It is almost impossible to put into words what her music means to my being and existence. At a time when there was no Google, she was my go-to artiste. For me, she was the goddess of subtlety, maintaining pitch perfect notes, unfailingly, relentlessly, in each and every song. I wonder who else could do that! She is a case study in every way. Her sincerity and devotion to music can be heard even when she speaks. I am just so honored to even be born at a time Lata ji is gracing the world with her music.
