LATA JI’S SENSE of humour and humility stood out. She accepted situations and adapted really fast. It was easy, smooth and fun to work with her. Lata ji paid attention to the minutest of details and had an impeccable memory. During conversations and gatherings, she recalled every little detail of every recording with such ease that it stumped me.
[My brother, Jatin, and I] had close family ties with Lata ji from the time our father arrived in Mumbai. As children, we visited Lata ji’s residence often, and would end up sleeping there when our father would be busy with his singing assignments. We have had meals together [with Lata ji] at the same table and would listen to a lot of music in her house. Music was the milieu at her home all the time.
I must have been about four or five when I sang children’s songs with Lata ji for R.D. Burman’s musical compositions. She remembered them after so many years, and used to be happy that children who grew up in front of her made memorable music, some of which she even sang. Lata ji loved and cared for us like a mother. It was not easy to get her to sing [the songs that we composed]. We are indebted to her for singing so many songs for us.
During rehearsals Lata ji would always make everyone around her comfortable by striking up conversations; she would share anecdotes from her life and times. The last song she sang for us was the title track of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001). [The scene] had Jaya Bachchan welcoming Shah Rukh Khan to their home. Singing that song was not easy, as it had to be a bhajan as well as a superlative chartbuster. This was possible only if Lata ji lent her voice to it. Once the song was ready, I called up Lata ji and requested her to sing the song. She said, “You know I don’t sing now.” But I told her I had made the song with her in mind and I went on to recite the lyrics to her over the phone. The moment she heard it she was impressed.
Lata ji achieved divinity in playback singing. We have had so many singers who sang for us, but she was a league apart. Age did not affect her voice. Lata ji never came unprepared to the sets. Her riyaz [practice] kept the spark in her voice alive. She would record the song only if she felt she was in perfectly good health. There was no compromise.
The last time I spoke to Lata ji was on my birthday in 2021, and then on Diwali the same year, when she spoke to my family and blessed us. Earlier, I used to go to Lata ji’s house for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, which was an annual affair of five days. She was a warm host who was a foodie at heart. Whenever Lata ji used to come for recordings, food was served first, and only then she would begin her work. Her only mandate during recordings was minimal crowding… so only a handful of people would be present in the recording studio.
Lalit of the Jatin-Lalit duo is a popular music director in Bollywood.
As told to Pooja Biraia Jaiswal.