LATA DIDI

'Today's singers lack soul' - Lata Mangeshkar

Author: Farhana Farook

Lata Mangeshkar on living life with 'Saadgi', music today and the little joys that make her day

There's no Indian who can claim to be impervious to Lata Mangeshkar's melody or not having had his emotions translated at some point in the lilt of her larynx.

In her late '70s, Lata has recently released her solo album 'Saadgi' after a gap of 17 years. "The lyrics (Javed Akhtar) are hatke. The dhun (Mayuresh Pai) is melodious. The album has captured every mood. It's philosophical, sad and romantic," explains Lata about the album. Lata reveals that the title 'Saadgi' was selected by her. Compliment her on the distilled quality of her voice and she says, "Bhagwan ne paakeezgi dee hai." On what makes her so self-effacing she says, "My father (singer Dinanath Mangeshkar) was a simple man. Badnaseeb hoon main, he died when I was young-only 13. He'd say 'Stay away from dishonesty'. My mother (the late Shudhamati) was simple too. I've tried to keep their simplicity zinda. She adds, "No matter how high I may be placed by people, my feet are on the ground." While Lata can still stir listeners with the Madan Mohan composition 'Tere liye' ('Veer Zaara'), the veteran, now does not do riyaaz everyday. Rather she enjoys photography, reading and occasionally watching old films. Few know that Lata is passionate about cooking. "I like eating out as much as I like preparing food at home," she shares. As far as the current scenario is concerned, Lata remarks, "Today's singers are like statues - beautiful, but they lack soul!" Listing maestros Mehdi Hasan, Bade Ghulam Ali and Aamir Ali Khan as her favourites she adds, "I enjoy listening to the Egyptian singer Umme Kulsum - there's jaan in her voice. I like the softness in Lebanese singer Fairouz's voice." Ask her about her unaccomplished dreams and Lata states softly, "As long as I live, I want to do no wrong or hurt anybody." k_farhana@dnaindia.net


"There is something missing in today's music" - Lata Mangeshkar

By IndiaFM News Bureau, IndiaFM

“I can’t tell you about the hard work among today’s generation as I don’t work much, but I do feel something is missing”, said noted singer and artist, Lata Mangeshkar, in an interview with BBC Hindi.

“People might say I’m old fashioned.. Naushad sahib used to think for days on end for one song… One song would take 15 days… The tune changed many times… There was Salil Chowdhury. Today, if Salilda was around, people would find it difficult to listen to his songs… these persons would get immersed in music. Shankar-Jaikishen and Lakshmikant Pyarelal were there. Until they got satisfied, they would be sitting. We do not find that these days… to what extent is this prevalent these days, I would not know…”, she further added in response to a question during an exclusive interview with Sanjeev Srivastava, Indian Editor BBC Hindi.

Lataji, as she is lovingly addressed by one and all, when asked the one song that gave her the maximum pleasure as a playback singer promptly said, “Aayega Aayega, Aayega Aanewala from the movie, Mahal”.

She went on to remember the days when the song was being recorded.“ At the time when the songs of Mahal were being recorded, Khem Chandra Prakashji, who considered me like his daughter, said that the songs will be very popular. The film came and the songs became very popular. But Khem Chandra Prakashji expired. I was very sad. Kishore Kumar and I used to address him as Chacha. He did not live to see the song, Aayega Aanewala become so popular.”

Another incident she remembered about the recording of the song “Aayega Aanewala”. The song was picturised on Madhubala in a happy mood on a swing and it was important it was sung in a manner that would create a feel good ambience in the shot. “Shooting that song was very interesting. Bombay Talkies is a big studio in Malad. It was empty. I started singing. But they said that the right effect was lacking, like the sound trailing from a far off distance… They made me stand in one corner and kept the mic in the centre…nearly 20 feet away. The initial lines of the song, Khamosh hai zamaana… I had to take one step at a time while singing the initial lines and by the time I reached the mic, the song would start. I have worked a lot on this song.”

While speaking about other yesteryear artists, Lataji liked Kishore Kumar the best. While she feels that singers like Mohd. Rafi and Mukesh were good in most of their songs, Kishore Kumar was good in every song. Kishore Kumar’s sad songs have been her favourite and she rates the romantic songs she has sung with Mohd. Rafi as amongst her best.

While she has enjoyed working with composers like A R Rehman and Jatin-Lalit from today’s generation, she expressed sadness that today’s music has got influenced by western tunes. “These days, I first listen to the song and then go for recording. There was a time when we used to get a phone call, there’s a song of Naushad Sahib, please come… and we would go running… these day’s people stress on rhythm a lot. We get influenced by western tunes…we do not find the Indian touch,” she said

These were excerpts from Radio One 94.3 FM’s interview with Lata Mangeshkar which was aired on 12 noon on July 1st, 2007.