Cineplot Music

Lata Mangeshkar – Part 1

____________________

Lata Mangeshkar’s detailed profile – Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4

Back to Legends – Lata Mangeshkar

____________________

Lata Mangeshkar - Portrait used as publicity material. Early 1960s.

Little Lata, came home after watching K.L. Saigal’s ‘Chandidas’ directed by Nitin Bose and declared that she would marry Saigal Saab when she grew up. Here begins, Hindi filmdom’s most enduring love story. Between Lata Mangeshkar and Hindi film music. A story of passion, commitment and sincerity. A story that has taken on the awesome dimensions of a legend. A story that has charmed and enchanted millions over the world for more than five decades.

Probably no other single person is recognized as the largest contributor to film music. No one else is synonymous with the power and magic of Hindi film music. Whose mesmeric reign continues to amaze critics and devotees alike.

Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar could little have predicted that the eldest of his offspring would be named ‘The Nightingale of India’ ‘The undisputed and indispensable queen of India’s playback singing’ as Time magazine avers. ‘The Living Legend’ ‘The Phenomenon’ … .

When seven year old Lata played Narad, to her father’s Arjun, despite his protests that he was so much older, already she was showing signs of maturity and sobriety that would remain her trademark characteristics, when she said “Don’t worry Baba, I’ll manage. I’m not your daughter for nothing”.

On that momentous evening in Sholapur, little Lata brought the home down with her acting and singing. Glimpses of brilliance that would light up celluloid like a meteor. Despite detesting acting, Lata played several cameo parts in Hindi and Marathi films including Pahili Mangalagaur (1942), Maze Baal (1943), Badi Maa (1945), Subhadra (1946), Chimukla Sansar (1943), Gajabhau (1944), Jeevan Yatra (1946), Mand (1948), and Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952).

Domestic responsibilities compelled Lata to act, after her father’s untimely death. In her first film Pahili Mangalagaur, she played actress Snehprabha Pradhan’s sister. In Badi Maa, starring Noor Jehan, Lata acted, sang for herself and for younger sister Asha. Financial hardships, her own artistic struggles notwithstanding. Lata has never lost sight of the priceless value of humility and hardwork. As her father and guru had impressed on her ‘Never be carried away by your success. The artiste should always be humble’. This lesson has stayed with Lata throughout her life. From the time she was a nervous novice in search of work to now when she is the singing empress of music.

It is this humility and prayer – like sincerity that Lata brings to her singing. For her music is a blessing from God, and song is the voice of divinity. And so when sentiments overwhelm her, she never restrains herself. She wholeheartedly throws herself into every song, opening up the inner meaning of the lyric, building a bridge to that musical godhead. And yet this phenomenal talent, this divine benediction has never clouded her balanced, mature temperament. Arrogance is said to be the ruin of genius. But not this genius, as Waheeda Rehman so rightly points out – ‘Lataji never thinks of herself as THE Lata Mangeshkar. She has always done her job to the best of her abilities and then never look back.’ Never rested on her laurels. Never basked in the glory. If anything, this slight, shy lady has been profoundly embarrassed by the praise and worship that surrounds her.

And so through five decades, through several renowned composes, lyricists, co-artistes and stars, Lataji reigns as the savior of  Hindi playback. From Sajjad Hussain to Anil Biswas, Naushad, S.D. Burman to R.D. Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal to Vishal Bharadwaj, the Lata Mangeshkar factor has remained the key, to success, popularity and posterity.

Thirteen years old, and Lata was already setting unrelenting standards for herself. She recorded her first song for Vasant Joglekar’s Kiti Hasaal. Pt. Dinanath was not too pleased with his daughter’s decision to sing for Hindi films. The song was finally dropped from the film, much to her relief. Later Joglekar said ‘She has tremendous self-confidence. She is also an introvert. That’s why she is not proud. But she reveals her pride in singing’.



Bollywood