Eighty years back Goddess Saraswati chose to bless mankind. She incarnated & gave it the most beautiful Voice ever heard. Lata Mangeshkar, born this day in 1929, turns 80 today. On this auspicious day, coinciding with Vijay Dashmi (Dashera) this year, I bow before her and once more pay my gratitude for the innumerable pleasurable moments she has imparted with her mellifluous voice and melodious songs.
Her unsurpassable career zoomed into a never-declining orbit in 1949 when three consecutive hits installed her permanently into music lovers’ collective hearts – Barsaat, Andaz and Mahal (Aayega aanewaala). Since then, year after year she churned out hits upon hits, tirelessly – slogging her way from one studio to another to deliver those aah-inspiring melodies. In the eighties, (a majorly suspect-decade musically), she voluntarily took back-seat. But a repeat of 1949 was in the offing. Forty years after she blazed the musical countdowns, she repeated that feat. Once again, with three consecutive superhits – Maine Pyar Kiya, Chandni and Ram Lakhan (Bada dukh deena); proving that she was the undisputed queen. The Goddess had blessed the recording rooms again. And therafter, we had a musically decent decade.
For me, Lata Didi means more than just a ‘singer’. She is like my breath. An integral part of my being. Her voice has been a rock-solid constant. Time passes. Years roll by. Careers switch. Cities change. But her songs remain. Carried in various formats. Always close by. When the day gets tough, she soothes and caresses in the evenings. When the mornings are bright, she further adds color with her devotional numbers. When the evenings are warm, she plays like a gentle breeze.
My latest acquisition is a record-player (finally, I did buy one). And all the records I buy the lynchpin remains her songs have to be present in them. My eternal quest has entered an interesting phase. I am buying songs I had either heard in my childhood (e.g. Ram kare umar qaid saath saath lag jaaye – Aadat Se Majboor) or I had only known of but not heard (e.g Mohabbat khuda hai – Love & God). There are many discs that I have bought either having a single or two songs. But they are worth it. My collection grows. And it gives me immense happiness.
Bahut bahut shukriya Lata Didi!
Aapko shat shat pranaam!
Long live Lata Didi!
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I was watching Javed Akhtar’s interview with Latadi today morning and she came across as a very simple, down to earth human being….She knows she has conquered the world with her music but she says “she has a long way to go” after singing 30,000 songs in various languages….i am amazed at her simplicity…
Happy Birthday Latadi!!!
DJ – i am lil disappointed reading this post…i was expecting some thing more from you…..probably your stress at work is getting on to you literally…take care buddy…:|
Saw it was Latadidis bday and thought DJ for sure musta wriiten something 80 years of marvel happy birthday lataji
Hey DJ 🙂 I happened to stumble upon a very interesting programme on TV while surfing the channels yesterday. Luckily it was Part I. Part II will be broadcast on CNN IBN at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday 3rd October 2009 with a re-run (that I caught) some time around 10:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. on Sunday 4th October 2009. OK, enough with the suspense 🙂 It is Latadidi being interviewed by Javed Akhtar. Part I was really very interesting and so will Part II be, I’m sure. Do watch.
You know what I hate about the interviews some ppl do on Lataji’s bday; that they invariably ask her if she was ever jealous of her sister Asha. Why do they ask that every single time? Between siblings there may be some rivalry but that is nobody else’s business!
Btw, although I am able to read your blog on Google Chrome, if I need to post a comment I need to access it through Internet Explorer. Is there a reason Chrome is not supported?
I was glued to all of LM’s songs the whole day…they all were a league apart from the songs that are on today. In fact can’t be compared. (And of course…issi bahane I finally got a message from the busy bee DJ after ages 🙂
Hope you are doing good.