#sdbm

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Script by

V Maruthi Rao

@marutirao

Singing professionally from the age of 13, Lata Mangeshkar has lent her voice to four generations of heroines - an unparalleled and iconic phenomenon in Hindi cinema. Like Jaya Bachchan once said, "No heroine feels she has arrived until Lataji sings for her". And while Lataji remains inaccessible to most, and not out of any sense of assumed arrogance but a sheer wariness of social interaction, she continues to conduct herself with effortless grace. The country's favourite songstress agreed to do a really frank and fearless interview with Mirror on the eve of her 83rd birthday on September 28. 

Excerpts… 

Eighty three! You are kidding... 

(laughs) 83 it is. Fact is I've never felt myself growing older. Time has just flown. That's because you have never seen a downside in your singing career of 70 years. There was drive and determination in me. I was not born to lose. One has to be fully committed to one's career. Otherwise there's no point. What is your advice to up and coming artistes? Do you think they need or want my advice? The young today are far smarter than I ever used to be. 

Do you feel sorry for singers today? 

Not at all but if they'd sung for great composers, they'd have definitely benefitted. 

Have you stopped singing for films? 

Of course not! I will sing till I can. Maybe today's music directors can't connect with me. They probably think I'm too old and tired to sing. I am not bothered but I can't say yes to them until I hear the words and tunes. I fear not enjoying a song during the recording. 

Have you ever had such an experience in your career? 

Only once! I sang a song composed by Madan Mohan for the film Chacha Zindabad produced by Om Prakash, who was my raakhi brother. After the recording, I called Om Prakash aside and insisted he get the song sung by someone else. The situation in the song was about a classical singer who starts singing in a rambasamba style to attract her boyfriend. Initially, Om Prakashji protested but ultimately he relented to my wishes. 

But you've sung cabaret songs like Aa jaan-e-jaan in Inteqaam and Naam hai mera jameela in Night In London… 

Those required a lot of convincing from the composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal. They made sure the words weren't cheap and the tune was within my comfort zone. Besides, a graceful dancer like Helen performed on those songs. 

Did you leave the westernised numbers to your sister Asha Bhosleji?

Please don't make me sound like a martyr. I just couldn't connect with cabaret songs. What Asha can sing, I can tell you without any pretense of modesty, I can never sing. How’s your equation with her? We meet often. Though she doesn't stay next door any more, she has her morning tea with me whenever she's here. Whenever she has a show, she seeks my blessings. I've heard her lyric book has my picture in it. I don't have a troubled relationship with any of my siblings. Squabbles happen in every family… When people approach you, they stand at a distance like one does in a temple… Their love and respect is my biggest reward. It's God's grace. However, I am far from perfect. I have a fierce temper. I've mastered it over the years but when I'm angry, no one can force me to do anything I don't want to. Can you give an example? Mohd Rafi Saab and I fought over royalty rights. At a meeting attended by prominent singers and musicians, he stood up and said, "Main aaj se Lata ke saath nahin gaoonga." I retorted, "Rafi Saab, ek minute. Aap nahin gaayenge mere saath yeh galat baat hai. Main aapke saath nahin gaoongee." I stormed out and called all my composers there and then and informed them to rope in another singer if it was a duet with Rafi Saab. But there was a patch-up with Rafi Saab? Composer Jaikishan took the initiative. I asked him to get a written apology from Rafi Saab. I got the letter and ended the cold war. But whenever I'd see him, the hurt would return. Why were you angry with Sachin Dev Burman? He was quoted in an article saying, "Who made Lata's career? We did. We gave her the songs." I don't know if he was misquoted but we didn't talk for three to four years. Till his son Pancham (R D Burman) mediated. When Burman Sr called, I was still very angry and spoke to him very curtly. Then he said, "Lata, tu aaja, tujhe gana hai" and my anger evaporated. We broke the ice with the song Mora gora ang layee le in Bandini. Who was your favourite cosinger? (laughs) I really liked Kishore Kumar. He had a virile man's voice, and he was truly versatile. My first duet with Kishoreda was in the Dev Anand-starrer Ziddi. We were both great fans of K L Saigal Saab. Who are your favourite composers? Each composer was unique. However, Sajjad Hussain Saab, who did very few films, impressed me deeply although I sang only seven to eight songs for him. And, my brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar impressed me. Do you regret not getting married? Not the least. I believe an individual's birth, marriage and death are pre-ordained. What is your message to your fans? For those in the world of music, please spare time to understand Indian classical music. Too much attention is given to clothes and accessories. For everyone else, we need more genuine love for the country. The privileged classes today are bothered about petrol and diesel prices while the poor can't afford two meals a day. I am a very small person but I want us to think beyond personal and regional interests. That's my birthday wish… –As told to Subhash K Jha