Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On Her Birth Anniversary
Lata Mangeshkar , born to Deenanath Mangeshkar & Shevanti Mangeshkar at Indore, & eldest of the five siblings in the Mangeshkar family, is known the world over as a singer of yore. Like most ladies of her time, she started singing at an early age.Lata’s paternal grandfather, Ganesh Bhatt Navathe was a Brahmin priest who performed at the Mangueshi Temple in Goa.I visited the place thrice, first time in 1973.
Lata Mangeshkar got recognition in “Andaz” (1949 ) singing “Koyi Mere Dil Me Khushi Banke Aaya” under the music score Naushad.The film starred Dilip Kumar ,Raj Kapoor & Nargis. The film which brought her into limelight indeed was Raj Kapoor’s blockbuster “Barsaat” released in the same year with some of the best songs like-“Barsaat men humse mile”, Hawa men udta jae mera lal dupatta Malmal Ka ho jee” , “Jiya beqarar hai chhayi bahaar hai” & “Mujhe kisi se pyar ho gaya”to mention some rendered by Lata.Her career was now on track . “Anarkali”(1953) “Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai Jo Kisi Ka Ho Gaya” & “Mohabbat Mein Aise Kadam Dagamagae” followed by “Nagin” (1954) “Man Dole Mera Tan Dole” ,”Mera Dil Ye Pukare Aaja”,”Jadugar Saiyan” & “Oonchi Oonchi Duniya Ki Deewarein” followed by yet another musical hit “Chori Chori” (1955) made her rub shoulders with other singers like Noojehan, Shamshad Begum & Geeta Dutt.There was no looking back for Lata Mangeshkar. “Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein Hum”,”Pancchi Banoon Udti Phiroon”,”Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi”, & “Jahan Main Jaati Hoon” were some of the most popular songs from the above film starring Raj Kapoor & Nargis. She rendered some of the loveliest duets with Manna Dey. In one of the “Parvarish ” songs ” Masti Bhara Hai Sama” Manna Dey and Lata seem to have been in a rapturous mood, both emotionally as well as romantically, singing ‘Neeli Aankh Mila Lo Jee, Dil Main Aaj Chupa Lo Jee’ to the audiences delight.
In 1957 she had some hits, too like Mehboob Khan’s “Mother India” & “Kathputli”. ‘Haye Tu Hi Gaya Mohe Bhool Re, Main Hoon Tere Jiwan Ki Ragini” picturised on Kamla Narayan, wife of cartoonist RK Narayan. Her dancing was peerlessly agile, with unbelievable conviction and expressions, especially those of her hands & eyes, adding grandeur to the song. “Duniya Mein Ham Ae Hain To Jeena Hi Padega” & “Ghoonghat Nahi Kholoongi” were other numbers from “Mother India featuring Raj Kumar, Nargis, Sunil Dutt & Rajendra Kumar. She had a number of successfulfilms in in 1958, too like “Madhumati”- “Aaja Re Pardesi”, “Adalat” – “Unko Yeh Shikayat Hai” & “Dil Kaa Khilauna, Haye Tut Gaya” (Goonj Uthi Shehnai- 1959). “Andaz Mera Mastana”, , ” Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai”, & “Mera Dil Ab Tera Ho Sajna” (Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai-1960) was another musical hit of the year.
“Mai Toh Tum Sang Nain Milake, Haar Gai Sajna” ,( Manmauji-1962), “Mere Mehboob Tujhe”, “Jo vada kiya wo nibhana padega”,”Main ka karun ram mujhe budhdha milgaya”,”Dekho Rootha Na Karo”, “Yaad Mein Teri Jaag jaag ke”, “Aaja Aayi Bahaar” ,”Lag Ja Gale Ki Phir Ye Haseen Raat Ho Na Ho”, “Naina Barase Rimjhim Rimjhim”, “Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha”, “Woh Dekho Jala Ghar Kisika”, “Mere Haathon Men Nau Nau Chudiyaan Hain” (Chandni-1989) were some of her other hits. Lata Mangeshkar sang many thousand songs in more than 20 languages throughout her career spanning over six decades.
“Kahe Jhoom Jhoom Raat Yeh Suhani” (Love marriage-1959) is another masterpiece from the charismatic singer, with a tinge of allure and frolicksomeness, touching straight the audience hearts with the lyrics “Piya haule se chedo dubara”. Exotically unbelievable & titillating singing. “Ban Ke Panchhi Gaaye Pyar Ka Tarana” from 1959 film “Anari” & “Kisi Ko Pata Na Chale Baat Ka” (Lutera-1965) are the other two memorable songs to add to the list & also my favourite. The latter song was penned by Anand Bakshi under the music score by LKPL. It would indeed be injustice, if we did not mention K.Asif’s epic “Mughal-E-Azam”(1960)which had almost all hit songs rendered by Lata Mangeshkar like- “Pyar Kiya To Darna kya”, “Mohabbat Ki Jhuthi Kahani Pe Roye” , “Teri Mehfil Me Kismat Aazma Kar Hum Bhi Dekhenge”, & “Ye Dil Ki Lagi Kam Kya Hogi” under the music score Naushad. “Kanto se khich ke ye aanchal ,tod ke badhan baadhe payal,koi na roko dil ki udaan ko dil vo chala,ha ha haa haa haa haa, aaj phir jine ki tamanna hai aaj phir marane ka irada hai” was wonderfully penned by Shailendra & amazingly rendered by Lata.
Lata Mangeshkar is the second singer to receive Bharat Ratna ,India’s highest civilian honour, after, M. S. Subbulakshmi. She was awarded Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989. She was also bestowed with the Officer of the Legion of Honour, highest French civilian award in 2007. Her other accolades inlcudes three National Film Awards, four Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Awards, besides Padma Bhushan (1969) & Padma Vibhushan (1999). Born this Day in 1929 at Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
