The first time I met her was at our home in Delhi, where she, Ushaji, her niece Rachna and Raj Singhji had come over. Lataji was staying at our home in Delhi.
We were together for two days and those two days have been etched in my mind ever since. There was no ego, no expectations from her side.
In the mornings, she would do riyaaz, which was a sheer delight to sit quietly and hear; to observe that voice without any music was extraordinary. Those notes are still so fresh in my mind.
She behaved like an aunt – always giving, warm, caring and sensitive. She would reach out for the smallest of things. Her care was beyond compare. It was only subsequently that I realised that this was the Lata Mangeshkar, the singer, the legend herself. So unassuming, warm, down to earth and so benevolent.
Over the years, there were several more interactions – at performances, when she would stay at our home in Kolkata or Delhi; at family gatherings or during havans, which my father organised every year.
I fondly remember when my daughter, Avarna, was three-years-old, Lataji was staying with us in Kolkata.
Avarna was trying to recite nursery rhymes and Lataji was teaching her the correct pronunciation. It was so effortless – this was her level of affection.
Each time, she was just a family member.
When I started taking an interest in Saregama affairs, I realised how voluminous and significant her contribution has been. Over 95% of her songs are with Saregama. Her first song for Saregama was in Marathi, ‘Natali Chaitrachi Navala,’ released in 1942. Over the years, she has sung over 5,000 songs for Saregama.
Till date, her song ‘Lag ja gale’ from ‘Woh Kaun Thi’ stands tall and stirs up emotions that are beyond words. And for Saregama, all these songs are cherished and invaluable. They are a part of our history, they are our culture and part of our initial founding years as a nation.
I doubt if anyone can ever forget a song like ‘Ae mere watan ke logon.’ She sang for generations of stars and sounded as young and as ageless as can be. She created magic with several music directors, but had a special bond with Madan Mohanji.
Also, Yashji and she gave some of the best hits. Till the end, her voice was extraordinary. It was God’s gift, not only to her, but to us as a nation.
For Saregama, she is a legend. For us, she is a family member we lost today.
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