Page 3 - Seniorstoday February 2022 Issue

Publisher’s Note
Remembering Lata
How does one remember Lata Mangeshkar, or
even pay tribute to someone who has been a
presence in the life of every Indian?
What does one say about a person who has got
you to sense emotions that don’t come easily?
Filled you with awe, moved you to tears, romance,
longing and even foot-tapping masti?
Movie-makers created situations for songs for
Lata and consequently her finest songs are of
pain, longing and melancholy. Her voice has been
compared with water—pure, transparent and
flowing effortlessly. Ascending and descending
with ease. Her ‘Aayega aayega aanawala’ from the
movie Mahal made her so very popular and from
there on they was no looking back.
The longing in unforgettable melodies: ‘O
Sajana Barkha Bahar Aayi’ (Parakh) and ‘Aajare
Pardesi’(Madhumati), ‘Lag Jaa Gale’ (Who Kaun
Thi), or even the not-so-old ‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil
Mein’ (Kabhi Kabhie) and Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma
Hai (Shor) will remain with us eternally.
The depth of emotion in ‘Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh’
(Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai), ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat’
(Aah), ‘Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’ (Mughal-e-
Azam), the sweet romance of ‘Chandan Sa Badan’
and the naughtiness of ‘Didi Tera Dewar Dewaana’
(Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!). Or Bindiya Chamkegi
(Do Raaste) and Thare Rahiyo (Pakeezah). One
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #32 | FEBRUARY 2022
can hear these songs again and again and again.
They never fail to tire me. Her voice had the ability
to communicate with an intense emotion that goes
straight to the heart.
She could convey the true meaning of the song,
and that is a gift. Listen to ‘Tere Liye Hum Hai Jiye’
(Veer Zaara) and ‘Yeh Zindagi Usiki Hai’ from
Anarkali.
Her repertoire of bhajans —‘Allah Tero Naam’
or ‘Payoji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo’, even
‘Jyoti Kalash Chhalke’ and many bhajans sung
in Marathi opened the windows of your heart.
Finally, the very heartwrenching ‘Aye Mere
Vatan Ke Logo’ that still makes one’s eyes moist.
Veritably, as many as senior musicians would say,
Goddess Saraswati resided in her throat.
She was the embodiment of a true Bharat Ratna,
and her eternal voice will remain with us forever.
She may have left her physical body, but the soul
in her music makes her immortal. The lyrics of one
of her countless evergreen songs goes: ‘Naam Gum
Jaayega Chehra Yeh Badal Jaayega, Meri Awaaz Hi
Pechaan Hai….’.
True, very true.
Vickram Sethi
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
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