Page 8 - Seniorstoday February 2022 Issue

Kalyanji-Anandji taking over from the
1960s onwards. Despite her sheer melody,
the advantage of her voice is that it suited
almost every heroine. Many memorable
solo songs were filmed on the best actresses
of the time – examples being ‘Tera Jaana’
on Nutan in Anari, ‘Aaja Re Pardesi’ on
Vyjayanthimala in Madhumati, ‘O Sajna’
on Sadhna in Parakh, ‘Rasik Balma’ on
Nargis in Chori Chori, ‘Aapki Nazaron Ne
Samjha’ on Mala Sinha in Anpadh,‘Jhoom Lata’s Meerabhai bhajans were a huge hit
Jhoom Dhalti Raat’ on Waheeda Rehman Her recording of Meerabai bhajans,
in Kohraa, ‘Rahein Na Rahein Hum’ including songs like ‘Thane Kanee
on Suchitra Sen in Mamta,‘Raina Beeti Kanee Sunawa’, ‘Saanwra Mhari Preet
Jaaye’ on Sharmila Tagore in Amar Prem, Nibhajonji’, ‘Chala Vahi Des’, ‘Saanvra
‘Mausam Hai Aashiqana’ on Meena Rang Rachi’ and ‘Naina Lobhi Re’, have
Kumari in Pakeezah, ‘Naya Zamana been hugely popular. She has also recorded
Aayega’ on Hema Malini in Naya Zamana the poetry of Kabir, Tulsidas and Surdas,
and ‘Nadiya Kinare’ on Jaya Bhaduri in besides Marathi abhang poets like Sant
Abhimaan... the list goes on. Tukaram and Sant Namdev. Her rendition
Though S D Burman gave Mangeshkar of invocations to Lord Ganesh and other
some of her biggest hits, they had Indian deities are played at festivals
differences during the making of the and poojas. She even recorded some
1958 film Sitaaron Se Aage, and did not outstanding ghazals, and her 1991 album
work together for four years. She and Sajda with Jagjit Singh was a landmark.
Mohammed Rafi also disagreed over the She had numerous regional language songs
issue of royalty payments, but patched up mainly in Marathi and Bengali.
later. In the 1970s, there were allegations In the 1980s and 1990s, Mangeshkar
that she didn’t allow other singers like Vani
Jairam, Sulakshana Pandit, Runa Laila and
even sister Asha Bhosle to rise. Bhosle has
however denied these theories, and in fact
credited her Didi for playing a huge role in
her own growth.
While Mangeshkar’s forte has been
her film songs, she did memorable work
outside of films too. In 1963, her rendition
of Kavi Pradeep’s ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke
Logon’, composed by C. Ramchandra, paid
tribute to Indian soldiers killed in the 1962
war against China. The song moved the
entire nation, even making Prime Minister Bharat Vishwa Vijeta - Lata Mangeshkar singing with
Jawaharlal Nehru shed a tear. 1983 cricket team

8