A decade ago ago – i had blogged the bulk of this post. written on her birtdhay it was my listing of her favourites.
Today, as i hear news of her passing on, i just look at the treasure trove of work that she produced, and marvel at her versitility. I love her work till the mid 70’s. that is when she did the bulk of her phenomenal work, with great lyricists and wonderful music directors. P
September 28th – The birthday of Lata Mangeshkar …. the woman with the golden voice.The first lady of [tag]Hindi film Music[/tag]. For me, the last of the [tag]All India Radio [/tag] generation , the lady and her music was a constant companion when I was growing up. Although in later years – i would think post the late 1980’s- her voice has lost much of the sweetness and melody, her body of work prior to that stands as testimony of her talent. On her birthday, I am going to take on a difficult task – the task of compiling my personal favourites sung by her. This is in no particular order of prefernce – just stuff that i enjoy listening to … the list will be divided into my favourite solo numbers & duets. Today is the list of the favourite solo numbers.
1) Aaj Phir Jeene ki Tamana Hai – the film [tag]Guide[/tag]. A celebration of life. Picturised on [tag]Waheeda Rehman[/tag] – a truly feminist song before the term feminist became popular in India
2) Aapki Nazron Ne Samjha – the film Anpadh. Lata Mangeshkar creates magic with Madan Mohan. Dharmendra looks hot, while Mala Sinha sings to him!
3)Barsaat Mein Humse Mile Tum Sajan – the all time classic. Lata and a chorus sing probably my favourite ‘falling in love’ song. [tag]Shailendra[/tag]’s lyrics are mind blowing ‘aaj mein tumhari huvi, tum mere sajan… tum mere sajan” and [tag]Shankar Jaikishen[/tag]’s music a herald of forthcoming greatness
4) Bada Natkhat Hai Yeh – Film Amar Prem – filmed on Sharmila Tagore. the film also starred Rajesh Khanna. Music R.D.Burman, lyrics Anand Bakshi. The film also had the other wonderful Lata solo – Raina Beeth Jaaye….
5) Choti, Choti si Baat — Film Choti Si Baat – music Salil Choudhary, lyrics Yogesh. A wistful song …Najane Kyon… hota hai yeh zindagi ke saath … achanak yeh dil .. .kissi ke jaane ke baad … kare phir uski yaad… choti choti si baat….na jane
6) Doondho Re Doondho – Film Ganga Jamuna – music [tag]Naushad[/tag] lyrics, Shakeel Badauni The song picturised an ethereal looking [tag]Vyjanti Mala[/tag] singing about the joys of ‘suhaag raat’ with [tag]Dilip Kumar[/tag]
http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/yt-kF_cES1Rpg0/gunga_jumna_dhoondo_dhoondo_re_sa.swf
7) Dua Kar Ghame Dil, Khuda se Duva Kar – from [tag]Anarkali[/tag]. In a film full of great songs, including the popular ‘yeh zindagi usi ki hai’ – this song is my personal favourite. You can hear the duva in the voice.
8) Ja Ja Re Jaa, Balamva – Film Basant Bahar. I can’t remember too much about the film except that it stars Bharat Bhushan and everyone dies . But the sound track on this is amazing, so is this song.
9) Jago Mohan Pyare – from [tag]Jagte Raho[/tag] – the sweetness and compassion in Lata’s voice, perfect with the melody by [tag]Salil Choudhary[/tag] and lyrics by PremDhawan.
10) Jadugar Saaiya – from the film [tag]Nagin[/tag] – a sweet love song, where the woman implores her lover to let her go as it is getting late. Hemant Kumar, Shailendra and Lata once again create magic.
11) Kahi Deep Jale Kahi Dil – Music Director Madan Mohan, lyrics by [tag]Raja Mehdi Ali Khan[/tag] and a truly eerie number. For me, it works better as a ‘haunted’ song than Ayega Aanewal from [tag]Mahal[/tag] and Aajare Pardesi from [tag]Madhumati[/tag].
12) Mausam hai Ashiqana – superb wistfulness and longing in this song from Pakeezah. I personally prefer this song to the more popular ‘chalte chalte’ or ‘inhi logone’
13) Mora Gora Ang Laile – in my list of the most erotic songs in Hindi films ever. Lyrics by a very young [tag]Gulzar[/tag] and music by [tag]Sachin Dev Burman[/tag]
14) Na Jiya Lage Na – Film Anand – Salil Choudhary, Gulzar and Lata Mangeshkar. A great combination of melody, lyrics and voice.
15) Nainon Mein Badra Chaaye – Film : [tag]Mera Saya[/tag]Lata & [tag]Madan Mohan[/tag] – and an incredible semi classical composition. A superb rain song….
16) Pyaar Kiya to Darna Kiya – Lata Mangeshkar in this defiant anthem in Moghul-e-Azam. Music Naushad
17) Raaton Ke Saaye Ghane- Film Annadata – music Salil Choudhary. I haven’t seen the film but it has a powerhouse of a sound track.
18)Rajnigandha Phool Tumhare — Film [tag]Rajnigandha[/tag], Salil Chodhary, Yogesh and Lata Mangeshkar get together to create magic.
19) Rukh Ja Raat – Lata singing for Meena Kumari in Dil ek Mandir and trying to stop the moon set with the power of her voice.
20) Saaware Saaware – from the film [tag]Anuradha[/tag]. Music by [tag]Ravi Shankar[/tag] and a breathless pace that transverses scale. Lata’s complete mastery of Raga’s and melodies comes to the forefront in this song.
21) Vande Mataram – from the film [tag]Ananda Math[/tag] – Music by Hemant Kumar, Lyrics by Bankim Chandra Chaterjee. The ultimate call to battle song. Fight for this country, it is yours and so beautiful….And Lata’s rendition of this song makes it my favourite. It nudges out other ‘patriotic’ numbers like Ay Mere Vatan ke Logon … .
22) Allah Tero Naam – Film Hum Dono, with an incredible sound track with mostly Asha Bhonsle songs. Lata sings two bhajans. This and Prabho tero naam – both are incredible
23) Jago Mohan Preetam – this is strictly cheating because this is the same song as Jago Mohan Pyaare. Except it is in Bangla. And, since it is my all time favourite songs, and since it si my
24) Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai – Lata at her sweetest best. The film Anarkali, the second of the movies made at almost the same time that celebrated the romance between Salim and Anarkali. While many say that Anarkali never existed,the song with Bina Rai getting bricked up is amongst my chief child hood memories – watching Chitrahaar (or was it Chaaya Geet)
Harini:
I remember your last post. If there were a choice to be made, I have always preferred Asha Bhonsle’s versatile talent over Lata Mangeshkar’s. But objectively both are talented in a way few are and have the dedication and determination few can dream to have.
You have picked a larger number of LM’s early numbers from the ’60s and the ’70s. I think that was the best period. Latterly things like “tribute to KL Saigal” have been misguided projects. The brutal murder of “do naina matware” for instance left me shaking my head in sad disbelief.
Sorry to be so cold and objective – but I declared my bias early. Your picks are fabulous and since you mention “solo” I can’t share what I like best about the LM portfolio: her duets with Asha Bhonsle 🙂
PS: Can’t believe how long it has been since I read your blog. The look is fabulous, clean, bright and welcoming. Kudos.
Hi
great to see you here.
I too prefer Asha’s versatility & longevity – she still sounds brilliant.
i heard the massacre of both ‘mein kya jaano kya jaado hai’ and ‘do naina’ – and shuddered.
stuff like ‘jiya jale jaan jaale’ which FM radio was blaring last week – had me switch channels while driving – i normally don’t undertake such dangerous activity 🙂
for me, her music stopped in the early 1980’s – after that it has been pretty much down hill. woh mithaas nahi rahi – and to hear her without mithaas is not worth hearing her at all !
THANK YOU FOR SHARING SO MANY HITS.
You can listen to the following ‘missed’ as well-
‘Jyoti Kalash Chalke’- Bhabhi ki Chudian
‘Kuch dil ne kaha’-Anupama
‘O basant Pawan Pagal’-Jish Desh mein Ganga Behti hai
‘O mere lal aaja’- Mother India
Ultimate Songs. Very very sweet songs. Thank you very much for this collection. I will never delete it from my bookmark.
thank you 🙂
Great post about the versatility and sweetness of latajee’s voice in her earlier years. But my all time favourite ‘lag ja gale’ is not to be seen here which can pull the heart strings of anyone at any point of time irrespective of how many times it is repeated. Thanks for this post.
Such a thoughtful tribute, and an excellent compilation! Thank you for putting this together!