'Somewhere our society's collective morality is lost. There's a kind of moral confusion in our society which reflects in our films.' 'Filmmakers are hiding behind romance, ghost stories, murder mysteries and sex. No film is looking at social issues.'
Was this indeed the Lata who had started out with her, as a child star, in Badi Maa (1945)? Raju Bharatan recalls yet another memorable incident from Lata Mangeshkar's incredible life.
I spent almost all my life trying to figure out how anyone could express so many shades of human feeling in her voice, wonders Subhash K Jha.
Dinesh Raheja looks back at Manoj Kumar's brilliant 1964 thriller Woh Kaun Thi, and explains just what made it an audio-visual treat.
Uttam Ghosh pays tribute to the Incomparable Legend, Lataji Mangeshkar, Bharat Ratna.
'Salilda and my brother Hridaynath would deliberately make my compositions tough.' 'Their logic was, "You can do it, so why should we not compose accordingly?",' Lata Mangeshkar, who would have turned 94 today, September 28, 2023, once told Subhash K Jha.
Subhash K Jha celebrates the Ram Mandir pran pratishtha ceremony by picking some memorable Ram bhajans from movies you may not have heard of.
'Lataji, Ghalib, Beethoven and Shakespeare are far removed from the normal chain of human civilisation.' 'If they were just role models, how come no one was able to achieve an iota of their perfection?' 'They are a kind of intruders who come as reminders of the rule of mediocrity that prevails.'
'Once when he was on a flight, the plane hit an air-pocket.' 'The turbulence outside caused it to see-saw violently which caused a lot of panic inside. While his co-passengers were crying and praying for their lives, Salil kaku was writing a song in his head.'
'Whatever we are today, if playback singers are here even today, and that includes me, it is because of Didi.'
'The source of our music, the very notes of music itself have fallen silent.'
She came like a whirlwind to wipe out, in one stroke, practically all female singing competition, recalls Raju Bharatan.
'Hamara aur Rajsaab ka bahot gehra aur toot bandhan tha. Hum bahot ladte the (we used to fight a lot) but he could make me bend my rules for him.;
'She could barely stand on her feet, but she summoned Composer Mayuresh Pai and told him she wanted to do some handpicked Ram bhajans, shlokas and chants for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.'
Lata Mangeshkar has tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms and is undergoing treatment at Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital, her niece said on Tuesday.
The award function will be held in Pune.
Amitabh Bachchan was honoured with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award at a ceremony in Mumbai's Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagrih.
'At a time when there was little awareness of world music, playing western tunes on eastern instruments like the flute and the dholak, blending vocal polyphony with Indian folk and contemporary styles, Salilkaku created a new musical genre in Bengal called Gana Sangeet.'
A great admirer of Raj Kapoor's film songs, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai says his all-time Raj Kapoor favourite song is the magical duet Pyar Hua Iqrar Hua.
'That a song can carry the weight of a people's dreams and move hearts across the world.' On Bhupen Hazarika's 99th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays rich tribute to the legendary singer and composer.
Kolkata native Manasi Ghosh, 24, has been declared the winner of Indian Idol 15. She takes home the trophy and a Rs 25 lakh prize money.
'It was Kishoreda who suggested to Sulakshanadidi that she should become an actress and sing her own songs in her films. This transformed her life and career.'
'I came to hear you sing Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon. I am glad I have heard you sing.'
The Mangeshkar sisters -- Lata and Asha -- have sung about 80 Hindi songs together.
Playback singers enjoyed the challenge of being pitched against the finest voice God ever created, but they were also wary of Lata Mangeshkar's endless resourcefulness in rendition.
Long before she won royalty rights for playback singers, there was an undisclosed incident in Lataji's life where she not only put a male colleague in place, but also refused to sing with him thereafter.
'Some time back, music was just noise.' 'Producers wrongly think item songs sell better.' 'Audiences are intelligent, they accept whatever you give, but that doesn't mean you can fool them.'
'The amount of respect we have for people who guard our borders and put the country first.' 'Why do they do this?' 'The chances of not coming back are so high. Still, they take that risk.' 'It's for the love of the country.'
There is no word from the family so far on where will the ashes be immersed.
'I tell the next generation of singers to take a leaf out of Lataji's book.' 'Be it Kavita or Alka, every time I give a song to a singer, I tell them, 'Dhyaan se suno, listen attentively, phir socho, Lataji isse kaise gaati'.'
Singer-actress Sulakshana Pandit, 71, passed into the ages on November 6 after a prolonged illness. Besides her acting roles, she leaves behind some beautiful songs to remember her by.
A 40-feet-long Veena -- the Indian classical music instrument -- weighing 14 tons, arrives in Ayodhya on September 16, 2022 to be installed at Lata Mangeshkar Smriti Chowk.
'It's time we stop thinking only about ourselves.' 'Whether it is love or wealth, give generously.'
Songs Of Paradise is the story of a female achiever that needed to be told, just as her songs of love and longing deserve to be rediscovered and shared with music aficionados, observes Deepa Gahlot.
We will continue to be enthralled by your golden oldies we grew up with, notes Shreekant Sambrani.
'Finally it was S D Burman who brought us together.'
'We cannot thank her enough for what she has done for us.'
The song that best encapsulates Geeta Dutt's unfairly abbreviated life would probably be: Yaad Karoge, Yaad Karoge, Ek Din Humko Yaad Karoge. On her 95th birth anniversary on November 23, Dinesh Raheja pieces together the life of this talented singer.
'As a new actress, I was watching Lata Mangeshkar with awe at an event. Later, I mustered the courage to call her. I heard her divine voice on the phone, she sent me a sari home and it was a boon to me.'
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