Lata Mangeshkar was my introduction, the beginning, the basic, the identity of film music. Sukanya Verma salutes The Legend.
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.
Where Shamshad Begum was charging Rs 900 for a song, Lata was prepared to settle for Rs 50 as she came on the scene. Raju Bharatan recalls yet another memorable incident from Lata Mangeshkar's incredible life.
'Many have tried to imitate her. They've fallen flat on their faces.'
Delhi recorded a voter turnout of over 19 per cent in the first four hours of polling on Wednesday across 70 assembly constituencies, with the highest voter participation witnessed in North East district.
'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.'
One could be anywhere -- huddled around a transistor radio at home in the evenings, walking past a neighbour's house, or waiting at a bus stop and Lata Mangeshkar's voice would reach us. Aseem Chhabra pays rich tribute to The Legend.
'I never had an opportunity to do the things children do.'
'We knew we would miss her, but we never knew it would be so hard.'
With the monsoon sweeping across many parts of India, Subhash K Jha picks 5 of his favourite romantic rain songs.
Zeenat Aman had scored more hit songs than any of her contemporaries. This can be attributed partly to happenstance and partly to the fact that her forte for high glamour could be showcased most winningly in a crowd-pleasing number, observes Dinesh Raheja.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of practicing appeasement politics, saying the party's priority was "family first." He asserted that the BJP-led government operates on the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (development for all) and prioritizes "nation first." Modi further criticized the Congress's approach to reservations, claiming it was aimed at creating divisions within the country. He highlighted the BJP's initiatives to empower marginalized communities, including the constitutional status to the OBC commission and the introduction of 10% reservation for economically backward groups.
'Romantic songs are my forte. Sadly, not too many of them are being created these days.'
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.
Uttam Ghosh pays tribute to the Incomparable Legend, Lataji Mangeshkar, Bharat Ratna.
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.
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.
'Towards the late '60s and early '70s, it was a given that if it was Shankar-Jaikishan, it had to be Sharda for Shankar.'
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 source of our music, the very notes of music itself have fallen silent.'
The Lata Mangeshkar rendered title song in Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham will be re-structured as an orchestral item by American composer Kris Bowers to be part of the narrative.
Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who died on February 6, was cremated at the ground situated in Dadar.
Regaling fans since decades with her brand of charm and charisma, Bollywood's eternal diva has channelled lot of these attributes in her chartbuster songs.
The President and the Prime Minister led the tributes for Mangeshkar who spent close to a month in the hospital before her demise.
'Whatever we are today, if playback singers are here even today, and that includes me, it is because of Didi.'
President Murmu had to move forward to give the award to the 86-year-old singer who has difficulty walking.
Mohammad Rafi had a powerful range that could accommodate anything from the sublime O duniya ke rakhwale for Bharat Bhushan in Baiju Bawra to the eccentric Badan pe sitare lapete huye for Shammi Kapoor in Prince.
'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'.'
She sang the chartbusters Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche in Brahmachari, Tumse Oh Haseena Kabhi Mohabbat Na Maine Karni Thi in Farz and Ajhu Na Aaye Balma in Saanjh Aur Savera.
In these pandemic stricken, music bereft times, what can be more joyous than a playlist of 25 golden melodies? Sukanya Verma curates one for you.
Film music flourished in the 1970s. Some old masters did some great work, but it was also the decade of new composers.
On her 90th birthday on September 8, Ashaji hopes to perform at a live three-hour concert in Dubai.
'It's time we stop thinking only about ourselves.' 'Whether it is love or wealth, give generously.'
She came like a whirlwind to wipe out, in one stroke, practically all female singing competition, recalls Raju Bharatan.
'Madhubala stipulated in her contracts that she wanted only me to do her playback singing.'
'There was no other Lata Mangeshkar, there is none and there won't be any. I will celebrate her life, today and always.'
It's the most romantic day of the year, and the best time to hum romantic songs!
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.
A special quiz to mark the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
