The Icon and Her Voice

Rarely in human history has an artiste been born whose name is adequate to summarise the greatness of their art. With the passing of Lata Mangeshkar, one can only feel grateful for having been alive during the era of the singing legend.

Written by: Vidhi Salla

While Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar breathed her last on 6th February 2022 at the age of 92, Lata Mangeshkar, the omnipresent entity, continues to have an indelible presence in millions of lives around the world. After her passing, the Government of India declared a two-day national mourning. Public holidays in several states came into effect immediately. The Indian flag was hoisted at half mast at major government buildings and the Maharashtra government declared a state funeral for the legendary singer. Judicial proceedings were suspended at the Bombay High Court and the Reserve Bank of India postponed its interest-rate review by a day to mourn her loss. Along with India, the world too grieved her demise. A prayer meeting was held in Pakistan. Bollywood fans in China expressed grief at the loss of the songstress whose voice they had heard through privately hosted “salons” of Indian music and culture. The singer’s legacy was celebrated with a picture of her on a billboard in New York City’s Times Square by Michelin-star chef Vikas Khanna’s Indian Cultural Center, Binder. Mangeshkar was a national treasure and her passing has brought an end to the era of music that began with her.

DEVOTION AND DEFIANCE

Mangeshkar’s voice had an impact on listeners of every calibre, nationality and age. India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was moved to tears at her rendition of ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’. Stalwart of Hindustani classical music, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan stopped everything when he happened to hear her voice on the radio singing, ‘Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai’ and remarked, “Kambakht kabhi besuri hi nahi hoti! Kya Allah ki den hai!” (The darn girl never hits a false note! What a gift of god!) Mangeshkar was showered with countless accolades throughout her life, but she most cherished the love she received from people. “If I were to live a thousand years, I could not repay the gratitude I feel. People have showered me with love and prayers… To receive love is the greatest thing. What more in life could you wish for?” she had said in an interview. Behind the ace vocalist, though, was a personality that was quietly amboyant, curious and forever learning.

Mangeshkar’s meteoric rise began in the 1950s as the voice of the female Mangeshkar’s meteoric rise began in the 1950s as the voice of the female protagonist in Hindi film music and continued for seven decades straight. Actor Jaya Bachchan once remarked…

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Note: This article was published in the March 2022 edition of NCPA’s On Stage magazine