Singer Lata Mangeshkar turns 88 today, and not a day goes by without talking about her contribution to Indian music.
Hailing from a family of theatre artists, Lata always had music in her mind, even on her first day in school.
Beginning 40s to present times, it’s almost difficult to timeline all her songs considering she’s been singing (and thriving) for over seven decades. From the age of 13, to well into her 70s, Lata’s voice never lost its magical quality. She doesn’t sing much these days, but of all the songs she’s ever sung, one that continues to be hailed as one of her best is ‘Lag Jaa Gale’ from the 1964 film Woh Kaun Thi.
Starring Manoj Kumar and Sadhana, the song, in black and white, captures intimate moments between a couple. The woman, pining for her lover, implores him to embrace her now, for who knows when such a beautiful night might return?
Sensing a possible separation, she further says that the night, which could well be their last, may not return in this lifetime – the lyrics penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan keeps up with the film’s tale of confusion and longing, and infuses sensuous moments between the visibly estranged couple.
Lata, who was in her 30s then, is at her mellifluous best. In the video, there is music in the woman’s desperation, and more than anything sexual, there’s poetry in her words.
Lata sang four songs in this film, and three of them featured just her voice. Talking about this song in 2014, on its 50th anniversary, she said that the beauty of this song is that it can never rust with age.
True to her words, in recent times, there have been several renditions of this song. The most recent one for the film Meri Pyaari Bindu, starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Parineeti Chopra – a film that heavily relied on retro Hindi songs. The song is used in the form of a memory that Parineeti’s Bindu has when thinking of her mother who dies early on in the film. With tears streaming down her eyes, she sings it on stage with her mother in mind, the lyrics echoing with her sentiments.
Singers like Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, Jonita Gandhi and even Arijit Singh have sung their versions of the song. Needless to say, social media thinks ‘Lag Ja Gale‘ is best sung by Lata herself.
We’ll always remain thankful for your Evergreen Hit #LagJaGale?? Happy Birthday #LataMangeshkar
— sushil shinde (@shinde_sush) September 28, 2017
Happy birthday to the greatest singer of all times @mangeshkarlata Can’t resist listening to #LagJaGale an all time favourite #Captivating
— Dr Madhuri Mahato (@RanchiVizag) September 28, 2017
Happy Birthday #LataMangeshkar The Nightingale of India, whose voice soothes heart, Lag Ja Gale, Rahein Na Rahein Hum, Ae Mere Watan , etc
— Cifar (@cifarshayar) September 28, 2017
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
*****
Pic: Radiocity.in
