Veteran music composer Ilaiyaraaja shared a heartfelt condolence message on the demise of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar on Sunday.
Mangeshkar, aged 92, died on Sunday morning after suffering multiple organ failure at a hospital in Mumbai. The late singer contracted Covid-19 and was treated at Breach Candy hospital for over 28 days. Her passing has left the world in shock, with several states across India declaring mourning periods.
Tributes are still pouring in for Mangeshkar, fondly known as Nightingale of India, who sang in over 15 languages.
Mourning the singer’s demise, Ilaiyaraaja wrote on Twitter, “Heartbroken, but blessed to have known her and for having worked with her. Loved this incredible voice and soul. Lataji holds a place in our hearts that is irreplaceable… That’s how profoundly she has impacted our lives with her voice.”
“May she rest in peace and light up the heavens with her soulful voice,” he added, sharing a few old photos of the two of them from their recording days.
In a video message, the veteran music composer further said, “In the history of the Indian film music, for the last six-seven decades, Lataji mesmerised the world over with her divine voice. I am deeply saddened with her passing away and her demise has created a big void in me. I don’t know how I will come out of it.”
Calling Mangeshkar’s passing a “big loss” not only to the music fraternity, but to the entire world, the veteran musician extended his condolences to Mangeshkar’s sister and singer Asha Bhosle as well her other family members.
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Despite her limited discography in Tamil, Mangeshkar collaborated with Ilaiyaraaja multiple times. Their most memorable work is the Tamil song Valaiyosai Kala Kala Kalavena that still remains fresh and widely appreciated 34 years after its release. The evergreen romantic duet was voiced by Mangeshkar and the late SP Balasubrahmanyam. It was composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the Kamal Haasan-starrer Sathyaa (1988).
Apart from Valaiyosai, Mangeshkar also lent her voice for another song, Ingeyum, in the same album, although the song was not included in the film. In 1987, she sung Aararo Aararo for Ilaiyaraaja. The song, with lyrics by the composer’s brother Gangai Amaran, appeared in the film Anand. Mangeshkar once again collaborated with Ilaiyaraaja for the duet Engiruntho Azhaikkum with singer Mano for the film En Jeevan Paduthu (1988).