Lata Mangeshkar: Vox Popular At 80

This week, we continue listing our favourite Lata Mangeshkar songs completing the list of 80 songs. The years in focus, 1969-1988 when 45-year-old Lata sang for actors in their teens

Last fortnight, to commemorate Lata Mangeshkar reaching the benchmark age of 80 on September 28, I wrote about how the legendary singer has enjoyed singular success over the last 60 years and counted down her chartbusters from 1949-1968. I also distilled from her extensive oeuvre one personal favourite of mine for each of those 20 years. This time, I explore the next 20 years.u00a0


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1969
Chartbuster:u00a0 Bindiya chamkegi, chudi khankegi (Do Raaste, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
Lata and LP remained partners-in-rhyme for decades because of chartbusters such as these. In this song, a pug-nosed Mumtaz distracts nascent superstar Rajesh Khanna from studying with the help of Lata's caramel-coated vocals. Lata impresses with the fluidity of her Punjabi rendition and her feistiness, which even LP's rumbustious dhols cannot subdue. And can anyone cry as musically as Lata does before an antara?

My Choice: Kaise rahoon chup? (Intequam, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
The Helen cabaret Aa jaane jaa from Intequam is ranked as a busting-out-of-the-box departure for Lata, but for me the virtuoso display is Kaise rahoon chup, in which a supposedly drunk Sadhana lashes out in Lata's voice and makes an unholy scene at a party. Even Lata's hiccups (a la Anarkali's Mohobbat mein aise) are in rhythm.
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1970
Chartbuster: Achha toh hum chalte hain (Aan Milo Sajna, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
In this popular popcorn ditty picturised on Asha Parekh and Rajesh Khanna (at the peak of his stardom), both Lata and Kishore glide as though on greased rails between the knowingly farcical question-answer routine u2014 Der kar di badi, zara dekho toh ghadi is greeted with Oh ho, meri toh ghadi bandh hai. Priceless.
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My Choice: Zamaane mein aji aise kayee nadaan hote hain (Jeevan Mrityu, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
In this well-penned mujra u2014 Wahan le jaate hai kashti jahan toofan hote hai is the second line u2014 Lata's nuanced interpretation dominates the song despite the weighty words. Zeb Rehman was lucky to bag this song onscreen.
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1971
Chartbuster: Maar diya jaaye (Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Laxmikant Pyarelal
Lata could be provocative as well as pristine. This vitriolic vamps's number would evoke whistles in theatres as Lata imbued her singing with the sentiment of scoffing while intoning, Aa raha hai taras teri jawaani pe u2026

My Choice: Jaise Radha ne mala japi Shyam ki (Tere Mere Sapne, S D Burman)
This year my favourite is a toss up between Burman Sr's Jaise Radha and Burman Jr's Raina beete jaaye from the Sharmila starrer Amar Prem. The latter showcases Lata's mastery over classical singing but Sr's Mumtaz number is simply sublime.
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1972
Chartbuster: Inhi logon ne le leena (Pakeezah, Ghulam Mohammed)
What inspired a non-dancer like Meena Kumari to perform a mujra with so much verve? I presume it was Ghulam Mohammed's blend of tabla, ghungroo and sarangi and Lata's tuneful voice which skewers even as it locates the poignancy in the suggestive lyrics.
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My Choice: Mausam hai aashiqana (Pakeezah, Ghulam Mohammed)
Lata's impassioned singing to Kamal Amrohi's lyrics Aa jao, main bana doon palkon ka shamiana could make even the Sphinx sigh with emotion.
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1973
Chartbuster: Hum tum ek kamre mein bandh ho (Bobby, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
For this youthful ear-tugger, 44-year-old Lata made up with Raj Kapoor, vaunted over the fault-lines of the generation gap and sang guilelessly for 16-year-old Dimple.u00a0u00a0
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My Choice: Peeya bina (Abhimaan, S D Burman)
Lata croons Piya aise roothe, ki hothon se mere, sangeet rootha. But, the truth is that Lata's bond with music has remained unbroken.
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1974
Chartbuster: Haye haye yeh majboori (Roti Kapda Aur Makan, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
Lata imbued the song with her typical brand of sweet sultriness and Zeenat added some serious sizzle to make a scorcher of a song which even the rains couldn't dampen.
My Choice: Rajnigandha phool tumhari (Rajnigandha, Salil Chowdhary)
Lata caresses the notes with exquisite delicacy when she softly sings the line Kitna sukh hai bandhan mein.u00a0

1975
Chartbuster: Bhool gaya sab kucch (Julie, Rajesh Roshan)
Among the many Lata chartbusters that year was Sholay's Ho jab tak hai jaan, jaane-jahaan and this silk-smooth seduction number from Julie in which the ebb and flow of Lata's voice evokes the sensual anticipation inherent in the song.
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My Choice: Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa toh nahin (Aandhi, R D Burman)
A very popular song but still a perennial favourite with me because it is a high water mark in singing, composition, picturisation and lyrics (Gulzar). Lata evidences the ability to capture the depth and dimensions of the insightful lyrics.
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1976
Chartbuster: Husn haazir hai mohabbat ki sazaa pane ko (Laila Majnu, Madan Mohan)
Lata's full-throated rendition of Laila's (Ranjeeta's) bittersweet paean to love earns extra credits for being the swan song of the Madan Mohan-Lata jodi.u00a0
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My Choice: Mere naina saawan bhadon (Mehbooba, R D Burman)
The haunting number is a Lata genre by itself. Brimming over with romantic longing, Lata's voice takes several silky turns till it builds up for the high amperage line: u2026 gagan pe chamki, beetey samay ki rekha.
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1977
Chartbuster: Humko tumse ho gaya hai pyar (Amar Akbar Anthony, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
LP employed the voices of three leading male playback singers for the film's three heroes in this song, but Lata was the only female voice used for all the three heroines, Parveen, Neetu and Shabana.

My Choice: Apne aap raaton mein (Shankar Hussain, Khayyam)
This intoxicating song transports you to another era, apne aap.
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1978
Chartbuster: Salaam-e-ishq (Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Kalyanji Anandji)
Lata's gilt-edged lilt and Rekha's exquisite adas are amply aided by Anjaan's evocative lyrics. It was a golden year for Lata with the Satyam Shivam Sundaram songs and the title song of Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki also proving to be immensely popular.
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My Choice: Tumhein dekhti hoon toh lagta hai aise (Tumhare Liye, Jaidev)
Jaidev's composition has some fabulous flute interludes and Lata's vocals are in total tandem with the tune. The song stays intense without going over the top.
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1979
Chartbuster: Pardesiyan yeh sach hai piya (Mr Natwarlal, Rajesh Roshan)
The song is a rich amalgam of folksy music and voices (Lata-Kishore) that folklores are made of.
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My Choice: Uthe sabke kadam tara rum pam pam (Baaton Baaton Mein, Rajesh Roshan)
You can't help but get up and jive to this uptempo Roshan confection. Lata keeps the song and our spirits buoyant with her inimitable la la, la la la.
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1980
Chartbuster: Sheesha ho ya dil ho (Asha, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
The film was ironically named after her singer sister, Asha, but the hit songs were sung by Lata, especially this plaintive plea.
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My Choice: Charu chandra ki chanchal chitwan (Man Pasand, Rajesh Roshan)
Sangeet ka jo premi woh kismetwala hai u2014 claims this song; and Lata's exuberant rendition amply bears this out.
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1981
Chartbuster: Yaad aa rahi hai (Love Story, R D Burman)
It was a new decade with a batch of new star sons but, amazingly, Lata continued to be the voice of the new heroines in these youthful films u2014 Rocky, Love Story, Betaab.
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My Choice: Solah baras ki baali umar ko salaam (Ek Duuje Ke Liye Laxmikant Pyarelal)
Time and again, LP pushed Lata to strike higher notes and she picked up the gauntlet as always.
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1982
Chartbuster: Yeh galiyan yeh chaubara (Prem Rog, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
To her credit, Lata could still project the naivetu00e9 of a young bride full of expectations as portrayed onscreen by the young Padmini Kolhapure.
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My Choice: Dikhayi diye yun (Bazaar, Khayyam)
A refreshing reminder that Lata could sing a ghazal in a way that lets the subtext emerge and in which the emotions cut to the bone.
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1983
Chartbuster: Nainon mein sapna (Himmatwala, Bappi Lahiri)
This year, Lata had several hits including Souten's Shayad meri shaadi ka khayal, Betaab's Jab hum jawan honge, Hero's Nindiya se aayee bahaar; but did not really distinguish herself. She chose to cut down her workload considerably.
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My Choice: Aye dil-e-nadaan (Razia Sultan, Khayyam)
Khayyam jettisons heavy orchestration and Lata's voice too has a dreamy, finespun quality as the song conjures images of a caravan wandering the sand dunes in search of emotional succour.
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1984
Chartbuster: Mehke kyon kali kaliu00a0 (Tohfaa, Bappi Lahiri)
It was not in the same league as her chartbusters but this song too enjoyed decent airplay on the radio. But, by now, Lata could possibly sing such songs in her sleep.
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My Choice: Jaane kya baat hai (Sunny, R Du00a0 Burman)
When Lata sings Badi lambi ra-aa-aa-t hai, she elongates the raat into a four syllable word without straining and you realise that subtle inflexions were her forte.
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1985
Chartbuster: Sun sahibaan sun (Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Ravindra Jain)
The folksy, radiating-good-cheer song took the country by storm.
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My Choice: Man kyon behka ri behka (Utsav, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
The two sisters, Lata and Asha, have sung some sweet duets. This late addition ranks amongst their most honeyed.
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1986
Chartbuster: Main teri dushman dushman tu mera (Nagina, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
Lata's voice quality changed perceptibly in the eighties but the hits kept rolling. Her combination with LP spawned hits for over 25 years.
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My Choice: Din pyaar ke aayenge sajaniya (Saverewali Gaadi, R D Burman)
Pretty standard fare from Lata and Burman u2014 but then their standard is high.
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1987
Chartbuster: Patjhad sawan basant bahar (Sindoor, Laxmikant Pyarelal)
The conviction in Lata's voice carried this song through. But Lata singing a semi-classical song for the anglicised Neelam was a tad jarring.
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1988
Chartbuster: Jaane do jaane do (Shahenshah, Amar Utpal)
This Amitabh-Meenakshi hit duet ensured that Lata could adapt herself to a new generation of music directors and actresses in her 40th year of singing stardom!
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My Choice: Mere pyar ki umar ho (Waris, Uttam Singh)
Modern songs may have had a more masala beat but I hanker for the simple allure of such songs.
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For Lata, the hits continued. After Maine Pyar Kiya and Chaandni in 1989 she worked largely with select banners such as the Rajshris, R K, and Yash Chopra. Lata sang the songs for the two biggest blockbusters of the nineties u2014 Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge u2014 when she was 65, and at 80 is still a true-blue cultural phenomenon.