Thanks for this transcript Pavan.... On Sat, Sep 6, 2008 at 11:58 AM, $ Pavan Kumar $ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> Lata Mangeshkar Interview to NDTV ...Transcript > > http://movies.ndtv.com/newstory.asp?section=Movies&id=ENTEN20080064177 > > NDTV's Sreenivasan Jain got talking to Lata Mangeshkar about life, music > and the studio *Bombay Talkies*. Here's are some snippets from the > interview. > > *NDTV*: *Namaskar*. Thank you so much for doing this. The wonderful thing > is that when we were talking a little while back. You told me that *Bombay > Talkies* has a special meaning for you. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Definitely.That is because my playback singing career > started with *Bombay Talkies*. There used to be a studio called *Bombay > Talkies*, who's owners were Ashok Kumar and Watcha. Before that, it was > originally owned by Devika Rani. After she left, Ashok Kumar started running > it. > > *NDTV*: So you got your first break in the *Bombay Talkies* studio? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, definitely. > > *NDTV*: How did that happen? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: What happened was that I started out as an actress but > I never used to like acting. I used to work with master Vinayak. > > *NDTV*: Even then you acted in about seven to eight Hindi and Marathi > films. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, I acted in films but I never enjoyed it as I was > very young. I used to hate putting on make up and having to laugh and cry in > front of the camera. I used to love singing. I was always attracted to it > since childhood. Then in 1947, Master Vinayak passed away and our company, > *Praful Pictures* was shut down. I started playback singing after that. I > went to Filmistan and after hearing me sing, Haiderji said that he wanted me > to sing for a film. But the owner of Filmistan, Mukherjee Sahib said that my > voice will not suit the film's actress as it was too thin. > > *NDTV*: He told you that your voice was too thin? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Well, he didn't tell me directly, but he told the music > director and I was rejected. But Master Ghulam Ali Sahib never told me this. > He just asked me to leave the studio with him. He was very disappointed with > the rejection as he was the one who had discovered Noor Jehan and he was > very respected in the industry. So, he took me to the station and we took a > train to Malad, where *Bombay Talkies* was located. There he made me > practice for two to three days and after that we recorded the song. > > *NDTV*: And this was the song from the film *Mahal*? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: No, *Mahal* came later that was by Temton Prakash. This > was for the film *Majboor* where I sang with Mukesh *bhaiya* and the words > were something like *Ek Angreji chora chala gaya.* > > *NDTV*: So will you sing that for us? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: No, I don't even remember the words. > > *NDTV*: So, you were discovered after that song? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, after that I got more films. There was a film > called *Ziddi* that I did with Kishore Kumar. Both of us were new at that > time. After that I did *Mahal*. After that there was no looking back. > There were songs like *Aayega Ayega...* > > Yes, then Naushad Sahib called me. I did films like *Andaaz, Badi Bahen*etc. > and my songs became hit. > > *NDTV*: So, no one must have ever said that your voice was too thin after > that! Also, when you entered the scene there were singers like Noor Jehan, > Suraiya etc. But they had a different style. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: By the time I started out, Noor Jehan had already left > for Pakistan. Surayia was still there but she was not a playback singer. She > was an actress who used to sing her own songs. Her voice was good, but after > a while her film releases decreased. After that it was just me, Geeta Dutt > and after a while Asha (Asha Bhonsle). > > *NDTV*: People have often said that your dominance in the field of > playback singing was so great that no one else got a chance. How do you > respond to such criticism? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: I don't think that is true. I don't think we stopped > anyone because at that time we had so much work that we use to refuse entire > films. Actually this rumour started when a music director told a playback > singer that he couldn't work with her as I wouldn't approve it. So, people > started saying that Asha and I were not giving others a chance. > > *NDTV*: Which music director said this? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: There was a music director. > > *NDTV*: You must reveal this secret to us on *Bombay Talkies*. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: No, actually the director didn't want to work with her > but he didn't know how to turn her down. So, he just said that I wouldn't > like it. I came to know about all this much later and people started talking > after this. Several other playback singers also started claiming that I was > hampering their career. > > *NDTV*: Yes, Vani Jairam said that you didn't allow her to sing. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: I have never blocked anyone. I never felt the need to > do it as I was very busy myself. > > *NDTV*: How were the relations between you and Ashaji? Because both of you > are sisters and have had very successful careers. There must have been some > rivalry between both of you? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*:No, never. That's because both Asha and I had different > styles. The other thing is that I am the elder sister. After our father's > death I looked after the house. So, naturally all my other siblings were > like children to me. And as far as I remember Asha got married in 1947 and > she left home after that. Actually, it was her husband who didn't approve of > her meeting us. He would not let us meet. Asha would really want to meet us > all, especially our mother and Hridayanath but her husband stopped her. > > *NDTV*: Why? What was the reason? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: He was angry with me. Because of that we never met for > 12 years. He just wouldn't allow her to meet me. We recorded a few duets > during this time and even then he used to come with her to ensure that we > didn't talk to each other. He went to this extent. > > *NDTV*: So, you recorded very few duets. There is one in *Aaina*. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: We've recorded many duets but there were very few in > the beginning. Later on everything became all right. > > *NDTV*: So, all this talk about you and Asha being rivals was not true? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: No, to tell you honestly, I've never had a rivalry with > any of the playback singers. There were several singers at that time. There > was Dora bai, Rajkumari. Shamshad begum, Geeta Dutt etc. So it wasn't just > one to two singers, it was several reknowned singers. > > *NDTV*: But after you started singing, no one else could match up. And > your style is very versatile, like in *Mughal-e-Azam*. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: At that time there used to be cabaret songs which I > didn't like singing. Even Marathi *lavanis* was something I never sung. I > used to refuse if somebody offered me those kind of songs. All the music > directors also came to know that I didn't sing those kind of songs. Geeta > Dutt used to sing them. There was one music director for whom I never sang > and that was Mr O P Nayyar. He used to say that my style of composing is not > meant for Lata. So he used to work with Geeta Dutt. So Asha, Geeta and > Shamshed Bai used to sing those kind of tracks. > > *NDTV*: But for example a song like *Ajeeb Dastan* had a western kind of > tempo. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, there was a western kind of tempo but the song was > of my type. *Aa Jaane Ja* was one of the western kind of songs that I had > sung. Even *Duniya mein Rahna Hai Toh* or *Mein Ka Karoon Ram Mujhe Budha > Mil Gaya* came into that category. They usually sang *Loriyaan* or sad, > romantic songs. > > *NDTV*: You used to prefer those kind of songs also. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes. > > *NDTV*:A singer of your stature who has recorded about 25,000-30,000 > songs. Does it become very difficult to ask you to name a few of your > favourite songs. Any films that are your personal favourites? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: In that case there are a lot of films. Like *Mughal-e-Azam, > Madhumati* etc which had a different style. There were a few R D Burman > and S D Burman films which were completely different. Even Roshan Lal and > Madan Lal compositions were nice. Like the film *Taj Mahal*. > > *NDTV*: You have also sung several patriotic songs. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, like *Vande Mataram* and *Mere Vatan ke Logon*. > > *NDTV*: And when Pandit Nehru heard this song he was moved to tears. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, that's true. > > *NDTV*: The marvellous thing is that you've worked with composers from the > previous generation as well as this generation - like A R Rahman. Now you > have become very selective. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, I sing less these days. > > *NDTV*: So, who do you prefer to work with these days? You've already > worked with Rahman. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, I've worked with Rahman. In *Jiya Jale*. But I > rarely work in films these days. > > *NDTV*: So, who are the new composers you like working with? Who do you > think is the best? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: There are good people. Rahman is obviously very good. > Other than that, to tell you honestly, I don't know the others. I have > worked with Anu Mallik, but it was long ago. I don't know what work he is > doing these days. > > *NDTV*: Who are the new singers you listen to now-a-days? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Amongst the male singers I think Sonu (Nigam) sings > well. Even Udit Narayan is good. Amongst the females I like Alka's voice and > Sunidhi has a very different voice and style which I like. > > *NDTV*: What do you think about remixes? I've heard that you shut your > ears. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: I don't like them at all. I just don't listen to them. > > *NDTV*: Now, you've been in Bombay (Mumbai) since your childhood, so > what's your opinion on the condition of Mumbai today? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: I think that the present situation of Mumbai is really > very bad. You can't even recognise it. It has become difficult to recognise > the place where I used to stay, where some friends used to stay. Every thing > has changed. We used to have an acquaintance called Dr Kapoor who was > well-known in the film fraternity.He used to think of me as his sister and I > used to visit his place in Versova very often. But now-a-days when I go that > side, I can't even recognise where Dr Sahib used to stay. I have to ask. And > all the shops on the roads etc. I don't like it at all. Earlier Bombay was > very nice. > > *NDTV*: Even the name has changed. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: The name has changed and so has the city. > > *NDTV*: Why do you think this has happened? Political leaders like Raj > Thackerey feel that it is the outsiders who have spoilt Bombay. Do you agree > with this? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: No, people from outside will keep coming. After all > Bombay is a part of India. So you can't stop the people from other states > coming here. Certain people have their own way of thinking. This is > absolutely true that lot of people have migrated to Mumbai but who all will > you stop? > > *NDTV*: But saying things like Mumbai is only for Marathis? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: That is just not possible. Mumbai, I have seen consists > of Gujaratis, Parsis, Marathis and Christians. It's a part of Maharashtra, > so Marathis were obviously here from the begining. But we can't say things > like nobody can come here. > > *NDTV*: When you raised the flyover issue, a lot of people were upset > about it. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: There's nothing to be upset about. For example, if you > are staying at Goregaon how would you know about our condition out here in > Peddar road? Peddar road is so narrow that if the flyover comes it will be > bad. And I stay at the first floor. > > *NDTV*: Then it'll be blocked. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, it'll be totally blocked. I used to joke that > people can have their morning tea from my place from the road. The second > thing that I could imagine was then people coming there. > > *NDTV*: But people say that for of the wellness of the city, one should > sacrifice their own interests. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: I don't believe that. Because if Peddar road had been > wider, then I wouldn't have objected. I can't leave this place because I > have been living here for the last 25 years. > > *NDTV*: Once you said that you would leave your place if all this > continued. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, I even bought a new flat. > > *NDTV*: Where? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Parel. > > *NDTV*: Keeping all these in mind? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes, if that was the case then what was I to do? > > *NDTV*: But you never thought of leaving Mumbai? > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: No no, How can I leave Mumbai? > > *NDTV*: But people said that... > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: No. People make up their own stories. I'm sorry to say > this but the media blows things out of proportion. Like Asha once said that > if Himesh says that R D Burman sings in a nasal way, then he should be > slapped. That incident was blown out of propotion. > > *NDTV*:But then Himesh appologised for the act. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Yes. But Asha said those things in anger. Things are > blown up unnecessarily. > > *NDTV*: We have very little time left but you have refused to sing for us. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: As you know that I sing all the time. Then why should I > sing here? > > *NDTV*: Ok. But your career has been remarkable. You have sung for > everyone, from Madhubala to Preity Zinta. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: It's all due to God's grace. > > *NDTV*: I don't think that there is anything that you haven't achieved > till date. Filmfare, National awards, everything. You told Filmfare to stop > nominating you further. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: I fought a lot with Filmfare because earlier there was > no recognition given to singers and song writers. After that I got the first > ever Filmfare for the best playback singer for *Madhumati*. Then I kept > winning the award for four consecutive years. But after that I told them to > stop nominating me further. Other singers should also get a chance. > > *NDTV*: So, there has been no milestone that you haven't achieved. Thank > you for talking to us. > > *Lata Mangeshkar*: Thank you. > > > --- On *Fri, 9/5/08, Sivakumar V V <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: > > From: Sivakumar V V <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [arr] lata mangeshkar interview on ndtv > To: [email protected] > Date: Friday, September 5, 2008, 9:32 AM > > hi > > its a long time since i wrote to this group but i was so kicked with a > little portion > of ndtv's srinivasan jains interview with lataji that i wanted to share > with u. > he was talking abt the 30000 odd songs guinness record & he asked abt > todays > composers to which she said " obviuosly ARR is very good but apart from > that i > am sorry to said that ...." and she dragged to which srinivasan jain said u > sang > for anu malik to which she said "yes that was a while ago ..." > i guess that says it all from a legend. > > cheers > > from siva in chennai living very near to panchatan record inn > > > > > -- regards, Vithur ARR -- The Sweet Cube always
