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Author: Ketan Tanna
"It is not me, just one Lata Mangeshkar saying it, many people bemoan
the deterioration in the quality of music and Iyrics. I feel this too
(deterioration) will change may be for the better and may be the glorious
period of music will return" says well known singer Lata Mangeshkar.
However, the legendary singer is not willing to dub the present music or
Iyrics as absolute trash. "Everything has changed, life has changed,
living standards have changed, young people now frequent discotheques.
It is all pervading. I will not criticise today's music. We still have
good
music like the music of 'Dil To Pagal Hai' which even the youngsters liked
and which has clean lyrics", explained Lata Mangeshkar in an interview
to
'The Hindustan Times'.
"The most important opinion is that of the audience, what I feel, is
immaterial. Whenever, I go out, the audience both here and abroad
suggest that I sing my old songs," says Lata Mangeshkar while
explaining why the music of the 50's to 80's would remain evergreen.
Lata Mangeshkar, says that she will never sing any song that has 'cheap
Iyrics or cheap music'. She recently announced the Master Dinanath
Mangeshkar awards to eminent personalities, including well-known
lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri.
She says there are many lyricists and music directors still left in India
who
would not sell their creativity for the sake of money.
"They are the people of principles. They will not sell their music or pen
Iyrics for money. And people like Majrooh Sultanpuri, who belong to the
older generation, never compromise. There are some who may
compromise because they have to in present era," says Ms Mangeshkar.
Latabai, as she is popularly known in Bollywood, has drastically cut down
on singing for new film songs. "I have sung for Yash Chopra's 'Dil To
Pagal Hai', Gulzar's 'Maachis' etc. recently. My songs, in these films
were
well received, may be because the music was good and unusual and the
Iyrics too were good", explains Lata Mangeshkar.
When asked about the present day recording of songs, Ms Lata
Mangeshkar said that in the past she would rehearse a song as many as
10-15 times. "Now, it is a quick Song ka zamana. One goes straight to the
studio and records it."
Dismissing the argument put forward by producers and music directors
that they record songs and provide music that public demands, Lata
Mangeshkar wonders how would the music directors or lyricists know
whether the public will like the (cheap) music that they are providing.
Therefore, it comes as little surprise that Lata Mangeshkar's favourite
song is not a film song but a non-film bhajan which is a part of Meera
bhajan collection "If there is one song that moves me the most and is my
all time favourite it is 'Savre Rang Rachi', she says.
Lata
Mangeshkar : A living legend...
