Lata to sing in Kannada film The legendary singer will be directed by a woman composer, Srishaila

M D Riti in Bangalore

She may not understand Kannada too well. But her numerous fans in Karnataka could not care less. They are simply delighted that the reigning queen of Indian film music is to sing for a Kannada film again, after a long time.

Lata Mangeshkar will lend her voice for a song in the Kannada film Black Mail, which is yet to start shooting. Interestingly, the music for this film is being scored by a woman composer, Srishaila. "I am so thrilled that I will be getting the opportunity to work with the Indian woman singer who is a legend in her own times," says Srishaila.

According to Srishaila, two other popular Bollywood singers, Asha Bhosle and Lucky Ali, have also agreed to sing other songs for the film. This will be the first time that Bhosle will sing in Kannada. Lucky Ali, who virtually lives in Bangalore, has also never sung for a Kannada film yet.

Lata's first Kannada song was for the film Kranthiveera Sangolli Raayanna, and its first lines are Bellene Belagaayithu. It may be recalled that Lata was to sing for Sunil Kumar Desai's Parva last year, but it did not happen.

Producers Dream Land Pictures are now busy trying to rope in Hrithik Roshan, who visits [father-in-law] Sanjay Khan's resort on the outskirts of Bangalore every now and then, to perform the mahurat for the film.