rediff.com, Movies: Padmini Kolhapure speaks about Lata Mangeshkar

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The Rediff Special

'She's God's chosen one'

Padmini Kolhapure
THE earliest memories I have of my aunt are of singing in the chorus as she sang.
At the time, I was too young to understand that she was The Lata Mangeshkar and what she meant to this nation.
It was only later, when I was signed by Raj Kapoor for Satyam Shivam Sundaram that I interacted with her professionally. I was too young, even then.
But Lataji and Raj Kapoor being such perfectionists, called me to the recording studio. It was at Famous, I remember.
So I went, after school. Rajji asked me to sing in front of to Lataji. So that she could sing the number in my voice.
Imagine, someone of her status. She had absolutely no objection to hearing me sing before she sang for me, a mere kid!
The result? A soul-stirring Yashomati maiyya se bole Nandlala remains a favourite even today.
Why, people often thought I'd sung it myself. She sang it to such perfection!
There was another song she sang for me: Yeh galiyan yeh chaubara. Those two songs that she sang for me are remembered even today. I've acted in over 50 films, and she's sung my best songs.
I think it is a privilege for our generation to be exist in the same age as her!
Every time I meet her, I marvel at her calmness, her patience, her perception.
Recently, she recorded a song for my Marathi serial, Athang, composed by Hridayanath Mangeshkar. The chorus wasn't ready, so she had to wait. She wasn't at all upset.
I was getting edgy on her behalf!
The recording over, sent her headphones and other stuff that she required back to the car and came to us. We heard the recording, and Hridayanathji said one line wasn't quite okay. It had to be recorded again.
It was like "Oof!"
I remembered when I was shooting, after pack-up, I would get very upset if someone said I had to reshoot a scene.
I got very upset for Lataji. All she said was, "You think so? Okay."
And she called for her things again. And sang with infinite patience. No attitude or consciousness of her stature.

I'll tell you something. My 11-year-old son Priyank recently had an assigment: to pick three most outstanding personalities of this millennium.
He picked Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Lata Mangeshkar. He couldn't help boasting that Lataji is his granny.
But he came home, with a woebegone air. He said, "Mummy, no one believes that she's my aaji. We told this to Lataji. She pacified him so sweetly.
She's special. Really special. She's God's chosen one.
Padmini Kolhapure spoke to Lata Khubchandani
Also read:
'Beauty is Lata in that small recording room with her headphones on' - Vijay Anand
'She conveys so much through her songs' - Javed Akhtar
'Lata Mangeshkar is made for playback singing' - Vishal Bharadwaj
When Nazia rattled Lata
Earlier Lata Mangeshkar special!
The Lata photo gallery
Hear Lata!
Tell us what you think of this feature

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	*The Rediff Special* 'She's God's chosen one' Padmini Kolhapure THE earliest memories I have of my aunt are of singing in the chorus as she sang. At the time, I was too young to understand that she was The Lata Mangeshkar and what she meant to this nation. It was only later, when I was signed by Raj Kapoor for Satyam Shivam Sundaram that I interacted with her professionally. I was too young, even then. But Lataji and Raj Kapoor being such perfectionists, called me to the recording studio. It was at Famous, I remember. So I went, after school. Rajji asked me to sing in front of to Lataji. So that she could sing the number in my voice. Imagine, someone of her status. She had absolutely no objection to hearing me sing before she sang for me, a mere kid! The result? A soul-stirring Yashomati maiyya se bole Nandlala remains a favourite even today. Why, people often thought I'd sung it myself. She sang it to such perfection! There was another song she sang for me: Yeh galiyan yeh chaubara. Those two songs that she sang for me are remembered even today. I've acted in over 50 films, and she's sung my best songs. I think it is a privilege for our generation to be exist in the same age as her! Every time I meet her, I marvel at her calmness, her patience, her perception. Recently, she recorded a song for my Marathi serial, Athang, composed by Hridayanath Mangeshkar. The chorus wasn't ready, so she had to wait. She wasn't at all upset. I was getting edgy on her behalf! The recording over, sent her headphones and other stuff that she required back to the car and came to us. We heard the recording, and Hridayanathji said one line wasn't quite okay. It had to be recorded again. It was like "Oof!" I remembered when I was shooting, after pack-up, I would get very upset if someone said I had to reshoot a scene. I got very upset for Lataji. All she said was, "You think so? Okay." And she called for her things again. And sang with infinite patience. No attitude or consciousness of her stature. I'll tell you something. My 11-year-old son Priyank recently had an assigment: to pick three most outstanding personalities of this millennium. He picked Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Lata Mangeshkar. He couldn't help boasting that Lataji is his granny. But he came home, with a woebegone air. He said, "Mummy, no one believes that she's my aaji. We told this to Lataji. She pacified him so sweetly. She's special. Really special. She's God's chosen one. Padmini Kolhapure spoke to Lata Khubchandani Also read: 'Beauty is Lata in that small recording room with her headphones on' - Vijay Anand 'She conveys so much through her songs' - Javed Akhtar 'Lata Mangeshkar is made for playback singing' - Vishal Bharadwaj When Nazia rattled Lata Earlier Lata Mangeshkar special! The Lata photo gallery Hear Lata! Tell us what you think of this feature
HOME \| NEWS \| MONEY \| SPORTS \| MOVIES \| CHAT \| INFOTECH \| TRAVEL SINGLES \| NEWSLINKS \| BOOK SHOP \| MUSIC SHOP \| GIFT SHOP \| HOTEL BOOKINGS AIR/RAIL \| WEATHER \| MILLENNIUM \| BROADBAND \| E-CARDS \| EDUCATION HOMEPAGES \| FREE EMAIL \| CONTESTS \| FEEDBACK