Bhawana Somaaya

It is always interesting to attend a book launch particularly when it involves a legend because during the event there is always a magical moment that provides a rare insight into the icon.

A fortnight ago Niyogi Publishers released their new book Lata Mangeshkar…in her own voice. Many years ago I had attended her earlier book release by Harish Bhimani and in 2006 contributed a chapter on her in The Iconic Women of Modern India by Penguine Books.

There are some people the more you read and write about them the more curious about them and Lata Mangeshkar is amongst them. Somehow the more you know about her the heart craves for more.

It was a special evening at May Fair Gardens when Chief Guest Javed Akhtar walked to the podium to speak about the Nightingale. He said it is the easiest and also the most difficult to speak about someone as prolific and popular as Lata Mangeshkar. “As a country we should value our legends while they are living. The Govt of India should have instituted a museum in her honour and the World Space in all fairness should have been called Lata Channel.” There was a round of applause.

Through all the flattering speeches Lata sat demurely eyes down cast and when the word flow stopped folded her hands in a namaskar to all.

At the end of the function there was a Question-Answer with the media and Lata proved that at 80 plus she retains her presence of mind. When a journalist asked her who out of the many actresses she had lent her voice to would she credit for the best projection, it didn’t take Lata a minute to respond, ‘Bohat saare hai aur unme se do hamare beech mein hai..’hinting to Jaya Bachchan and Waheeda Rehman in the audience.

Bhawana Somaaya