Lata Mangeshkar’s timeless songs in South cinema

Hyderabad: Bharat Ratna awardee Lata Mangeshkar recorded thousands of songs in Hindi films, sang in almost all the Indian languages, in a career spanning nearly eight decades. Her legacy is unparalleled and popularity transcends all region and language boundaries. Her melodies have touched millions of music lovers in the South and around the world. In […]

Hyderabad: Bharat Ratna awardee Lata Mangeshkar recorded thousands of songs in Hindi films, sang in almost all the Indian languages, in a career spanning nearly eight decades. Her legacy is unparalleled and popularity transcends all region and language boundaries. Her melodies have touched millions of music lovers in the South and around the world.

In her mesmerising voice, the melody queen has also immortalized some songs in Telugu and other South languages like Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. Lata is so versatile and exemplary in these regional language songs that the sweetness of her voice makes them exceptional and very pleasant to hear.

Three songs in Telugu – ‘Nidurapora Thammuda’ from “Santhanam” (1955), ‘Sri Venkatesha’ from “Dorikithe Dongalu” (1965) and ‘Thella Cheeraku’ from ‘Aakhari Poratam’ (1988); Tamil songs ‘Aaraaro Aaraaro’ from “Anand” (1987), ‘Valaiyosai Kalakala’ from ‘Sathya’ (1988) and ‘Engirundho Azhaikkum’ from ‘En Jeevan Paduthu’ (1988); ‘Bellane Belagayitu’ (1967) from the Kannada movie ‘Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna’, and the single Malayalam track she sang ‘Kadhali Chenkadhali’, from the film ‘Nellu’ in 1974, remain the most cherished.

She is so fluent in languages and expressions that each notation in all the songs is so clear and just enchanting to listen.

Her first song in Telugu from the 1955 film ‘Santhanam’ – ‘Nidurapora Thammuda’ – is a memorable one that lives in our hearts forever. The song which depicts brother-sister bond is indeed soulful and touches our hearts deeply. Visually amazing, it is a soul-stirring lullaby a young girl sings to make her little brother sleep. It is heart-wrenching as it depicts poverty, a reality for so many people even today. A popular song across the generations, Lata ji has given this meaningful song an eternal life.

This golden song, with Ghantasala as her co-singer, is unforgettable and heavenly. Behind this sorrowful song is Susarla Dakshinamurthy’s fabulous music composition. The beautiful lyrics penned by Anisetti Subba Rao will live with us forever, and every time we hear this song, it leaves us teary-eyed. Three different variations of the song, picturised for three different situations in the Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri, Sriranjani Junior-starrer, made the movie hugely successful.

One of the most loved romantic tracks, the duet ‘Thella Cheeraku’, an Ilaiyaraaja musical, which Lata sang along with SP Balasubramanyam, for the movie ‘Aakhari Poratam’, starring Nagarjuna and Sridevi, is a special song for its romantic element enchanting for more than 30 years now. It is still young and totally addictive, and the music by the maestro does not fade an inch even after these many years.

‘Valaiyosai Kalakala’, a riveting romantic song Lata ji sang with SP Balasubramanyam, from Kamal Haasan, Amala-starrer ‘Sathya’, also sweet in Ilaiyaraaja’s composition, is, indeed, a masterpiece, which proves she is the ‘Melody Queen’ forever.

Pain caused by love cannot be forgotten for a number of years. Rendering ‘Engirundho Azhaikkum’ from ‘En Jeevan Paadudhu’ in a sad and penetrating voice, she has made this heart-wrenching song, with its touching music by Ilaiyaraaja, incomparable and divine as her intoxicating vocals enhance pathos.

Transcending us to a whole new world, it is the pain of Lata ji’s emotional voice that is ever-lasting and cannot be forgotten easily. A voice and composition that could melt even rocks, it is an awesome once in a millennium song.

The unforgettable song ‘Bellane Belagayitu’ from the film ‘Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna’ (1967) introduced her to Kannada films. And, what a nice soothing track it is. With this sweet melody, she has made this musical composition of Lakshman Baralekar, renowned in the Marathi film industry, immortal. Such songs are heard very rarely.

In another Ilaiyaraaja composition, ‘Aaraaro Aaraaro’ from 1987 movie ‘Anand’, featured on Prabhu and Radha, is also a masterpiece for her haunting voice and for evoking a feeling of anxiety in Gangai Amaran’s wordings.

‘Kadali Chenkadali’ from the film ‘Nellu’, directed by Ramu Kariat, revolving around the lives of a tribal community in Wayanad, is Lata’s only song in Malayalam. This still remains a wonder in Malayali households.

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away at 92 in Mumbai after battling Covid-19.

Ravi Hari

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