Sukalpa Dhar: Sudden darkness looms large in the Indian music industry. The year 2022 is really bringing very saddening and unfortunate news for the musicians and the music lovers like us in the whole world. Legendary musicians are passing away one after the other like a pack of cards. One after the other, constellations is crushing from the Indian music industry.
I think the Indian music industry has become poorer due to the sudden demise of the legendary singers and music composers. Famous Indian playback singer and Bharat Ratna, Smti Lata Mangeshkar passed away at the age of 92 this 6th February, 2022. Veteran singer Smti Sandhya Mukherjee passed away yesterday that is on 15th February, 2022 at the age of 90.
Today, that is on 16th of February, 2022, Sri Bappi Lahiri, eminent music composer and singer passed away at the age of 69 years in Navi Mumbai. Firstly, Smti Lata Mangeshkar, then Smti Sandhya Mukherjee and subsequently Sri Bappi Lahiri’s demise has brought the shadow of death over the music industry and a fear in the minds of the elderly people in the society at large.
There are innumerable popular songs of Bappi Lahiri. Some of my favourites are ‘Tokhon Tomar Ekush Bochor Bodhoi’, ‘Aao Tumhe Chand Pe Lejaye’, ‘Phoolon Tumhe Pata Hai’, ‘Tum Jab Se Jivan Meh Khusboo Ki Tarha Chaye’, ‘Chalte Chalte’, ‘Payar Kabhi Na Kam Nahi Karna’, ‘Yaad Araha Hai Tera Payar’. ‘Disco Dancer’ became a big hit. He will be always missed and fondly remembered through his innumerable compositions. Bappi Lahiri popularised Disco in Bollywood. He was known as the ‘Disco King’ of India. He was very popularin Bollywood as Bappi da. He used to wear gold chains. He had a love for gold and music. He was a golden man in the Indian film and music industry. His demise is an irreplaceable loss for the film industry, music industry and the innumerable fans and music lovers like us.
It is very unfortunate for music at large and for us music lovers that we won’t get any new works from these musical giants. It is our sheer misfortune that we will never everget a chance to meet these extremely gifted persons.
Smti Lata Mangeshkar was fondly and respectfully called by the Indian music industry as Ma Saraswati or Lata didi. She had won several awards and honours both from the film industry and the government of India. She was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993. She had received honorary doctorates from the Sangeet Natak Academy in 1989. In 1974 she was one of the first Indian playback singers to ever perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London. France conferred it’s highest civilian award, officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour in the year 2007 on her. She received innumerable awards and accolades in her life time. She has unlimited fans across the world. India’s first prime minister Sri Jawaharlal Nehru was moved to tears when Lata Mangeshkar sang ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo’.
She had sung innumerable songs in many Indian languages. Some of her songs from my playlist are follows: ‘Ami Cholte Cholte’, ‘Choncholo Moyuri’, ‘Chole Jete Jete Din’, ‘Ogo Aar Kichu Toh’, ‘Naam Goom Jayega’, ‘Aap Ki Akhon Mein’, ‘Is Mor Se Jate Hai’ and many others. Naushad, Salil Choudhury, Sachin Dev Burman, Rahul Dev Burman and Gulzar had created magic with Lata Mangeshkar and her voice. Lata Mangeshkar had also worked with eminent music director and musicians of our time such as A.R.Rahman, Shankar Mahadevan and many others. In the year 2001 she had received the Bharat Ratna.Shankar Mahadevan had musically collaborated with Lata Mangeshkar ji during his devotional album ‘Har Har Mahadev’ in the year 2013. For Shankar Mahadevan Lata Mangeshkar is the musical Kohinoor of India.
Eminent Oscar winning music director A.R. Rahman a few days ago payed tribute to Lata Mangeshkar by saying that she was not just a singer not just an icon she is a part of the soul of India. She had sung in many languages. This void is going to remain forever for all of us. A.R. Rahman says he was very lucky to record a few songs with Lata Mangeshkar. One thing we need to learn from Lata Mangeshkar is that we need to give our full dedication while doing a job without expecting any returns. A void which has occurred in the music industry will be very difficult to fill in. Lata Mangeshkar has inspired a lot of singers and musicians in the generations that came after her and her songs will keep inspiring the future musicians and singers to arrive. Her songs will remain as a benchmark for the future generation.Whenever I hear a song of Lata Mangeshkar I found some distinct characteristics of her singing for which I feel Lata Mangeshkar is Lata Mangeshkar.The characteristics were: (a) she had a clear diction,(b) her voice suited both modern and traditional female protagonists, (c) she had a great range in her voice (d) she had a melodious voice(e) her voice had the power and capacity to mesmerise anyone who ever listened to her voice.
Even though Lata ji is physically no more with us now she will always remain in our hearts through her immortal songs. She had herself sung a beautiful number by Gulzar, ‘Naam Goom Jayega, Chehera Ye Badal Jayega, Meri Awaz Hi Pehchan Hai Gar Yaad Rahe’, I would like to dedicate this song as a tribute to her.
Sandhya Mukherjee had a mesmerizing voice. Anyone who would listen to her songs would fell in love with her songs. She had a gifted sweet voice. Her songs fall in the era of the golden period of Bengali songs. She had sung for innumerable Bengali films. Some of my favourite songs from the list are ‘Gaane Mor Kon Indradhanu’, ‘E Gaane Prajapati’, ‘Champa Chameli Golaperi Baage’, ‘Ghum Ghum Chand Jhikimiki Tara’, ‘E Sudhu Ganer Din’, ‘Mayaboti Meghe Elo Tandra’ and the list continues. I have a complete playlist of her songs and from my favourites the above mentioned are only a few because if I continue my list of songs will never come to an end.
This article of mine is a humble tribute to the musical legends of India, Smti Lata Mangeshkar, Smti Sandhya Mukherjee, and Sri Bappi Lahiri.Really, it’s an irreplaceable loss to the music industry and for the music lovers all across the world.