I started my blog site  “ Music Unrestricted” on 24^th  December 2021 coinciding with the birth anniversary of Rafi sahib and then later on added two more blogs -one on the legendary Tamil play back singer T M Soundarararajan and then next one on Kishore Kumar. I was planning to write a series of blogs on Lata Mangeshkar after some time  as it would have been a stupendous task to select from  her thousands of songs. But her  departure on 6^th Feb ’22 has hastened this and so as an immediate tribute to one of the greatest female playback singers of India , I would like to talk about few of her unforgettable songs. Needless to add this is my personal listing and may differ from others’ preference.

For me personally , just like Rafi , Lata is part of  daily life. Not a single day goes without listening to her songs. It is very difficult to explain the feeling that I get whenever I listen to either Rafi or Lata. Though I do listen to many other singers and enjoy their songs ,  but when it comes to Rafi and Lata their voice has that special effect which is impossible to describe. These two voices are pure therapy…they can motivate, soothe, console, energise, make us laugh, cry. And so on!

Selecting 25 top songs of Lata can be termed as a futile effort…but I am restricting myself to this number as otherwise it would be a too long article to hold anyone’s attention. I have tried to list one song each from 25 different music directors and have also given the year in which the film was released so that one can appreciate the time span in which she sang and also the variety of music composers for whom she sang. The music directors covered in this are combination of the well-known stalwarts ( with the exception of O P Nayyar for whom she didn’t sing even a single song) and some lesser known but immensely talented composers. The years covered are from 1949 to 1991, a span of 42 years!.

#1 Aayegaa Aayegaa Aannewala

Year: 1949, Film: Mahal, Music: Khemchand Prakash, Lyrics: Nakshab

Lata started off her singing career in Marathi and also had some minor acting roles and songs in few Hindi films from 1942 to 1948, but it was Master Ghulam Haider who gave her the major breakthrough in the 1948 film Majboor. However, she became more famous with this immortal song from Mahal, composed by Khemchand Prakash. With an orchestration that was way ahead of its times, this remains the first song that comes to our mind if we think of the early singing career of Lata. It was really unfortunate that the composer Khemchand Prakash didn’t live to see this song becoming a super hit and sadly he died in penury.

#2 Chup Chup Khade Ho Zaroor Koi Baat Hai

Year: 1949, Film: Badi Behan, Music: Husanlal- Bhagatram, Lyrics: Rajindra Krishan

The brothers Husanlal & Bhagatram could have been be the  first duo in Hindi Film music and  gave fantastic songs to both Suraiya and Lata and had shaped their early careers. This one is a peppy song with that typical rhythm pattern that became a trademark of H-B. We can hear a very young , fresh voice of Lata in this song.

#3 Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai, Jo Kisika Ho Gaya

Year: 1953, Film: Anarkali, Music: C Ramachandra, Lyrics: Rajindra Krishan

Many music connoisseurs consider the music of Anarkali composed by Chitalkar Ramachandra to be equal in quality, if not greater than Naushad’s Mughal-E-Azam. Although songs of Mughal-E-Azam became more popular, Anarkali was not in any way inferior. This song reveals the first signs of the classical mastery that Lata would go on to showcase in the coming years. Not only the classical touch but the subtle nuances of play back singing come to life with the lines” Kisiki aarzoo mein apne dil ko bekaraar kar “. The way she adds a subtle drag in “bekaraar” is an example.

There are two versions of this song-happy and sad-both are absolutely great.

#4 Manmohana Badhe Jhoote , Haarke Haar Nahin Maane

Year: 1955, Film: Seema, Music: Shankar- Jaikishan, Lyrics: Shailendra

If Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai from Anarkali was a “starter” on classical mastery of Lata , this song is “main course”! Whenever Shankar -Jaikishan composed a pure classical number, it was just out of the world. And what a great rendition  by Lata , especially towards the end!! Set in the raag Jaijaiwanti , this is one of the best among the many classical songs she had sung.

#5 Aurat Ne Janam Diya Mardon Ko, Mardone Usey Baazar Diya

Year: 1958, Film: Sadhna, Music: N Dutta (Dutta Naik), Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi

Sahir is known for his  hard-hitting poetry that lashes  out at the ills of the society. This song is about the exploitation of women by men and Lata had made this into a song that could otherwise been just a recitation of verse. Though I am definitely not one among them , for many there is a misconception  that Lata doesn’t bring much emotions into her songs…this song  is  a fitting response to them as she had sung this with so much of feeling & pathos.

#6 Tere Sur Aur Mere Geet, Donon Milkar Banegi Preet

Year: 1959, Film: Goonj Uthi Shehnai, Music: Vasant Desai, Lyrics: Bharat Vyas

Although Vasant Desai’s immortal bhajan from the film “ Do Ankhen Bara Haath”  , Ae Malik Tere Bandhe Hum is more popular, I have selected  this one  mainly for the absolute honey-laced  melody in Lata’s voice. I understand that the great Shehani maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan had played the instrument for this film , but not sure if the shehnai we listen in this song was also played by him. Anyone knowledgeable can confirm this. Throughout the song , the shehnai plays along with the soulful voice of Lata, making this a true masterpiece.

#7 Beqas Pe Karam Keejiye Sarkar-E-Madina

Year: 1960, Film: Mughal-E-Aazam, Music: Naushad, Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

A movie of a lifetime, Mughal-E-Azam had great songs and selecting one is absolutely impossible. But this is a personal favourite , with Lata’s impeccable Urdu diction doing full justice to the exquisite poetry of Shakeel , composed in Raag Kedar by the legend Naushad Ali. Naushad was well known for his pure classical songs with minimum orchestration and great lyrics by his long-time associate Shakeel Badayuni.

#8 Rang Dil Ki Dhadkan Bhi Laati to Hogi

Year: 1960, Film: Patang, Music: Chitragupt, Lyrics: Rajindra Krishan

Chitragupt  and Lata were a terrific combination for the ever-so sweet style of composition that the former was well known. This is a  lilting melody with an extra sweetness in her voice that Lata used to bring out many -a times . Written by a very successful and great lyricist Rajendra Krishan the simple , romantic lines are brought to life by Lata.

#9 Saanware,  Kahe Mohse karo Jora jori

Year: 1960, Film: Anuradha, Music: Pt Ravi Shankar, Lyrics: Shailendra

Pandit Ravishankar composed for very few films ; the film Anuradha  had excellent songs. A title song , this is based on Raag Bhairavi and the taans in this are a treat to listen to. Very rarely played in radio/ anywhere else I don’t know why this song remains  not so popular .Lata had rendered this at a breath-taking speed! Such a fast paced classical number! That famous quote by none less than Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan comes to mind: “Kambakht kabhi besuri nahin hoti, kya Allah ki den hai [she never goes out of scale, what a gift of God]!”

#10 Ae Dilruba Nazren Mila, Kuch to Mile

Year: 1963, Film: Rustom Sohrab , Music: Sajjad Hussain, Lyrics: Jaan Nissar Akhtar

Lata herself rates this as one of the most difficult songs she had sung. This one must be one of those rare songs that has absolute minimum words. Just two lines as mukhda ( Ae Dilruba Nazren Mila, Kuchh to mile gam ka silaa) and four lines in antara ( Ashkon ka ek dariya bahaa,Pyaasa tha dil pyasa raha,nazren mila,  nazren mila, rehna na de koi gila) . Composed  by the most original and unconventional maverick composer in Hindi Film music Sajjad Hussain  and equally matching the composition’s quality is Lata’s complex rendition. Major part of the song is just Lata’s vocals that can be termed as sheer gymnastics!

Based on the tragedy of Rustam and Sohrab ,  part of the 10th-century Persian epic Shahnameh by the Persian poet Ferdowsi, this film had absolutely great songs with most of them having an Arabian touch.

#11 Pankh Hote to  Ud Aati Re, Rasiya O zaalima

Year: 1963 , Film: Sehra , Music: Ramlal, Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri

Among the many ‘very much talented-but totally neglected composers’ , Ramlal Chaudhary is one for whom I always feel so bad that the film industry didn’t give him the recognition and commercial success he rightly deserved. With just two of his major works, Sehra and Geet Gaye Patharone,  Ramlal had composed some of the best songs that can be counted amongst those by other stalwarts of the industry.

This masterpiece from Lata which starts with a unique , superb alaap can easily be listed even among her ten career best songs. One of the rare film songs that has the unique instrument Jalatarang so beautifully played and integrated into the song.

#12 More Naina Sawan Bhaadon, Tori Reh Yaad Sataye

Year: 1964 , Film: Vidyapati, Music: V Balsara, Lyrics: Prahlad Sharma ( In Maithili Dialect)

V Balsara ( Vistas Ardeshir Balsara)  was a well-trained musician with expertise in piano, and many other wind & string instruments. He had worked in the orchestra of well-known stalwarts like Khemchand Prakash, Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, Madan Mohan etc. There is an interesting anecdote behind this  song which  he  composed independently for the Maithili film Vidyapathi. Being a low budget film,  the producer , though wishing for Lata to sing a song , was hesitant to approach her as her fees might not have been affordable. However, when V Balsara spoke to her , due to the immense respect Balsara had in the industry as an Orchestra Director for HMV , Lata agreed to sing without any fees. And what an immortal song! A haunting melody , superbly rendered by Lata  that remains largely ignored in the mainstream media. Incidentally this song also inspired the more famous song with similar lines that was for the 1976 film Mehbooba sung by both Lata and Kishore  independently  ( composed by R D Burman) but in my own very personal opinion this song  by Balsara is way ahead in terms of orchestration  and melody.

#13 Jhoom Jhoom Dhalti Raat , Leke Chali Mujhe Apne Saath

Year: 1964 Film: Kohra , Music: Hemant Kumar , Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi

Most of the songs that  Hemant Kumar composed for Lata were sheer magical ones. This one from Kohra is one of my favorites. The film Kohra was adapted from  the English novel Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. There were totally four solo songs- two each by Hemant Kumar & Lata . Yeh Nain Dare Dare & Rah Bani Khud Manzil by Hemant da are two of his best songs and one more Lata solo O beqaraar dil ho chuka hai mujhko aansoan se pyaar is also equally good. However, the reason for choosing Jhoom Jhoom  is that the voice modulation by Lata is simply out-of-the world. Matching with the theme of this film which was a  thriller-horror , this one has the typical haunting mood that was characteristic of Hemant’s compositions.

#14 Kaanton Se Kheench Ke Yeh Aanchal ( Aaj Fir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai)

Year: 1965, Film: Guide, Music: S D Burman, Lyrics: Shailendra

When it comes to selecting even top 25 songs from the batons of the stalwarts like S D Burman, Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, Madan Mohan, Roshan it is an impossible task as each one of their compositions with Lata  were masterpieces. So, selecting one is just futile…but as I mentioned in the beginning to keep this blog short and sweet, I have to select one. The film Guide was a landmark film in many ways and all the songs remain  masterpieces. The way Lata starts off in this song , picturized superbly by Vijay Anand on Waheeda Rehman,  conveys the extra-ordinary energy in this song. A scintillating  orchestration by Burman da, words sculpted by the master-blaster with words, Shailendra and photographed splendidly by the famous Fali Mistry , this is an epic  song. Whenever we listen to this ,  we wish to re-iterate the famous lines “ Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai”.

#15 Rehte the Kabhi Jin Ke Dil Mein Hum Aaj Gunehgaaron Ki Tarah

Year: 1966, Film: Mamta, Music: Roshan, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

With Roshan Lal Nagrath , Lata had outstanding songs from the films Mamta, Aarti, Bahu Begum, Taj Mahal etc just to name a few . Again, a difficult task to choose one , but Rehte The Kabhi Jin Ke Dil Mein has some excellent poetry by Majrooh Sultanpuri that is beautifully conveyed with the right emotions by Lata. If I do not mention the following lines , it would be a great injustice to this song:

Tapte Hue Dil Ke Zakhmo Par

Barse bhi toh angaaron ki tarah

Thokar Na Lagaana Hum Khud Hai

Girthi Hui Deewaron Ki Tarah

#16 Gairon Pe Karam , Apnon Pe Sitam , Ae Jaanewafa Yeh Zulm Na kar

Year: 1968, Film: Aankhen , Music: Ravi, Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi

As compared to other major composers, Lata had relatively fewer song with Ravi but almost all were hits. Although Tumhi Meri Mandir , Tumhi Meri Pooja from the film Khandan is very popular, this  song from Aankhen is more intricate. Just at the beginning of the song , there is a humming which Lata does it so beautifully, bringing out each note with the surgical precision that she is known for.

#17 Chod de saari duinya kisike liye , Yeh Munasib Nahin Aadmi Ke Liye

Year: 1968 , Film: Saraswatichandra , Music: Kalyanji -Anandji, Lyrics: Indeevar

Kalyanji -Anandji had two different styles in their compositions. Their songs till late 60’s was more classical based but later on in 70’s and 80’s they went with the tide and changed into more catchy, fast tunes. This one from Saraswatichandra has a very mesmerizing effect and coupled with Indeevar’s excellent lyrics makes it an evergreen song. The ease with which Lata travels to her trademark high pitch , retaining the melody intact is something very unique to her.

#18 Bhaiyan Na Daro Ho Balma , Na Karo Mose Raar

Year: 1970 , Film: Dastak, Music: Madan Mohan, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Madan Bhaiyya , as Lata used to call him was THE MOST successful pair with her in terms of quality. Almost all her songs with Madan Mohan are legendary and as I keep repeating , it is impossible to select one song.

This film gave Madan Mohan a long-awaited recognition in terms of National Award for best music. Dastak had three epic solo songs of Lata , viz Bhaiyan Na Dharo, Mai Ri Mein Kase Kahoon Peer and Hum Hain Mata-E-Koocha-O- Baazar and also one masterpiece of a solo , almost sung in a whisper,  by Rafi: Tumse Kahoon Ek Baat Paron Ki, Halki. In the 70’s , when music had gradually started getting more westernized,  jazzy and fast paced, Madan Mohan stood his ground & composed the songs of Dastak with strong classical base. Bhaiyan Na Dharo was set in raag Charukesi and Lata , in her typical style renders this so majestically.

#19 Jaane Kyun Log Mohabbat Kiya Karte Hain

Year: 1971 , Film: Mehboob Ki Mehandi , Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal, Lyrics: Anand Bakshi

With Laxmikant -Pyarelal , Lata had sung the maximum number of songs ,and  she was also instrumental in introducing them to the industry. The typical prominence of percussion that has been the hallmark of L-P’s compositions comes to the fore in this song. With great interludes , ups and downs , pauses this is one among many such songs that were huge hits from the combination of L-P & Lata.

#20 Raina Beeti Jaaye Sham Na Aaye

Year: 1971, Film: Amar Prem, Music: R D Burman , Lyrics: Anand Bakshi

R D Burman changed the entire tone of Hindi Film music in the 70’s. Whenever he composed songs with a classical base, they  were invariably too good. This one from Amar Prem is a classical masterpiece . Amar Prem , Kati Patang & Aandhi  are three greatest musicals  composed by him in my personal view and all had great songs of Lata.

#21 Raton Ke Saaye Jab Bhoj Dil Par Bane

Year: 1972 , Film: Annadata , Music: Salil Chowdhary, Lyrics: Yogesh

Among her personal favourites, Lata always had the songs she had sung for Salil da on top. Among the O Sajana Barkha Bahaar Ayee, Aaja Re Pardesi, Rajinigandha Phool Tunhare, Na Jaane Kyon Hota Hai Yeh zindagi ke saath, Naa Jiya Laagena and many more such fabulous songs, I like the less heard  Raaton Ke Saye Ghane due to a very complex structure of the song which Lata had sung exceedingly well.

#22 Chalte Yuhin Koi Mil Gaya Tha

Year: 1972, Film: Pakeezah, Music: Ghulam Mohammad, Lyrics: Kaifi Aazmi

As it is well known, Pakeezah took almost more than a decade to complete and the great , but lesser-known composer Ghulam Mohammad ( who was assistant to the maestro Naushad for a long time) passed away before the release of the film and couldn’t see the appreciation the film’s music got. All the songs of this film are masterpieces but this one with a haunting melody and in my opinion one of the best ever percussion in Hindi film music is an eternal song. Lata’s Urdu diction was at its best ever in the songs of Pakeezah. The longer version of the song that we can listen to in the film is truly stunning in orchestration and picturization.

#23 Tu Chanda Mein Chandini , Tu Tarvar Mein Shaak Re

Year: 1972, Film: Reshma Aur Shera, Music: Jaidev Lyrics: Balkavi Bairagi

Jaidev got three national awards for best music among just 50 odd films that he composed in his entire career!! Proves what a great artist he was. And as it happened with many unsung geniuses , he breathed his last living in a one room rented apartment with almost nil personal belongings!!

To choose one song of Lata from the various gems like Allah Tero Naam, Ishwar tero naam, Raat Bhi Hai Kuch Bheegi, Yeh Dil Aur Unki Nigahon Ke Saye , Tunhein Dekhti Hoon to Lagta Hai Jaise etc is an arduos task. The song Tu Chanda Mein Chandini is one of the very long duration songs-almost 9 minutes. The way he had composed this with so many twists and turns, changes in the rhythm pattern , pauses in between etc makes this a class apart. Who else can do full justice to such a composition than Lata?!!

#24 Ae Dil-E-Nadaan… Aarzoo Kya Hai Justaju Kya Hai

Year: 1983 , Film: Razia Sultan , Music: Khayyam, Lyrics: Jan Nissar Akhtar

After 1972 , we straight away come to 1983!! Khayyam had been composing right from the year 1948 , but his songs with Lata were very few in the beginning years. His milestone films like Phir Subah Hogi, Shola Aur Shabnam and Shagoon had almost nil or at the most one or two duets of Lata. His major hit with Lata was in 1966 film Aakhri Khat that had “ Baharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Sanwaro”. However, the song Ae Dil-E-Nadaan from Razia Sultan is known for bringing back the melody in Lata’s singing back after a long gap. With one the best ever use of Santoor in film music , this is a one-of-a kind composition . Khayyam had used Santoor, Violin & Sarangi so beautifully. This song can well be termed as “duet  “ of Lata with Santoor. Through out the song , it plays along adding charm to the still sweet voice of Lata ( at around 54 years!!). Highlight of the song is that complete cessation of music after the lines “ Yeh Zameen Chup Hai, Aasman Chup Hai” ….and then how it starts with Phir Yeh Dhadkan Si Chaar-Su kya hai

#25 Yaara Sili Birah Ke Raat Ka Jalna

Year: 1991 , Film: Lekin  , Music: Pt Hridayanath Mangeshkar , Lyrics: Gulzar

The last song in this blog  should naturally end with a master composition by Lata’s brother Pt Hridayanath Mangeshkar. At the age of 62 what a melody in her voice, winning  the National Award as  best female playback singer for this song. Hridayanath is well known for his very complex compositions and Lata’s abhang and devotional songs in Marathi under his music direction can be an altogether separate blog. This folk- based song from Lekin shows the immense command Lata had over singing especially towards the end with the lines…yaaara….dolaaa…yaaara…dolaa.

 I feel this is just the right song to conclude this small tribute of mine. I shall try to take up each genres of Lata and discuss the same and also the fabulous duets she had sung in future blogs.

Acknowledgements and Disclaimer:
The songs mentioned are from the popular, public domain and have been mentioned here   only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog does not claim any copyright over them, which rests with the respective owners of the rights. I would also like to thank various blogs/articles published in the Internet from which I had obtained many information while writing this