Lata has ruled the roost of tunes for more than 5 decades now.
She had the silky voice that could easily glide and slide into any tune and make it sound melodious.
I am inspired by peaceful’s review and writing some of my Lata favorites.
These are some of the hauntingly romantic songs I would like to listen on a clear sky and full moon night on the terrace or lying in bed facing the night and the stars.
1. Lag jaa gale, ke phir yeh haseen raat ho na ho
The beautiful sadhana haunts Manoj kumar in WOH KAUN THI
2. Naino mein badra chaaye, bijli se chamke haaye.aise mein balam mohe garva lagale
A classical piece again sung by the beautiful sadhana to sunil dutt in MERA SAAYA
3.Tera mera pyaar amar, phir kyon mujhko lagta hai darr
sorry guys, Sadhana again. lucky lady.she has lip synched some great songs of lata . This one from ASLI NAKLI
4.piya tose naine lage re
Waheeda does it this time and its a great song and a dance combo. The film is GUIDE
5.aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai
slim, flawless and graceful, Waheeda in GUIDE again.
6.rangeela re, tere rang mein yunn ranga hai, mera man.
A jealous, withered lover Waheeda questions the playboy Dev Anand in PREM PUJARI.
7.tum aa gaye ho, noor agaya hai.
A love story with a twist of politics, Lata hums beautifully for Suchitra Sen in AANDHI.
Lata in a lighter mood also renders some memorable songs as follows:
8.kancha re kancha re.pyaar mera sancha.
Check this song from HARE RAMA HARE KRISHNA where Lata also has a tough time singing the stanzas with her voice going high pitch and almost about to break. especially the lines’bas chup he rahena, ab phir na kehna.rukhja na jaa dil. tode.’(Maestro R.D burman’s music could put even Lata in difficulties)
9.dilber dil se pyaare.
film is CARAVAN and Lata sings for a sultry, naughty gypsy, Aruna Irani
10.baahon meein chale aa.
film is ANAMIKA and Lata again sings this naughty number with ease for Jaya Bhaduri
11.bahon mein bahaar, hai. hai. .
this time Lata gives voice to the impish Farida Jalal in ARADHANA
Some other favorites of mine
Zindagi pyaar ka geet hai - SOUTEN
Hame aur jeene ki chaahat na hoti - AGAR TUMNA HOTE
Yeh kahan aagaye hum - SILSILA
Sunio jee araj amaari - LEKIN
And this is some of the recent good stuff by her
Her voice has defly aged and lost its sharpness, nevertheless she is still the darling of the masses and does a good job when needed.
Jiya jale jaan jale - DILSE
ek prem deewani, ek darad deewani - RAM TERI GANGA MAILI
ek tuhi sahara - PUKAAR
khamoshiyaan gungunane lagi- ONE TWO KA FOUR
Not able to think of any of her new songs. hmm let me go back to her old/gold days and pick one from there to conclude this review.
hum apni wafa pe na ilzaam denge
tumhe dil diya hai, tumhe jaan bhi denge,
jab ishq ka. sauda kiya, phir kya ghabrana humko. aaana padega
Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padega
This was for the royally stunning Bina Rai in Taj Mahal.
What! already end of 20? Sigh!
would love to go on and on, but I shall stop here and do justice to the title:)
comments/corrections welcome:)