I am finding it difficult to define’Nightingale of India’ Living Legend LATA MANGESHKAR. She is the most popular singer in India and abroad as well, as she has won the hearts of millions of music lovers, and according to the Guiness Book of Records, she has rendered more songs than any artiste anywhere in the world, over 30, 000 is the book’s estimate. She has sung in virtually all Indian languages with equal success this show how versatile and talented Lataji is. And do you`ll know that Lataji`s Vande Mataram song ranks 2nd in world`s Favourite Songs(B.B.C.)
When it comes to Legends it will be always difficult for us to choose their best deeds, as there will be many, and I have tried by best to choose one of the best 21 songs sung by Lataji, which are close to my heart it’s a mixed bag which contains old as well as new songs - lets go into the flashback,
1} aye mere vatan ke logon *tum,
khoob laga lo naara ye shubh din hai,
This is one of our famous patriotic song non-film song tuned by great C. Ramchandra and written by renowned poet Pradeep, as we all know that it was this song that had brought tears in the eyes of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and it continues do so.
*2)Pyaar kiyaa to darnaa kyaa
Jab pyaar kiyaa to darnaa kyaa
Pyaar kiyaa koi chori nahin ki
*This song is from the classic hit MUGHAL-E-AZAM, starring Prithviraj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and India`s answer to monalisa Madhu Bala.
3) bhor bhaye panghat pe *mohe natkhat shaam sataye
mori chunariya lipti jaye
main ka karoo hai raam hai haaii
4) Ishwar satya haiSatya hi Shiv hai
Shiv hi sundar hai
Jaago uth kar dekho
These two songs are form the movie SATYAM SHIVAM SUNDARAM, starring Shashi Kapoor, & Zeenat Aman, Lataji has sang both the songs with equal grace and dignity though the later song being devotional.
*5) aye maalik tere bande hum
ayese ho humaare karam
nekee par chale, aaur badee se tale,
taankee hasate huye nikale dam*
This song is from the movie DO ANKHEN BARAH HAATH, Starring the great director himself V.Shantaram and Sandhya. This devotional song will always remain close to my heart.
6) lag ja gale ki phir*ye hasin raat ho na ho
shayad phir is janam mein. mulakat ho na ho
lag jaa gale se
This lovely song is from the suspense/thriller movie WHO KAUN THI, starring Manoj Kumar and Sandhya. Very Romantic song which expresses all.
*7) Honthon mein aisi baat
Honthon mein aisi baat main dabaake chali aayi
This song is from the movie JEWEL THIEF, starring the evergreen hero Devnanad, Ashok Kumar, Vaijayanti Mala and Tanuja*
8) bhool gayaa sabakuchh, yaad naheen ab kuch
hyek yahee baat naa bhoolee, Julie I love
This great song is from the movie JULIE, but has been sung by Lataji and Kishore Da, I am sorry to say that I don`t about the star cast as I have not the seen the movie. I hope we don`t have member with JULIE id.
*9) doh ghoont mujhe bhi pila de sharaabhi,
dekh phir hota hai kya
This hit song is from the movie JHEEL KE US PAAR, starring Dharmendra and Mumtaz, Lataji surprised everybody by singing this song which was supposed to be sung by her sister Ashaji.
10) Kabhi main kahoon, kabhi tum kaho*Ke
maine tumhe yeh dil de diya*
This beautiful confessional song is from the movie LAMHE and has been sung by Lataji and Hariharan, starring Anil Kapoor & Sridevi.
*11) ek raadhaa, ek meera donon ne shyaam ko chaaha
antar kya donon ki chaah mein bolo
ik prem deewaani, ik daras deewaani
I bet you won`t see RK movie songs been sung without Lataji, this song is from the movie RAM TERI GANGA MAILI, starring Rajeev Kapoor & Mandakini, This was another filmy devotional song sung by the Legend.
*12) dil to hain dil dil kaa ayetabaar kyaa kije
*aa gayaa jo kisee pe pyaar kyaa kije
This song is from the hit movie MUKADDAR KA SIKANDAR, starring Amithabh Bachchan, Rekha, Vinod Khanna and Rakhee. How true can you trust your heart. *
13) Aapki Nazaron Ne Samjha, Pyaar Ke Kabil Mujhe
Dil Ki Ai Dhadkan Thaher Ja, Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe
This gem of a song is from the movie ANPADH, starring Dharmendra and Mala Sinha.
*14) Chalte chalte, chalte chalte
Yunhi koi mil gaya tha
*Sare raah chalte chalte
This lovely song is from the movie PAKEEZAH, starring Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari and Raj Kumar.
15) Main tulsi tere aangan ki*Main tulsi tere aangan ki,
koi nahin main. Koi nahin main tere saajan ki
This devotional song is from the movie MAIN TULSI TERE AANGAN KI, starring great actress Nutan & Vijay Anand.
16) Jaane Dil Mein Kab Se Hai Tu.*Jab Se Main Hoon Tab Se Hai Tu
Mujhko Mere Rab Ki Kasam, Yaara Rab Se Pehle Hai Tu*
Yes you have guessed it right this song is from the movie MUJHSE DOSTI KAROGE, starring Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani. Even at this age Lataji lends her voice to the young girls like Kareena & Rani.
*17) ye samaa, samaa hain ye pyaar kaa
kisee ke intajaar kaa.dil naa churaa le kahee meraa,
mausam bahaar kaa*
This wonderful song is from the movie JAB JAB PHOOL KHILE starring Sashi Kapoor and Nanda. It was very well remixed by Bally Sagoo in his album Bollywood Flashback.
*18) Yaara seeli seeli, birha ki raat ka jalna
Yaara seeli seeli, yaara seeli seeli
*O yaara seeli seeli, dhola seeli seeli
This hit song is from, not commercially hit movie LEKIN, starring Vinad Khanna and Dimple Kapadia.
19) tuz se naaraaj naheen jindagee*hairaan hoo main
tere maasoom sawaalon se. pareshaan hoo main*
This song is very close to me and is from the movie MASOOM and has ben sung by Lataji and Anup Ghoshal, starring activist Shabana Azmi and Nasiruddin Shah.
20) Sheesha ho ya dil ho *Aakhir toot jaata hai
Lab tak aate aate. haathon seSagar chooth jaata hai
This lovely song is from the movie AASHA, starring Jeetendra, Reena Roy and Rameshwari. This songs speaks the truth about Mirrors and Heart, which are fragile.
*21) Jeehale muskin. main kun baranjis
Behaal hijra bechaara dil hai
This all time favourite song is from the hit movie GULAMI & has been sung by Lataji and Shabbir Kumar, starring Dharampaaji, Mithun Chakraborty, Smita Patil Anita Raaj and Reena Roy.
I hope you loved my selected 21 songs sung by LATAJI, as I see there are only two means of refuge from the miseries of our life: LOVE & SONGS.