Lata Mangeshkar has been one of God?s greatest gifts to India fascinating and captivating music lovers all over the world not just in India. Lata has been at it for over 60 years now and I have been a fan of her for over 40 Years.
I still remember the first Lata song which I heard as a 5 year old kid was from Naagin.I consider it my fortune to be born at right time.
This list of my favorite Lata songs is by no means an exhaustive one since it is impossible to pick up just 20 songs from thousands and thousands. I have picked up slightly out of the limelight kind of songs. the -list, a special selection of a music buff. Every film music fan has a list of favorite Lata songs and though my first list would also include all those songs, this list is special. I just love these songs, many of them are important markers & milestones of my life and still give me a kind of pleasure, solace, peace and contentment which is hard to describe. It is a divine and sublime experience and an uplifting one at that. Now to the list;
1. Saari saari raat teri yaad sataye: A Roshan number from Aji Bus Shukriya which was a superhit of late fifties. The tune was so nice that I have heard songs on the same tune in Kannada, Telugu and Marathi .
2. Mujhe na bulaa; Adi Narayan Rao composition from Suvarna Sundari also a hit in Telugu.
3. Kaise Aaoon main yamuna paar: C Ramchandra composition from Devtaa.
4. Panchhi banoon udti phirron: A Shanker Jaikishen superhit which used to be played on Radio all daylong.
The youthful exuberance and the joy expressed are unforgettable.
5. Manjhi mere kismatke tu chahe jahan le chal: Usha Khanna?s unforgettable soothing melody from Hum Hindustani.
6. Na ja mere humdum: A haunting melody from Pyar ka Mausam by R D Burman. The superb use of Church Organ sounds is fascinating.
7. Julmi sang aankh ladi: A gentle melody with cradle rocking rhythm from Madhumati, a Salilda composisition.
8. Jyoti kalash chhalke: An early morning melody from Bhabhi ki chooriyan composed by Salil Phadke can make even a lazy bum to get up and get going.
9. Prabhu tero naam: A beautiful bhajan from Hum Dono composed by Jaidev. I like this one more than Allah tero naam.
10. Yeh daaman ab na chootega: A superb LP composition from Pyar-ki-manzil. LP trying to ape Madan Mohan did come up with a winner.
11. Janewale se mulakat na hone payee: Naushad melody from Amar.
12. Lage na mora jiya: A Ravi composition from Ghoonghat.
13. Mere sanso-n-ko jo mehaka raha hai: LP composition from Badalte rishte, a sonorous mukhda followed by a blossoming antara. Technically a superb feat.
14. O basanti pawan paagal: SJ hit from Jis desh mein ganga. The taan and murkis are excellent.
15. Balma jane?na: A peppy dance number in Malkaus by Chitragupta from Opera House. The antara is something of a unique piece.
16. Mere manka bawara panchi: C Ramchandra composition from Amar Deep. Very touching.
17. Nirdayee preetam: A forlon melody of CR from Stree.
18. Tera jaana dil ke armanonka: A haunting melody of SJ from Anari showcases superb control and elasticity of Lata?s voice.
19. Jammane mein aji aise: A Ghazal from Jeevan Mrityu.
20. Ruke ruke se kadam: I just cant avoid adding this ever popular Madan Mohan song from Mausam.
The real Lata disappeared after Mausam, what was left behind a pale shadow of great Lata. It is time that she gracefully bows out, she is sounding bad in **Veer Zaara.