11 minutes ago
- copy link
Vocal Content Lata Mangeshkar’s birthday was on 28 September. In Mumbai where his sister Usha Mangeshkar had organized a program. So his brother had organized a music program in Pune. Lata Mangeshkar’s sister Meenatai Mangeshkar’s daughter and Lata Didi’s niece Rachna Shah also participated in it. During this, while having a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar, he also shared many stories related to Lata Didi.
Lata Didi had named me – Rachna Shah
Lata Mangeshkar’s niece Rachna Shah said, ‘I am the daughter of Lata didi’s sister Meenatai Mangeshkar. Sister’s role in my life has been quite dynamic. Since the time I was in my mother’s womb, my sister and I had developed a bond. By the way, Yogesh is my elder brother. But when I was about to be born, sister had already told mother that ‘Meena! This time you will have a girl. I will name her Rachna. She will be mine. Didi’s words proved true and I was named Rachna. Today Didi is not among us, but above. There is just this much difference.
‘Learned how to maintain relationships from Lata Didi’
Rachna Shah said, ‘Didi also used to ask about the music composer during her recordings. Didi knew that I was a big fan of Dev Anand Sahab. One day when Didi was recording Dev Saheb’s song, she called me and said that you have to come. The song was- ‘I am made for love, I am adorned for love…’. I went to the studio. After the song was recorded, Dev Saheb’s secretary came and gave an envelope to Dev Saheb. There was a check in it. Dev Saheb started giving that envelope to Didi, then Didi asked what is this? He said thank you in his own style. Didi took the cheque, folded it and handed it back to Dev Saheb. Said, ‘Dev Saheb, I will not take anything.’ It was only at that time that I learned to maintain relationships with my sister.
Rachna Shah said- ‘Didi was true to her principles’
Rachna Shah said, ‘Lata didi has always been very firm on her principles. She always took off her slippers outside the recording room. When she used to go to program, she used to salute before going on the stage. She had reverence for the recording room and stage like a temple.
‘Ek Tu Hi Bharosa Hai… The song was picturized on Didi’
Lata Mangeshkar’s niece Rachna Shah further said, one day Boney Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Rajkumar Santoshi came to meet didi. There was a lot of conversation. After this he talked about the film Pukar. He had said that AR Rahman is a music composer. You have to sing the song ‘Ek Tu Hi Bharosa Hai…’ to yourself. This song will not be picturized on anyone else. Hearing this, Didi said that I have never acted, how will I do it? But sister was a fan of Anil Kapoor. So on everyone’s request, Didi also said yes. This film was shot in Hyderabad. This song was shot at night. I and my husband ENT surgeon Dr. Nitish Shah also participated in this. This was a different experience for Didi, so she was very happy.
‘Didi had performed in the United States on her own terms’
Rachna Shah further said, ‘Didi performed for the first time in the United States in 1975. Earlier, all our Indian artists who used to go there to perform were not given main stream venues in America. Artists used to perform in community halls, community centres, schools etc. But when Didi was called, she made it clear that if I come, I will not sing in the community hall. I will sing on the main stream, where your artists sing. Otherwise I don’t have to come and they agreed.