Looking Back: Moushumi Chatterjee shared an incredible bonding with Lata Mangeshkar
Looking Back: Moushumi Chatterjee shared an incredible bonding with Lata Mangeshkar
Not many may be versed that Moushumi Chatterjee shared an incredible juxtaposition with the Queen of Melody Lata Mangeshkar.
There is a phrase “First
impressions are the enduring impressions. Moushumi Chatterjee rang in her 75th
Birthday on 26 April. She was first seen in Hindi cinema as a blind girl in Shakti Samanta directorial “Anuraag”in which she sang the sublime sonorous
‘Sun ri pawan and Daka daley teri bans”..
Six years later in Tumhari Kasam Moushumi was no longer blind. She was visually impaired. And still singing in Lata Mangeshkar’s voice, this time one of Rajesh Roshan’s career’s best songs Ae mast hawa yeh to batla.
Infact, Lataji sang most of her songs. She knew her from the time she would come home to meet her father-in-law (legendary singer-composer Hemant Mukherjee).
Many of her songs sung by Lataji were proved big hits like Mehengai Maar Gayiùyi in Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Rimjhim gire saawan in Manzil and Dariya kinare ek bungalow in Sabse Bada Rupaiya.
She also makes it known that the iconic number Hai hai yeh majboori in
Actor-writer-producer-director
Manoj Kumar Roti Kapada Aur Makaan was supposed to be filmed on her.
In Moushumi’s second release Kachche Dhaage Lataji sang a slew of Laxmikant-Pyarelal compositions, all hits like Hai hai yeh ladka and Mera bachpan tu ja.
Moushmi went on to add that that time childishness. Moushumi laughs heartily.
She singles out a rare composition by Manas Mukherjee, Bawra kanhaiya dekho mujhko pukare in the film Mahananda as her favourite song sung for her by Lataji.
Then there is Rimjhim gire sawan in Manzil which is hummed to this day. Another RD Burman composition Arrey suno kahani in Zehreela Insaan stands out. Lataji sings the entire backstory of Moushumi’s character in one song.
Basu Chatterjee’s Uss Paar had the legendary Sachin Dev Burman teaming up with Lataji for the twin towers Yeh jab se hui jiya ki chori and Tumne piya diya sab kuch. In the former, Lataji matched Moushumi’s giggles perfectly.
When Moushumi took up mother’s roles she had Lataji singing the sublime Milne se pehle bichad jayen hum kyon in Pahlaj Nihalani’s Aag Hi Aag.
The haunting Bappi Lahiri composition was to be originally sung by Kishore Kumar. It was the mercurial Kishoreda who suggested that Lataji was the better choice for the song.
“In one way or another Lataji was always an important part of her career.
Film Guddi and Koshish which Moushumi quit went to Jaya Bhaduri. Neither had Lataji’s vocals.
News input KV Raman
