The Voice Of India

A demure woman in a white sari still manages to capture the attention of the nation every time she sings or even speaks. She connects us to much that we hold dear in our musical tradition with a humility that is as remarkable as the genius from which it springs.
HARSH V. PANT ON LATA MANGESHKAR

Lata Mangeshkar, the greatest Indian songstress of all times, celebrated her 80th birthday on September 28. Every singer for the past six decades has been singing in the space, the vast terra infirma, charted by Lata’s voice. Listen to Ayega Aanewaala: Its freshness never abates; to listen it, even today, is to feel present at the birth of something new. Beginning of a journey. Beginning of the Indian film music as we have come to know and love. If Lata had given us nothing more, that would be enough.

Today when the wider soundscape of India is chaotically rich with experimental music, indie-rock shows soaked in hipster attitude, pop idols cavorting on HD monitors in malls, innumerable winners emerging from the ceaseless reality singing competitions, a demure woman in a white sari still manages to capture the attention of the nation every time she sings or even speaks. She connects us to much that we hold dear in our musical tradition with a humility that is as remarkable as the genius from which it springs.

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