Lata Mangeshkar, who ruled the golden period of Indian cinema music for almost seven decades will soon turn 90 on 28 September. The legendary singer,whose voice has been equated to the Voice of God, has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung in over 36 regional and foreign languages.However, in a recent interview with IANS, she revealed that she never considered herself special.
SKJ: It is that time of the year again?
Lata: You mean my birthday? What's so special about it? It's like any other day, isn't it?
SKJ: No Didi. I would say it is the day the most gifted singer of civilisation was borne
Lata: Aap aisa sochte hain yeh aapka badappan hai (if you think this way it's your greatness). I've never thought of myself as special.
SKJ: Some of the world's greatest artistes, statesmen and connoisseurs of music have declared you the greatest ever...
Lata: I never thought of myself as special even when those who have heard and appreciated my singing said I was. For me, the constant effort in life has been to better myself as a person and an artiste.
SKJ: Javed Akhtar says your singing epitomises perfection. How can you improve on perfection?
Lata: Oh, there are so many of my songs that are considered flawless but are actually flawed. I can hear those flaws that you can't. And believe me, I cringe every time I hear those flaws in my singing.
SKJ: Can you point out some of your eflawed' songs?
Lata: No, why should I? Don't you prefer to keep believing that they are flawless?
SKJ: You have said you constantly strive to improve yourself as a human being. In what way?
Lata: My biggest personality flaw was my fierce temper. Even as a child I had a major temper issue. I would get angry very quickly. This changed as I grew older. Then there came a time when my temper vanished. Now I don't get angry at all. I sometimes wonder what happened to my fierce temper.
SKJ: In spite of your incomparable talent and success I've always seen you as being humble. How did you manage to remain unaffected by your phenomenal success?
Lata: I have always been like that. I was taught by my parents to forgive and forget when wronged by anyone. I've tried to follow that.
SKJ: Didi, I know of so many who have taken advantage of your generous and forgiving nature...
Lata: God bless them. I've never been vain or arrogant about my abilities, because I feel if I can sing well it is a gift that I've got from God and my parents. I always treated my singing as a special privilege. I nurtured it as a privilege.
SKJ: What advice would you give to upcoming aspiring singers?
Lata: Riyaaz (practice). Every singer who is serious about singing must do riyaaz. To this day I try to do my riyaaz as frequently as possible.
SKJ: Despite your partiality towards popular singing, you are extraordinarily adept at singing classical songs in films such as "Man mohana bade jhoothe" ("Seema") and "Mose chal kiye jaa" ("Guide").
Lata: The filmy classical song is not pure classical. Given a chance I'd have loved to sit with a tanpura on a stage to perform uninterrupted for two hours. But where was the time? I was recording songs round the clock.
SKJ: Any unfulfilled dreams?
Lata: I loved photography and painting. I wish I had time to pursue these interests.
SKJ: What is your message to the world?
Lata: Do your dharm and respect your karm. Success will follow. Nothing comes without hard work.
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