Composers today don’t like the way I function: Lata Mangeshkar in a 2013 interview

As the legendary Lata Mangeshkar passed away today, we go down memory lane with excerpts from a 2013 interview with the late legend, when she expanded her wings and ventured into entrepreneurship by launching her own music company.

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away on Sunday. We go down memory lane with excerpts from a 2013 interview with the late legend, when she expanded her wings and ventured into entrepreneurship by launching her own music company.

Lata Mangeshkar

We don’t get to hear you in films too often these days. Why?

I’m very particular about the selection of songs. I read the lyrics and listen to the tune before agreeing to sing. I feel that music composers today do not like the way I function. That’s why I don’t feel like singing in films anymore.

How different is the industry now?

These days, songs do well for a few months and then disappear. Technically, we have advanced, but our music is regressing. The number and variety of songs in films have depreciated. I’m shocked. I remember singing 11 songs for Mughal-E-Azam (1960). Today’s music is all about dance. Phrases like ‘Halkat jawaani’ were way beyond our imagination back then. Singers in our time used to work very hard. We had to overcome many obstacles to get a song. Things are easier today.

We have so many talented singers. I don’t know about another Lata Mangeshkar, but every artiste is special. Asha Bhosle, Sunidhi Chauhan and Shreya Ghoshal, all have their own place. I believe there will be someone better than me.

What urged you to launch a music label?

I was always interested in doing non-film work. But there also was some anxiety, as people hardly buy music albums now. People like Amitabh Bachchan, Shankar Mahadevan and Suresh Wadkar have been very helpful. Since I’ve spent more than 70 years of my life in the industry, this label is my way of expressing my gratitude.