Veteran Lata Mangeshkar has teamed up with ace music director and singer AR Rahman, as the duo have recorded their first ever duet for Rakeysh Mehra's Rang De Basanti.
"Though I have sung for Rahman before, I had never sung with him," Lata laughs.
"It's a lovely maa-beta (mother-son) song Lukka-chuppi bahut hui saamne aa jana, which Rahman and I sang. What really added to my pleasure was the fact that the song will be picturised on Waheeda Rehman. She is one of my favourite actresses and I have sung some of my favourite numbers for her."
Prasoon Joshi, who wrote songs for Phir Milenge and the promotional number for Black, has penned down the new Lata-Rahman duet.
Coincidentally, the last time Lata sang for Waheeda Rehman was also a mother-son song Tu mere saath rahega munne for composer Khayyam in Trishul.
The 76-year-old singer flew to Chennai to record the duet. "Rahman was keen that I sing in his own studio. I was more than happy to oblige."
Rakeysh Mehra is over the moon. "To have Lataji sing for my film was a dream. When she came for the recording, my knees and hands were trembling. This is the Lata Mangeshkar, for god's sake!"
{{/usCountry}}Rakeysh Mehra is over the moon. "To have Lataji sing for my film was a dream. When she came for the recording, my knees and hands were trembling. This is the Lata Mangeshkar, for god's sake!"
{{/usCountry}}Rakeysh is not the only one singing paeans for the legendary singer. Composer Ismail Durbar too is in seventh heaven. Lata is recording a song for Ismail for the first time.
The song is for a film called, Pyar Kiya To Nibhana, to be directed by Vinay, Sooraj Barjatya's former assistant.
The composer, who was blessed with a son this week, is doubly ecstatic.
"Every time I thought of a tune, I would wonder how it would sound in her voice. And now she is finally singing for me."
Says the ecstatic composer: "I have told Lata didi I would like her to sing all the female vocals in this film. To have her sing for me is a dream-come-true.
"I should have been born twenty years ago. To what heights she took the tunes of the earlier composers. I was over the moon when she rang me to wish me Eid Mubarak. I have celebrated Eid many times, but this one will be a memorable one."