Did Lata Mangeshkar actually record Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya in a bathroom?

The 1960 film has some of the most celebrated songs in the history of Indian cinema. On the singer’s 87th birthday, we find out if there is any truth in the story.

There isn’t anybody else like Lata Mangeshkar, probably the most cherished singer India has ever seen. She ruled the Hindi music industry for more than four decades. From Mohammed Rafi to Udit Narayan to AR Rahman, she has sung with singers in different eras and aced in every genre.

Aamir Khan and singer Lata Mangeshkar during Dinanath Mangeshkar memorial awards in Mumbai on April 24, 2017. (IANS)

Jukebox: Pick a Lata Mangeshkar song for every mood

Among many stories about the legendary singer, the most famous is probably the one which says how Naushad made her sing a song in a bathroom. The song in question is Jab record Jab Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya from the film Mughal-E-Azam.

The 1960 film has some of the most celebrated songs in the history of Indian cinema. On the singer’s 87th birthday, we find out if there is any truth in the story. In 2010, Lata Mangeshkar, in an interview to Rajeev Masand, talked about the real story behind the song.

Every Hindi film song by Lata Mangeshkar, in one graphic

She talked about the famous echo effect used in the song. Remember it was years before the engineers developed the same effect to be used during the recording. At that time, it had to be done physically.

The only way to do it was singing the same line of the song at three different places and then overlapping the recordings.

So, Lata Mangeshkar started from a room and then came to a hall and finally to the room where the recording device was put. Later, that effect made the song a memorable one.

But none of these places were a bathroom. She categorically denied the rumour but said she is immensely proud of that song.

Here’s the video: