AR Rahman reminisces about interaction with Lata Mangeshkar that 'changed' his life

AR Rahman and Lata Mangeshkar have worked on songs like 'Jiya Jale' (Dil Se), 'Khamoshiya Gungunane Lagi' (One 2 ka 4), 'Luka Chuppi' (Rang De Basanti), 'So Gaye Hai' (Zubeidaa).

AR Rahman and Lata Mangeshkar | Image via Instagram @arrahman

Lata Mangeshkar, often referred to as the Nightingale of India, for her melodious voice, passed away in Mumbai today. She was 92. The singer has worked with prolific music composers from across industries and languages, one of them being AR Rahman.

Rahman recalled working with the singer in an Instagram video, and how one particular interaction with her impacted him and his love for music deeply.

"It is a very very sad day for all of us. When people live, we take it for granted and somebody like Lata Ji is not just a singer, not just an icon. She was part of a soul, part of a consciousness of India, Indianness, Hindustani music, Urdu poetry, Hindi poetry and Bengali- and so many other languages she sang. And this void is going to remain forever," said the music composer.

He said that she influenced his life since childhood as his father always saw her as an inspiration. Rahman said that his father used to keep Mangeshkar's photograph near his bed and used to look at it for motivation.

"Coming to me also, I’m lucky to have recorded a few songs with her, sing with her, be a part of her show, where I learnt probably one of the most important things about performing on stage," continued Rahman.

Rahman explained that he had never taken singing as seriously and was more inclined towards being a composer-musician.

"When I few songs I have composed for her, after the rehearsals at 4pm, she would go to this room, sit with her assistant and would start singing very slowly, every lyric clearly. I just passed the room, and I said is that her practising for the show? That one incident changed my life. From then on, every show I went to, I would go off, and put the tanpura on and practise, get some warm-ups done. I would go over every lyric and the intention behind the song," he shared.

"One day, I was speaking to her, and she said, you know those days, Naushad saab (veteran Hindi music composer) used to make us come for 11 days for rehearsal. You then understand how the depth of each song has so much of investment of time, love spirituality, and passion, (a lesson) especially for the younger generation," he said.

Rahman and Mangeshkar have worked on songs like 'Jiya Jale' (Dil Se), 'Khamoshiya Gungunane Lagi' (One 2 ka 4), 'Luka Chuppi' (Rang De Basanti), 'So Gaye Hai' (Zubeidaa).

Here is Rahman's post:

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