Chennai: Lata Mangeshkar has raised at least one hit number in every South Indian language, but Chennai (then Madras) has a special place in his heart.
Not only because some Hindi films were made in the city, but because the presence lured the final actor Sivaji Ganesan.
It is a brother’s bond that cuts state and language barriers.
Root in the early 1960s, when Mangeshkar’s sister went down to Chennai to meet with actors, who had their father’s features Deenanath Mangeshkar – which they lost at a young age.
It lasted almost until he exhaled his last on Sunday.
“That’s a special bond.
For Lataji, appa always he Anna (brother) and for him, he is a sister.
Not diwali passed without us sending new clothes for him and he also did the same,” Remember Prabhu actor, son of Sivaji’serger .
“Lataji used to fly to the city regularly these days Torecord for Hindi songs and stayed at the hotel.
He once mentioned to Appa about his inconvenience by staying at a hotel and food.
In two months, Appa got a cottage built inside ‘ Annai Illam’campus (Sivaji’s residence in the North Boag Road in T Nagar).
Since then, every time he descends to the city, he always lives in that laptus, “Prabhu said.
While the age limits its journey to the city in the following years, Lata came to Chennai a few days after Sivaji Ganesan died (July 21, 2001) and spent time with family, considering the relationship with him.
Every time a Ramkumar, Sivaji’s son, visited Mumbai, he would call him.
Although not used for smart phones and social media tools, he made a point to type a small message on WhatsApp to Ramkumar – update about himself and ask about members in the Sivaji family.
“Only two weeks ago, as if because of a hunch that the end was near, he sent a personal voice message to Ramkumar asking about all health in the family,” Prabhu said.
South Indian hits Lata includes ‘aararo aararo’ in the film Tamil ‘Anand’ (1987) who has Prabhu in leading and produced by Sivaji’s production, with music by the millionaaja.
The duet number, with singer S p ballasubrahmananyam, for Kamal Haasan ‘Sathya’ (1988) – ‘Valana Osai Gala Gala Vena’ is a hit Evergreen.
“During the discussion, I told Kamal Haasan about one song compiled to ‘go with the wind’ but it was not used and he loved it.
I insisted that Lataji had to sing the song and Kamal agreed.
I got Lyricist Vaali to use simple words flowing seamlessly to facilitate it, “Ilyarajaja remembered during a live concert.
Lata and SPB came together in the same year again for Telugu ‘Aakhari Poralam’ films and made ‘Thella Cheera’, which was also a hit in the Featured Film of Nagarjuna – Sridevi.
Only tragic that the life of the two legendary singers was learned by the effect of the Covid pandemic.