Kochi, First Published Feb 6, 2022, 10:57 AM IST
KJ Yesudas and Lata Mangeshkar are famous singers in the Indian film playback music scene. Many of the songs that the two have put together are the favorite songs of music lovers. But Yesudas once had the good fortune to teach Lata Mangesh, who had been much admired since her youth, to sing. It was for the all time hit Malayalam movie Chemmeen.
Salil Chowdhury decided to sing one of the hit songs of ‘Chemmini’, ‘Kadalinakkare Ponore …’ with Lata Mangeshkar. Lataji was reluctant when Salil Chowdhury first told him about this and later agreed. Later he learned not to miss the Malayalam pronunciation. The director of the film Ramu Kariyat has appointed the real Gana Gandharva for this.
Teaching song to a singer he had adored since childhood was a dream come true for Yoshudas. Soon the film team reached Mumbai and met Lataji and sang the song. But no matter how hard Yesudas tried, Latha could not learn the Malayalam pronunciation. Yesudas sang the song when Lataji finally refused to sing it in a language he did not like.
Salil Chowdhury wanted Lata Mangeshkar to sing in Malayalam in the movie ‘Nell’. At Salil’s insistence, Lataji sang a song in the film. It was the song ‘Kadali Kankadali Chenkadali Pooveno …’. This was Lataji’s first and last Malayalam song.
Last Updated Feb 6, 2022, 10:57 AM IST