New Delhi, (UNI) The friendship that existed between Lata Mangeshkar and Noor Jehan, who was one of the legends of pre-Partition British India, continued for decades as the two queens of melody shared an almost sisterly bond and carried mutual respect for each other’s talents.
Lata Mangeshkar is of the most iconic names and voices in Indian cinema, and her status has been that of a titan in a repertoire of legends ranging from Kishore Kumar to SD Burman. Noor Jehan, who back in the 40s was the rage and known as the ‘Malika e Tarannum’ of Pakistan, used to be one of the most sought after singers for playback singing in the 1940s and her influence reached across all corners of the country.
She was also one of Lata Mangeshkar’s strongest influences in her early days as she used to sing like Noor Jehan before breaking free of it and adopting her own style. Both the singers are known for their classical, powerful, soulful, emotive and mellifluous voices.
However, while Noor Jehan’s fame after her move to Karachi was largely relegated to Pakistan, Lata Mangeshkar’s fame skyrocketed making her a household name in the subcontinent and even beyond.
Lata Mangeshkar’s popularity was not only the result of her immense talent, but also was the availability of great resources and legendary directors and composers like Hemant Kumar, Salil Chowdhury, SD Burman, Naushad, Shankar-Jaikishan, RD Burman, Kavi Pradeep – who helped her hone her talent to the fullest and create everlasting masterpieces in Indian cinema and beyond, and made her popularity soar across the borders, making her a favourite even in Pakistan.
During the rare decade of the 40s, the only time both these songstresses bypassed each other is during the film “Badi Maa” (1945) where Lata had a tiny acting role alongside her sister Asha Bhosle, and Noor Jehan, in the film. Lata Mangeshkar made no secret of Noor Jehan’s influence on her as she had openly acknowledged it when she later said “Everyone has role models.
And I have no qualms about admitting that Noor Jehan was mine. We listened to Noor Jehan in childhood and grew with her notes in mind.” Another prominent personality in her life was Ghulam Haider, a composer who worked in both India and Pakistan as he mentored her and helped give Lata her first big break. Lata too had said that Ghulam Haider was her “true godfather”.
In 1951, while travelling through Amritsar for a recording, Lata Mangeshkar was grabbed by a strong desire to meet her former idol, who was living in Lahore which was but a few hours away across the border. Calls were made to Noor Jehan and both singers spoke for hours over the phone, sharing tales, gossip, even songs, before the decision to meet was made.
The meeting was made possible by Lata’s most trusted colleague, C Ramchandra, who was able to arrange for the two queens of melody to meet in a desolate place armies call ‘No Man’s Land’. As C Ramchandra described in his biography “Noorjahan came running and the two embraced each other like long lost friends. Both were weeping. Those who were witness to this powerful scene were overwhelmed with the out pour of emotions and could not stop the tears.
Even soldiers on both sides of the border were weeping. After some time, they sat chatting. We had food. They had brought sweets from Lahore and us from India. Noorjahan’s husband was also there. I shall never forget this scene in my life. A great testimony to the fact that music can break any barrier.
After few hours, we returned with wet eyes but with a divine and unique experience indeed.” Decades later, in 1982, Noor Jehan would visit India for the first time since her departure as she came to Bombay for a concert. The Nightingale of India met her former idol once again and performed in her honour, winning her the Malika e Tarannum’s praise.
