Lata Mangeshkar's Death Anniversary: Composer Recalls Her Divine Voice and Final Days
On the fourth anniversary of Lata Mangeshkar's passing, music composer Mayuresh Pai has shared profound reflections on the legendary singer's life and legacy. In an exclusive conversation, Pai expressed that while many felt divinity in her voice, he saw divinity in her very being, emphasizing that her spirit lives on in every song she ever sang.
An Immortal Presence Beyond Physical Form
Mayuresh Pai poignantly stated, "Today, four years have passed since she left her physical form. I feel her presence everywhere, every second." He compared her to historical giants like Beethoven, Mozart, and Mahatma Gandhi, asserting that such individuals appear once in thousands of years to remind humanity that immortality transcends the physical. "Didi won't be forgotten till the end of civilisation," he added, highlighting her enduring impact on Indian culture and music.
The Last Music Composer to Work with the Icon
Mayuresh Pai holds the unique distinction of being the last music composer to collaborate with Lata Mangeshkar before her demise. Recalling their final days together, he narrated intimate details of their work. "She called me her Krishna Kanhaiya. She was my mother, my God," he shared, revealing the deep bond they shared. In her final year, Mangeshkar expressed a wish to record a Ram shlok, leading to sessions where they recorded a Marathi Hanumanji strotra and parts of Ram Raksha. "How were we to know that this would be her last recording?" Pai reflected, noting the poignancy of those moments.
Divinity in Art and Atmosphere
Remembering her craft, Pai described an almost mystical atmosphere during their recordings. "You won't believe it if I tell you this, but there was the scent of agarbattis in Lataji's room, although we didn't light any," he said, attributing it to the divine nature of her art. He firmly believes that Lata Mangeshkar's voice is the voice of divinity, the voice of India, calling it the "mangalya swar of India." Every detail of her final recording remains etched in his heart, from each syllable she sang to the timing of her departure on the day of Saraswati Maa's visarjan, which he sees as symbolic of her being Saraswati Mata herself.
A Personal Testament of Faith and Learning
Pai expressed a personal testament of faith, stating, "People believe in God without seeing God. But I believe in God because I have seen her." He explained how listeners perceive Saraswati Mata in her voice or Lord Krishna when she sings the Bhagavad Gita, evoking the highest form of divinity. Reflecting on their time together until 2021, when they recorded the last shloka of Bhagwan Ram, he described it not as mere memories but as "satsang"—a spiritual gathering. "The time I got to spend with her, I got to learn so much," he noted, emphasizing lessons in kindness, living on one's own terms, and the essence of humanity that he gleaned from her.
As the entertainment world continues to update with new movies and trends, the legacy of Lata Mangeshkar remains a timeless beacon, cherished by fans and artists alike for generations to come.
