“Aamir Khan is very dear to me” – Lata Mangeshkar on giving the Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar award to Aamir & Vyjayanthimala

By Subhash K. Jha -

April 24, 2017 - 10:36 AM IST

This year on April 24, the Mangeshkar family puts forward a very special commemorative occasion. “It’s my father’s 75^th death anniversary. It is also 75 years since I started singing in films. My father passed away in April and I started singing in cinema in October.”

“Aamir Khan is very dear to me” – Lata Mangeshkar on giving the Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar award to Aamir & Vyjayanthimala

Aamir Khan doesn’t attend nor collect awards. But this time he has made an exception for the one and only Lata Mangeshkar who Aamir admires and adores immeasurably.

And the Nightingale reciprocates the sentiments in ample measures. “I know he doesn’t collect awards. But he has made an exception for us. Aamir is indeed one of my favourite actors. Though we don’t meet any more I know there is enormous mutual respect between us. I’ve known him from the time he was a child. I’ve seen him at his home playing and jumping around at his home when I visited his father (filmmaker Tahir Husain). He has always showered immense affection on me. I remember when he made Lagaan he insisted I sing the bhajan ‘O Paalan Hare’. I love his focus and dedication to his work and most of all, I love his films. Taare Zameen Par is one of my favourite films featuring a contemporary actor. It is rare to come across an artiste with such a conscientious body of work. I remember once he told me that he would take a whole year off from acting to produce films and I had objected. We love seeing Aamir on screen. My siblings Meena, Asha, Usha and Hridaynath, and I are honoured to give the award named after my father to Aamir.”

Vyjanthimala is the other film personality being honoured by the Dinanath Mangeshkar Award at the function to be held on April 24 at the Shanmukhnanda auditorium.

Lataji lights up at the mention of the super-iconic legendary actress. “We were thinking of honouring one of the legendary classic actresses from the golden era. A few names were shortlisted. But my brother Hridaynath insisted we honour Vyjanthimala this time. She is such a rare combination of exquisite beauty and extraordinary acting talent. Such a fabulous dancer and do you know, she is also a capable singer! I remember when in 1951 Vyjanthimala made her debut as Hindi film heroine in AVM’s Bahar I had met Vyjanthimala with her father who said, ‘My daughter sings too.’ I asked her to sing for me. And she did. And very well too. We’ve known one another since then. I’ve sung some of my best songs for her in Nagin, Amrapali, Sangam, Ganga Jumna, Madhumati and Jewel Thief. I remember running into her in London while shopping. She was with a friend to whom she excitedly introduced me as an old friend.”

One of Lataji’s most controversial songs ‘Buddha Mila Gaya’ was filmed on Vyjanthimala in Sangam.

The Nightingale laughs in fond remembrance. “I never wanted to sing that song. But when I saw with what dignity Vyjanthimalaji danced to the song I was happy.”