A galaxy of singers had descended on EZCC to pay musical homage to the brightest star of them all — Lata Mangeshkar — in a show titled Shraddhanjali. Some of the biggest names of the city as well as from around the country had come to perform and share anecdotes of their interaction with the legend.
“How can we recall Latadidi when she can never be forgotten in the first place,” wondered Sadhana Sargam, who had flown down from Mumbai for the show. The singer of songs like Pehla nasha said there were no words to express Lata’s contribution. “She showed us what music is and how it can be worshiped.” Sadhana went on sing Ja re jaare ure jare pakhi and Megha chhaye.
Usha Uthup presented Ajeeb dastan hai ye, the song she had sung in front of Lata on the latter’s 75th birthday. “Lataji had said she loved the rendition as I was the only one not trying to copy her style. No one can sing like Lata Mangeshkar but everyone can sing her songs,” said Uthup, who did not take off her mask even while singing.
Shampa Kundu compared the singer to goddess Saraswati. “I had first met her at a concert in the US, on my first foreign trip in 1980. I met her backstage, sought her blessings and got her picture autographed. It was a great moment for me.”
There were performances by Indrani Sen, Srikanto Acharya, Manomoy Bhattacharya, the duo Sourendro-Soumyojit, the Violin Brothers and singers from Sikkim, Assam etc.
Director of EZCC, Gouri Basu, said generations to come would be mesmerised by Lata’s voice. “This one voice has been a part of our lives for three quarters of a century. In her songs people found expression of their innermost emotions,” she said.
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