Lata Mangeshkar is the gold standard when it comes to playback singing in India. Her versatility led her to form long-lasting associations with all top-flight music directors of her era. Her deep and exhaustive knowledge of Indian classical music and her inherent ability to latch on to the mood of the tunes made her an invaluable asset. Every composer she worked with benefited from being associated with her. On her death anniversary today, we revisit her most popular solos in association with golden greats like Naushad, SD Burman, Shankar-Jaikishan, Madan Mohan, C Ramchandra, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, RD Burman and Kalyanji-Anandji.

In This Article

In This Article

Naushad

Naushad was known for his Hindustani classical-inspired tunes and Lata Mangeshkar, who is said to be a treasure trove of raag based knowledge, was just the right fit for him. It’s said their association goes back to Andaz (1949). He was a perfectionist who toiled to make each note perfect and in Lata, he perhaps found his most keen collaborator.

Koi mere dil mein

Andaz (1949)

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Phir teri kahani yaad aayi

Dil diya dard liya (1966)

Lyrics: Shakeel Badayuni

SD Burman

Their first hit together is said to be Thandi hawayein lehra ke aayein from Naujawan (1951). They had tremendous respect for each other but it so happened that the two geniuses appeared to have a misunderstanding and didn’t work together for five years from 1958-62. Their patch-up film is said to be Bandini (1963), after which they continued to work till the last of his projects.

Thandi hawayein lehra ke aayein

Naujawan (1951)

Lyrics: Sahir Ludhianvi

Chand phir nikla

Paying Guest (1957),

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai

Guide (1965)

Lyrics: Shailendra

Ab To Hai Tumse

Abhimaan (1973)

Lyricist- Majrooh Sultanpuri

Shankar-Jaikishan

It’s said that Lata’s most prolific collaboration is with Shankar-Jaikishan. She’s said to have sung more than four hundred songs for them. And such was their tuning that each can be considered a musical gem. Be it a romantic number, a cabaret number, a bhajan, sad song — she’s excelled in everything they composed for her. Their journey together is said to have started with Barsaat (1949). She became a staple for the RK banner after that and all Raj Kapoor films scored by S-J have some excellent Lata numbers.

Ye shaam ki tanhaiyan

Aah (1953)

Lyrics: Shailendra

Man mohana bade jhootheNa bole na bole na bole re

Seema (1955)

Lyrics: Shailendra

Main piya teri tu maane ya na maane

Basant Bahar (1956)

Lyrics: Hasrat Jaipuri

Ajeeb dastan hai yeh

Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960)

Lyrics: Shailendra

Madan Mohan

Lata Mangeshkar is said to have called him ‘Ghazlon ka Shahzada’. She used to tie rakhi to him and seems to have reserved her melodic best for her brother. Some of her most haunting songs have been composed by him. Their collaboration continued till his untimely death at just 51.

Yun hasraton ke daag

Adalat (1958)

Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan

Main toh tum sang nain milake

Manmauji (1962)

Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan

Lag ja gale

Woh Kaun Thi (1964)

Lyrics : Raja Mehndi Ali Khan

Baiyan na dharo

Dastak (1970)

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Aaj socha to aansoo bhar aaye

Hanste Zakhm (1973)

Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi

C Ramchandra

It’s said C Ramchandra reserved his best for Lata and his career faded when they parted ways as collaborators. He reportedly couldn’t find another singer who matched her depth, her versatility.

Dheere se aaja ri ankhiyan mein

Albela (1951)

Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan

Na bole na bole na bole re

Azaad (1955)

Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan

Hawa hai sard sard aur dil mein bhi hai dard

Shatranj (1956)

Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan

Kaise aaun Jamuna ke teer

Devta (1956)

Lyrics: Rajendra Krishan

Laxmikant-Pyarelal

It’s said Laxmi-Pyare met Lata Mangeshkar when they were children and impressed her with their talent. She encouraged them to become music directors later on. They reportedly owe her their careers. Their first film, Parasmani (1963) was huge musical hit thanks to her numbers and they never looked back ever since.

Jeevan dor tumhi sang bandhi

Sati Savitri (1964)

Lyricist: Bharat Vyas

Chalo sajna jahan tak ghata chale

Mere Humdum Mere Dost (1968)

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Roz shaam aati thi

Imtihan (1974)

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Ishwar satya hai

Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978)

Lyrics: Pandit Narendra Sharma

Udate pawan ke sang chalungi

Shahgird (1967)

Lyricist- Majrooh Sultanpuri

Koi nahi hai phirbhi hai muzko

Patthar Ke Sanam (1967)

Lyricist- Majrooh Sultanpuri

RD Burman

RD Burman wanted Lata Mangeshkar for his first movie as a music director — Chhote Nawab (1961) — despite knowing that his father SD Burman had a tiff with Lata at the time. RD reportedly sent word to Lata through Jaidev (who was SD’s assistant) and she immediately came on board. It’s said he reserved his best classical tunes for her.

Ghar aaja ghir aaye badra

Chhote Nawab (1961)

Lyrics: Shailendra

Aaja piya tohe pyar doon

Baharon Ke Sapne (1967)

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Baahon mein chale aao

Anamika (1973)

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi

Masoom (1960)

Lyricist- Gulzar

Kalyanji Anandji

Their association with Lata dates back to Samrat Chandragupt (1958), where she reportedly sang eight tracks. They have always been underrated as music directors but nevertheless, Lata is said to have sung 300-plus songs for them.

Teri rahon mein khade hain dil thaam ke

Chhalia (1960)

Lyrics: Qamar Jalalabadi

Mujhko is raat ki tanhai mein awaz na do

Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960)

Lyrics : Shamim Jaipuri

Ek tu jo mila sari duniya mile

Himalay Ki God Mein (1965)

Lyrics: Indeevar

Main to bhool chali babul ka desh

Saraswatichandra (1968)

Lyrics: Indeevar