Chhaayaageet #12 - “How long are you going to remain upset and not speak with me?”
Father and son are in their music room. One an acknowledged great, the other yet to embark upon his greatness. The son has composed a tune and wants expert opinion.
After years of being an assistant to his illustrious father, the son has his first break, his first film as music director1.
Father hears the tune, and likes it a lot. He instantly imagines her beautiful voice bringing it to life. But...
They are not on talking terms. Four years ago, it was a bitter falling out.
Four years ago, she decided never to speak with the veteran composer again, never to sing for him again. They were done as far as she was concerned.
Royalty on both sides of the estrangement. He, the Crown Prince of Tripura.2 She, the queen of melody, royalty no less.
What had caused the relationship to sour?
Words. Cruel, heartless words.
“Who made her career? We composers did. We gave her all those songs. We made her.”
Did he really say that? Did he mean it? Or was he misquoted? Didn’t matter.
Words hurt.
After years of mutual affection and respect, how could he have said something like that? She decides the most powerful thing to say is nothing at all.
Silence. Four. Long. Years. Of silence.
And so here we are.
Father and son both know that for the son to establish himself as a music composer, he must get to work with her. Otherwise the resume is incomplete. Son pleads with father.
“Baba, you must patch up with her. I need her to sing my songs.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, father decides to call her.
What would he say? What would she say? Could anything change her mind after four years?
Words hurt. Can music heal?
She answers the phone.
”How long are you going to remain upset and not speak with me?”
She is still angry.
Why is he calling? Is he calling to apologize? Is this any way to apologize? And what took him so long?
Words hurt.
Then he says something, and her anger melts in an instant.
”Our Pancham is branching out on his own. He has his first film. Come Lata, come, you have to sing.”
Tu aa ja Lata, tu aa ja. Tujhe gaana hai. Actual words.
She has seen the young man at many music sittings and rehearsals, hanging around his father as an assistant. His immense talent was a foregone conclusion. Only a matter of time before he blazes his own trail.
Her heart is filled with warmth and her anger melts. She lowers the walls around her. They patch up.
Can we imagine that delicate moment? How fortunate are we that she agreed to let bygones be bygones and make peace?
And thus began the glorious association of Lata Mangeshkar and RD Burman.
Words hurt. But music healed.
Ghar aaja ghir aaye
Badara sawariyan
Mora jiya dhak dhak re
Chamke bijuriya
Music: RD Burman
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Film: Chhote Nawab (1961)
1 Mehmood approached SD Burman for the music of Chhote Nawab. But SD was busy and said he couldn’t do the film. RD was playing tabla nearby and Mehmood signed him, and gave RD his first movie.
2 Sachin Dev Burman was born to Rajkumari Nirmala Devi, the royal princess of Manipur, and Rajkumar Nabadwipchandra Dev Burman, son of Ishanachandra Manikya Dev Burman, the Maharaja of Tripura. (Wikipedia)
References:
I have a fierce temper: Lata Mangeshkar by Subhash K Jha (Times of India, Sep 25, 2012)