During recording, Lataji told me if I want changes, I should tell her without hesitation: Jeet

Post the demise of Lata Mangeshkar, music composer Jeet Gannguli posted a picture of him along with the iconic singer on social media and wrote: Naam Gum Jayega Chehra Ye Badal Jayega Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hain Gar Yaad Rahe (sic)
Jeet, who is in Shantiniketan for a holiday, shared with us the story behind the picture. “I was new in Mumbai at the time this picture was taken. I had just started my career as a music composer. Fortunately, I got the privilege and honour to work with the legendary singer early on in my career. I was composing music for Ekta Kapoor’s serial

Kasautii Zindagi Kay

at that point. It featured a bhajan —Jai Ma Ambe Devi Ma — that I had composed and it was sung by Lata ji. I still remember that she reached the recording studio before time, wearing a pristine, white sari. I touched her feet for her blessings. She was calm and ever-smiling. She even told me before the recording that should I want any changes, I should tell her without hesitation. I was new in the field and she was a stalwart, but she made the atmosphere so easy and comfortable for me. Those two-three hours of recording with

Lataji

will be etched in my mind forever. After that, whenever I had the luck to meet Lataji, she would recognise and smile. I still wonder how a person can sing so well in so many different languages and that too in impeccable diction. Her songs with

Salil Chowdhury

are iconic. Lataji will remain in our hearts through her art for legends never die. I wish I had the opportunity to work with her more.”