Jayabharathi: I feel blessed that Lata Mangeshkar had sung for me

The only Malayalam film that Lata Mangeshkar had sung for is the 1974 movie

Nellu

, directed by Ramu Kariat. Her song, Kadali Chenkadali, penned by Vayalar Ramavarma and composed by Salil Chowdhury, was featured on a young Jayabharathi, who played the character Mara. The veteran actress, speaking to us, recalls how it was to be featured in the evergreen song and says she feels blessed to have it as part of her repertoire.


“When I shot for the song, I didn’t have the mind space to understand its significance," recalls Jayabharathi, "It was only about 20 years later, when I was relaxed and had time to think about it all, did it strike me how blessed I was that Lataji’s only song in Malayalam was for me. I don’t know whether she knew me, but I feel so great that she had sung for me.”

The artiste says she did not get an opportunity to meet Lataji or even hear her live. “I am no one to speak about her singing or even pass any comment on her music. I did wish to meet her, but never got an opportunity. That said, I often listen to her songs, especially the bhajans that she had sung. Even a few days ago, I was listening to the Gayathri Mantra that she had recorded for the wedding of Isha Ambani, and was so immersed in her voice as it soaked the wedding atmosphere in its divinity. I don’t think I will be able to pick just one of her songs as my favourites,” says Jayabharathi.

The Gayathri Mantra recording for the Ambani wedding is often termed one of the last recordings of Lata Mangeshkar.

According to Jayabharathi, Lataji lived an unparalleled life. “I had heard she was unwell, but there were also reports coming out stating that she was recuperating, so I was hopeful. She isn’t with us anymore, but the life she lived was truly legendary and purposeful,” the artiste signs off.

Interestingly, Lataji’s sister

Asha Bhonsle

had also sung for Jayabharathi, for the 1977 Malayalam film Sujatha. The song was Swayamvara Subhadina, composed by Mankombu Gopalakrishnan.