At heart Lata Mangeshkar to just today remains her Papa's little girl. Lataji's father loved hearing his daughter recite the Gayatri Mantra in her clear Sanskrit diction even if she was only a child. It was Lataji's father Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar's wish that in the future his eldest-born record the Gayatri Mantra.
Now 70 years after her father's death Lataji has fulfilled his wish within the album Shree Gayatri Mahamantra.
Says the Nightingale, "It has taken me that long to assemble the courage to sing the Gayatri Mantra. I thought, if not now, when? However, I've taken a somewhat unconventional path to recitation. I start within the album by reciting the Gayatri Mantra after which I sing the Suyra Mantra six times. While reciting the Surya Mantra I mention the 12 names in which Surya Bhagwan is understood".
The melodious mantras within the album has been composed by young Mayuresh Pai.
Says Lataji, "This was my most difficult challenge within the devotional genre. I've sung some very difficult Bhajans and recited the Bhagwat Gita for my brother, Hridaynath Mangeshkar's compositions. But this one was different. It was for my father. It needed to be just the best way he would have liked it."
Lataji who usually refuses to listen to her own songs and switches off the tv when her songs are telecast, has heard her new album and for once, liked what she has done.
Says the severely self-critical songstress, "I'M normally quite embarrassed by my very own singing. Earlier when I'd hear my songs I'd quickly visit the kitchen and begin clanging the vessels to drown my voice. But through the years I've become more tolerant. Now a minimum of I WILL BE ABLE TO bear to listen to my very own voice."
Interestingly, Lataji has given the dear Gayatri Mantra album to a brand new music company in Kolkata thereby breaking her long association with the oldest music company in India, Saregama HMV.
Says a detailed relative of Lataji, "Didi's last album Sarhadein was simply killed by HMV. And does anyone know she has recorded an album of Meera Bhajans entitled Meera Soor Kabira along with her brother ten years ago? It is a collector's item for her fans. But HMV didn't put it available in the market properly. We advised Didi to take the bizarre route along with her new album."
