Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 28, 2016)


In April this year SLB was awarded the Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar Award, named after Lata’s late father. He calls it “the highest honour I could ever receive”. While he was disappointed that the songstress couldn’t give him the honour (Asha Bhosle presented the award), the high-point was that “Lataji spoke to me for half-an- hour over the phone. Believe me, it was the most precious moment of my life as an artiste.”

Adds Sanjay, “I’ve said this repeatedly. I say it again. I’ve learnt filmmaking by listening to her voice. Her voice contains every human emotion delivered at a flawless pitch. But my real inspiration is the way she negotiates the highest notes without showing any signs of strain or effort. That is what makes Lata Mangeshkar what she is.”

SLB says it is that peak of musical expression where the musical notes hit the highest pitch that he tries to achieve in his cinema. “The emotions in my film are held steady at the highest pitch. To preserve a balance at that pitch is possible only for Lataji. I try to achieve the same balance.”