Singer Lata Mangeshkar had recorded songs for many films featuring actor Shabana Azmi, such as Swami (1977), Libaas (1988) and Masoom (1983), among others. Mourning her death, the veteran wrote on social media, “Lataji.. our national treasure no more ..her voice lit up our lives , gave us solace when we were sad, gave strength when we were low (sic).”

Talking about what set Mangeshkar apart, she tells us, “It was not only her sur [that was] perfect. A classical maestro once said, ‘Baareek se baareek sur ke bhi beech ka sur lagati hain Lata’.”

She goes on to add that the emotions that she put into her songs made them iconic: “Her pronunciation was perfect, but the feeling and emotions she imbued in her songs were unparalleled.”

Azmi gives an example of the popular love ballad Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum (Silsila; 1981), and says, “Rekha (actor) said that even if she is reborn a hundred times, she will not be able to recreate the emotion [with which] Lata ji sings [the line], ‘Hui aur bhi mulayam meri raat dhalte dhalte’!”

Azmi’s late father, poet Kaifi Azmi wrote songs like Zara Si Aahat (Haqeeqat; 1964) and Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho (Hanste Zakhm; 1973), which Mangeshkar rendered. Recalling her favourite collaboration between the two, Azmi shares, “Kuchh Dil Ne Kaha, written by my father for the film Anupama (1966), takes my breath away each time I hear it.”