Gulzar, Dilip Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Vinod Khanna and Hridaynath Mangeshkar posed for a click at the music launch of Lekin. (Photo: Express Archive)

A voice like hers is the voice of a century that all our past and present generations have grown up on. She had become an everyday part of our family culture and in shaping collective musical rituals. Especially for those who grew up on radio and even after television made its way into our lives, her songs defined our personal listening habits and a nation-wide culture. Our day would start with her voice and end, too.

Whether it was during private moments such as a puja at home, or to liven up a dull afternoon or just to sit back and relax in the evening, the dominant voice in the background was always Lata ji’s. Also, be it any national festival like Holi, Eid or Diwali or family functions like wedding engagements or tying rakhi — hers was the voice of every celebration, in every language.

Modest, generous and very friendly. That was the kind of person she was. A legend who never carried any weight or ego. She was not conscious of who was bada ya chhota (big or small)… In her enthusiasm for creativity, she once told me, ‘I wish I could have done playback for Dilip saab (actor Dilip Kumar).” She was a great admirer of Dilip saab and Dilip saab too, always treated her like his own sister and that was the kind of spirit she embodied.

One entire century she has carried with her voice, another century will go in her memory.