The void left by Lata Mangeshkar on February 6, 2022, feels deeper today on her puṇyatithi. Known globally for Hindi classics, her Bhojpuri renditions from the 1960s equally deserve celebration. These tracks, rich in bhakti, love, and village life, showcase how she elevated a regional genre to artistic heights.
Kicking off with ‘He Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhibo,’ the soul of 1963’s groundbreaking film directed by Kundan Kumar. Amidst stars like Kumkum and Nazir Hussain, Lata’s prayerful vocals—music by Chitragupta, words by Shailendra—transformed a simple invocation into an enduring bhajan, symbolizing faith and resilience in Bhojpuri society.
Shifting to romance, ‘Laali Laali Hotwa Se Barse Lalaaiya’ from ‘Laagi Nahin Chute Ram’ drips with monsoon romance. The film’s narrative of devoted love gained immortality through Lata’s silken voice and Chitragupta’s rhythms, securing its place as a superhit that defined early Bhojpuri success.
The whimsical ‘Luk Chhip Badra Mein,’ also from ‘Ganga Maiya,’ delights with its cloudy hide-and-seek imagery. Lata’s nuanced expression turned this into a beloved track, with Shailendra’s clever lines and Chitragupta’s score fueling the film’s triumph.
No tribute is complete without ‘Umarriya Kailyi Tohre Naam,’ a heartfelt pledge of devotion widely regarded as her Bhojpuri initiation. Its emotional depth ensures replays at gatherings, proving Lata’s genius in conveying universal feelings through local dialects. These melodies bridged rural traditions with cinema, cementing her as Bhojpuri music’s eternal ambassador. On this day, they remind us of a voice that sweetened every tongue it touched.