I never listen to my songs: Lata Mangeshkar

Earlier this week, legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar celebrated her 91st birthday. After decades of ruling Bollywood and attaining an unmatched status in South Asia as a playback singer, Mangeshkar has now said in a recent interview that she can never listen to her own songs as she will find “a hundred mistakes” in them, reported Hindustan Times.

“Never! I never listen to my songs. If I did, I’d find a hundred mistakes in my singing. Even in the past, once I finished recording a song I was done with it,” Mangeshkar was quoted as saying.

Asked about her views on the notion that there can never be another like her, the singer said, “I have to disagree with you. There have been many talented singers before and after me. Yes, why not (comparable with me)? Noor Jehan, Shamshad Begum, Geeta Dutt before me, and my sister Asha were all extremely talented. Among the current voices, I like Alka Yagnik, Shreya Ghosal, and Sunidhi Chauhan.”

Adding on, Mangeshkar in all her humbleness stressed that without the fans she would’ve been, “nothing”. “I can’t believe I’ve been tolerated by music lovers for 75 years. Without their love and loyalty, I would be nothing. I’ve never allowed success to go to my head. I’ve seen many artistes fall because of their pride,” she said.

The singer also thanked God and her parents for her accomplishments. “I have persuaded myself to stay humble and grounded. God has been very kind to me. Even my substandard songs have been accepted by my listeners. The blessings of my parents and the love of my listeners are what has kept me going,” she said.

She also shared her advice for young singers stressing the importance of “originality”. “Be original. By all means, sing the evergreen songs by me and my colleagues. But after a point, the singer must seek and find his or her own song. If Asha (Bhosle) had not insisted on singing in her own style she would have remained in my shadow forever. She is the biggest example of how far individuality can take one’s talent to,” she said.

Among other things, the singer listed songs that she credits for making her career. “‘Aayega Aanewala in Mahal (1949) was the turning point in my career. Then I’d say Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya in Mughal-e-Azam. Audiences would throw coins on the screen when that song came on,” she said.

“There have been many important songs in my career. Too many to mention. I am very fond of my album  Meera Bhajans Chale Vahe Des for which my brother Hridaynath composed the music. And the album Sajda for which I teamed up with Jagjit Singh.”

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