'Lata Mangeshkar is the Indira Gandhi of film music'

Congress(I)The power struggles, intra-party squabbles and cockfights in the Congress(I) (February 16-28) are well-tailored developments for opposition parties to hit back at the Congress (I), and particularly Mrs Gandhi, who lost no opportunity to dub the Janata regime akhichri government. The hope of early 1980 - that the Congress(I) would provide a strong and stable government - turned out to be yet another damp squib.Kansur, Dr G. N. SharmaThe cover story (February 16-28) brilliantly unshrouded the network of cracks that wrinkles the powerful Congress (I) hand and clearly showed a linkage of disastrous events that might lead to the premature downfall of the ruling party from the lofty pedestal of power. The prime minister would do well now to focus all her strength and attention on the job of healing intra-party rifts and maintaining the unity of her party. For, the nation can ill-afford another round of "mid-term musical chairs" on its political playground. Bombay, Rajesh JoshiAnnoyedThe story of Munni Bai's sudden and unceremonious expulsion from the temple in Ujjain (February 16-28), leaves me with a feeling of acute annoyance at the attitude of the Navyuvak Janseva Samiti. Why are there always present a collection of powerful brigands ready to thwart the attempts of an individual struggling to rise above her circumstances, especially when she is neither seeking sympathy nor depending on the people around her for her upliftment.This story of mindless persecution is old. What is of major concern however, is that though the liberation of women is sought aggressively in international forums, where are its so-called vassals when liberation is needed the most? Bangalore, Manjushree MukerjeeJoint VenturesI liked Sam Rajappa's "A Record Tarnished" (February 1-15). He has shown how some joint ventures were initiated with close family members holding top jobs. Now is the time to select people on merit for top jobs to make joint ventures a sucess. Riyadh, Maxim SaldhanaThe Lata StoryIs there not a single man in the film industry who has the guts to introduce and build up a fresh new female singer as a challenge to Lata's dictatorship (February 1-15)? But unfortunately there is going to be no one and this monotonous female voice is going to continue its strangehold on Hindi film till the singer is 90 years old. Trivandrum, P. Sundar NairFrom the interview of Lata Mangeshkar it is obvious that she is the Indira Gandhi of film music. Like Mrs Gandhi it is also her ambition to reign supreme throughout her life.Hoshiarpur, Sharda KaushikThe write-up and selection of photographs for the Lata Mangeshkar story betrays a half-hearted effort. The interview was cryptic and sketchy. The correspondent's allegation about Lata's victims is adequately answered by her emphatic reply. But I presume her charge of lack of talent doesn't extend at least to Vani Jairam, Runa Laila and Chitra Singh among female singers. New Delhi, Lata AdvaniWhen Lata states that no one has talent among the newcomers, she is conveniently forgetting her own story. Masters like Naushad, Gulam Haider took a lot of pains to train Lata and especially Husanlal, who really 'made' Lata. Lata herself admits that she needed 32 takes to record a song in Majboor. If half, or even 10 per cent of that care and attention is given to newcomers of today by our "composing machines" a second line of new singers would have been ready to take over from Lata. What we need is music directors who have got backbone and originality and a power to accept newcomers. Trivandrum, T.R. Ramadasan May be she (Lata Mangeshkar) is right, no one has talent, including herself. Let's toast the untalented.Kerala, K.G. JayaprakasanAfter carefully studying the Lata Mangeshkar write-up, one has enough reason to believe that she is rather intolerant to her rivals. Alas if only the range of her heart had been as wide as that of her voice! Gujarat, Jasvant Smh B. Sarvaiya During a visit to the USA many years ago, I met a Pakistani who said: "You give us Lata Mangeshkar and we will give you the whole of Kashmir."Bombay, P.K. SrivastavaThe only other person, except for our present prime minister, who has stirred mass hysteria is Lata Mangeshkar. Jawaharlal Nehru had aptly described her as "our India-based cultural ambassador". Even though our government has not felicitated her with a 'Bharat Ratna', she is certainly an invaluable gem of Bharat.Solapur, Anand R. DeshpandeWith reference to your cover story on Lata Mangeshkar. For your information VU (volume-units) meter measures volume, and not pitch as you had incorrectly stated. Whom are you kidding with pseudo technology?Tamil Nadu, G. ParthasarathyCourt TransfersThe transfer of High Court judges and chief justices is in consonance with the letter and spirit of the Constitution. The judges should come out of their ivory towers and accept the present day challenges. Patiala Sat Pal Sharma The article brings out a one-sided tug of war between the South Block and the Supreme Court. The result is certain - the executive will have the upper hand.Bombay, P.B. SamantA Correct DecisionYour correspondent's write-up on the students unrest in JNU (February 1-15) makes one wonder just how far the 'students' as an integrated body were involved. Rajan G. James appears to have no leadership potential as he unsuccessfully contested elections to the JNU Students' Union five times and his protest behoves of a cheap publicity gimmick. The decision to expel him from the University was befitting the dignity of the institution. Allahabad, Rachna MisraNot SatisfyingYour "Wings over the Water" (Photo Feature, January 16-31) was pathetic. Of the seven-odd photographs from Bharatpur, not one bird was anything that can't be picked up over the Jamuna in Delhi. Meghalaya, N. PrasadAngry FarmersYour cover story (January 16-31) on "The Angry Farmer" is a comprehensive account of India's rural population. It would be wrong to say that the farmers' movement is limited to the rural elite or the so-called capitalist farmers. The Indian peasantry is up in arms because of intense economic pressure. Himachal Pradesh, H.S. ChandelUPSEB's AffairsIn your report on upseb "Riddled with Corruption" (January 1-15), there are a few things we'd like to bring to your notice. You have stated that 22,525 transformers were accepted a few years ago without conducting the impulse and temperature rise tests. Please note that these are type tests and are conducted only on one transformer of a particular rating and the buyer has to pay extra for the tests. However if the transformers under supply are identical to the ones already supplied, the purchaser generally waives these tests.Secondly, on the same page you have mentioned that two firms were awarded contracts for repair of power transformers at the cost of Rs 1.45 lakh, while a new one was bought by the Board at Rs 1.30 lakh. The Board has fixed a limit for getting the transformers repaired. Accordingly, the cost of a repaired transformer should not exceed 60 per cent of the cost of a new transformer of the same rating. Meerut, Ami Chand JainFiring In SamastipurYour article 'The Brutalised Prisoners' (January 16-31) was a contradiction in terms. The headline itself denotes undue force being used by the authorities on the innocent, which isn't the case. If any of these inmates had escaped, and he was a rapist, or a homicidal case, would your journalistic sensationalism have safe-guarded the population of the vicinity from further crimes'? Bombay, J.T. MistriPublished By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 26, 2013 13:17 IST--- ENDS ---

Download App

Get 37% off on an annual Print +Digital subscription of India Today Magazine

'Lata Mangeshkar is the Indira Gandhi of film music'

"The story of Munni Bai's sudden and unceremonious expulsion from the temple in Ujjain, leaves me with a feeling of acute annoyance at the attitude of the Navyuvak Janseva Samiti."

PUBLICATIONS

TELEVISION

EVENTS

RADIO

GAMING

USEFUL LINKS

PRINTING

WELFARE

DISTRIBUTION

SYNDICATIONS

WEBSITES

EDUCATION