I want to sing with Amitji: Lata (Interview)

Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar has launched her music lable LM Music, which has already taken off in a big way. She says her immediate plans are to sing with Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bahchcan other than releasing a ghazal album and creating a platform for children who are seen on reality shows.

"I believe he (Big B) is keen to do 'shlokas' of Lord Tirupati with me. I'd love to do the project with him. I've spoken to him about it already," said the 83-year-old

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: What are your plans for your music company? I believe you will now be singing with Amitabh Bachchan?

A: Yes!I want to sing with Amitji for sure. We had come together for a duet - "Yeh kahan aa gye hum" in Yash Chopraji's film "Silsila". But we didn't record it together.

Q: What would you be recording with Bachchan?

A: I believe he is keen to do 'shlokas' of Lord Tirupati with me. I'd love to do the project with him. I've spoken to him about it already. He has also been kind enough to give the voiceover for an album of devotional songs by Suresh Wadkar released on our label.

Suresh had recorded the Kabir 'bhajans' many years ago, but never released the album. When I heard them, I thought they just needed some brushing up. That's where Bachchan saab's commentary came in.

Q: What are the other albums to be released on the LM Music label?

A: We've already released several spiritual albums, and a children's album by my sister Meena. In that album Meena's granddaughter has also sung...I've also released an album of devotional songs "Har Har Mahadev" with Shankar Mahadevan accompanying me.

Then there is an album of Buddha chants entitled "Buddham Sharman Gachchami" featuring 11 artists including Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, Pankaj Udhas, Anoop Jalota, my sister Asha Bhosle and me. This is the first time I've sung in Pali.

We also have classical vocalist Jeetendra Abhisheki's son Shounak singing Bhau Geet for the first time. Shounak's sister, who is my sister Meena's daughter-in-law, has also sung in that album.

Q: What has the feedback to your label been so far?

A: The feedback to my music label has been heartening. I completed 70 years of singing in 2012. I am deeply indebted to the people of India for liking my voice for so many years. What would I have been if it wasn't for the love of the people? It's my duty to give something back to the music industry now.

Q: What are your future plans for the label?

A: We've lots of plans. Usha is ready to record an album of 'garba' songs. I also want to record ghazals. I also want to record poems of Bachchan's saab's father Shri Harivansh Rai Bachchan, selected by Amitji. We're only starting out.

Q: Any plans for upcoming singers?

A: My ardent wish is to create a platform for these children who are seen on reality shows after which they vanish from the music scene. They are known only as long as the show lasts. We want to create our own music show where winners from these shows get a second chance. Those selected from our show can go on to record songs on our label. I feel their talent and hard work are getting lost.

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