Why Lata kept getting songs even in 2000s?

Lata Mangeshkar is legend and easily the biggest singer in history of Indian playback singing. She has had a long career with great unmatched success and countless hits and classics.

But I am curious why she kept getting work even after her voice began to sound off key, poor and unsuitable for younger actresses? She never reinvented nor changed herself nor does her voice have zing like Asha which helped the latter get success in Yayi re and Khallas songs in Rangeela and Company despite old age.

Why she kept getting songs in biggest films?

I personally feel she sounded horribly weak in Veer Zaara and her voice did not suit Preity at all.

I also feel she sounded too old and mature for Bhagyashree in MPK, Kajol in DDLJ, Madhuri in HAHK and DTPH, Sridevi in Chandni, Ash in Mohabbatein and often her voice did not suit male singers like Udit Narayan, SPB who sounded way younger than her and those songs hardly had even chemistry between singers the way say, Alka has with Udit and Shreya has with Sonu.

Of course those films I listed are all super hits and their music is also super successful.

But I never understood how and why Lata kept getting work in top films when she was indeed sounding old and her voice no longer had same quality as it had in 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s nor her voice gelled well with younger male singers or suited younger heroines.

She sounded suitable for Jaya in K3G. But I do not think her voice suited younger actresses from post mid 80s era.

When she sang for Nutan it seemed believable. But not for Preity. I was distracted by her voice when I watched any song from Veer Zaara.

I am surprised how she kept getting work even her voice no longer had that magic. I do not doubt her quality of singing and her understanding of sur taal leh.

But voice quality had long changed for worse.

Is it only due to goodwill that she keeps getting work till date? I feel her assignments reduced only from 2010s when she started keeping ill health.

Is she an overused legend? I am surprised how her songs became super hits even when her voice sounded way older for heroines she sang for. I mean I personally preferred Alka singing for Juhi in QSQT compared to Lata singing for her in Darr. Alka's voice suited young Juhi better than Lata. I love that song 'Kabhi tu chhalia lagta hai' from Patthar ke Phool but I feel somehow, Lata's voice did not suit Raveena who was a newcomer then. Lata sounded too mature for a naive, awkward, newbie like young Raveena then IMO.

Given how Alka, Kavita, Hema Sardesai, Sadhana Sargam, Anuradha, Madhushree etc were slowly booted out of industry and stopped getting big films and songs after a certain age or were told they sound 'old', I have not seen Lata being phased out so soon in career/age the same way. I am surprised why...is it pure talent or goodwill in industry or people do like her songs no matter how old or at times offkey she sounds and whether her voice suits young heroine or not?

I liked her voice in those songs that you mentioned. *shrug*

I don't like her singing...Too shrill and screechy. At least in the songs you mentioned ....with age her voice got less screechy.

Because, even with the age deterioration, she was better than the rest.

More or less yes since 2010s. But she did bring out a bhajan album few years ago if I am not mistaken. And sang Gayatri mantra at Ambani's kid's wedding. She keeps busy with her hospitals and other foundations by her family. She has cut down on playback singing now. Last year I guess it was reported she had health issues and was hospitalised.

She is somewhat slowed down and semi retired now.

alka is in same phase after 2009 what lata was in 90s....alka song agar tum saath ho is a quite thick voice she along with kumar sanu lost the voices .... and also songs type of anuradha or alka is now rare in bollywood , infact sunidhi chuhan who is very much today freindly voice is not much used these days forget alka or anuradha

Alka began getting less work in 2000s itself and especially after Shreya and Sunidhi appeared on scene. I do not remember a single big film using her voice after KANK in 2006.

Alka began to get sidelined sooner and at a younger age than Lata who began to get sidelined only in middle age. Otherwise Lata reigned at top from 1940s to 1980s. Unchallenged monopoly and reign at top.

That may have held true in 90s but certainly she did not sound better than the rest in Veer Zaara which is probably one of her weakest works. I do not hold it against her because age has its impact but I am surprised makers gave her all songs in such a biggie film when her voice did not suit the heroine nor sounded as good as it did earlier. I feel Yash Chopra considered her his lucky charm and had deep regard for her which is why he kept using her voice in almost all his life and the YRF logo intro also has her vocals.

Originally posted by: atominis

Alka began getting less work in 2000s itself and especially after Shreya and Sunidhi appeared on scene. I do not remember a single big film using her voice after KANK in 2006.

Alka began to get sidelined sooner and at a younger age than Lata who began to get sidelined only in middle age. Otherwise Lata reigned at top from 1940s to 1980s. Unchallenged monopoly and reign at top.

its different time, bollywood music got changed with time with my fav song from 2009 how can i expect alka to sing this the way shreya did it,,, Similarly Udit Narayan being young in mid 2000 was sidelined because music got a bit westernised and now all those singers who seen the peak in 2000 like sonu or kk got sidelined because alot more changed happened to music and it became more foot tapping more than Chiggy Wiggy 😃

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V056WNg3ECo

It's probably the reputation she had. For most composer it was a dream to work with her.Alka was replaced around 2005 till that point she was quite dominant. It was also easier to move towards newer singers since they were very talented. Udit and Sonu Nigam dominated till mid 2000's after this they got replaced. 2010's had far more label interference and so after 2013 most singers work reduced and the music industry went downhill.