Eminent writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar conferred with Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award in the attendance of Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Cultural Affairs Minister of Maharashtra Vinod Tawde on Thursday in Mumbai.
While addressing the event, Javed Akhtar stated that Lata Mangeshkar was instrumental in his career as a song writer.
Sharing an interesting anecdote. Javed Akhtar said, “Lata Mangeshkar was instrumental in my career as song writer and I realized this much later. I was earlier an script writer and I used to write script for Yash Chopra for his films like ‘Deewar’, ‘Trishul’, and ‘Kala Patthar’, so he told me to write songs for his another movie ‘Silsila’. I used write shayari’s at that time but never used to publish that and only 5-6 people around me used to know that and Yash Chopra was one of them but I refused his offer saying I don’t want to write songs for films and I am happy with script writing but he persuade me to write song for his film. I did all my efforts to upset him with my tantrums but it didn’t worked and I later realised that Saahir Ludhianvi wasn’t ready to write songs for his film so then Yash Chopra who was close to Lata Mangeshkar went to her to seek her advice, then Lata ji recommended my name to him saying her writer friend Padma often used to praise me for my nazms and ghazals so Lataji told Yash Chopra that he should get songs from me rather than anyone else , so that’s how I wrote the lyrics for my first film and see the destiny, first song of my life ‘Dekha Ek Khwab’ from ‘Silsila’ was sung by none other than Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar.”
Taking a funny jibe at modern generation’s songs and song writers, Javed Akhtar said, “Today, it’s not easy for a song writer to earn appreciation for his work because song writers are not giving us enough opportunity to do that. In our times. there used to be orchestra to give some rest to singer in between the song but now singers are there to give rest to orchestra.”
Now, in orchestrasation, percussions (Tabla and Drums) is much above the singer’s voice and you have to search for singer voice to listen to lyrics so when you are not able to listen to singer voice then its waste of time to analyze whether it has good lyrics or bad lyrics”
“Now, people say that attention span of audience has become shorter because it’s the generation of SMS and tweet so that has also came into music. Now days, tune is so fast that you are not able to gauge the word and in a way, I think it’s good that because the kind of words we used in today’s song , we can’t able to digest that”
“Songs are not just songs, they are reflection of that era’s values, faith and people’s nature and way of living through song’s tune, lyrics and voice. And that used to reflect amazingly in 1960s and 1970s. People often say that young generation like to listen song which are made in today’s time but then why kids sing song’s of Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh and Mohammad Rafi in musical contests on television rather than singing today’s songs? so I think it’s a false allegation of young generation and the truth is the people who controls this business thinks that way”
Praising Lata Mangeshkar and Mangeshkar family, Javed Akhtar said, “I have received many awards and recognition in my life but today I am not able to express my happiness that I am receiving Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award from Mangeshkar family itself. This award has outdone every award which I received in my life.”
“I am not fan of Lata ji; I am priest of Lata Mangeshkar. There is theory in world, that you cannot achieve perfection in your work, the better you work , the more you will be nearer to perfection but I feel they haven’t seen singing of Lata ji. Perfection is possible and it can be achieved . Lata mangeshkar is living example of that”
“You can’t think Indian music without mentioning Mangeshkar family. Indian music connect each Indian with each other and Lata ji played huge part in it. Because of personalities like Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar, an Indian feels proud being an Indian”.
