Evening with Lata’s timeless melodies

The musical programme, "Akash Pradeep Jale: A tribute to Lata Mangeshkar", organised by HSBC Bangladesh, was held at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka on April 1. The event was hosted by Tropa Majumdar. 

Lata Mangeshkar, known as the "Nightingale of India", passed away at the age of 92 on February 6, 2022. She was an Indian cultural icon and national treasure who made her name in Bollywood, providing the singing voice to lip-synching movie stars over the course of a career which spanned more than half a century. 

She boasted a back catalogue of thousands of songs spanning numerous genres and a total of 36 languages, including Bangla. The main purpose of the evening was to reminisce about some musical gems of India's Nightingale, both in Bangla and Hindi. 

The event was hosted by Tropa Majumdar. A memory wall exhibition, highlighting career achievements of the legendary singer, was on display at the programme. 

Notably, after the Liberation War of 1971, an Indian cultural delegation paid a visit to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family in Bangladesh. Among the delegation, Lata Mangeshkar was accompanied by actress Waheeda Rahman, a young Sanjay Dutt, and his father Sunil Dutt. 

An exhibition on Lata Mangeshkar’s life and work was on display.

India's High Commissioner-designate to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami was the special guest at "Akash Pradeep Jale: A tribute to Lata Mangeshkar". Energy Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and CEO of HSBC Bangladesh Md Mahbub ur Rahman also graced the evening with their presence. 

"Lata Mangeshkar proved that music has no language or country," said Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury. "She was one of the greatest playback singers of all time, and made an unparalleled contribution to her craft."

"Growing up, I saw my aunts and uncles waiting for new songs of Lata Mangeshkar, especially during Durga Puja. I used to think she was Bengali," smiled Mahbub ur Rahman. "To me, this event is a union of both the Bengals." 

"In celebrating Lata Mangeshkar's life and work, we recognise the fact that in 50 years of the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and India, Bollywood played a very important role. Artistes in India mustered and mobilised popular opinion in favour of the Liberation War of Bangladesh," expressed Vikram Doraiswami. 

Timeless songs of Lata Mangeshkar were performed by Sanzida Mahmood Nandita and Mohammed Rashed from Bangladesh, and popular young singer Anwesshaa from Kolkata during the evening. Anwesshaa from Kolkata performed at the programme.

Nandita first came into the limelight with "Bangladeshi Idol" in 2013. She has been charming the audience ever since –both as a singer and a presenter. Meanwhile, "Close up 1" star Rashed secured the sixth position in the contest in 2005, but his talent was recognised even earlier, when he became best vocalist at the Benson & Hedges Star Search 2003.

Anwesshaa made her presence felt in the Indian music scene at the age of 13 through the reality show "Amul STAR Voice of India, Chhote Ustaad". She was runner-up in the finals. 

She made her debut in commercial playback singing in a Hindi movie "Golmaal Returns"(2008) with the song, "Tha Karke".  Apart from Bollywood tracks, she also has Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada songs to her credit. 

Nandita performed the Bangla songs, "Ekbar Biday De Maa" and "O Mor Moyna Go". She was joined by Rashed for duets of "Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua", "Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandani", "Jo Wada Kiya Woh Nibhana Padega", and "Tere Bina Zindagi Se".

"I am performing in Bangladesh after two years, since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted many of our plans. It was quite disheartening. I have missed this country very much," shared Anwesshaa. "I am honoured to be singing Lata Ji's songs this evening. She has been an institution of commercial music for me." 

She mesmerised the audience with her performances of "Bujhbe Na Keu Bujhbe", "Ye Samaa Samaa Hai Pyar Ka", "Na Jiyaa Lage Na", "Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai", and "Aaj Mon Cheyeche Ami Hariye Jabo", among many other songs.