On Stage with Lata by Mohan Deora

Author:Mohan Deora
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: null
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India
Published: 2017-04-04T04:00:00+00:00

6

A Promise Fulfilled: 1980–83

Mukeshji would often tell Lataji that one day he would take her to Guyana and the Caribbean islands. ‘Wahan ke log aap ki pooja karte hain aur aap ko sun ne ke liye taras rahe hain.’ (People there worship you and long to hear you sing.)

Lataji decided to honour Mukeshji’s wish. And so I got working. I made several trips to the West Indies and finally managed to schedule a concert tour in 1980. This time Nitin Mukesh would accompany Lataji. This was the announcement I made: ‘Friends, it is with great pleasure that I bring you news of Miss Mangeshkar’s forthcoming tour. India’s nightingale, the incredible Lataji, is coming to Guyana. Many individuals have helped in this endeavour, and I am personally grateful to Guyana’s government officials who have made the tour possible. Let me assure you that Lataji is looking forward to being here amongst you, and is touched by the love, respect and regard that the Guyanese people hold in their hearts for her.’

All the arrangements were made for our arrival. We were to fly from Toronto to Trinidad. We checked in and got busy shopping duty-free. The boarding had begun and some of our team had boarded the flight, but many, including Lataji and I, failed to hear the final call and the worst happened: we missed the flight.

There was a group of us and by now we were absolutely frantic. Our bags had been checked-in and we had no clothes or personal belongings. We were stranded in Toronto. Somehow we made our way to a nearby motel where we stayed the night. To add to our woes, the next flight to Trinidad was via New York, and as luck would have it, Lataji’s American visa had expired. So, she needed a transit visa.

We made our way to the US consulate in Toronto, hoping we could persuade them to give us a visa, which was not usually an easy task. We filled out the visa application and when we were called in for the personal interview, something amazing happened. The American consul general welcomed us into her office and greeted us with a ‘namaste’. I have no words to describe what went through my mind. She then continued addressing me in impeccable Hindi, ‘Yeh Lata Mangeshkarji hai na?’ (This is Lata Mangeshkar, isn’t she?) I blurted out a yes. ‘Inke gaane sun kar maine Hindi sikhi hai, kya mujhe inka autograph mil sakta hai?’ (I have learned Hindi by listening to her songs. Do you think she might give me an autograph?)

What a turn of events. It made me think how little we knew of the widespread, and largely undocumented, impact of Hindi films in those days. Some years later, one heard stories of Indians making friends with people of vastly different cultures all around the world because of a common love for Hindi films or film songs. Even in the remotest corners of the world, the songs of Lataji, Rafi Saab or

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