“Ravindra Jain was a storehouse of talent & jokes” – Lata Mangeshkar

By Subhash K. Jha -

October 12, 2015 - 11:02 AM IST

The Melody Queen did not sing that many songs for Ravindra Jain. His fixation on the voice of Hemlata was well known. But whatever Lataji sang for Jain was of an exceptional

“Ravindra Jain was a storehouse of talent & jokes” – Lata Mangeshkar

quality.

Recalling her association with the composer she said, "He was very clear in his mind about what he wanted and wouldn't budge from his viewpoint. I think the first song I sang for him was the

beautiful melody 'Tera Mera Saath Rahe' from Saudagar. We started our professional association on a note of dissent during the recording of this song. It was composed at an impossibly

high scale for a female singer. I remember when Shankar-Jaikishan had given me 'Ajee Roothkar Ab Kahaan Jayeyiga' in Arzoo I was appalled by the high notes. 'Yeh aap kiss baat ka

badla le rahen hain mujhse?' I asked them. Some such thought passed through my head when I heard Ravindraji's song 'Tera Mera Saath Rahe'. But he was firm. 'Nahin nahin, aap se ho jayega,'

he insisted. I did manage and the song turned out beautifully."

This was the beginning of an association that culminated in the songs of Raj Kapoor's Ram Teri Ganga Maili.

Raj Kapoor heard Jain singing the divine 'Ek Radha Ek Meera' at a public performance. He immediately got up from his seat walked up to the dais and gave Jain a token currency note saying,

"This song is mine. You will be doing the music of my next film."

Says Lataji, "Raj Saab was very excited that Daadu-that's what Ravindra Jainji was called by everyone-would be doing the score for Ram Teri Ganga Maili. And what beautiful melodies I got to

sing in this film! There was 'Ek Radha Ek Meera', then the film's title song and 'Tujhe Bulaye Yeh Meri Baahein'...wah. After Ram Teri Ganga Maili Raj Saab again signed

Ravindraji for Henna. Sadly Raj Saab passed away after we recorded two of the songs. One of the songs 'Baaju Mein Woh Hai Baaju Mein Tum Ho' was a typical Raj Kapoor song. But when

Raj Saab's son Randhir took over Henna he dropped that song. I was very pained by that."

The other Ravindra Jain composition 'Chitthiye' that Raj Kapoor recorded for Henna before passing away has a history.

Says Lataji, "Raj Saab told me I have to express the sentiments of both the Pakistani and Indian beloveds, played by Zeba Bakhtiar and Ashwini Bhave. It was a challenge. I remember many people

including singer Suresh Wadekar came to hear me record that song."

Lataji recalls Ravindra Jain as a happy and talented man. "I may not have sung too many of his songs. But look at the melodies he created in Chit Chor like 'Tu Jo Mere Sur Mein', 'Jab

Deep Jale Aana' and 'Gori Tera Gaon Bada Pyara'. He was jovial and warm man. Whenever he called he would insist we meet either at his home or at my place. He told really funny jokes.

When I heard he fell ill suddenly I called up his wife. I wanted to go and see him. But everything happened so suddenly."

Moist eyed Lataji says, "On my last birthday he had posted really lovely wishes for me on twitter. I'll always treasure those words."