Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon...Long Live Our Indian Army...Our Lata Mangeshkar's Song!

I read this message in twitter just now and lo, it triggered my memories in an FF mode!

1963 :: Lata Mangeshkar sings “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” in Ramlila Maidan as Nehru Looks on , Delhi.

I started looking for the song in 'you tube' and came across this treasure instead, which I had been looking for the past many years, the recording of Lata Mangeshkar's 1974 concert at the Royal Albert Hall! 

But first let us hear this song, with beautiful lyrics by Kavi Pradeep and music by Shri C.Ramachandra for the film, 'Haqueekat'. The wikipedia link gives the details of this song.  "Those who don't feel inspired by 'Aye mere watan ke logo' doesn't deserve to be called a Hindustani", said Nehru, who was visibly moved by the song. The song received rave appreciation from across the country."



Whenever I hear this song, my eyes well up with tears.  Same thing happened now.  Took sometime to see properly.  Did you notice the many VIPs standing with Lata on the dais and the crowd standing throughout the song rendition.  This is the true patriotic song.

As you know, I and my family are music lovers, esp. of Hindi old film songs.  My children grew up hearing these songs.  In the mid 70's audio cassettes were famous.  Even music systems were not a household gadget.  We had a car radio (!) cum recorder cum player.  I used to play cassettes when I was not hearing music in the radio.  My son used to love Kishore Kumar's songs and Lata's songs, though Kishore came first! He was very small during these conversations which I and my family still remember... He used to tap the light switch on, standing on the dining table and treating it as a phone used to 'speak' to Kishore.  'Hello, how are you?'...When my cousin came home from Bombay, he asked her if she had met Kishore Kumar because he knew that Kishore lived in Bombay! She became his favourite aunt, thanks to Kishore! Sorry, I am diverting from the main subject!

We had a cassette with songs of Lata.  It was on 'replay' mode most of the time. When the tape broke, I used to paste it together and play again...it was possible then! I could not get a new one since it was not available. Even this was recorded from a recording shop, which was prominent in those days. It was the recording of a 1974 concert of Lata Mangeshkar at the famous Royal Albert Hall, London.  One Mr.Silverman, MP, London, speaks about Lata.  I love the way he pronounces Lata's name and then Dilip Kumar's urdu mixed Hindi, praising Lata. He has got a deep voice.

This you tube link also details the importance of this famous hall and the importance of this concert.  Excerpts:

Album liner notes:

The 103-year-old Royal Albert Hall in London -- Britain's most prestigious auditorium with a seating capacity for 6000 -- witnessed a musical phenomenon unequalled in its hallowed history when the inimitable Lata Mangeshkar made her international "debut" on its august stage with a series of three concerts in the aid of the Nehru Memorial Project in Britain in March 1974.

Seldom, indeed, has the hall been booked for a single recitalist three times in one week. What, however, made the event equally unique was to have the hall packed by an oriental artiste for all three nights -- and something more. For even after the intermission on the final night (March 14), there still were crowds willing to pay double the highest price for admission to the hall!

Inside the hall, Lata, the cynosure of all eyes, received a big ovation as Dilip Kumar -- one of India's top-notch film stars, who was also specially invited by The India League, sponsors of the Memorial Project -- introduced her at every concert as his "little sister" and as "a singer with the voice that defied description and definition".

Tribute after tribute, as also bouquets galore, came to Lata from many eminent personalities of England and India.

Then amid the ideal setting that matched her many-splendoured talent, Lata sang her songs with a seraphic impulse. She could demand and obtain the spontaneous surrender of her 18000 and odd listeners -- and sent them home with gladdened hearts and nostalgic memories.

That is at once the singular distinction of the one and only Lata Mangeshkar..."the undisputed melody queen of India"..."the pint-sized bundle of musical genius"... "a singer with a moonlight in her throat"... "a legend in her lifetime"...



Each and every song here in this link, is a gem.  I tried for an adio CD for a long time now at Landmark and Odessey but couldn't get it.  Thank god, I got it now!  Now, you enjoy!