Kolkata:
Recalling younger days of cherished relationships with legendary Bengali musicians, singing sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle feel sorry to have lost touch with the Bengali language.
"I have sung many songs in Bengali with Salilda (Salil Chowdhury) and Hemantda (Hemanta Mukherjee). But now I can't speak much in Bengali. I have lost touch with Bengali after
their death," Lata said.
"Since my first Bengali song 'Na jeyo na', Salilda always used to tell me that I should speak in Bengali instead of Hindi. Till they were here, I could speak Bengali well. But now, I have no one to speak to in Bengali and I am sorry for that," the 81-year-old 'Bharat Ratna' said.
"The language is very good, very sweet. I like it very much," she said pointing out that after Hindi, she has sung the highest number of songs in Bengali.
Asha, her equally-talented younger sister, known for her wide repertoire, fumbled while trying to speak in Bengali at a musical function organised by the Indo-Occidental Symbiosis.
"Till Burman sahab (R D Burman) was here, we used to even fight in Bengali. But now, we have no one to talk to in Bengali. I am slowly forgetting it. I should visit Kolkata more often and improve it," the 77-year-old said.
R D Burman, whom Asha was married to, had made her sing hits in Bengali like 'Mohuyae jomechhe aaj mou go', 'Baanshi sune ki ghore thaka jaye', 'Sondhya belae tumi aami' and 'Aaj gun gungun gunje amar'.
Their younger brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar, also a musician, had made musical genius Salil Chowdhury his guru.
"I have followed him all my life. I have learnt so much from him and been influenced by him," he said.
His daughter Radha, who recently debuted as a vocalist with a Marathi album, said she would learn the language if given an opportunity.
"When I am given the opportunity to sing Bengali songs, I will first learn the language," she said.
"I have sung many songs in Bengali with Salilda (Salil Chowdhury) and Hemantda (Hemanta Mukherjee). But now I can't speak much in Bengali. I have lost touch with Bengali after
their death," Lata said.
"Since my first Bengali song 'Na jeyo na', Salilda always used to tell me that I should speak in Bengali instead of Hindi. Till they were here, I could speak Bengali well. But now, I have no one to speak to in Bengali and I am sorry for that," the 81-year-old 'Bharat Ratna' said.
"The language is very good, very sweet. I like it very much," she said pointing out that after Hindi, she has sung the highest number of songs in Bengali.
Asha, her equally-talented younger sister, known for her wide repertoire, fumbled while trying to speak in Bengali at a musical function organised by the Indo-Occidental Symbiosis.
"Till Burman sahab (R D Burman) was here, we used to even fight in Bengali. But now, we have no one to talk to in Bengali. I am slowly forgetting it. I should visit Kolkata more often and improve it," the 77-year-old said.
R D Burman, whom Asha was married to, had made her sing hits in Bengali like 'Mohuyae jomechhe aaj mou go', 'Baanshi sune ki ghore thaka jaye', 'Sondhya belae tumi aami' and 'Aaj gun gungun gunje amar'.
Their younger brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar, also a musician, had made musical genius Salil Chowdhury his guru.
"I have followed him all my life. I have learnt so much from him and been influenced by him," he said.
His daughter Radha, who recently debuted as a vocalist with a Marathi album, said she would learn the language if given an opportunity.
"When I am given the opportunity to sing Bengali songs, I will first learn the language," she said.
