Latas Peak

The next three decades would see Lata Mangeshkar reign as the undisputed queen of the Hindi film song. She sang with almost all of the major music directors, and acquired a considerable clout in the politics of the film industry.It is pointless to try and enumerate the songs that she did; however, there are a few songs which stand out. In particular O Sajna Barkha Bahaar Aayee from Parakh (1960), Aaja re Pardesi from Madhumati (1958), Itna na Mujhse Tu Pyaar Badhaa from Chhaya (1961), Allah Tero Naam from Hum Dono (1961), Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh par from Junglee (1961), and Yeh Sama from Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), seem particularly notable.Lata also worked with most of the major music directors in this period. Her work with, both S.D. Burman and R.D. Burman were very fruitful. She also worked with, Shankar Jaikishan, Salil Chowdhury, Naushad and a host of others. It is often said that her best work came with her songs for Madan Mohan and C. Ramchandra. It is interesting to note that O.P. Nayyar was one of the few major music directors to not utilize her talents.

However Latas reign was not always a smooth one. There was the well known professional rivalry with her sister Asha Bhosle. For some years she would not sing with Mohd. Rafi due to a long standing dispute over royalties. For some years she would not work with the music director S.D. Burman. During the peak of her career, she had a tremendous political clout within the film industry and is known to have exercised this freely; this created ill will in many quarters.