A special day.. a day which adds another page of music in the book of our life.. the leap day! And for this special day, its bound that we do something special.. sitting down 'leaping with joy' while writing a post which is very close to my heart !!

I have mentioned this at a few places before, but can proudly reiterate it when I say that if there are any two voices that I have heard the most after my mother's voice they have to be of LATA MANGESHKAR and ASHA BHOSLE. I cant trace back my memory to the first day when I heard them, coz the time since when I held senses they were there to hold my hand and walk me through my life. They were there around when I was in the cradle, they had their existence embarked on my mother's lips when I was in her lap, they were my playmates when I was growing up, my adolescence was accompanied by the froth and frolic of their divine voices, the sad moments went by leaving me with soothing calmness when theses two voices came floating by. Not one moment of my life has been a non-witness of the magic of these two heavenly voices.

Today, I want to share my moments of extreme happiness and joy when these two musical oceans confluence. Its something inexplicable, beyond words of mere mortal like me to even start expressing about the innumerable twinkles of joy that flutter past me when two of the most perfect voices pitch up together. Hereby are 5 such songs, which make me go gaga over everything in life.. which make me realize the worth of my ears.. which make me feel blessed that I am honored to live in that era where two God-send voices dwell.

I faintly remember the first time I had heard Latadi and Ashatai together, it was this HMV cassette that me and my mother had bought titled 'Mann Bhavan Ke Ghar' featuring 11 of the Lata-Asha duets. (I further went on to hear 86 of the 87 songs Latadi and Ashatai have sung together and however the song, as I certainly believe that there could have been songs made which could have showcased their real talent as compared to what exists, and I have always had tears of immense joy in my eyes).. so reminiscing those days with my cassette and exploring the most loved topic for me in HFM once again.

1. जब जब तुम्हे भुलाया तुम और याद आये.. (जहाँ आरा - १९६४), राजेंद्र कृष्ण, मदन मोहन
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy4Ma4q9Ao4



This by far is the BEST Latasha song IMO. It is one of those songs which is just Perrrrrfect! Both Lata and Asha by 1964 had their own distinctive styles and they were in top gear in the best of their voices.
The adlib wherein Lata sounds like a dew drop in fresh misty air is supported by the crispy, chirpy voice of Asha. They match each other harkat for harkat.. and especially the antras when one line gives way to another in a ascending fashion and both of them making it sound as if its a cakewalk. Asha's 'Chhaye Rahe Nazar Mein..' is imprinted on our minds and hearts forever whereas Lata's evocative singing with impeccable voice modulations is heart-piercing.
Madan Mohan and his penchant Sitar is like the 'teesra ang' of this song. If the adlib is soft and precise, the interludes are clear and sharp. Rajendra Krishna as usual has made a song embedded with words that remain in memory forever. One of the only two songs, the Mangeshkar sisters recorded together as a song for Madan Mohan.. but remains my top favourite ever!!

2. क्या हुआ ये मुझे क्या हुआ.. (जिस देश में गंगा बहती हैं - १९६०), हसरत जयपुरी, शंकर-जयकिशन
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7INIgOHCb8


How much do I talk about the OUTSTANDING camaraderie between the two stupendous sisters ? This is chemistry !! This is what singing together is ! An exhibition of absolute flawless singing! No one would have enjoyed this song better than Latadi and Ashatai themselves ! They were on fire!
The way Latadi fades and Ashatai picks up and vice versa is just from some other planet! The 'murkis', 'harkats', 'nakhra' all this is so evident that you swirl and swing to the beat of this song! Latadi's subtle expressions and Ashatai's commanding taan's is a delight! The teasing, the naughtiness, the 'uchhal' in the voice is jaw-dropping! A fast-paced, rapid song yet extremely high on the expression quotient! The 'Aaye Hai', 'Oye Hoye', 'Chal Hat', 'Jhooth' is so cute that your heart melts !!!
Dont Miss Latadi's 'haye' at the end of the second stanza.. and Ashatai's lighting taan when she picks up behind Latadi in the third stanza.. uff!!
Shankar-Jaikishan were the first composers who used these sisters most prolifically in their initial days.. and what an output! The use of the Accordion, Piano and the huge orchestration makes the song delectable to the core! These two voices are the most complementing voices in the world. Gosh! I am already on a high.

3. मेहा आओ रे घिर घिर के छाओ रे.. (संगीत सम्राट तानसेन - १९६२), शैलेन्द्र, एस.एन.त्रिपाठी
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLiwzPf-Cn8


If you are looking for eternal bliss.. this is it! This is the genre of songs had these two singing sensations sung together more we would have had nothing but pearls dropping from every song. This singing is something that makes them Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle! The ease with which they fuse in each other, the fluidity in expanding Megh Malhar through the song, they ascend of the song is just picture perfect. This song literally grows on you.. it starts with Mannada's support and then at a point of time all hell breaks lose.. and then there is ecstasy, there is literally the 'barsaat of sur' from everywhere and we seamlessly get wet in the rain with drops of amrut dripping over us. The taans at the end shouldnt be expressed in words.. they should just be heard and get melted in.
S.N.Tripathi, though lost the race with time, won our hearts with many of his compositions and this one is the pinnacle of glory. A treat from to the human ear from Gods own voices!

4. मन क्यों बहका री बहका आधी रात को.. (उत्सव - १९८६), वसंत देव, लक्ष्मीकांत-प्यारेलाल
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Aysaoj8MTA

Soft.. Simple.. Serene.. Soothing.. this is one of those of songs which has no mood barriers.. you can listen to it absolutely whenever you wish to. It is one of those songs which makes you stop and take notice, and applaud! Latadi and Ashatai and the Ghatam.. that creates an ambiance which makes your face glow up with glee. Mid 80s, but the quality of music in this song is of the highest order in every note of the song. The way both Latadi and Ashatai have specifically pronounced the words in this song with an additional crispy touch to it is the spice of the song.
If they can sing intricate layakari, gayaki aang songs.. they can effortlessly merge in the soul of such soft melodious songs. The last stanza where there is no music, but just Lata.. makes you feel like listening to this song in a loop.. Asha's absolutely soft yet slightly sensuous singing gets the edge and the charm of the song.
Vasant Dev's cutesy lyrics and Laxmikant-Pyarelal's differently stylized, non-orchestral music shows their class.. a pick for any season!

5. ओ चाँद जहाँ वो जाए.. (शारदा - १९५७), राजेंद्र कृष्ण, सी.रामचंद्र
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpCl-aZ2kfs
..

and a song from THE era of music in HF! The era when absolutely nothing can go wrong in any form of music / singing / poetry.. and when we have a team of Lata-Asha-Rajendra Krishna-C.Ramachandra, things are bound to be beyond perfection. Lata in her mellifluous, melodic, mind-blowing avatar, Asha probably in her Sudhir Phadke hangover yet bang on.. this song is probably the most liked of the sister duets.. and rightly so!
Romance personified and when it is expatiated and elaborated by two most romantic voices, it is just a moment of closing your eyes and losing the trace of time, feeling nothing but a state of trance. Songs like this are made just once and then their mould is broken forever..


6. सखी री सुन बोले पपीहा उस पार.. (मिस मेरी - १९५७), राजेंद्र कृष्ण, हेमंत कुमार
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ams96ncdegY


7. मैं चली मैं चली देखो प्यार की गली.. (पड़ोसन - १९६८), राजेंद्र कृष्ण, आर.डी.बर्मन
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szFxM9KBNMA



8. अजी चले आओ तुम्हे आँखों ने दिल में बुलाया.. (हलाकू - १९५६), हसरत जयपुरी, शंकर-जयकिशन
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSd3vCeLGxc


9. थिरका बदन तो गीतों के धारे निकल गए.. (दमन और आग - १९७३), हसरत जयपुरी, शंकर-जयकिशन
http://mp3skull.com/mp3/badan_ke.html
(Third song in this link, YouTube had a nice link of it which is accidently removed)

10. लायी कहाँ ऐ ज़िंदगी.. (टैक्सी टैक्सी - १९७७), मजरूह सुल्तानपुरी, हेमंत भोसले
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMakSbL9qUI


I can go on and on on this topic forever, but as of now leaving you with the two voices who have become a part of our mere being.. an inseparable, nondetachable part affixed to the deepest crevices of our heart.. all that can be done is relished and lost in this mesmerizing storm of excellence in art and brilliance in expression.. Latadi and Ashatai.. hats off !! Thank you for making our lives, worth living !!