Filmworld
Lata Mangeshkar mimicked at music award, industry baffled
By
Subhash K. JhaIt was day of deep shame for
many known faces of the Hindi music industry when melody Queen Lata
Mangeshkar was mimicked by a small-time female comedian at a music award
function. Singers like Alka Yagnik and composer Lalit Pandit said this
was no way to treat a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest
civilian award.
Sugandha Mishra, a regular on comedy shows, is
known for her imitation of the Melody Queen and she did it again at a
popular award function a few day back that was telecast on Sunday. She
mimicked Lata amongst many stalwarts including Javed Akhtar, Ila Arun,
Usha Uthup and Shankar Mahadevan.
However, it was Yagnik who
looked disturbed and shocked with the act. When this writer contacted
her, she sounded genuinely distressed at her idol being so ridiculed.
"I
didn't like it. It was not in good taste. And it went on and on. This
is what the music industry has come to, disrespecting their very own
Bharat Ratna. Lataji is a Goddess. Kam-se-kam unko toh baksh dena
ttha(spare her at least!). Shame on them," she said.
Adds Pandit:
"The whole music fraternity and the film industry loves Lataji to
death. I was surprised by the act when it was on. I didn't expect this
and I frankly feel it was overdone...Lata Didi is a Bharat Ratna and
nothing about her should be used for laughter."
While Lataji
refused to comment on the matter saying it's a free country and everyone
is entitled to entertain oneself and others in the way they feel, a
source very close to Lataji said: "They wanted to invite her to honour
her. When she couldn't attend they decided to make fun of her. This is
their way of honouring our most revered and adored singer."