A unique birthday gift for Lata Mangeshkar from Bhansali

Even at 82, Lata Mangeshkar continues to conquer new peaks…and hearts. Sanjay Leela Bhansali"s idea of recording one song in his new film Guzaarish in the Nightingale's voice has now turned into a full-fledged album.

That the self-proclaimed Lata Mangeshkar bhakt Sanjay Leela Bhansali (SLB) has turned into a music composer with Guzaarish. What no one knows, not even the people closest to the director, is that he has been secretly working on another album of songs created and composed specially exclusively and unconditionally for his muse.

And now when Asia"s Nightingale turns 82 on September 28th, SLB"s precious secret project will finally be given the attention, which he has been craving to give it for all these years.

Though SLB refuses to speak about his own personal ode to the Nightingale, a source close to the director says, “During the past one year Sanjay has been completely consumed by Guzaarish and its music. Having taken on the task of composing a full score for the first time, Sanjay had put his dream opus—the Lata Mangeshkar album—on the backburner. He now intends to go at it full-throttle. On her birthday, he will get to work seriously on his Lata Mangeshkar project."

Says SLB, “I know every nuance in her voice. She is a miracle of Nature. And there"s so much in her throat that is still untapped. I first thought I"d create just one song for her in Guzaarish. Then I thought, why one song when a whole ethos, era after era of supreme excellence is embodied in that voice?"

Not too many people know this. But Lataji"s golden throat is the starting point for all of SLB"s films. Guzaarish is inpired by one of Lataji"s imperishable melodies Hai tere saath meri wafaa mein nahin to kya , composed by Madan Mohan and written by Kaifi Azmi for the film Hindustan Ki Kasam.

Says SLB, “Lataji is far far more than a singer. She mirrors all the beauty of the soul. It is that beauty I want to capture in my songs."

Incidentally, Lataji has worked with other filmmakers who were closet composers, like Raj Khosla and Raj Kapoor. But never with a filmmaker who turned a music composer officially.

The music of Guzaarish which releases later this month will be dedicated to two of SLB"s icons composer Jaidev and of course Lata Mangeshkar.