Some songs in life will make you cry bitterly, no matter how many times you listen to them. Luka Chuppi, from the film Rang De Basanti, is one such song.
In a rare viral video, Lata Mangeshkar, India’s Nightingale, invites us into the studio where she recorded the Luka Chuppi song from Rang De Basanti and immortalized it with her lovely voice.
Many people are unaware that Bharat Ratna and famous vocalist Lata Mangeshkar stood for 8 hours while recording the Rang De Basanti song Luka Chuppi. AR Rahman, the music composer, witnessed the legend in the studio. When Lataji sang the song, lyricist Prasoon Joshi was in tears.
A rare video of India’s Nightingale transports us inside the studio, where she recorded the song and immortalized it with her dulcet tones. Lataji appears to be fighting back the tears as she croons the emotive phrases while filming them in the video.
Rahman has an unforgettable time in the control room. It is one of two songs from Rang De Basanti nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In his eulogy to the brilliant artist, AR Rahman wrote, “Someone like Lataji is more than a vocalist or an icon. I believe she is a part of India’s spirit, a portion of its conscience.”
Her voice encompassed the story of India, its passions and its beliefs in many ways, and she did so eloquently and respectfully.
As a film, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s masterwork stirred up a storm of emotions, especially among the youth. The characters’ displeasure with the system was something that we could identify on some level.
Luka Chuppi was a song that depicted the life of a woman (Waheeda Rehman) who was grieving the death of her only child (R. Madhavan).
The words of Prasoon Joshi depicted an innocent love between a mother and a son, which is a shared experience. The emotional value, lyrics and melody help you relate to the specific sensation the song is attempting to portray far too powerfully.
While the mother waits for her son to return home, the son tells her that she should not be concerned about him because he has found a better home. Furthermore, the beautiful vocals of A.R. Rahman and Lata Mangeshkar added even more intensity to the song’s soul.
Even Lata Mangeshkar, we’re sure, imagined her mother while singing the song, causing her to cry.