Lataji had recalled her association with the legendary actress in a past interactio. She had said, “I remember one day she called and introduced herself. She wanted me to come and sing in her house. I declined saying I don’t sing for private functions. She never held that incident against me. She often used to land up at the recording studio for my songs. One day for a recording for Hemant Kumar I had washed my hair and left it open. Meena Kumari who was very proud of her hair, looked at my hair and exclaimed, ‘Kitne lambe baal hain aapke!’ I told her I had never cut my hair in my life. My voice used to match her to perfection. What an artiste and what a fine human being! During the making of Pakeezah (which went on for a good 20 years) Kamal Amrohi, who used to treat me like a daughter, invited me home for song rehearsals. Meena Kumari was practicing her steps for my songs in Pakeezah. Meena turned to me and said, ‘When you sing I don’t have to make any effort to act.’ I cherish that compliment. Sadhana had said something similar to me once. Meena Kumari often called to chat. She seemed very unhappy with her life. I met her at the Filmfare awards in 1968. She had became thin and pale. That year I had given up the awards, and she said, ‘It’s like the queen abdicating her throne.’ Later I came to know she was extremely ill. When I reached her place with flowers she looked very ill. She looked at me and said, ‘Allah, aap yahan aaye, main badi khush-kismat hoon.’ We chatted. She asked me for tea, though I sensed she was in no position to offer me anything except her warmth in that condition. She passed away a little later. And then Pakeezah became a legend. Meena Kumari was so ill she couldn’t dance for the film. But I cherish my songs for her in that film.”
Pakeezah had Lataji soaring to sublime heights in Chalte Chalte Yuhi Koi, Thare Rahiyo, Teere-e-Nazar, Inhi Logon Ne and Tanhai Sunaya Karti Hai (which was not used in the film). In Kamal Amrohi’s Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi, Lataji sang Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh for Meena Kumari to eternal fame.
One of the earliest films of Meena Kumari where Lataji lent her voice was the musical blockbuster Baiju Bawra where Naushad’s compositions Mohe Bhool Gaye Saanwariya and Bachpan Ki Mohabbat Ko lent a certain tragic grandeur to the immortal actress’ image right up to her final screen appearance where Lataji ghostvoiced the tragic evocative and melodious Aaj Toh Meri Hansi Udai Jaise Bhi Chaha Pukara in Sawan Kumar’s Gomti Ke Kinare.
The composer of the above gem was RD Burman and he got to compose for another one of Meena Kumari’s career-end films Chandan Ka Palna. It contained two of Lataji’s unheard contrasting gems Oh Ganga Maiyya and Sharaabi Sharaabi Mera Naam Ho Gaya.
In Bimal Roy’s Do Bigha Zamin, Meena Kumari appeared in just one song, the haunting lullaby Aa Ja Ri Aa Nindiya Tu Aa. She charged no money for that cameo but insisted that Lataji sing for her.
One of the finest music soundtracks of Meena Kumari’s career was Sachin Dev Burman’s Benazir in 1964, which contained irreplaceable gems like Husn Ki Bahare Liye, Baharon Ki Mehfil Suhani Rahegi, Mil Ja Re Jaan-e-jana and Alvida Jaane-e-wafaa, each more exquisite than the previous.
It would be no exaggeration to say Lataji gave voice to Meena Kumari’s abiding image of tragic grandeur.
