'We can dance to EDM, but Lataji's music makes us appreciate life’: Millennials

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passed away in Mumbai earlier today She captured the hearts of millions over her decadeslong illustrious career lsquoAayega Aanewalarsquo from lsquoMahalrsquo 1949 was among her first hits and she continued to enchant audiences with gems like lsquoLukka Chuppirsquo from lsquoRang De Basantirsquo 2006Mangeshkar inspired a generation of singers and her music meant varied things to peoplemdashyoung and old While some grew up listening to her others discovered her earlier songs via streaming applications as her songs vocalised the sea of emotions we all felt but couldnrsquot express Her demise feels like a personal loss to fans across the globe which is a testament to how deeply loved she was The simple truth is there arenrsquot many words that can do justice to the phenomenon that Lata Mangeshkar wasTributes have been pouring in all day as people who knew the singer and fans share their favourite memories of her Middaycom spoke to millennials who share their fondness of her music and the impact it has left on themApurva Pendharkar 28SingerMumbairesident Apurva Pendharkar a professional singer for over a decade grew up listening to Lata Mangeshkar since she was a child She says ldquoWe would start our day with her songs from the album lsquoDnyaneshwarirsquo As a little girl I remember listening to the lsquoDilwale Dulhania Le Jaayengersquo album and falling in love with the song lsquoMere Khwabon Mein Jo Aayersquo That was the exact moment when I knew with all certainty that music was for me and that I wanted to be like herrdquoShe adds ldquoThere has not been a single day when I have not heard her songs or a single gig where I havenrsquot sung one of her songs As a musician there is something new I get to learn each time I listen to her songs be it her pitchperfect notes the smoothness in her lsquolayarsquo or the expression in her voicerdquoAhona Chanda 22Content creator for Humans of CinemaAn ardent fan of cinema and music Ahona Chanda is a writer based in Kolkata Her fondness of the late singer is steeped in nostalgia and tied with memories of her grandfather ldquoAt around age seven my Grandpa and I started an adorable ritual of our own He would play a 70srsquo Hindi cinema cassette on his beloved player after dinner This was my introduction to the singers of his era singers who preceded my generation by a few decadesrdquoChanda paints a vivid picture of the memories in her head ldquoLata Mangeshkar Kishore Kumarmy grandfather on the chair by the window my little hands on the sides of his mammoth easy chair Words floating in the air ndash lsquotum agar jaao kabhi jaao kahin waqt se kehna zara woh theher jaayein wahirsquo I barely understood the gravity of the words but there was a yearning in that voice a heartbreaking beauty that not even a sevenyearold would miss Years passed and the ritual was lost to time On the day that I heard that Lata Mangeshkar has been hospitalised I felt a compelling nostalgia The singer formed such an important part of my childhood the time and space that I shared with my grandfather a man I love more than what I thought was possible If I speak of what her voice means to me it is a memory I treasure A voice so remarkably powerful that every time I listen to it I am taken back to the memory of my little hands on the easy chair With little hands I hold on to that timeldquo Abhay Arora 22Founder of thatmusicprojectAbhay Arora is a passionate music lover and runs lsquoThat Music Projectrsquo an Instagram page exploring narratives surrounding Bollywood and indie music ldquoHeaven is surely a very musical and melodious place now The one true nightingale of Bollywood Lata Mangeshkar will remain immortal in our hearts just like her song lsquoMera Saaya Saath Hogarsquordquo says the 22yearoldldquoI heard her for the first time back in 2006 when lsquoLukka Chuppirsquo from lsquoRang De Basantirsquo came out That song made me feel like listening to more of her music which eventually led me to discover a whole new world of old Hindi music Ive been listening to her for over a decade now I remember how her song lsquoBaahon Mein Chale Aaorsquo made my cheeks turn pink lsquoEk Pyaar ka Nagma Hai made me realise what life is actually about and lsquoLag Jaa Galersquo felt like falling in love Its truly an end of an era and I do not believe the void left by her can be filledrdquo says Arora Rishabh Pandit 24Founder of brown_versesRishabh Pandit is the admincuratortranslator behind brown_verses a platform which translates poetry from various South Asian languages intoEnglish ldquoLata jis is one of the first names anyone remembers when talking about music in Indian cinema regardless of which generation you belong to She was the only singer from the Golden Era of Bollywood whose singing millennials had the privilege of experiencing in movie theatres be it the memorable songs of lsquoVeerZararsquo or the iconic gem Lukka Chuppi from Rang De BasantildquoBeing raised in a family of music and poetry lovers allowed me to love and cherish her earlier songs throughout my growing up years Having experienced the loss of loved ones more than once in my life I have a special relationship with her song Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega and I cant listen to it without tearing up Her songs became an important part of our collective cultural existence and it wont be an understatement to say that the loss felt is not limited to any one generation of Indiansrdquo says PanditVijeta Singh 31 Marketing professionalPunebased Vijeta Singh grew up listening and dancing to Lata Mangeshkarrsquos music ldquoHer music is a vivid memory of the most joyful time from my childhood Most 90srsquo kids have grown up with their mothers listening to timeless songs like lsquoAjeeb Dastan Hai Yehrsquo while getting ready for school Her music takes me back to the most stressfree period of my lifeDescribing her music as a sort of a personal time capsule Singh adds ldquoNow that most of us have left our homes living a more individual life in different parts of the world Lata jirsquos music takes you back in time and reminds you of your roots Itrsquos not just music itrsquos an evergreen emotionrdquoSpeaking about the escapism of a tune that resonates she shares ldquoLata jirsquos songs are also the epitome of romance In the frivolous times that we live in where everything is almost temporary itrsquos important to be reminded of the crazy deepsunken love lsquoMere khwabon mein jo aayersquo will get any 90srsquo girl remember wanting to be that naiumlve Simran waiting for the love of her life Her music has a way of penetrating into you which isnrsquot common anymore We can dance all night to EDM but it is Lata Mangeshkarrsquos music that will make us sit back and appreciate life and people around usrdquoAlso ReadMeri Awaaz Hi Pehchan Hai Hindi songs that defined Lata Mangeshkar