Lata Mangeshkar – An Icon as I Perceive

A Lec-dem by Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam
(approx. 120 mins)

An NCPA Presentation

The contribution made by Lata Mangeshkar to the world of playback singing is indeed colossal. She is endowed with a unique ability to first internalise a composition and then render it with such perfection and élan, leaving the listeners absolutely speechless. Her delicate voice soaked in astounding tunefulness, coupled with immaculate intonation and total mastery over the breath transformed her rendition into a flawless work of art. Trained in Hindustani music from an early age, Kavita Krishnamurti Subramaniam is one of the most celebrated playback singers, who has recorded in numerous languages. Having a mellifluous voice with an amazing range, and an exceptional ability to interpret music, she has lent voice to heroines across ages in several award-winning films. Notable among various awards bestowed on her are: the ‘Lata Mangeshkar Award’, the Padma Shri and the three Filmfare Awards. Besides playback singing, she also collaborates with artistes from the field of jazz, popular and Western classical music. From her earliest days Subramaniam has regarded Mangeshkar as her guru. In fact, her first song in 1971 was a duet with the music icon for a Bengali film under the music direction of Hemant Kumar. Her tutelage under the prima donna continued as she began dubbing for the Melody Queen and singing her songs on stage along with stalwarts like Manna Dey, Hemant Kumar, Mukesh, and Talat Mahmood. In this lec-dem, Subramaniam will share her experiences and understanding of the legendary vocalist’s artistry. She will offer insights into the songs immortalised by the icon, which are a perfect embodiment of a natural soprano voice, expressive singing, and rich aesthetics.

Box Office now open.