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Triveni Sangam of the Mangeshkar Sisters
Bharat is the land of gods, the land spiritual richness. There are a plethora of holy places across the country which people across generations have been revering and worshipping. A peculiar feature of the Hindu culture is the thematic sets of pilgrimage places, for example Dwadasha Jyotirlinga (twelve temples of Lord Shiva), Chaar Dhaam (four most holy places, viz. Badrinath, Dwaraka, Jagannath Puri and Rameswaram), Ashta Vinayaka (eight temples of Lord Ganesha in the state of Maharashtra) and the Triveni Sangam (the confluence of the three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati in Prayag Raj), which the people from Bharat have been holding in high reverence for umpteen years.
For the lovers of Indian music, particularly the Hindi film music, there is one such set of important pilgrimage places – the Pancha Mangeshkars (the five Mangeshkar siblings), all of whom have enriched the Indian music with their artistry.
Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, the flagships, need no introduction. Both of them conquered the kingdom of film music (and also the hearts of the music aficionados) through their vocal acrobatics and became the undisputed queens of Hindi film music – and will so remain forever. Hridaynath Mangeshkar, the youngest of the siblings is well-known for his offbeat compositions in Marathi, Hindi and Bangla. The repertoire of Usha Mangeshkar (the youngest of the sisters) comprises a great deal of Marathi, Hindi, Odia and Gujrati songs. Meena Mangeshkar (the second eldest sister, popularly known as Meena Khadikar), besides being a good singer, has displayed her acumen as an adept composer through many Marathi songs for children and quite a few Marathi film and non-film songs.
Just like the Triveni Sangam of the three holy rivers has been cleansing the people of Bharat of their sins and elevating them spiritually for centuries, would the Triveni Sangam of the Mangeshkar sisters not be pleasant and purging? Lata Mangeshkar – the elegantly flowing, deep and unfathomable Ganga, Usha Mangeshkar – a tributary of the Ganga (hers is a somewhat resembling voice and she has always devotedly followed Lata Mangeshkar), Asha Bhosle – the graciously flowing Yamuna and Meena Khadikar – an equally talented yet reclusive sibling, the Saraswati.
Come, let us take a few dips into this musically holy Triveni Sangam – a few songs rendered by any three of the Mangeshkar sisters.
1. Banno Ke Haath Bhari Mehendi (Chandni Chowk – 1954)
A wedding song composed by Roshan, written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Khadikar
2. Are Koi Jaao Re, Piya Ko Bulaao Re (Patrani – 1956)
A playful song composed by Shankar – Jaikishan, written by Shailendra and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Khadikar
3. Duniya Mein Hum Aaye Hain To Jeena Hi Padega (Mother India – 1957)
A heart rending yet motivating song from the classic film – composition by Naushad, lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni and voices by Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Khadikar
4. Jalwa Jo Tera Dekha Hum Ne (Gateway of India – 1957)
A qawwali by the ghazal maestro Madan Mohan, for which the lyrics are written by Rajinder Krishan and the voices are lent by Shamshad Begum besides three Mangeshkar sisters – Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Khadikar
5. Lo Chori Pakdi Gayi (Anjali – 1957)
A playful folksy song from the costume drama, composed by Jaidev, penned by Nyay Sharma and sung by Sudha Malhotra and three Mangeshkar sisters – Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Khadikar
6. Khile Hain Sakhi Aaj Phulwa Man Ke (Grahasti – 1963)
A frolicky songs in which two girls are teasing their friend who is about to get married – composed by Ravi, written by Shakeel Badayuni and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar. A funny fact to note about this song is the voices of the three sisters have been used randomly for the girls on the screen – Rajashree, Shubha Khote and Indrani Mukherjee.
7. Mubarak Hai Wo Dil (Benazeer – 1964)
A jocose song composed by Sacin Dev Burman, written by Shakeel Badayuni (a rare occasion where S.D. Burman joined hands with him, due to the demand of the story), and rendered by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar
8. Hamre Aangan Bagiya (Teen Bahuraniyan – 1968)
A composition by Kalyanji – Anandji, penned by Anand Bakshi and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar
9. Hum Jiyen Ya Maren (Harishchandra Taramati – 1970)
A song with a special touch by one more Mangeshkar –Hridaynath Mangeshkar (the composer), sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar, and written by Virendra Mishra
10. Dulhan Mayke Chali (Manoranjan – 1974)
A funny song sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar, composed by Rahul Dev Burman with lyrics by Anand Bakshi
11. Kisi Ne Prem Ka Amrit Chaakha (Raaste Pyar Ke – 1982)
Lyrics by Anand Bakshi, put to tune by Laxmikant Pyarelal, to which Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar have lent their voices.
12. Nanha Munna Aayega Mehmaan (Lav Kush – 1997)
A song from the costume drama, showing baby shower of Mata Seeta – composed by Ram Laxman, written by Dev Kohli and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar
I am sure, these dips into the Triveni Sangam would rejuvenate us and purge us from the aftereffects of the loud and tasteless music that has become all the rage in current times.
