Sangeeta Sudhaa Saara

Lata and Asha are undoubtedly the 2 divas of Hindi Film Music. Both of them equally accomplished and versatile! So when these two sing songs together, one can easily expect magic!! The first instance of this happened in 1951 for the movie Daman (I don't know what song it was). There were from then on, a series of songs, that they sang together that has left an indelible print on the mind of the listeners such as "Aplam.. chaplam.. chapalaayi re.. duniya ko chod tere gali.. aayi re aayi re .. aayi re", from the movie Kohinoor; "main chali main chali" from Padosan, "Ai kash kisi deewane ko" from Aaye din bahaar ke, etc.

Due to Asha's romantic life and Lata's comments on OP Nayyar and Asha, a chasm developed between them, and hopefully the time has healed it. It is said that those who like one another very much, are the ones whom we would hate the most if circumstances would change. This seems true in the case of Lata and Asha. I don't know if it did good to either of them, but we certainly lost some of the best possible female duets that they could have rendered!

One absolutely beautiful and melodious song is from the ever memorable movie "Utsav". Asha and Lata revel as if they were competing with eachother over who outperforms the other, and what we get, is a master piece of a song!! The song has been penned by VasantDev, won him the best lyricst film fare award in the year 1985. The music was composed by Lakshmikant Pyarelal. The song sets the mood for the archaic times, with not just its lyrics but also the music.

The lyrics flows thus:-

man kyon behekaa ree behekaa, aadhee raat ko
belaa mehekaa ree mehekaa, aadhee raat ko
kisane bansee bajaayee, aadhee raat ko
jisane palakee churaayee, aadhee raat ko

jhaanjar chamke sun chamke, aadhee raat ko
usko toko na roko, roko na toko, toko na roko, aadhee raat ko
laaj laage re laage, aadhee raat ko
denaa sindoor, ke su aadhee raat ko

baat kahate bani kyaa, aadhee raat ko
aankh kholegee baat aadhee raat ko
hum ne pee chandni, aadhee raat ko
chand aankhon mein aayaa, aadhee raat ko

raat gunti rahegi, aadhee baat ko
aadhee baaton ke peer, aadhee raat ko
baat puree ho kaise, aadhee raat ko
raat hoti shuru hai, aadhee raat ko