Lata Mangeshkar has recently made a controversial announcement about a letter written by Mohammad Rafi which could have hurt the pride of his fans but it did more damage to his son who demanded an apology in the next 10 days. The Songstress of the nation Lata Mangeshkar who would turn 83 day after tomorrow has alleged that she was the one who has rejected to sing with Mohammad Rafi contrary to the well know tale. She has agreed to sing by his side after Mohammad Rafi himself had written her a letter to placate her, Lata said. The late singer's son, Shahid Rafi in a press conference today was irked after defamation directed at his father. He has vowed to take legal action until and unless Lataji retracted her statement and apologize for the same within 10 days.
He contended why Lata could not show the letter as proof of what his father wrote to her to placate her. He said, “My father was national property. I am hurt and so are his fans. His fan following is much bigger than any other artist. If she can prove that my father had written an apology letter to her, then I am ready to apologise. But the main thing is that she should come forward and produce that letter. All I want is that the truth should come out,” talking to the reporters in the press conference.
He added that Lata Mangeshkar was intimidated with the large fanbase his father had even after his demise. "I think this is a publicity stunt as she is insecure with the huge fan following my father has, even after his death," he said.
However he had not bothered to call Lata Mangeshkar prior to the press meet saying that she was always busy when he called her earlier.
Yesterday, speaking to Mumbai Mirror Lataji mentioned that they always had issues over royalties. She also mentioned that it was she who denied singing with him and not the other way around as he proclaimed publicly in a meeting amongst singers back then. She went on to add that she was placated after an apology letter from Rafi Saab. "I got the letter and ended the cold war. But whenever I'd see him, the hurt would return," Lataji told Mumbai Mirror.
He alleded that Lataji requested composer Jaikishen to mediate on her behalf because she felt insecure that Rafisaab had begun singing duets with Suman Kalyanpur. Shahid Rafi said, "If that is the case, let her show the letter. My father passed away about 25 years ago, and now she is talking about this letter? People keep valuable documents for even fifty years. Why hasn't she retained the paper which would give her dignity?"
It is well known that Rafi and Lataji were both highly revered for their duets like Chalo Dildar Chalo from Pakeezah, Dil Pukare from Jewel Thief and Teri Bindiya Re from Abhimaan.
This is not the first of its kind fued with a musician in Lata's life. Earlier she had stopped speaking to S D Burman for few years after he has claimed to build her career until R D Burman, the son has made amends to the cold war.
(AW- Anil)
