‘Lata driving force of Rang De Basanti’

The sheer motivational power of Rang De Basanti, which completes 10 years on January 26, Rakeysh Mehra says, came from the people who helped him create the film. “The inspiration came from all the people involved in the making of RDB. The film belongs not just to me but everyone who believed in it. My wife Bharathi who edited the film, gave my thoughts a shape, A.R. Rahman whose music was a great source of inspiration and Aamir Khan who absolutely believed in the film.” But most of all, Mehra remembers Lat a Mangeshkar as the force that motivated the film.

“It was 2004 when we asked Lataji to sing the song Lukka Chuppi. We needed the voice of the Eternal Mother. It had to be her, and nobody else. When she finally agreed to do the song we were relieved and jubilant.”

Rakeysh continues, “She said she would like to come to Chennai and rehearse for the song. We were stunned. Lataji, the Bharat Ratna, the onewoman entertainment industry and the voice behind the most successful actresses, with her 60 years of singing experience, wanted to rehearse! I think that’s what motivated us the most.”

Rakeysh remembers every detail of the recording. “On August 11, 2004 she stood in Rahman’s studio and sang Lukka Chuppi for a recording of six hours. Can you imagine, Lataji at the age of 75, stood and sang for six uninterrupted hours! For a new director who was just starting out in life this was a hugely inspiring event. So yes, I’d say Lataji is the biggest force behind RDB.”