Lata Mangeshkar: Birthday celebrations are for kids

On her birthday Lata Mangeshkar who turned 87 spoke exclusively to a daily, on her life, career and her feelings on Bollywood now. She admitted that she has never really celebrated birthdays because she is old now and feels that one year has gone from her life. She says, "I started working at 13 because I had four sisters and brother to look after. In those days when I started off as a singer, I used to travel alone by train everywhere and come home late at night.But I felt good about singing in those days and working with Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, SD Burman. Now I have reduced my work and mostly stick to devotional songs."
Lataji denies that she would want a biopic to be made on her life. She says, "It is not necessary that you meet only good people in life and in the biopic when they talk about the bad people in my life, I am afraid people will say that now they are not there and still you are involving in such mud-slinging, especially with those who have passed away. So I would not want to have a biopic on my life."
The legendary singer does not want people to send her flowers on her birthday, she wants people to send money instead to the soldiers families who will now be in pain after the Uri terror attack.
She has not seen Shraddha Kapoor's films but likes Alia Bhatt. She says, "Alia looks very young on screen but I like her acting. Even Priyanka Chopra chooses the right roles. Par aaj-kal jo dresses pehne jaate hai usse mujhe sakht aitraaz hai (I am against the kind of dresses actresses wear today). I don't like them."
Lataji admits that she does not enjoy or is rather unfit for the kind of music being made today. "There is a lot of western influence which was there earlier too, but it is very much dominant now. The sur and kavita are not present in today's music. Today's songs are mostly duet with a chorus. Also, I am 87 so it is better to rest a little." The singer also enjoys watching cricket. "Yes, I love the sport. In the past, I used to admire many players from England as well as West Indies. Even my family members used to watch the sport. The most amazing thing was that my mother, too, would sit at the Cricket Club of India, Churchgate, stands, and watch the game for five days (smiles). I would put my recordings on hold for five days, and watch the match. My father used to play cricket, and also knew many cricketers such as Vijay Hazare and CK Nayudu. I met Hazare saab as well. He was very fond of me. I admire Sachin Tendulkar as much as I admire Sunil Gavaskar." Her favourite songs include 'Aayega aanewala' ('Mahal; 1949'), 'Aaja re pardesi' ('Madhumati; 1958') and 'Lag ja gale ('Woh Kaun Thi; 1964'). She says, "I can't recollect my favourites very easily, but I would also include 'Allah tero naam' (Hum Dono; 1961). The last song that I would include is of my brother Hridaynath's. It was a classical song called 'Suniyoji araj mhari' from 'Lekin' (1991). I also like a Bengali song 'Keno kichhu kotha bolo na'. It was composed by Salil Chaudhary."
Finally on a parting note, Lataji regrets that she could not sing on stage like a classical singer. "Since I sang in films I could not sit on stage and perform like other classical artists. But it is okay I have received a lot. Sab Kuch nahi milta."