Kaithapram recalls how Yesudas jumped fences to listen to Lata Mangeshkar’s songs

Noted lyricist Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri expressed shock and sorrow over the demise of legendary singer, Lata Mangeshkar. He recalled how Lata’s magical voice had been soothing to the world and told Manorama Online that he regrets not having met her in person.

“I have no doubt that Lataji has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. I remember Dasettan (Yesudas) telling me how he had jumped fences, as a young boy, just to listen to her song. The song might be playing in a house somewhere in the neighborhood. Yesudas said that he would just jump over all the fences to reach that house quickly before the song was over. Dasettan had sung the track of the song ‘Kadalinakkare Ponore’ for the legendary singer. However, she didn’t sing that song. No one insisted her to sing. I think she would have sung that song had someone requested her a bit more. But, she then sang ‘Kadali Chenkadali’. It would have been amazing if she had sung ‘Kadalinakkare Ponore’ too.

I couldn’t meet Lataji in person. I consider it as a great loss. I didn’t feel like meeting her whenever I went to Mumbai. I could have easily met her using my contacts with Salil Chowdhury and Bombay Ravi. Lataji’s demise is truly a grave loss. I wish she still existed at some corner of the world. Her voice had been so soothing. It is indeed a great loss!”