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Filmmaker Boney Kapoor shares insight into the efforts behind Lata Mangeshkar’s remarkable contribution to the film “Pukar.”
Boney Kapoor recounts the challenges faced while convincing Lata Mangeshkar to record “Ek Tu Hi Bharosa.”
In the realm of Indian music, few names resonate as powerfully as Lata Mangeshkar, an artist known as the “Nightingale of India.” Throughout her extensive career, she recorded over 50,000 songs across 14 languages, but she was traditionally known for her reluctance to perform on-screen. This particular stance shifted when filmmaker Boney Kapoor persuaded her to perform a devotional track, “Ek Tu Hi Bharosa,” for his 2000 film, Pukar, featuring Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit. Recently, Boney Kapoor spoke about his journey of convincing the legendary singer to join this project.
Boney detailed the unique requirements set by the film’s director, Rajkumar Santoshi, who insisted on having a person of immense purity to perform the song. According to Boney, Santoshi specified, “Boney, I want either Mother Teresa or Lata Mangeshkar. I need a very pious personality to sing this song.” With the late Mother Teresa being unavailable, Boney recognized that Lata Mangeshkar was the only viable option.
Reflecting on his efforts, Boney stated, “I think God was kind. I pleaded, requested, and somehow she saw my madness and passion. I showed her whatever we had filmed up to that point and expressed, ‘Only you can do justice to this.’”
Convincing Mangeshkar was no small feat. Boney emphasized that he dedicated several months—approximately three to five—to win her approval. He regularly visited her, engaging in discussions daily. After much persistence, she agreed to consider the offer. Boney noted that Mangeshkar even traveled to Hyderabad for the shoot, where they worked late into the night despite her health challenges. “She liked the situation and the song as well,” he commented, reflecting on the significant milestone of having Mangeshkar perform in a film.
The sacred composition “Ek Tu Hi Bharosa,” with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri and Javed Akhtar, has since become an enduring classic, celebrated for Mangeshkar’s exceptional vocal delivery.
Lata Mangeshkar (1929–2022) is regarded as one of India’s quintessential playback singers. Her unparalleled melodic prowess earned her global admiration and solidified her status as a monumental figure in Indian cinema. Beginning her career at an early age in Indore, she became a prominent voice across generations, singing for numerous leading actresses. Mangeshkar’s versatility in multiple languages and her numerous accolades—including the Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Dadasaheb Phalke Award—reflect her significant influence in music. She passed away in 2022, leaving a profound legacy in the annals of Indian music history.
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