Divine, wicked and erotic, she sung all kinds of songs for all his films barring the last  

If Yash Chopra were alive last month, he would be ushering in his birthday on Sunday, September 27 when his most favourite singer and sister Lata Mangeshkar would be bringing in her birthday on September 28. Free-spirited Cancerians both, they were professionally inseparable. “As long as I am there you will sing in all my films,” he had promised Lataji. Sure enough it broke his heart when his last film Jab Tak Hai Jaan released posthumously did not contain her voice.

Here’s celebrating the 8 most amazing songs that Lataji sang for her Yash Bhaiyya.

Jab bhi jee chahe nayi duniya basaa lete hain log (Daag)

When Yash Chopra broke away from his brother’s banner to launch Yashraj films, he pencilled in the never-before and never-again composer-poet mixture of Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Sahir Ludhianvi. The duo had huge creative differences with the poet-extraordinaire. But some great music came out of the friction. This heart-piercing song about a broken and betrayed heart was actually inspired by a Pakistani Ghazal by Noorjehan. Lataji of course gave it her own twist. Exquisite pain oozes out of every word. And Sharmila Tagore enacted the song with just the right blend of suffering and smirk.

Jo baat ishaaron kahi tun nahin samjhe (Joshila)

A special solo, this was the only time R D Burman and Sahir Ludhianvi came together to create a song for Lata Mangeshkar.

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai (Kabhi Kabhie)

Khayyam and Sahir got together to create this song about lost love and a treasure of memories flooding the melody with life-giving potions. Though Mukesh too sang a version, Lataji’s inter pretation of the lyrics remains a jewel of the croon.

Tu mere saath rahega munne (Trishul)

The song was so strong and persuasive that it made Yashji cry each time he heard it. Though Khayyam’s composition was ordinary, Lataji’s rendering of the mother’s plea to her son to take revenge for all the wrongs done to her was so powerfully penned by Sahir Ludhianvi that the song became an exquisite expression of maternal expectations. ‘Main tumhein doodh na bakshoongi tumhein yaad rahe,” sang Lataji. Yashji cried. We cried.

Neela aasman so gaya (Silsila)

Javed Akhtar wrote lyrics for the first time for a movie. And the Nightingale’s voice took over the show. Rekha looked like a dream as she put a face to Lataji’s voice. Classicists Shiv-Hari couldn’t have hoped for a better filmy beginning.

Om namah shivay (Mashaal)

What made this solo by Lataji really special was the fact that it was composed by her brother the highly-regarded Hridaynath Mangeshkar. The Shiva bhajan exudes an aura of tranquility even in the most troubled moment. Try it. You will know why Yashji considered Laaji to be Mata Saraswati reincarnated.

Mere haathon mein nau-nau chudiyaan hai (Chandni)

Lataji was unwell when ShivHari wanted to record this song. But Yash Chopra would have no other voice. ‘How can anyone else sing in my film?’ he reasoned. The song was a resounding hit. Well worth the wait, what?

Morni baghaan maan bole (Lamhe)

Sridevi dancing in the undulating deserts of Rajashtan as Saroj Khan’s choreography brought home the importance of the sheer melodic force of Lata Mamgeshkar’s throat...If there was heaven on earth, it was here as Sridevi kicked up a graceful desert storm.