Sivaji Ganesan was family to me: Lata Mangeshkar

She doesn’t recall her first meeting with him, but said she remembers  “one unforgettable experience”. “Once all us siblings — Asha, Meena, Usha and Hridaynath — had come to Chennai. We wanted to travel further to see the Meenakshi Amman temple and Rameshwaram. Sivaji saab sent his manager and three other people, two cars and his personal driver with us. Everything had been arranged. Only after this incident, we became really close. He invited us home to dinner. He screened one of his new Tamil films for us. Then after 10-12 days of his overwhelming hospitality in Chennai, we returned to Mumbai.” 

Part of the family: She said that he used to visit Mumbai for his theatre plays. “My mother noticed how physically strenuous it was for him to emote on stage. Before every play of his in Mumbai, my mother sent Sivaji saab soup which we siblings would happily take to him. In return, we got to see his plays. My mother was really fond of him. He was family,” recalled Lata. 

As artistes, they both loved each other’s works. She explained, “I thought he was awesome in all his Tamil films. He would send prints of films, specially for me, to watch in Mumbai. The last time I saw him was in Thevar Magan. Till the end, he was a brilliant performer.” 

She said that the two shared a rare bond. “Every Diwali, unfailingly, he sent clothes for every member of the Mangeshkar family. Not once did he overlook this ritual. I was never surprised by his largesse because I was his sister. Even if I forgot to send him a rakhi, he’d never forget his Diwali ritual,” she said.

“He cared so much for me. Whenever I stayed in his house he left instructions before leaving to shoot about which chutney I should be served with the dosa. Then the minute he returned for the day, he would inquire about me.” 

What language did they both communicate in? “The language of love. He knew enough Hindi to communicate that love. There has never been a star like him in the south. And such humility and generosity! You can’t imagine how many things he has gifted me. Once, when I had gone to his home, I chattily expressed admiration for the ‘nauratna’ necklace that his wife was wearing. He immediately told his Kamala Amma to take off the necklace and give it to me. It remains one of my favourite pieces of jewellery which I wear quite often.” 

But the veteran singer has one regret. “Days before he passed way, Raja (Ilaiyaraaja) was in Mumbai and I inquired about Sivaji saab’s health. Raja said, ‘No no no. He isn’t well. You must go and see him or else you’ll miss the chance.’ The same night I had to leave for London for an official commitment. I told my sister Meena we must visit Sivaji saab when we return from London. He had rung me up in London when I had received the Bharat Ratna (in 2001). He said ‘Congratulations’,” said the singer excusing herself as her voice choked. “He knew his end was near. Then, just two days before his death, my nephew Yogesh and I were trying to reach Sivaji saab’s number. We couldn’t get through. Later, I heard about his death. I felt something had been lost irrevocably. I’ll always regret the fact that I couldn’t meet him before his death. There shall never be another person like him,” concluded Lata.