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Lag Jaa Gale
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Wikipedia article
"'Lag Jaa Gale'" is a Hindi song with music by Madan Mohan Kohli and lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, written for the 1964 Bollywood film 'Woh Kaun Thi?' under the music label Saregama.[https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/saregama-success-and-sad-songs-1558064781315.html Opinion | Saregama, success and sad songs] On the screen, the song was performed by the film's star Sadhana, though actually sung by playback singer Lata Mangeshkar.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=TFr6G5zveS8 Lag Jaa Gale - Sadhana, Lata Mangeshkar, Woh Kaun Thi Romantic Song, 95,502,903 views, Ultra Bollywood, 23 Jan 2010]
In Indian musical tradition
The music is set in Raga Pahari. The song is an example of Dadra songs.
"Lag Jaa Gale" since 1964
Lata Mangeshkar's career spanned more than 70 years (starting in 1942) recording thousands of songs. This iconic song [https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/bollywood/200318/a-happy-manoj-kumar-willing-to-write-woh-kaun-thi-remake.html Love the iconic song Lag Ja Gale from Woh Kaun Thi? Here's an interesting story, SUBHASH K JHA, DECCAN CHRONICLE, 20 Mar 2018] is regarded to be one of songs by which Lata Mangeshkar is remembered. Lata herself considered this song to be among her top six favourite songs in 2016[https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/lata-mangeshkar-birthday-the-legendary-singer-lists-her-six-favourite-songs/story-aXiOUeA3CxTUEEp1InREuL.html Lata Mangeshkar birthday: The legendary singer lists her six favourite songs, Hindustan times, 28 Sep 2016] and among her favourite 20 in 2012.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/Lata-Mangeshkar-first-time-chooses-her-favourite-songs/articleshow/16585779.cms Lata Mangeshkar first time chooses her favourite songs Subhash K Jha, Entertainment Times, 28 Sep 2012]
In 2014, on the fiftieth anniversary of the song, she tweeted: "" ("This year the song 'Lag ja gale ke phir ye hasee'n raat' is 50 years old, but it is so sweet, it does not feel old at all")[http://post.jagran.com/lag-ja-gale-still-sounds-fresh-lata-1404111699 "'Lag ja gale' still sounds fresh": Lata, Jagran, 30 Jun 2014], The singer Amit Mishra claims that "My favourite song by Lata ji is 'Lag Ja Gale' and I can hear it a million times on repeat mode"[https://www.mid-day.com/articles/world-music-day-celebrating-musical-maestros-of-bollywood/19539176 "World Music Day: Celebrating Musical Maestros Of Bollywood", Mid-Day 21 Jun 2018]
Lyrics
In the song, the singer expresses that this evening may the last time she will see her beloved.
Below, the song is transcribed in Devanagari (Hindi), Nastalq (Urdu) and English
"" refers to embracing such that the necks touch, it can apply to two persons of the same sex as well.
The song expresses profound sadness on the impending partition, which is perhaps final. The Hindi expression "" implies that it may or may not happen in future. In Hinduism, death is the parting for this life. The parting, although expresses separation of two lovers in the movie, can also mean death in the Indian context. Some individuals remember having sung this song for the dying grandmother. Others member a close relative, with impending death due to cancer, dancing her last dance with this song. It is sometimes sung at Indian funerals.
It is also considered to be an iconic song composed by Madan Mohan.[https://www.bbc.com/hindi/entertainment-39833157 , ...' , BBC Hindi, 7 2017]
In popular culture
It is said that for the movie 'Woh Kaun Thi', the song was originally rejected by the movie director. He decided to include it when he heard it the second time.[https://www.jansatta.com/entertainment/lag-jaa-gale-this-superhit-song-was-rejected-by-director-know-behind-story/581759/ jansatta, 21 Feb 2018]
When the former star Sadhana died in 2015, she was often recalled by referring to her as the actress of this song.[https://www.bbc.com/hindi/multimedia/2015/12/151225_sadhna_tribute_audio_pkp , 25 2015]
The actor Irrfan Khan, who died on 29 April 2020 after a battle with cancer, used to listen to this song during his last days.[https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/irrfan-khan-listened-to-lag-jaa-gale-ki-phir-during-his-treatment-a-reminder-for-us-all-says-cancer-survivor-lisa-ray/story-PR6NNlz1zztvlOyWEodAYO.html 'Irrfan Khan listened to Lag jaa gale ki phir during his treatment, a reminder for us all': says cancer survivor Lisa Ray, Hindustan times, 22 Mar 2020]
Renditions
In 1966, two movies used the song: in the Tamil movie 'Yaar Nee?', it is rendered as "",[https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/Yaar-Nee-1966-TAMIL/article14467014.ece Yaar Nee? (1966) TAMIL, The Hindu, JULY 3, 2016] and in the Telugu movie 'Aame Evaru?' it is rendered as "".
In 1968, Shipra Bose rendered a Bengali version of the same song, "Shongi je ke e monke amar aaj dolalo". The song was penned in Bengali by Miltu Ghosh.
The singer Shreya Ghoshal performed the song in concert several times in the 2010s.[https://www.bizasialive.com/shreya-ghoshal-week-best-live-performances-uk/ Shreya Ghoshal Week: Best live performances in UK, 5 Feb 2018]
Its rendition by the band Sanam has been so popular that some teenagers think they originally sang it.[http://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/news/180614-its-funny-when-some-teenagers-think-lag-ja It's funny when some teenagers think 'Lag Ja Gale' is not sung by Lata Mangeshkar but Sanam band: Isheta Sarckar, 14 Jun 2018] It has also been sung by several singers in Pakistan. The film 'Kedarnath', starring Sushant Singh Rajput, who died on 14 June 2020, features a rendition by Sanam's singer Sanam Puri.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/hindi/sushant-singh-rajput-fans-are-not-happy-with-kedarnath-re-release-heres-why/videoshow/78676561.cms Sushant Singh Rajput fans are not happy with 'Kedarnath' re-release; here's why! ETimes, 15 Oct 2020]
A rendition of the song sung by Jonita Gandhi featured in 2018 film 'Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3'.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7695014/ 'Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster 3' in IMDB]
Remembered after Lata Mangeshkar's Death
The song was widely remembered after Lata's death. Bollywood actor Salman Khan tearfully sang the a few lines of the song and shared it with social media.[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/salman-khan-pak-choir-pay-tribute-to-lata-mangeshkar-with-soulful-lag-ja-gale/articleshow/89666458.cms Salman Khan, Pak choir pay tribute to Lata Mangeshkar with soulful 'lag ja gale' The Economic Times, 18 Feb 2022] About 40 young Pakistani musicians recorded their rendering as a tribute. Malayalam composer Kailas Menon said that Lag Ja Gale is one of the best recordings in Indian cinema.[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/kailas-menon-on-lata-mangeshkar-i-believe-the-song-lag-ja-gale-is-one-of-the-best-recordings-in-indian-cinema/articleshow/89386579.cms, Jijo Alex, ETimes, 6 Feb 2022] Pakistan's Geo News mentioning Sufi singer Abida Parveen's tribute called Lata "The Lag Jaa Gale singer".[https://www.geo.tv/latest/397671-abida-parveen-pays-heartfelt-tribute-to-late-lata-mangeshkar-her-voice-was-gift-from-god Abida Parveen pays heartfelt tribute to late Lata Mangeshkar: Her voice was gift from God, Geo News, 7 Feb 2022] Israel's Liora Itzhak in her tribute recalled "Lag jaa gale" as the first song she remembered.[https://dailytimes.com.pk/888173/how-lata-made-a-difference-to-singers-in-israel-us-france-bangladesh-and-pakistan/ How Lata made a difference to singers in Israel, US, France, Bangladesh and Pakistan, Daily Times, FEBRUARY 19, 2022] The song was also recalled by Pakistani actor Mahira Khan [https://www.news18.com/news/movies/on-mahira-khans-heartfelt-tribute-to-lata-mangeshkar-pakistan-fans-mourn-her-demise-4748861.html On Mahira Khan's Heartfelt Tribute to Lata Mangeshkar, Pakistan Fans Mourn Her Demise, 8 February 2022]
References
Category:Hindi film songs
Category:Hindi songs
Category:Indian songs
Category:Number-one singles in India
Category:1964 songs
Category:Lata Mangeshkar songs
Category:Shreya Ghoshal songs
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