Melody, recast and reborn.

A composer using his own tune is not unusual. Many composers do it all the time. A bunch of composers who come from Bengal have done it. I remember one version where the original and the recast version were sung by the two very famous siblings and both versions are very famous.

The Hindi version first. It was actually sung by the older of the two, Latadidi sang it for the early 80s movie Sunny and remains a very melodious composition and famous song. Here is a bit of a teaser where Ashatai sings a stanza for R D Burman as a kind of tribute to the departed soul. It remains as beautiful (if not more) as the more famous Latadidi version from the film. Pancham had scored the music for the film.

A Bangla version also exists from a non filmi album by Ashatai and Pancham, which I found very interesting ( and actually more melodious because of the lighter set of musical instruments accompanying this version). Maybe I am a bit more inclined to like Ashatai of this era than Latadidi’s voice of the early 80s.

Why did RD ever think of making Latadidi sing the Hindi film version when Ashatai had done such a marvelous job of the Bangla original, is a mystery that will remain unsolved till Kingdom come, as Pancham is gone for decades , poor fellow passed away way too soon, and Latadidi and Ashatai will likely never tell us the story behind this switch. Latadidi’s voice has a more classical touch, even a tad spiritual, sad or introspective, while Ashatai manages to get romantic seductiveness into her voice – her rendition is a bit slower in tempo and has the persuasive, deliberate tone brought in. Amazing but distinctive difference in the two sister’s voices.

Let it be, just let us sit back and savour the wonderful composition by Pancham. Stay safe, folks, stay healthy and far away from COVIDIOTS who have scant respect for others’ lives, it is obvious they don’t care for their own. Stay away from the Wuhan Virus in the meantime…

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