For more than half a century, the beautiful quality of Lata Mangeshkar's singing has regaled generations of listeners. The fact that it's not merely tough but impossible for

anybody to name just one favourite song of hers says a lot about her stature. In her long and flourishing career as India's most treasured songstress, she's voiced a myriad of

emotions. SUKANYA VERMA celebrates The Legend's 25 distinctly different moods. _Pyar kiya toh darna kya, Mughal-E-Azam _Mood: Defiant MUSIC: NAUSHAD_ _ K Asif's epic achieves its

memorable high in Madhubala's spellbinding performance around the glittery Sheesh Mahal-inspired sets and Lata_tai_'s rebellious assertions that would go on to resonate powerfully

of Jaya Bachchan's character -- of a wife hurting over hubby's disgruntled behaviour while keeping her emotions in check as a professional playback singer in _Abhimaan_ --

contributes significantly to _Piya bina_'s simplicity and sorrow.   _Naam ghum jayega, Kinara _Mood: Philosophical MUSIC: R D BURMAN_ _ _Meri awaaz hi pehchaan hai... _perfect lines,

perfect melody, perfect Lata Mangeshkar. _Aa jaane jaan, Inteqam _Mood: Seductive MUSIC: LAXMIKANT-PYARELAL_ _ Proving sexy songs aren't just younger sister Asha Bhosle's forte,

Lata Mangeshkar turns the heat on and how for the smouldering Helen cabaret.   _Allah tero naam, Hum Dono _Mood: Devotional MUSIC: JAIDEV_ _ The songbird offers the ultimate prayer for

humanity with characteristic grace and sensitivity for this _Hum Dono_ gem.   _Mose chhal kiye jaaye, Guide _Mood: Angry MUSIC: S D BURMAN_ _ While a luminous Waheeda Rehman expresses

disgust for her beau on screen, Lata Mangeshkar injects soul to her injury off it in the refined melodies of _Guide._ _ _ _Vande Mataram, Anand Math _Mood: Patriotic MUSIC: HEMANT KUMAR_ _

Her passionate chants of _Vande Mataram_ continue to evoke instant nationalist fervour even after six decades.   _Mere haathon mein nau nau, Chandni _Mood: Festive MUSIC: SHIV-HARI_ _

What's not to enjoy about the singer's playful interjections to boost Sridevi's _sangeet_-time frolic in Yash Chopra's signature romance?   _Mohabbat mein aise kadam

dagmagaye, Anarkali _Mood: Drunk MUSIC: C RAMCHANDRA_ _ The singer is a picture of restraint. And so it's particularly droll to hear her loosen up as the much sloshed, hiccup-popping

Anarkali in C Ramchandra's composition.   _Aye dil-e-nadaan, Razia Sultan _Mood: Melancholic MUSIC: KHAYYAM_ _ If songs were made of silk, they'd be something like Lata

Mangeshkar's delivery of _Aye dil-e-nadaan_ -- smooth, soothing and seamless.   _Main ka karoon ram mujhe budha mil gaya, Sangam _Mood: Wacky MUSIC: SHANKAR-JAIKISHAN_ _ O hoy -- the

nightingale has a ball highlighting Vyajayanthimala's glamorous goof dolling up in one crazy costume after another to tease the sobriety-struck significant other in _Sangam_'s zany

chartbuster.   _Suniyo ji araj mhariyo, Lekin.. _Mood: Classical MUSIC: HRIDAYNATH MANGESHKAR_ _ Just when people thought they've heard her best, she raised her own bar with the

brilliance of Gulzar's _Lekin.._ soaked in classical goodness.   _Naina barse rimjhim, Woh Kaun Thi _Mood: Spooky MUSIC: MADAN MOHAN_ _ The combination of Lata Mangeshkar's

haunting blues and Sadhana's bewitching smile create the best kind of eerie in _Woh Kaun Thi._ _ _ _Inhi logon ne, Pakeezah _Mood: Coquettish MUSIC: GHULAM MUHAMMAD_ _ Playing the imp

and demure darling at once, Lata Mangeshkar is pitch-perfect as Meena Kumar's soul around this dazzling _Pakeezah_ number.   _Dikhai diye yun ke bekhud kiya, Bazaar _Mood: Poetic MUSIC:

KHAYYAM_ _ Khayyam laps up 18th century poet Mir Taqi Mir's sublime ode to enchantment in Lata Mangeshkar's vocals. Killer stuff, this. _Aaja re pardesi, Madhumati _Mood:

Anticipative MUSIC: SALIL CHOWDHARY_ _ Lata Mangeshkar plays the waiting game to slip into the jittery, yearning-filled skin of Madhumati's heroine.   _Chanda hai tu, Aradhana _Mood:

Maternal MUSIC: S D BURMAN_ _ She's sung a lot many songs for Sharmila Tagore's sweetheart avatars but she's equally credible oozing mommy love for the dimpled star in

_Aradhana's_ lullaby.   _Suno choti si gudiya, Seema _Mood: Poignant MUSIC: SHANKAR JAIKISHAN_ _ Lata Mangeshkar movingly conveys the ups and downs of Nutan's destitute existence

in the bittersweet narrative of _Suno choti si gudiya ki lambi kahani._ _ _ _Sayonara Sayonara, Love in Tokyo _Mood: Charming MUSIC: SHANKAR JAIKISHAN_ _ Her singsong approach to endorse

Asha Parekh's kimono-clad Japanese maiden is not only conscious of the gimmick's overall phoniness but has fun with it too adding to _Sayonara's_ cheerful appeal.   _Hothon pe

aisi baat, Jewel Thief _Mood: Mysterious MUSIC: S D BURMAN_ _ Mangeshkar's stunning, shifting notes, the inscrutable insinuations in Majrooh Sultanpuri's words and

Vyajayanthimala's thrilling jig has us collectively crying 'Ooooo Shalu' in admiration.   _Bada dukh dina, Ram Lakhan _Mood: Peevish MUSIC: LAXMIKANT PYARELAL_ _ Trust Lata

Mangeshkar to turn a sulking Madhuri Dixit's grievance regarding a certain AWOL Lakhan into a class act. Ramji agrees. _Ichak daana bichak daana, Shree 420 _Mood: Academic MUSIC:

SHANKAR JAIKISHAN_ _ No one would skip a day of school if they'd get Lata Mangeshkar and her super creative manner of getting kids to solve tricky riddles. _Ajeeb dastan hai yeh, Dil

Apna Aur Preet Parai _Mood: Lovelorn MUSIC: SHANKAR JAIKISHAN_ _ _Mubaarakein tumhe ke tum kisi ke noor ho gaye. Kissi ke itne paas ho ke sab se door ho gaye_.' Subtle in her sadness

and sarcasm, the sting of unrequited romance is conspicuous in Lata M's mellow congratulations. _Woh hain zara khafa khafa, Shagird _Mood: Appeasing MUSIC: LAXMIKANT-PYARELAL_ _ It

would be foolish to stay '_khafa'_ in face of Lata Mangeshkar's sensual and elegant appealing when picturised on the elfin Saira Banu. _This special was first published in

September 2017._