Sunidhi Chauhan on Aaj socha to ansu bhar aye
Without a moment of thought or doubt, Aaj socha to ansu bhar aye, from the 1973 movie Hanste Zakhm, is my classic song. There’s just one word to describe it: beautiful.

A beautiful composition by Madan Mohan and a beautiful rendition by Lata Mangeshkar. The first time I heard it—that was 10 years ago when I was 15—I cried. It’s a sad song, and its lyrics are of the shero-shayari variety, which I have always had a liking for. The lyrics, the music, the playback voice—everything falls in place for this number.

I don’t feel the need to study the song and dig out its technical qualities in order to understand its appeal to me. I have not even seen the video of this song. And can you believe it— I don’t listen to it now.
I played it over and over for months after I first heard it. But after that, I have never bothered to put it on my music player. I don’t feel the need to. The song is within me, it’s touched me so deeply that it resides in me and comes out on its own. So, when I need to hear the song, I sing it.

I would say though that Lata’s divine voice is the best thing about the song. And I, like every other singer, would love to sing like her.
Am I just inspired by her or do I copy her too? For me, copying and inspiration are the same.

... contd.