Lata records her first duet with A.R. Rah

Veteran Lata Mangeshkar has teamed up with ace music director and singer A.R. Rahman, as the duo have recorded their first ever duet for Rakeysh Mehra's "Rang De Basanti".

"Though I have sung for Rahman before, I had never sung with him," Lata laughs.

"It's a lovely 'maa-beta' (mother-son) song 'Lukka-chuppi bahut hui saamne aa ja na', which Rahman and I sang. What really added to my pleasure was the fact that the song will be picturised on Waheeda Rehman. She is one of my favourite actresses and I have sung some of my favourite numbers for her."

Prasoon Joshi, who wrote songs for "Phir Milenge" and the promotional number for "Black", has penned down the new Lata-Rahman duet.

Coincidentally, the last time Lata sang for Waheeda Rehman was also a mother-son song "Tu mere saath rahega munne" for composer Khayyam in "Trishul".

The 76-year-old singer flew to Chennai to record the duet. "Rahman was keen that I sing in his own studio. I was more than happy to oblige."

Rakeysh Mehra is over the moon. "To have Lataji sing for my film was a dream. When she came for the recording, my knees and hands were trembling. This is the Lata Mangeshkar, for god's sake!"

Rakeysh is not the only one singing paeans for the legendary singer. Composer Ismail Durbar too is in seventh heaven. Lata is recording a song for Ismail for the first time.

The song is for a film called, "Pyar Kiya To Nibhana", to be directed by Vinay, Sooraj Barjatya's former assistant.

The composer, who was blessed with a son this week, is doubly ecstatic.

"Every time I thought of a tune, I would wonder how it would sound in her voice. And now she is finally singing for me."

Says the ecstatic composer: "I have told Lata didi I would like her to sing all the female vocals in this film. To have her sing for me is a dream-come-true.

"I should have been born twenty years ago. To what heights she took the tunes of the earlier composers. I was over the moon when she rang me to wish me 'Eid Mubarak'. I have celebrated Eid many times, but this one will be a memorable one."