Dubai: A doctor, who has a passion for Indian film music, has launched a book on Lata, the icon of Indian pop music.
The specially bound book was printed in India and released in Dubai by Dr B.R. Shetty, CEO of the NMC group. The group has borne all expenses of printing the tribute and will gift special copies to selected clientele.
"We are enriched by launching the book," Dr Shetty said. He added one of his favourite songs by Lata was, "Pyar kiya to darna kya" ("When in love, there need not be any fear"), from the blockbuster Mughal-e-Azam, an epic historical movie about ill-fated lovers.
Dr Mandar Bichu, the author, said: Lata, Voice of the Golden Era, is the first time the six-decade-long career of the songstress has been analysed comprehensively. Lata is in the Guinness Book of World Records for singing 26,000 songs.
"Lata traces her career from music composers Anil Biswas to AR Rahman," said the doctor.
Calling the singer the "cultural icon of India", Dr Bichu said the book also contained rare photographs. One shows Lata with the three leading men who ruled the Indian silver screen in the 1950s and '60s — Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor.
The author said it took him three years to research and write the book. Asked for his favourite Lata songs, he said it was impossible to make a list, but he managed to include a chapter on her top 25 songs.
Information
The book ‘Lata Voice of the Golden Era', is available on http:// lataonline.com.
