The musical world witnessed a historic, albeit virtual, collaboration in 2011 when Lata Mangeshkar and Mehdi Hassan, two musical giants, finally recorded a duet. Their shared dream of working together, however, was hampered by Hassan’s critical illness. He was unable to travel or sing in person, leading to the unique circumstance of a song recorded across borders.
Hassan, in frail health, composed and shared a preliminary track of “Tera Milna Bahut Achcha Lage Hai” with Mangeshkar. She then had composer Mayuresh Pai arrange the music, and she recorded her vocals separately. The song, originally a solo, became a duet due to this collaboration. The song became a powerful symbol of connection between the two countries, transcending the limitations of their physical distance.
Mangeshkar spoke of her deep respect for Hassan’s unparalleled voice, and the sadness of his final years. She recounted their first meeting in Canada decades ago and his performance in Mumbai, where she was present to support him. Mangeshkar shared her memories of their last meeting and his poignant final years, where he was suffering. She fondly remembered the beauty of his voice and the pain he endured in his final years.