The lyrics of ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ were written on cigarette foil, Lata Mangeshkar sang it and made everyone cry
The story of the composition of this song is related to India’s defeat in the 1962 war with China. This defeat shook everyone from the leaders of the country to the big and small people here. There was a lot of fighting of weapons, now it was the turn to show the power of the pen, because the morale of the people was lowering the morale of the country. In such a situation, on behalf of the government, a request was made from the film world to make such a song which can fill the spirits of the people of the country. Since Kavi Pradeep had written patriotic songs earlier, the offer came to him.
Producer reached Kavi Pradeep
Kavi Pradeep was approached by producer Mehboob Khan to write a song so that it could act as a fund raiser at the National Stadium in New Delhi. Pradeep also accepted this offer. It is said that he chose music director C. Ramchandra for this song and Lata Mangeshkar for singer. But according to Pradeep’s daughter, there were some misunderstandings between C. Ramchandra and Lata and the music director chose Asha Bhosle’s name. However, Pradeep knew that no one else could do justice to this song like Lata. Lata Mangeshkar agreed on the condition that Pradeep would be present at the rehearsals.
So that the song fits on the velvety voice of Lata Mangeshkar
There were three great singers in Bollywood at that time, Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar. Since before this Mohammad Rafi had sung the song ‘Apni azaadi ko hum hargiz mitte sakte nahi’ and Mukesh sang the song ‘Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai’. In such a situation, only Lata Mangeshkar was left. Now the poet Pradeep now had the task of giving this song such a shape that fits his sweet and velvety voice. So an emotional song was being designed in his mind.
The line written on the aluminum foil of a cigarette box
The story of the writing of this song is interesting in itself. It is said that Kavi Pradeep was walking on Mahim Beach in Mumbai. Then suddenly the lines of this song came in his mind and at that time he had neither pen nor paper. It is said that he asked for a pen from a stranger passing by and then tore the aluminum foil of the cigarette box and wrote the opening lines of this beautiful song on the same paper.
Lata Mangeshkar was not ready earlier
It is said that when Lata Mangeshkar was offered the song ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ for the first time on the occasion of Republic Day in 1963, she refused to sing it. In fact, he did not have time for rehearsals. Lata Mangeshkar had told in one of her interviews that she was going very busy in those days and in such a situation it was difficult for her to concentrate on a song. Although Kavi Pradeep convinced her, Lata agreed to sing this song on the condition that she would sing it with her sister Asha Bhosle. However, the situation became such that Asha Bhosle’s plan got canceled just before leaving for Delhi before the program and Lata Mangeshkar had to leave alone. Although the names of both Lata and Asha had appeared in the newspapers as the singers of this event, in such a situation, great musician and singer Hemant Kumar also tried hard to persuade Asha, but it did not help much.
Lata ji was very nervous before singing this song.
The tune for this song was composed by C. Ramchandra who had left for Delhi 4-5 days back. That’s why Lata could not get any chance of Riyaz with him too. It is said that Ramchandra had given her a tape of the song, after listening to which she reached Delhi while doing Riyaz in the plane itself. The next day on 26 January 1963, Lata Mangeshkar reached the National Stadium in New Delhi and sang ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’. However, Lata ji told that she was very nervous before singing this song and she was also sad that on Republic Day whose song she (Pradeep) sang there, she was not invited to that place. Lata had said, ‘Had he been present there, he would have been able to see with his own eyes what effect his song Ae Mere Watan Ke People had shown.’
Pandit ji was crying
It is said that when Lata Mangeshkar went behind the stage after finishing the song, Mehboob Khan came and held hands and said, Chalo Nehru ji has called. She wondered why Panditji wanted to meet her. When Lata Mangeshkar reached the stage, everyone including Panditji stood up and welcomed her. Pandit ji praised the song and told that hearing his song filled his eyes.
Around Rs 2 lakh collected for Army Welfare Fund
According to reports, at that time around Rs 2 lakh was collected from this event for the Army Welfare Fund, which was a huge amount. Pradeep was not invited on Republic Day, later RM of Mumbai. Performed for this song in high school for Nehru at a function held on 21st March 1963. In the same event, he gifted the lyrics of this hand-written song to Nehru. The song was highly praised across the country.
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