Lata Mangeshkar took stand against workplace misconduct way before #MeToo movement, refused to work with GM Durrani

The #MeToo movement gained momentum in the entertainment world in late 2018. However, bold women with utmost courage and self-respect never tolerated any kind of misconduct. One such powerful woman was the late Lata Mangeshkar who put a badly behaved male colleague in place. Not only this but throughout her career, she maintained that she would never sing with him.

All this began in 1949 when Lata Mangeshkar not only confronted but also boycotted a fellow male playback singer, GM Durrani, setting an early precedent against workplace misconduct. Durrani, at the zenith of his career in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, was hailed as a prominent singer. The incident took place at the recording of the duet ‘Hey Chore Ki Jaat Badi Bewafa’ for the film Chandni Raat starring Saira Banu’s mother, Naseem Banu.

Lata Ji arrived to record the song but left in a huff without recording it. As per the reports, Durrani began to act over-friendly with the renowned singer and asked her what she was wearing around her neck. Lataji politely replied saying that it was the elephant’s tusk, gifted by her late father. Dismissing her pride, Durrani asked him to wear golden jewellery and heaped praise on her thinking she’d be flattered. Lata Ji, who was just establishing herself, decided that she would never work with him. She stood her ground and never worked with Durrani.

During an interview with Zoom, Lataji recalled the incident saying, “What you’ve heard is absolutely true. Something did happen with this singer during my first recording with him. It was my first song with Naushad Saab for a film called Chandni Raat.”

She added, “To cut a long story short, I didn’t like the way Durrani Saab spoke to me. I walked out of that recording and vowed never to sing with him. And I kept my promise to myself. I never sang any song with Durrani Saab in my entire career.”

Clarifying the rumours around the dozen duets featuring the voices of Lataji and Durrani, Lata Ji said, “In that case, the records give wrong information. The fact is, I never sang any song with Durrani.” She added, “I’d never compromise with my conscience. That’s not what my parents taught me.”