Exclusive | Shreya Ghoshal on Remembering Lata Mangeshkar at the ‘Letters to Lata Didi’ Concert: 'Her Voice Still Guides Every Singer'

There are tribute concerts, and then there are evenings that are collective acts of remembrance. At ‘Letters to Lata Didi’, held on March 7 at Jio World Gardens in Mumbai’s BKC district, Shreya Ghoshal did something deceptively simple: she sang the songs of Lata Mangeshkar and let the music do the talking.

For Ghoshal, the tribute was deeply personal. Speaking exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter India, the singer reflected on Mangeshkar’s enduring influence. “Lata Didi’s voice has been the soul of Indian music for generations. For me, like for millions of singers, she has been the greatest source of inspiration and guidance. Letters to Lata Didi is such a beautiful way to remember her, through music, memories, and heartfelt tributes. Even today, her voice continues to guide and inspire us, reminding every singer of the purity, discipline, and emotion that music truly deserves.”

Across the evening, Ghoshal sang through a discography that stretched from the instantly recognisable to the forgotten gems. Classics like Aayega Aanewala and Lag Ja Gale drew the loudest responses, while the setlist also made room for more underrated songs. At one point, responding to a request from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, she performed Mera Saaya Saath Hoga.

The concert drew a distinguished crowd. Among those in attendance were singers Sonu Nigam, Nitin Mukesh and Usha Mangeshkar, who later came onstage to bless Ghoshal. Composer Anandji Virji Shah of the legendary duo Kalyanji–Anandji was also present.

Midway through the evening, the scale of the concert shifted. Ghoshal sat down alongside her band members and launched into a softer, almost conversational stretch of songs, including Hum Tere Pyaar Main. In an era when concerts increasingly favour spectacle and maximalism, Ghoshal’s instinct is the opposite. Her shows often feel like extensions of the musical baithaks and living-room addas that shaped India’s listening culture. They are gatherings where songs are shared rather than performed.

Shreya Ghoshal at Letters to Lata DidiCourtesy of the artist

The expansive orchestra recreated the lush textures of Mangeshkar’s recordings without overwhelming them. When Javed Ali joined Ghoshal onstage for duets including Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par, the atmosphere briefly took on the warmth of an old radio broadcast come to life.

The emotional peak arrived with the finale, Lag Ja Gale. Ghoshal appeared visibly moved, but her voice did not tremble till the last note. The audience teared up with her. It was one of those rare concert moments where applause felt almost secondary to the silence that preceded it.

The experience was brought together through a collaborative creative effort promoted by Nexperience Entertainment and Events Plus, produced by BTOS Productions, and conceptualised by BTOS Productions, Angshuman Ghosh and Perseid Pictures.

But the evening’s real architecture belonged to the songs themselves — and to the memory of a voice that continues to guide the musical sensibility of this country.