Lata Mangeshkar passed away in the week that has passed, leaving the world quieter for the loss of her sweet voice. With a career spanning over seven decades, her legacy remains unmatched.

With the huge body of work, singing to people across the world, and across time, Lata has been an inspiration to aspiring musicians and seasoned artists alike.

Some of Pakistan’s most talented musicians share their favorite Lata tunes with Instep, and tell us why.

Atif Aslam

Song: ‘Naam Gum Jaye Ga, Chehra Badal Jaaye Ga, Meri Awaaz He Pehchan Hai, Gar Yaad Rahay’

Why: “I find it very relatable and almost like my story.”

Hadiqa Kiani

Song: ‘Naam Gum Jaye Ga, Chehra Badal Jaaye Ga, Meri Awaaz He Pehchan Hai, Gar Yaad Rahay’

Why: “It touches my heart. It is my mother’s favourite song and she used to play it a lot while I was growing up. I find it pure, melodic, and it was sung in magical fashion by Lata ji.”

Apart from this song which tops her list, some other Lata Mangeshkar songs that hold special importance for Hadiqa are tracks such as ‘Chalte Chalte’ and ‘Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikwa Tou Nahin’.

Meesha Shafi

Meesha Shafi found it difficult to choose just one song from a discography that runs into 55,000 songs – the last being ‘Luka Chuppi’ from Rang De Basanti with A.R. Rahman as music director. Upon prodding, Meesha Shafi settled on her four all-time favourites: ‘Aye Dil e Nadaan’, ‘Jiya Jaley’, ‘Chalte Chalte’ and ‘Morni Baaga Ma Bole’.

Zeb Bangash

Song: ‘Jane Kaise Sapnon Mein’

Why: “I loved her sweet shokhi in it. I don’t know why but I’ve been singing this song and find myself humming it all the time even now.”

Ali Hamza

Song: ‘Aayega Aanewala’

Why: “This is one of the few songs where I liked her voice and its great music, which is usually more so due to the music director in Bollywood. Khemchand was the music director and was a phenomenal composer. May she (Lata Mangeshkar) rest in peace!”

Bilal Maqsood

Song: “One of my favourite tracks is ‘Barra Natkhat Hai’ from Amar Prem

Why: “It’s a beautiful tune, sung even more beautifully. It has a visceral effect and takes me back to my childhood, to a space in time where I want to stay.”

Faisal Kapadia

Song: ‘Is Mod Se Jate Hain’ from Aandhi

Why: “For one reason, she has sung the song beautifully and for another it has been a favourite of mine for at least 40 years since I first heard it. Whenever I want to sit and listen to good classic songs, ‘Is Mod Se Jate Hain’ is the first song on the list.”

Natasha Noorani

Song: ‘Dheere Se Aaja Ri Ankhiyan Mein’

Why: “My mother used to sing this to me as a lullaby.”

Ahsan Bari

Song: ‘Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha, Pyar Ke Qabil Mujhe’

Why: “The jhol of the song, it’s on seven beats, the way the composer has fixed it, the tune, the highs and the lows, the content, the context, the lyrics.”

Mohd Ahsan Pappu (Mekaal Hasan Band)

Song: ‘Dard Se Mera Daaman Bhar De’, ‘Rukey Rukey Se Qadam’ - there isn’t one song that can exemplify just how tremendous her career and range has been. She has trained under Ustaad Ghulam Ali, she is comparable to Madame Noor Jehan. There isn’t anyone like them anymore. May she rest in peace.”