Sugandha Mishra in a still from the show. (Image courtesy: Radio Mirchi)
After singer Lata Mangeshkar was mimicked by a female comedian at a music award function, members of the music industry like Alka Yagnik and composer Lalit Pandit said this was no way to treat a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
Sugandha Mishra, a regular on comedy shows, is known for her mimicry of the Melody Queen and she did it again at a popular award function a few days back, which was telecast on March 22. She mimicked Lata
ji and many stalwarts including Javed Akhtar, Ila Arun, Usha Uthup and Shankar Mahadevan.
Alka Yagnik looked disturbed and shocked and when this writer contacted her, she sounded genuinely distressed at Lataji being so ridiculed.
"I didn't like it. It was not in good taste. And it went on and on. This is what the music industry has come to, disrespecting their very own Bharat Ratna. Lata
ji is a Goddess.
Kam-se-kam unko toh baksh dena ttha (spare her at least!). Shame on them," she said.
Lalit Pandit added, "The whole music fraternity and the film industry loves Lata
ji to death. I was surprised by the act when it was on. I didn't expect this and I frankly feel it was overdone. Lata
Didi is a Bharat Ratna and nothing about her should be used for laughter."
While Lata
ji refused to comment on the matter, a source very close to her said: "They wanted to invite her to honour her. When she couldn't attend they decided to make fun of her. This is their way of honouring our most revered and adored singer."