Celina Jaitly: Lataji’s songs became the first love letters of my parents

Lata Mangeshkar, the

Nightingale of India

, passed away this morning, leaving fans, friends and lovers of music, in grief. Tributes poured in for the late music icon as people shared their thoughts on her demise and the fabulous

legacy

of music she leaves behind. Celina Jaitly, who has settled down in Austria, was deeply moved by the news of the

veteran

singer’s demise and shares how Lata Mangeshkar was so special to her and her family.

‘Her songs were not just the background score of the industry, but of the journey of millions of hearts’Says Celina, “I am at a loss of words,

Lataji

's passing feels like a deep personal loss, too. Today, ironically, is the wedding anniversary of my late parents, Colonel and Dr Meeta Jaitly. My father was a 20-year-old Lieutenant in the army when he got critically wounded in 1971 war. He saw my mother in the army hospital and sent her the song ‘Kora Kagaz Tha Ye Man Mera’ from the movie ‘

Aradhana

’ - sung by Lata Mangeshkarji and Kishore Kumar - as a love letter, as he couldn’t write due to his injuries. Her songs became the first love letters of my parents coming together.”

A huge fan of the late veteran, the

actress

adds, “No words or awards in this world qualify to truly honour Lataji and her legacy. Her songs were the background score not only of our industry since 1942, but the background score of the life journey of millions of hearts through generations of agonies and ecstasies, love and tragedy, war and peace. After 92 years of pacifying us with her magical voice, the nightingale left for her heavenly abode, leaving us with a treasure trove of magic to soothe our souls. It is indeed a great loss for our nation and our Indian film industry.”