The musical partnership of Naushad and Lata Mangeshkar, responsible for timeless soundtracks like those in *Mughal-e-Azam* and *Mother India*, concluded with the film *Guddu* in 1995. The film, despite its perceived shortcomings, included a memorable devotional song.
That song was *Mere toh Radhe Shyam re*, beautifully sung by Lata Mangeshkar.
Shah Rukh Khan acknowledged the film’s flaws, while he praised the quality of the devotional song. The song was featured in a scene where his on-screen mother, played by Deepti Naval, is present as his character experiences a near-death situation. He is ultimately saved by the Bhajan.
*Mere toh Radhe Shyam re* was, remarkably, the final song that Lata Mangeshkar sang for the acclaimed Naushad.
Lata Mangeshkar recalled the recording process as an intense experience. Naushad sought to create a specific divine atmosphere within the song, which required a substantial amount of time.
Lataji emphasized Naushad’s meticulous nature and how his recording sessions frequently exceeded those of other composers. Lataji, at 66, performed the dulcet tune, creating a moment of dialogue with the divine. The Bhajan, composed by Naushad and written by Majrooh Sultanpuri, showed the successful collaboration of Muslim artists in devotional music.
In *Baiju Bawra*, Naushad, Shakeel Badayuni, and Mohammad Rafi, all Muslims, collaborated to create the iconic Bhajan *Mann tarpat hari darshan ko aaj*.
