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A Memorable Collaboration

Talat Aziz fondly recalls his collaboration with the legendary composer Khayyam, particularly the song 'Phir chidi raat baat phoolon ki' from the film Bazaar, recorded in 1982. At that time, he was a young artist preparing to sing alongside the renowned Lata Mangeshkar for the very first time. The recording engineer, known as Sharmaji, was a respected figure in the industry, reputed for his authority, even over Lataji, when it came to retakes. The session was set to be live, featuring a full orchestra of 60 musicians, which understandably made Talat quite anxious. He had rehearsed diligently for nearly two weeks at Khayyam's home to prepare for this significant moment.

On the recording day, both Talat and Lataji were positioned in the singers' booth, ready to begin. Overwhelmed with nerves, Talat expressed his anxiety, to which Lataji responded kindly, reassuring him of his talent. In a moment of surprise, Talat questioned her familiarity with his singing, to which she replied that she had heard him perform on the TV show Aarohi and praised his voice. Lataji's encouragement was a testament to her character, especially towards newcomers. She also warned him about Khayyam's reputation for perfectionism, particularly his tendency to request 'one more safety take.'

As the recording progressed, Khayyam's voice came through the headphones, praising Lataji's performance. True to Lataji's prediction, Khayyam soon entered the booth to request a safety take. The ghazal they recorded has since become iconic, with even Talat's mentor, Mehdi Hasan, acknowledging his performance. Talat attributes the success of the song to the combined brilliance of Khayyam and Lataji.