By Subhash K Jha

In no mood to celebrate, Lataji has quietly launched her music label L. M. Music with an album of Bhajans dedicated to Swami Samarth Of Akkalkot.

The lavish launch party that was planned for 18 November was indefinitely postponed after Balasaheb Thackeray's death. Interestingly Lataji sings with her youngest sister Usha after many years. The two sisters sang a number of hit film songs in the 1950s and 60s like Apalam chaplam (Azad), Kis kaaran kamini sharmaye (Chandan Ka Palna) and Bahe jaiye na rani (Sabse Bda Rupaiya).

Subsequently Lataji elected to keep a discreet distance to allow her youngest sibling to blossom as a solo singer.

Now the eldest born of the Mangeshkar family and the youngest have come together to sing for the first album on Lataji's own label.

Says Lataji, `It is always a pleasure to sing with Usha. She's a fine singer in her own right. We've come together again because of the solemnity of the occasion, Swami Samarth is a much-revered saint from Akkalkot. `

Mayuresh Pai, a young talented composer and a huge fan of Lataji, has composed the Bhajans.

The album on the Nightingale's new label has gone quietly into the market.

Says Lataji, `Our release function had to be put off. 2012 was not a good year for me. We will have a lavish function in January 2013. But we had to release the Mahamantra album for Swami Samarth. It was a commitment. We had to deliver within a time-frame. `

About the label LM Music Lataji says shyly, `It's a name suggested by everyone in the family. I went along with it. I've no interest in using my name for anything. `