Some residents who still feel they should have not objected to this project say that she was misled by a handful of rich, privileged people who felt this flyover would cut their exclusive access to this road – if these elite had objected the government would have shot down their objections but no one could have said ‘no’ to Lata Mangeshkar. Hence, they used her. But why did she willingly submit herself to their misplaced cause?She really had no personal reason for such objections. But it was not just elite residents but also politicians who were allowed to manipulate her. Once I spoke to her for over five minutes and in that period, she also asked me to send her lawyer a message on her behalf. Now, interestingly this proved to be a good piece of evidence to be used when she backtracked.She had said this flyover would cause her a lot of distress and it would block her balcony, apart from the traffic sound that would damage her vocal cords. This piece of news appeared in the papers and for four days all leading FM radio channels in the city ran talk shows on this controversy to ask citizens if she was right. She had said she would leave the city for good if the flyover project was undertaken.Much to the surprise of the RJs and chagrin of Mangeshkar, most respondents said they will go over to her house to help her pack her bags and bid her leave. At that time, she had become a confidant of Raj Thackeray, chief of Maharashtra Navanirman Sena party. It was decided a clarification in her name would be issued, which the party did and was faxed from their party office. Could she not have done so herself?I, for one knew she was dissembling. For, prior to this controversy, I had visited Mangeshkar’s house to officially shoot for a talk show on music and seen her studio which had excellent sound proof panelling. You could not hear anything from outside that room. So there could have been truth in what the other residents said – she could have used her power and position for the benefit of millions of Mumbaikars who have been suffering on a daily basis in huge traffic jams on Peddar road. But she didn’t.In fact, after this incident, many disgruntled Mumbaikars started a horn bajao campaign outside her building, Prabhu Kunj, day and night. It caused a lot of mirth among kaali peeli taxi drivers who are among the biggest sufferers of the day long traffic jams. This anger against Mangeshkar diminished with her aging.
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