Lata Mangeshkar, the nightingale of India, passed away on February 6 at the age of 92. She was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital after testing postive for Covid-19. She was suffering from pneumonia as well. According to the hospital, she died because of multi-organ failure. She was a legendary star in the music industry of India. She was a part of Indian cinema for seven decades which she ruled with her melodious voice. She was the most loved and greatest female playback singer of India. The nation will observe two-day mourning in the memory of Lataji, the national flag will fly at half-mast for these two days. Here're some important facts about her life and journey:
Lata Mangeshkar was born September 28, 1929, to Pandit Deenanth and Shevanti in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Her father was a classical singer and a theatre actor and her mother was the second wife of Deenananth. Lata Mangeshkar continued the legacy of her father till date and is a known name all over the world now.
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She was born Hema Mangeshkar and was later replaced by Lata Mangeshkar by a character named Latika in a play of her father's theatre. She had four siblings Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar, Hridaynath, and Meena. She was the eldest of all her siblings.
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The Legendary star started singing at the age of five and studied fine arts of music with the well-known singers of that era Aman Ali Khan and Amanat Khan. She also acted for a play when she was five years old in her father's theatre play.
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The beginning of her career started with rejections as her voice was not considered apt for that time and was too thin. The music industry was in that era ruled by Noor Jehan and Shamshad Begum because of their heavy throats.
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Lata Mangeshkar's first song was "Naachu Ya Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari” in the year 1942. The song was for a Marathi movie Kiti Hasaal but the song, later on, was removed from the movie after the final cuts.
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In the year 1949 her song 'Aayega Aanewala' as a playback singer got sky-touching popularity in that era and from then her career of becoming the Nightingale of India today began. She never looked back from then. Music director Ghulam Haider was her Godfather as he believed in her talent. She has sung more than 25,000 songs in her seven decades of singing career.
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One of her best songs was 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo' which was a tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives and got martyred in the 1962 war. The song made the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru into tears in Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi. He said, 'she has moved him into tears'.
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In 1974, the Guinness Book of world records listed Lata Ji as the most recorded artist. She was not only the fame of India but also the pride of our nation as the world all over loved her melody. She was the first-ever Indian who performed in London at the very famous and prestigious Royal Albert Hall. She was honored with the highest civilian award of France-Legion of Honour in 2007. She also received the highest civilian awards in India (Bharat Ratna), the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, multiple Filmfare, and National Film Awards.
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The singer believed that her voice best fit actress Saira Banu. Her last song as a playback singer was 'Saugandh Mujhe Is Mitti Ki', the song was released on March 30, 2019. The song was sung in appreciation for the Indian army and their service to the nation.
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She was nominated to Rajya Sabha and served the Upper House of Parliament from1999 to 2005. She did not even take salaries and houses provided to her.
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