Lata Mangeshkar, who was born in Indore city, has captivated the hearts of millions of people for centuries with her mystic voice.
In 2001, Lata Mangeshkar was granted India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, for singing songs in more than 36 languages throughout the course of her nearly nine-decade career. Lata has already received the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969, 1999, and 1989. She is also a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.
‘Kambakht besuri hee nahee hoti,’ as Bade Ghulam Ali Khan said of the one and only Lata Mangeshkar.
When she was five years old, she began acting in her father’s musical productions. He was a classical singer and theatre actor. After her father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, died in 1942, Lata Mangeshkar began singing to support her family.
Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, was moved to tears by Lata Mangeshkar’s patriotic song Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon, which was sung on Republic Day in 1963 at the National Stadium in New Delhi in honour of those who died fighting for India in the 1962 India-China conflict.
In the film Majboor, Lata’s first breakout cinema success was the song “Dil Mera Toda, Mujhe Kahin Ka Na Chhora” (1948). Lata’s songs “Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya” from “Mughal-e-Azam” (1960) and “Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh” from “Dil Apna Preet Parai” (1960) both received critical praise.
Pakeezah, Meena Kumari’s final film, was released in 1972. Lata Mangeshkar sang “Chalte Chalte” and “Inhi Logon Ne,” which were composed by Ghulam Mohammed and performed by Lata Mangeshkar.
Lata Mangeshkar has performed several performances in India and abroad, including various charity events, since the 1970s. In 1974, she gave her debut international concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, making her the first Indian to do so.
Lata sang several of Laxmikant–biggest Pyarelal’s hits in the 1980s, including “Sheesha Ho Ya Dil Ho” in Asha (1980), “Tu Kitne Baras Ka” in Karz (1980), “Kitna Aasan Hai” in Dostana (1980), “Hum Ko Bhi Gham” in Aas Paas (1980), “Mere Naseeb Mein” in Naseeb (1980).
