Lata Mangeshkar – The Voice of India

Lata Mangeshkar born September 28, 1929 is a singer from India. Focusing mainly on Hindi film music, she is considered one of the foremost Indian vocalists of all time. She has sung in over twenty major Indian languages and has been deemed the Nightingale of India, an honorary name also used for Sarojini Naidu and M. S. Subbulakshmi. Popular singer Asha Bhosle happens to be one of her sisters.

Lata Mangeshkar is the only second Indian singer to have received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour,the other being M. S. Subbulakshmi. In fact, no other Indian singer of non-classical music has been awarded anything higher than the Padma Bhushan,the nation’s third highest civilian honour as of April 2007.

Childhood

Mangeshkar was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh to a classical singer and theatre actor named Dinanath Mangeshkar and his second wife named Shudhmati Mangeshkar (also known as Mai Mangeshkar). The Mangeshkars were a middle-class Maharashtrian family. Lata was the firstborn child, to be followed by siblings Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Mangeshkar.

Raised in Maharashtra, at the age of 5 Mangeshkar started working as an actress in several plays known as “sangeet nataks” in which her father was performing. Her father also started giving her singing lessons. Dinanath’s recitals and lessons left a strong impression on his daughter, as did the music of K.L. Saigal, who was her father’s favorite singer and her idol.

Filmfare Awards

The Filmfare Awards for playback singing first started in 1958. In 1956, the song ‘Rasik Balma’ from the film Chori Chori won the Best Song Filmfare Award. Lata refused to sing it live in protest of absence of a Playback Singer category. The category was finally introduced in 1958. Though, separate awards for male & female singers were introduced later on.

Lata Mangeshkar monopolized the best female playback singer award from 1958 to 1966. In 1969, Lata made the unusual gesture of giving up Filmfare awards in order to promote fresh talent.

* 1958 – Aaja Re Pardesi from Madhumati

* 1962 – Kahi Deep Jale Kahi Dil from Bees Saal Baad

* 1965 – Tumhi Mere Mandir Tumhi Meri Pooja from Khandan

* 1969 – Aap Mujhe Achhe Lagne Lage from Jeene Ki Raah

* 1993 – Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

* 1993 – Filmfare felicitated by the Maharashra Government for completion of 50 years.

* 1994 – Filmfare Special Award for Didi Tera Devar Deewana from Hum Aapke Hai KaunNational Awards

* 1972 – Best Female Playback Singer for Parichay

* 1975 – Best Female Playback Singer for Kora Kaagaz

* 1990 – Best Female Playback Singer for Lekin

Maharashtra State Award

* 1966 – Best Playback Singer for Sadhi Mansa (Marathi)

* 1967 – Best Playback Singer for Jait Re Jait

Bengal Film Journalist’s Association Award

All Best Female Playback Singer

* 1964 – for Woh Kaun Thi

* 1967 – for Milan

* 1968 – for Raja Aur Rank

* 1969 – for Saraswati Chandra

* 1970 – for Do Raaste

* 1971 – for Tere Mere Sapne

* 1973 – for Marjina Abdulla (Bengali)

* 1973 – for Abhimaan

* 1975 – for Kora Kagaz.

* 1981 – for Ek Duje Ke Liye

* 1983 – A Portrait Of Lataji

* 1985 – for Ram Teri Ganga Maili.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lata_Mangeshkar

Lata Mangeshkar – The Voice of India