Playback Singer

Lata Mangeshkar

Born 28 September 1929 · Madhya Pradesh — Died 6 February 2022

Recorded over a thousand Hindi film songs from 1942 to 2018, shaping Bollywood music.

📖Modern 🏛️Arts 📍Madhya Pradesh 🌐West India

Lata Mangeshkar was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Her contribution to the Indian music industry in a career spanning eight decades gained her honorific titles such as the "Queen of Melody" and "Voice of the Millennium".

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A detail that
surprised us

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Lata Mangeshkar never insured her vocal cords, calling her voice a divine gift and dismissing rumors about any insurance on her throat.

The Story

🎙️ In 1974, Lata Mangeshkar became the first Indian playback singer to perform at London's Royal Albert Hall, captivating audiences with three consecutive shows in a single evening.

Born in Indore in 1929, Lata lost her father, classical singer Deenanath Mangeshkar, at a young age, which led her to become the family's primary breadwinner through her singing career.

3Across her career, Lata recorded songs in over 36 Indian languages, including Hindustani, Bengali, and Marathi, showcasing a linguistic versatility rare among playback singers.

4🏆 In 1989, she received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and in 2001 was awarded the Bharat Ratna, becoming only the second singer to receive India's highest civilian honor.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1969

Padma Bhushan

1999

Padma Vibhushan

2001

Bharat Ratna

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Lata Mangeshkar always recorded her songs barefoot as a mark of respect for the recording studio, which she regarded as a temple, a practice rare even among classical musicians.

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Through the Years

8 photographs from the archives

Lata Mangeshkar in the 1942 film Pahili Mangalagaur early in her career (1942)

1942

Lata Mangeshkar with Bal Thackeray at the 70th Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards (2012)

Lata Mangeshkar at the Vishwashanti Kala Academy Award ceremony (2015)

Officials paying respects at Lata Mangeshkar's funeral held at Shivaji Park (2022)

Lata Mangeshkar affectionately known as Lata didi in a recent photograph (2023)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth

Birth in Indore, Madhya Pradesh

Born as Hema Mangeshkar in the princely state of Indore, daughter of classical singer Deenanath Mangeshkar.

1929

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Career

Career begins after father's death

Following Deenanath Mangeshkar's death, Lata began singing to support her family, launching her playback career.

c.1942

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Career

Royal Albert Hall performances

Performed three shows in one evening at London's Royal Albert Hall, marking a milestone for Indian singers abroad.

1974

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Award

Received Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Awarded India's highest award in cinema by the Government of India for her lifetime contribution to playback singing.

1989

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Award

Awarded Bharat Ratna

Received India's highest civilian honor, becoming only the second singer to be so recognized.

2001

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Death

Passed away at age 92

Lata Mangeshkar died, marking the end of an era in Indian music history.

2022

More moments to come...

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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories

01 / 04

👤PERSONAL

Despite a career spanning over 80 years, Lata Mangeshkar never listened to her own songs after release, fearing she would only hear imperfections in her singing.

Wikipedia

02 / 04

🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Lata Mangeshkar recorded songs in more than 36 Indian languages, including lesser-known ones, demonstrating unparalleled linguistic versatility for a playback singer.

Wikipedia

03 / 04

🏆ACHIEVEMENT

She performed three shows in one evening at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1974, an unusual feat for an Indian playback singer at the time.

Unpublished Interview with Late Lata Mangeshkar

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"I have no sense of fulfillment and no regrets. The only feeling I have is one of deep gratitude to God for his infinite kindness."

— Lata Mangeshkar

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons

Lata Mangeshkar Interview with Javed Akhtar | Lata Mangeshkar Latest News | CNN News18 Live

🌱 What changed because of them

Lata Mangeshkar's recordings in dozens of Indian languages helped standardize and popularize regional music on a national scale, influencing film music production practices. Her disciplined studio etiquette set professional standards for recording artists in India. The Bharat Ratna award she received legitimized playback singing as an art form worthy of the highest national honors.

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