Lata Mangeshkar Born 28 September 1929 is an Indian playback singer and music director. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. She has recorded songs in over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional Indian languages and foreign languages, though primarily in Marathi, Hindi, Bengali and Assamese.
The Dadasaheb Phalke Award was bestowed on her in 1989 by the Government of India. In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour and is only the second vocalist, after M. S. Subbulakshmi, to receive this honour. France conferred on her its highest civilian award (Officer of the Legion of Honour) in 2007.
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Real Name |
Hema Mangeshkar |
Nickname |
‘Swar Kokila’ (The Nightingale of Bollywood) |
Profession |
Playback Singer |
Physical Stats & More |
Height |
in centimeters- 155 cm
in meters- 1.55 m
in Feet Inches- 5’ 1” |
Eye Colour |
Black |
Hair Colour |
Salt & Pepper |
Music |
Category |
Playback Singing |
Music Teacher(s) |
Deenanath Mangeshkar (father)
Ustad Amanat Ali Khan
Amanat Khan Devaswale
Ghulam Haidar
Pandit Tulsidas Sharma |
Debut |
Hindi Song- “Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal De Tu;” Film- Gajaabhaau (Marathi, 1943) |
Awards/Honours |
National Film Awards
1972: Best Female Playback Singer for songs of the film Paricha
1974: Best Female Playback Singer for songs of the film Kora Kagaz
1990: Best Female Playback Singer for songs of the film Lekin…
Filmfare Awards
1959: Best Female Playback Singer for the song- “Aaja Re Pardesi” from Madhumati
1963: Best Female Playback Singer for the song- “Kahi Deep Jale Kahi Dil” from Bees Saal Baad
1966: Best Female Playback Singer for the song- “Tumhi Mere Mandir Tumhi Meri Pooja” from Khandan
1970: Best Female Playback Singer for the song- “Aap Mujhe Achhe Lagne Lage” from Jeene Ki Raah
1994: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
1995: Filmfare Special Award for “Didi Tera Devar Deewana” from Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!
Maharashtra State Film Awards
1966: Best Playback Singer for Sadhi Mansa
1977: Best Playback Singer for Jait Re Jait
1997: Maharashtra Bhushan Award
2001: Maharashtra Ratna (First Recipient)
Government of India Awards
1969: Padma Bhushan
1989: Dada Saheb Phalke Award
1999: Padma Vibhushan
2001: Bharat Ratna
2008: “One Time Award for Lifetime Achievement” honour to commemorate the 60th anniversary of India’s independence
Note: Along with these, she has many other awards, honours, achievements to her name |
Personal Life |
Date of Birth |
28 September 1929 (Saturday) |
Age (as in 2019) |
90 Years |
Birthplace |
Indore, Indore State, Central India Agency, British India |
Zodiac sign |
Libra |
Nationality |
Indian |
Hometown |
Mumbai, India |
School |
School Drop-out |
College |
Did not attend |
Educational Qualification |
She attended a school in Mumbai; only for a single day |
Religion |
Hinduism |
Ethnicity |
Maharashtrian |
Political Inclination |
None; in an interview, she said, “I am not affiliated to any political party.” |
Hobbies |
Watching Cricket, Riding Bicycles |
Major Controversies |
• At one point in time, differences arose between Lata Mangeshkar & Mohammad Rafi over the royalty issue as Lata wanted a share in the music albums while Rafi advocated for the salary only.
• Differences also arose between Lata and S. D. Burman and for 7 years they refused to work with each other. |
Favourite Things |
Food |
Spicy Foods, Coca Cola |
Politician |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
Actor(s) |
Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Dev Anand |
Actresse(s) |
Nargis, Meena Kumari |
Music Director(s) |
Ghulam Haidar, Madan Mohan, Laxmikant Pyarelal, A. R. Rahman |
Film |
Kismet (1943), James Bond Films |
Sports |
Cricket |
Cricketer |
Sachin Tendulkar |
Holiday Destination |
Los Angeles |
Boys, Affairs and More |
Marital Status |
Unmarried |
Take a look at Lata Mangeshkar’s musical journey
In 1942, her father’s untimely death put the onus of providing for the family on her shoulders. Pandit Deenanath’s friend Master Vinayak took care of the Mangeshkar family and offered her a role in the film Badi Maa. In 1949, she moved to Bombay (now Mumbai), where she began learning Hindustani music from Ustad Aman Ali Khan.
Lata has worked with several legendary music directors including Madan Mohan, R D Burman, the duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal and A R Rahman. She teamed up with Madan Mohan for the 1960s like Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha from Anpadh, Lag Jaa Gale and Naina Barse Rim Jhim from Woh Kaun Thi?. Lata has sung over 700 songs for Laxmikant-Pyarelal, which include Mere Naseeb Mein from Naseeb and Sheesha Ho Ya Dil Ho from Asha.
Songs like Gata Rahe Mera Dil, and Piya Tose in Guide (1965) were recorded for S D Burman.
Lata sang R D Burman’s first and last songs – in Chote Nawaab (1961) and Kuch Na Kaho in 1942: A Love Story in 1994. Her collaborations with A R Rahman resulted in popular songs like Luka Chupi in Rang de Basanti (2006) and O Paalanhaare in the movie, Lagaan (2001).
From Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya from Mughal-e-Azam (1960) to Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh, from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960) to Rangeela Re from Prem Pujari (1970) or even Jiya Jale in Dil Se, the singer has lent her voice to a number of timeless classics over the years.
In 2012, Lata Mangeshkar launched her own music label called LM Music. Her most recent release (March 2019) was the song Saugandh Mujhe Is Mitti Ki, composed by Mayuresh Pai, which is a tribute to the Indian army and India.
Awards and recognitions
Lata Mangeshkar has received several awards and accolades during her eight-decade-long career. In 1974, she became the first Indian to perform at the Royal Albert Hall. She is the recipient of three National Film Awards, 15 Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards, four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards, two Filmfare Special Awards, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award and many more. Lata Mangeshkar was bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989. In 2001, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. The government of France conferred on her its highest civilian award (Officer of the Legion of Honour) in 2007.
Along with these, Lata Mangeshkar holds the distinction of being the most recorded artist in the history of Indian music in Guinness Record in 1974. The Indian government honoured her with the Daughter of the Nation award on her 90th birthday in September 2019.
The book entitled “Lata Mangeshkar: A Musical Journey” contains little known facts intertwined with the story of her life in music, struggles, successes and her reign as the Queen of Hindi music from the 1940s to the present day.
On November 11, 2019 Lata Mangeshkar was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital, in South Mumbai after she complained of difficulty in breathing. According to latest reports, while she is recovering gradually, her condition remains critical.