Indian legendary singer and music composer Lata Mangeshkar, 92, passed away today in Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital at 8-12 am due to multi-organ failure. In her passing away, the nation has lost the voice of millions, a divine and humane soul who stirred the nation and the Indian music world spread over seven decades of her career through the melodious Surs not limiting herself to a specific genre, but spanning over filmi music, classical, ghazals, bhajans, folk music, etc.

As a mark of tribute to the Melody of Queen, the national flag will be flown at half-mast for two days while the funeral with full state honours is scheduled to be held today evening at 6-30 pm (1830 hrs). Following her demise, a barrage of condolence messages and tributes poured in from all quarters and walks of life.

Let us looks at some facts about Indian Legendary Singer Lata Mangeshkar, also known as the Nightingale of India and Queen of Melody.

Lata Mangeshkar (1929-2022)

Lata Mangeshkar was born as Hema Mangeshkar on September 28, 1929, to Deenanath Mangeshkar, a renowned Marathi theatre actor-cum-Hindustani classical vocalist and Shevanti in Indore (present-day Indore in Madhya Pradesh).

Lata Mangeshkar was the eldest child of the family followed by Meena Khadikar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar, and Hridaynath Mangeshkar are her siblings who have established themselves as accomplished singers and musicians.

The Queen of Melody who was named ‘Hema’ on her birth was renamed as ‘Lata’ after a female character, Latika, in one of her father’s plays.

Lata Mangeshkar Career And Journey

Lata Mangeshkar received her lesson on music from none other than her father Deenanath Mangeshkar, who died when the former was just 13 years old.

Lata Mangeshkar began her career as a singer in the 1940s. She sang the song “Naachu Yaa Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari” for a Marathi movie titled Kiti Hasaal (1942), which unfortunately did not find its place in the final cut. However, in the same year, Lata sang “Natali Chaitraachi Navalaai” song for the Marathi movie “Pahili Mangalaa-gaur” in which she also played a cameo.

Lata Mangeshkar sang her first Hindi song “Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal De Tu” in 1943 for the Marathi film Gajaabhaau.

She moved to Mumbai in 1945 and obtained her lessons in Hindustani classical music from Ustad Aman Ali Khan of Bhindibazaar Gharana and sang the first Hindi-movie song “Paa Lagoon Kar Jori” for the movie Aap Ki Seva Mein (1946).

However, Lata Mangeshkar’s first major break came through the song “Dil Mera Toda, Mujhe Kahin Ka Na Chhora” for the movie Majboor (1948) through the music director Ghulam Haider.

Since then, Late Mangeshkar never looked back and emerged as the voice of India recording over 30,000 songs in 36 Indian languages and a few foreign languages, with Hindi and Marathi as her primary stay.

Lata Mangeshkar Awards And Honours

Lata Mangeshkar was a recipient of numerous awards and prestigious honours. In 1969, the legendary singer was awarded India’s third-highest civilian award – Padma Bhushan. Later in 1987, the playback singer was bestowed with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. In 1974, Lata Mangeshkar became the first Indian to perform at Royal Albert Hall, London.

She was also a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award in 1999 and was conferred with India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna in the year 2001.

Lata Mangeshkar was also conferred with France’s highest civilian award, ‘Officier de la Legion d’Honneur’ (Officer of the Legion of Honour) in the year 2009.

In addition to the above, Lata Mangeshkar also earned herself honorific titles like the Queen of Melody, Nightingale of India, and Voice of the Millennium for her immense contribution to the world of music and Indian cinema.

Lata Mangeshkar was also a recipient of three National Film Awards, four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards, two Filmfare Special Awards, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, 15 Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards, and many more.

End Of An Era

Lata Mangeshkar breathed her last on February 6, 2022 at the age of 92 from multi-organ failure after recovering from COVID-19 following 28 days of treatment at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital.

The Queen of Melody may have moved to the heavenly abode, but her blissful voice would remain to engage us forever. RIP Lataji!