Remembering Lata Mangeshkar on her Birth Anniversary

On this day, 94 years ago, India’s legendary singer, Lata Mangeshkar, was born. She was one of the most renowned playback singers of India post-Independence. 

The “Nightingale of India” was born to a Marathi family on September 28, 1929, in Madhya Pradesh. At birth, her mother named her “Hema” but later changed it to “Lata”. She started her singing career in 1942, at the young age of 13. Since she was born to a family of talented musicians, she received her first singing lessons from her father. 

Like most famous artists, Lata faced some initial challenges. The first song sung by her, titled “Naachu Yaa Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari” for a Marathi movie Kiti Hasaal, was removed from the movie when it was released in 1942. In the initial days of her career, she also had to perform a few small acting roles in movies, which she did not quite enjoy.

Some of her most famous songs that we still listen to even today are “Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya” from the movie Mughal-e-Azam released in 1960, “Lag Jaa Gale” from Woh Kaun Thi? in 1962 and the patriotic song “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo”. 

She also served as a member of the Parliament in Rajya Sabha between 1999 and 2005. Lata Mangeshkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001. This made her the third Indian singer to receive India’s highest civilian honour. 

The prominent singer passed away on February 6, 2022, at the age of 92. During her lifetime, she recorded 50,000 songs in 14 languages. She had won a Guinness World Record for the same. Even after her death, she remains one of India’s most celebrated and loved singers.