Biography :
Lata Mangeshkar, born Hema Mangeshkar on 1929, was an iconic Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential singers in the Indian subcontinent.
Her voice served as a unifying element across South Asia, and she earned various honorific titles such as the “Queen of Melody,” “Nightingale of India,” and “Voice of the Millennium.”
Career :
Mangeshkar’s remarkable career spanned eight decades, during which she recorded songs in over thirty-six Indian languages and a few foreign languages, with a primary focus on Hindi, Bengali, and Marathi.
Her contributions to the Indian music industry earned her prestigious awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989 and the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 2001.
She received acclaim for her versatility, recording songs in various genres and collaborating with numerous music directors. Some of her notable associations include working with Ghulam Haider, S. D. Burman, Shankar-Jaikishan, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, R. D. Burman, and many others.
Mangeshkar’s singing style evolved over the years, and she developed her own signature style, moving away from traditional mehfil-style performances.
In the 1970s, she ventured into live performances, holding concerts in India and abroad. Notably, she performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1974, marking a significant milestone in the recognition of playback singers in the mainstream music world.
Lata Mangeshkar’s illustrious career included collaborations with renowned composers, playback singers, and actors. Her songs in films like “Mughal-e-Azam,” “Madhumati,” and “Guide” became iconic, and her impact on the Indian music scene remains unparalleled. Beyond Hindi cinema, she also recorded songs in regional languages, contributing to the cultural diversity of Indian music.
As one of the most recorded artists in history, Mangeshkar left an indelible mark on the world of music. Her legacy continues to be celebrated, and her influence on subsequent generations of singers and musicians is immeasurable.