Queen of melody
Lata Mangeshkar will be singing once again after a four-year break from films.
Paramjit Singh recounts the life and works of the legendary singer, whose birthday falls on September 28
Lata will be singing the title track of Sunjay Sharma’s
Dunno Y...Na Jaane Kyun
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Throughout the
last six decades, she has reigned the Indian film industry as
the queen of melody, unchallenged and unrivalled. She is
undoubtedly a living legend as her contribution of thousands of
evergreen and melodious songs in various languages to the film
music is unique. She is still the most loved, highly admired and
widely heard female singer of Bollywood. The recipient of many
prestigious awards and honours, this persona of perfection is
none other than Lata Mangeshkar.
Lata, who had
taken a four-year hiatus from films, is singing the title track
"Pal mein rishte badal jaate hain" of Sunjay
Sharma’s Dunno Y...Na Jaane Kyun.
The granddaughter
of Ganesh Bhatt, a temple priest at a village called Mangesh,
near Goa, and daughter of Dinanath Mangeshkar, a noted
dramatist, was born on September 28, 1929, at Indore. During her
early childhood, Lata enjoyed prosperity at home as her father
was the sole owner of Balwant Sangeet Natak Mandli, having a
regular income of nearly Rs 16,000 per month.
Lata’s childhood
name was Hridya, which was later changed to Lata because "Latika",
a play written and performed by her father had earned a grand
success at that time.
In 1931 came the
first talkie Alam Ara. But this marvellous achievement of
Indian cinema opened the doors of misfortune for Lata’s
family. During that period, Dinanath Mangeshkar, too, tried, his
luck making a film, Andheri Duniya. But the film turned
out to be a flop and he lost everything after that.
In 1938, Lata’s
family shifted to Pune and her father joined Akashwani, Pune, as
a singer. When he passed away in 1942, Lata was barely 13 years
old then. Lata had to work to support her family. She got the
job of a junior artist in a film company. Her debut film was Pehli
Manglagore, a Marathi film, in which she sang three songs,
too. It was 10 days of her father’s death when she faced the
camera for the first time. Later, she joined Praful Pictures at
a salary of Rs 60 per month and worked both as an actor and a
singer in Chimukla Sansar (1943), Gaja Bhao
(1944), Badi Maa (1945), Subhdra (1945), Jeevan
Yatra (1946) and Mandir (1948).
In 1947, Lata
gained popularity for her thumri "Paa lagon kar
jori" in Aap Ki Sewa Mein. She came in contact
with music director Ghulam Haider, who signed her for Majboor.
The film turned to be a blockbuster. After Majboor, her
career really took off and she received much praise for her
songs in superhits like Barsaat, Mahal, Andaaz and
Badi Behan.
Lata learnt music
from masters like Ustaad Amanat Ali, Ustaad Aman Ali and Pt
Tulsi Dass. The songs she sang for films like Baiju Bawra,
Mughal-e-Azam, Aag, Kohinoor, Shri 420 and Madhumati in
the 1960s were hits. The following decades saw her singing in
films like Maya, Pakeezah, Sharmeeli, Parichay, Sholay,
Mukaddar ka Sikander, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Maine Pyaar Kiya,
Heena, Chandni, Lamhe, Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun, Dilwale Dulhaniya
Le Jayenge, Darr, Lekin, Zubeida, Maachis, Abhimaan, Zanjeer,
Veer-Zara, Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham and many more.
Besides being
conferred with the National Award thrice and the Officer de la
Legion d’Honneur medal, the highest French decoration, there
are numerous other awards in her kitty. She has won the Filmfare
Award seven times and was winner of the Maharashtra Government
Award twice. She was also honoured with the Bharat Ratna (2001),
Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989), Padma Bhushan (1968), Padma
Vibhushan (1999) and Rajiv Gandhi Award (1999). She is also the
recipient of Zee Cinema Lifetime Achievement Award (1999),
Stardust Lifetime Achievement Award (2000) and Noorjahan Award
(2001).
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