An artiste born but once in centuries: Tributes pour in for singing legend Lata Mangeshkar
New Delhi, February 6
Prominent Bollywood personalities mourned the passing away of singing icon Lata Mangeshkar on Sunday.
The 92-year-old singer had tested positive for Covid with mild symptoms and was admitted on January 8 to Breach Candy Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) where she was being treated by Dr Pratit Samdani and his team of doctors.
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Mangeshkar’s condition had improved in January and she was taken off the ventilator but her health deteriorated on Saturday. She died on Sunday morning due to multiple organ failure.
From the film industry, actors Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn and filmmaker Hansal Mehta paid tributes to the singer.
“The whole world is sad, Can’t believe you have left us !!! We will miss you lata ji pray for your soul be in peace,” wrote Dharmendra on Twitter.
Bachchan paid tributes to Mangeshkar, whom he described as “The voice of a million centuries”.
“… her voice resounds now in the Heavens! Prayers for calm and peace,” he wrote on his blog.
Big B’s blog:
https://srbachchan.tumblr.com/
Lalit Pandit of the composer duo Jatin-Lalit, who worked with the singer on films like “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” and “Mohabattein”, said she had a “fantastic sense of humour” and would always remember things.
“Her memory was vivid. If she met you, she’d remember you, if you shared something with her, there’s no way she’s forgetting it,” he told PTI.
“She was a jewel. There was no other Lata Mangeshkar, there is none and there won’t be any. I will celebrate her life, today and always,” he added.
Calling Mangeshkar India’s national treasure, Azmi said her voice lit up our lives, gave us solace when we were sad, gave strength when we were low .
“U will be missed our nightingale. But ur voice shall live with us forever … #RIPLataji,” wrote Salman Khan.
Dixit-Nene remembered Mangeshkar as the one with the “angelic voice” that made us all swoon and fall in love.
“Hearing Lata Tai’s melodies over the years, remembering her image in 2 choti’s & that childlike attribute has left like an imprint that will never ever leave our hearts,” she said.
“’Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hain, Gar Yaad Rahe’… And how can one forget such a voice! Deeply saddened by the passing away of Lata Mangeshkar ji, my sincere condolences and prayers,” Kumar tweeted.
Devgn wrote, “An icon forever. I will always savour the legacy of her songs. How fortunate were we to have grown up listening to Lataji’s songs…”
Mehta said “the heavens are blessed” to be in the company of the Nightingale of India.
AR Rahman, who composed Mangeshkar’s song “Jiya Jale” from “Dil Se”, posted a photo with the veteran and wrote, “Love, respect and prayers.”
He later made a YouTube to share some anecdotes with Lata Mageshkar. He called her “a part of the soul, a part of the consciousness of India, Indian-ness, Hindustani music, Urdu poetry, Hindi poetry, Bengali and so many other languages she sang in”. He said “this void will remain forever”.
Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Kareena Kapoor Khan posted their tributes on Instagram.
“Sad sad day for India as our nightingale leaves her mortal body. Lataji’s voice has immortalised her for ever,” Sharma wrote.
“The music will never stop,” Chopra Jonas captioned the photo.
“Rest in glory #LataMangeshkar,” Kapoor Khan wrote in her Instagram Stories.
Filmmaker SS Rajamouli also condoled Mangeshkar’s demise.
“She will live on in our hearts forever. My heartfelt tribute to the nightingale of India.”
U will be missed our nightingale. But ur voice shall live with us forever … #RIPLataji pic.twitter.com/cCrNfj29dG
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) February 6, 2022
Several top singers from the Tamil and Telugu film industries also paid rich tributes to legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar.
Singer Shreya Ghoshal, on Twitter, said, “Feeling numb. Devastated. Yesterday was Saraswati Puja & today Ma took her blessed one with her. Somehow it feels that even the birds, trees & wind are silent today. Swar Kokila Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar ji, your divine voice will echo till eternity. Rest in peace. Om Shanti.”
Feeling numb. Devastated. Yesterday was Saraswati Puja & today Ma took her blessed one with her. Somehow it feels that even the birds, trees & wind are silent today.
Swar Kokila Bharat Ratna #LataMangeshkar ji your divine voice will echo till eternity. Rest in peace. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/UvUDTPu1eq— Shreya Ghoshal (@shreyaghoshal) February 6, 2022
Singer Vijay Prakash took to Twitter to recall some precious moments he had spent with the legend. He said, “Every song sung by Lata Mangeshkar ji is a university by itself for generations to learn the nuances of singing. A true legend is no more with us. I had the privilege of meeting Lata Didi a few times and taking her blessings. Will cherish those memories all my life. Om Shanti.”
Every song sung by Lata Mangeshkar ji is a university by itself for generations to learn the nuances of singing. A true legend is no more with us 🙏🏻
I had the privilege of meeting Lata Didi few times and taking her blessings. Will cherish those memories all my life…Om Shanti 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/hFm1yACr9a— vijay prakash (@rvijayprakash) February 6, 2022
Singer Chinmayi too paid tributes to the all-time great. She said, “It really is the end of an era. Even as Lata ji passes on from this physical realm – she will always live on and her voice will always be with us.” The singer also recalled a particular time when she had met Lata Mangeshkar during the recording of ‘Rang De Basanti’.
“That one time. Rang De Basanti. I don’t think too many people know now that she loved photography. She’s said to have had a pretty fantastic collection of professional cameras and on that particular day, she was talking about a new camera purchase too.”
That one time. Rang De Basanti.
I dont think too many people know now that she loved photography. She’s said to have had a pretty fantastic collection of professional cameras and on this particular day she was talking about a new camera purchase too 🥲 pic.twitter.com/wioGEaHoZ5— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) February 6, 2022