TLI Staff
New Delhi: Lata Mangeshkar, the legendary singer, who has been mesmerising generations of music lovers spanning seven decades with her melodious voice, has turned 90 today.
The gifted singer, who is also the recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Bharat Ratna, three national awards apart from several other honours, has recorded songs in over a thousand Hindi films. She has also crooned in over thirty-six regional Indian languages and foreign languages, primarily in Marathi, Hindi, and Bengali.
Veteran singer and Lata Mangeshkar’s younger sister Asha Bhosle took to Twitter to wish her Didi with a throwback picture from her archives. She wrote: “For me, everyday is special with Didi.”
For me, everyday is special with Didi. pic.twitter.com/QTo9RD0PbT
— ashabhosle (@ashabhosle) September 28, 2019
Indeed. Lata and Asha have three other siblings Meena Khadikar, Usha Mangeshkar, and Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
It was Lata who took responsibility for her family after her father’s death at the tender age of 13 and started her career in 1942. Vinayak Damodar Karnataki, the owner of Navyug Chitrapat movie company was a close friend of the Mangeshkar family and helped Lata establish a career in film industry.
Lata first sang Marathi number Naachu Yaa Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari, composed by Sadashivrao Nevrekar for Marathi movie Kiti Hasaal (1942), but the song did not make it to film’s final cut. Lata then did a small role in Marathi movie Pahili Mangalaa-gaur (1942) and also sang Natali Chaitraachi Navalaai. Lata Mangeshkar’s first Hindi song was Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal De Tu for the Marathi film Gajaabhaau (1943).
The singer shifted her base to Mumbai in 1945 and over the years lent her voice to thousands of iconic numbers that are still adored by music lovers. Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon, Gori Hai Kalaiyan, Dafli Wale, Ek Pyaar Ka Nagma Hai, Zindagi Ki Na Toote Ladi, songs of DDLJ, Dil To Pagal Hai, Lag Jaa Gale, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Bheegi Bheegi Raton, Tere Bina Zindagi Se, Kora Kagaz Tha Ye Dil Mera, Aap Ki Aankhon Mein, Teri Bindiya Re, Baahon Mein Chale Aao and many others.
The list of the immortal songs is just endless.