Namaste, Lata Mangeshkar Death India?s Nightingale, Dies at 92

Lata Mangeshkar was born in Madhya Pradesh on September 28, 1929, with music in her blood. Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, her father, was a musician and theatre actor. Mangeshkar collaborated with music legends of all generations throughout her career, delivering memorable songs that are still relevant today. Mangeshkar, who was known for her versatility, worked in various cinema genres.

Lata Mangeshkar was mentored by Master Vinayak, a 1930s director, and Ghulam Haider after going to Mumbai. She then had a particular bond with composer Madan Mohan, with whom she wrote some of her most memorable songs.

“With Madan Mohan, I had a particular bond that went beyond that of a singer and a music composer. “This was a brother-sister relationship,” she later explained, citing Jahan Ara’s “Woh chup rahe” as their favorite duet.

The legend Lata Mangeshkar, the Nightingale of India, departed us for her heavenly abode on Sunday, February 6. She was 92 years old at the time. In an illustrious career spanning eight decades, the renowned vocalist had established an exquisite legacy.

She sang in 36 languages and covered a wide range of genres. Her voice had remained the ideal model for generations of composers and listeners. Lata’s grandeur, according to frequent collaborator and acclaimed lyricist Javed Akhtar, “cannot be encompassed by any other adjective but her name.”

Gulzar’s famous lines: Naam Gum Jayega ? Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hain brilliantly encapsulated her unwavering love for music. She was taken to a Mumbai hospital’s ICU ward after testing positive for COVID-19 in
January.

Three National Awards were bestowed upon Mangeshkar, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989. She was given the Bharat Ratna in 2001 for her contribution to the arts, making her the second vocalist to earn this honor after late Carnatic music legend M S Subbulakshmi. She also received the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan awards.

Lata Mangeshkar has been credited as a music director and providing her voice to many hit songs. Mohityanchi Manjula (1963), Maratha Tituka Melvava (1964), Sadhi Manase (1965), and Tambadi Mati (1966) were among the films for which she composed music (1969).

Vaadal, Jhaanjhar, Kanchan Ganga, and Lekin are among Mangeshkar’s films.