Lata Mangeshkar is one of the most iconic artists India has ever seen. Regarded by many as the finest female playback singer of the Indian film industry, Lata was born on 28th September, 1929 to an orthodox Maharashtrian family.
Music was ingrained in her from a very early age by her father Deenanath Mangeshkar, who was a very famous classical singer. Lata’s mother Shudhamati was a housewife, while her four siblings- Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle and Veena Mangeshkar- all are accomplished artists. While Mangeshkar did imbibe important musical skills though her father’s daily classical recitals, it was popular film singer K.L. Saigal who inspired her to take up singing as a serious artistic profession.
Lata Mangeshkar started her musical lessons at the age of five. However, it was not until 1942 when she began her career professionally after her father’s sudden demise. Her career spans 69 years and is still going strong.
Mangeshkar was featured in the Guinness Book of World Records from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world. The claim was that she had recorded approximately 25,000 solo, duet, and chorus-backed songs in 20 Indian languages between 1948 to 1974 (30,000 songs between 1948 and 1987, according to the 1987 edition). Throughout her career, she has sung in over 36 regional and international languages.
In addition to her awesome singing portfolio, Lata was also a popular music composer and film producer. She even won the Maharashtra government’s Best Music Director Award for Sadhi Manase back in 1965.
Lata Mangeshkar has won several awards and honors, including
'Padma Bhushan' in 1969, 'Padma Vibhushan' in 1999, 'Dada Saheb Phalke Award' in 1989, 'Maharashtra Bhushan Award' in 1997, 'NTR National Award' in 1999, 'Bharat Ratna' in 2001, 'ANR National Award' in 2009, 'Tree National Film Awards', 12 Bengal Film Journalist's Association Awards, She has also won four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards and also Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.
In 1984, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh instituted the Lata Mangeshkar Award in honor of Lata Mangeshkar. The State Government of Maharashtra also instituted a Lata Mangeshkar Award in 1992.
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