MUMBAI: As we celebrate Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar’s 90th birthday, let’s have a look at some interesting facts about her.
- Daughter of the theatre legend, Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, Lata Mangeshkar was born with an innate musicality and showed her inclination from a very young age.
- Losing her father at an early age, forced her to start working early and look after her four siblings.
- She started as a child actor at the age of 13, however, she realized very early that her calling is only music and thus she decided to pursue it.
- She worked for a theatre company called Prafull Theatres, when she was young.
- She has four siblings-Asha Bhosle, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, and Meena Mangeshkar-among which she is the eldest.
- She is conferred upon the highest civilian award in India-Bharat Ratna, Dadasaheb Phalke Award-highest in Film Industry, and also highest award in France-Legion of Honour; along with many Filmfare and other awards.
- When Ghulam Haider, whom she considered to be her mentor, took her to a music director for the first time, the music director rejected her outright because he thought her voice is too thin. Offended and hurt, Ghulam Haider decided to make her the most sought-after singer. The rest is as then History.
- She was severely ill in the 60’s, suffering from a fatal disease called Diphtheria. So much was the intensity of the illness that her recovery was doubted, leave alone singing. But like a true legend, she came back and sang the song Kahin Deep Jale Kahi Dil from the movie Bees Saal Baad, composed by Hemant Kumar. Needless to add, the song won her a Filmfare award too.
- One of the first singers to stand up and fight for the cause of Royalty, Lata Mangeshkar had stopped working with Mohammad Rafi for over three years, as Rafi was in favour of the music labels
- Until now, Lata Mangeshkar has sung in 36 languages across India.
- She has composed music too, primarily for Marathi films, under the pseudonym Anandghan. Her song Airanichya Deva also won her a state award.
- She started a production company called Lata Mangeshkar films and produced movies like Lekin, based on girl child. Directed by Gulzar and music composition by her own brother Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar, the film starred Dimple Kapadia and Vinod Khanna in the lead role.
- Her range of genre includes Ghazals, love songs, devotional songs, cabarets, mujras. The singer has mastered every genre of music.
- From Meena Kumari to Sneha Ullal, her voice has been befitting to every female actor.
- She also opened a multi-facility hospital in Pune under the name of her father Master Deenanath Mangeshkar.
Here is wishing the legend a wonderful and a happy birthday!!
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