Bharat Ratna
MadeIndiaProud
Lata Mangeshkar was born in the princely state of Indore,
which is now a part of present state of Madhya Pradesh on September 28, 1929.
Her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar was a classical singer and theatre artist.
Lata is the oldest of all her siblings. Her music career started as early as
the age of five, when she started assisting her father, in his musical plays.
Her father passed away when she was merely 13 and then her struggle in the real
world began.
During the early 1940s, she was mentored by eminent music
personalities like Ustad Amanat Ali Khan who gave her the basic training in
Hindustani Classical Music, also Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Later she was also
mentored by Ghulam Haider Sahab, who not only supported her but gave her a
break in his film “Majboor” (1948) with the song ‘Dil Mera Toda’. In her
earlier days she was often shunned by critics as ‘thin-voiced’ and was said to
replicate the voice of reputed singer Noor Jehan. Her most prominent hit of
that decade was “Aayega Aanewala” (Mahal;1949).
1950s was a very lucrative period for Lata Mangeshkar. She
managed to bag work with most prominent music directors of those times like S.D
Burman, Khayyam, Shankar-Jaikishan, Naushad, Hemanta Kumar and
Anandji-Kalyanji. She sang for epic films “Baiju Bawra” (1952),
“Mughal-e-Azam”(1960), “Shree420” (1955), “Chori Chori”(1956), “Devdas”(1955),
“Madhumati”(1958). Her song “Aaja Re Pardesi” had become a huge hit that year.
Lata Mangeshkar in the 1950s had set herself as quite a name and her popularity
just grew in the next decades to come.
1960s began with hit films for Lata like Mughal-e-Azam. Her
songs “Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh” and “Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil” have become
evergreen classics. In 1963, Mangeshkar sang “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” in front
of Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru which moved him to tears. The song was
composed in the context of the Sino-Indian War. This was a period of rich
collaborations for Lata, as she reunited with S. D. Burman and continued her
alliance with music composer Madan Mohan and
Laxmikant-Pyarelal, belting out popular numbers like “Aap Ki Nazron Ne
Samjha” (Anpadh 1962), “Gata Rahe Mera Dil”, “Piya Tose” and “Aaj Phir Jine Ki
Tammana Hai” (Guide 1965), “Tu Jahaa Chalega” (Mera Saaya 1966), “Hothon Pe
Aisi Baat” (Jewel Thief 1967), “Naina Barse Rim Jhim Rim Jhim” and another
track “Lag Ja Gale” (Woh Kaun Thi? 1964). She worked with R. D. Burman in Pati
Patni (1966), Abhilasha (1969), Bhoot
Bangla (1965) and Baharon Ke Sapne (1967). She play backed for Marathi films
and for Hemant Kumar and Sahil Chowdhury composed music in many Bengali films.
A fruitful era for Lata, the 70’s saw her recording
memorable pieces like, “Rangeela Re” (Prem Pujari 1970), “Piya Bina” (Abhiman
1973), “Inhi Logo Ne” and “Chalte Chalte” (Pakeeza 1972) and “Khilte Hain Gul
Yahaan” (Sharmeelee 1971). She sang in some of the hit movies of the time for
R.D. Burman in Caravan (1972), Aandhi (1975), Amar Prem (1972) and Kati Patang
(1971). She began performing in concerts in the country as well as
internationally. London’s Royal Albert Hall was first to witness Lata
performing out of her homeland. And she began working for the second generation
music directors; Rajesh Roshan, Anand-Milind and Anu Malik by the end of the
1970’s.
In the 1980’s she worked with A.R.Rahman, Shiv-Hari and Ram
Laxman and collaborated with Jagjit Singh on non filmy songs mostly ghazals.
Lata was a priority in Yash Raj Films and sang in almost all its films from
Chandini in 1989 to Veer Zaara in 2004. Amidst this there are unforgettable
tracks of her for A. R. Rahman’s “Lukka Chuupi”
(Rang De Basanti), “Ek Tuhi Bharosa” (Pukar), “Jiya Jale” (Dil Se…), “O
Palanhare” (Lagaan), “Khamoshiyan Gungunane Rahi” (One Two Ka Four) and “So
Gaye Hain” (Zubeidaa). She sang in the 2001 film, Lajja whose music was
composed by Illyaraja, and Madhur Bhandarkar recorded her voice for his film
Page3 and Jail and very recently Heroine. She sang the track “Waada Na Thod”
for the film, Eternal Sunshine in Spotless Mind in 2004 and came out with an
album of ghazals, “Saadgi” (2007), the lyricist being Javed Akhtar.
Lata became a Rajya Sabha member in 1999 and was felicitated
with Bharat Ratna in 2001. She has founded a hospital in Pune in her late
father’s name.
Other than singing for films, she has music directed for
some Marathi films under the pseudonym, Anand Ghan and received the Music
Director Award from the State Government of Maharashtra. Lata has even produced
a Marathi film, Vaadal (1953), and Hindi films like, Lekin (1990), Jhaanjhar
(1953) and Kanchan (1950). She launched a perfume brand, Lata Eau De Parfume
(1999) and designed a jewellery collection, Swaranjali in 2005.
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Marital Status: Unmarried
Awards:
Bharat Ratna (2001),
Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1989)
Padma Bhushan (1999)
Padma Vibhushan,
Maharashtra Bhushan Award,
National Film Awards in 1972, 1974 and 1990,
Filmfare Awards in 1959, 1963, 1966 and 1970.
12 awards from the Bengal Film Journalists’ Association
Courtesy:
Koimoi.com
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