Lata Mangeshkar – Melody Queen of India
With a career spanning over 7 decades, singer Lata Mangeshkar is an unmatched talent of India that we proudly hold dear to our hearts. Her mesmerizing voice has given us songs in over 36 regional Indian languages, including some foreign languages. Guinness Book of World records stated that she has recorded more than 30,000 songs from 1948-1987. Several sources claimed that Didi, as she is fondly called, has recorded not less than 50,000 songs in her long singing career that started at the tender age of 13.
Lata, originally named Hema, was one of 5 siblings in the Mangeshkar household. Her siblings were Meena Khadikar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar. All the siblings were trained singers and musicians. The more popular ones from them have been Lata and Asha. Interestingly Lata didi has sung maximum of her Bollywood hits with music composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal, singing over 700 songs for the composer duo. Some of the films in which she sung for them included Parasmani, Aaye Din Bahar Ke, Shagird, Do Raaste, among others.
In 1962 Lata didi fell seriously ill all of a sudden. On investigation by her doctor, it was revealed that she was given slow poison. She was given immediate treatment, but the damage was done. Even when she recovered, she couldn’t stand or sing. Her complete recovery took about three months, where she was bed-ridden. Her cook mysteriously fled from her house after her hospitalization and never returned to take his salary. Her health and security was scrutinized so much so that composed Majrooh Sultanpuri would first taste the food and then allow her to eat.
Lataji’s last recorded song was in 2015, thus she has sang for 73 long years of her life. Some of her greatest and most memorable hits include; Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh, Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega, Khilte Hain Gul Yahaan, Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum, Likhnewale Yeh Likh Dale, Sheesha Ho Ya Dil Ho and many more. She has won some of the highest honors an Indian can get like the Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Awards and National Award. She is truly India’s most precious gem!