Lata Mangeshkar: The Indian Nightingale turns 84

Indian nightingale Lata Mangeshkar turned 84 on September 28. But celebrations were the last thing on her mind. It has been a hard year: her elder sister Meena's husband passed away recently, while younger sister Asha Bhosle lost her daughter Varsha earlier this year.
However, India celebrates icon Lata Mangeshkar. Reports have it that Lata's brother Hridayanth Mangeshkar has planned an eight-hour concert in Pune to be titled “Didi Aur Main” as a tribute to his sister. The concert will bring in talented musicians and singers paying tribute to the timeless voice that has play backed for leading film actresses for six decades.
One of the early milestones in her long career was “Aayega Aanewaala “ from the film “Mahal” (1949) that was lip- synced by charismatic actress Madhubala. Later came celluloid works like “Aag”, “Aah”, “Shri 420” and “Chori Chori”. Before 1957 reputed composer SD Burman gave her pride of place as leading female singer for his musical scores in “Sazaa”, “House No. 44” and the early version of “Devdas”. However, a wide rift opened up in 1957 between Burman and Lata or Lataji as she came to be called. Lata only collaborated with Burman after 1962.
Lata is a very versatile singer. She sang many raga-based songs for composer Naushad in movies like “Baiju Bawra”, “Mughal- e-Azam” and “Kohinoor”.
Her song “ "Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya" from “Mughal-e-Azam”, composed by Naushad and picturised on Madhubala, proved a classic which still holds move -goers in thrall. The lively “Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh" from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai “ was composed by Shankar Jaikishan and “sung “ by the incandescent Meena Kumari.
She rendered her famous patriotic song “Aye Watan Ke Logo” “(Oh People of My Country”) on June 27, 1963 against the backdrop of the Sino-Indian war that claimed the lives of over a thousand Indian soldiers. The song, composed by C. Ramchandra and written by Kavi Pradeep, is said to have brought distinguished listener Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to tears.
Then there were her songs for the timeless “Guide” and “Jewel Thief”.
Meanwhile her winning streak emerged. She won a Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback singer for Salil Chowdhury's composition “Aaja Re Pardesi,” from “Madhumati” (1958).
Lata has lent her voice for actresses spanning different eras of Hindi cinema--from Nutan, Meena Kumari, Hema Malini to Rekha, Sridevi to Madhuri Dixit and Kareena Kapoor to Preity Zinta.
Lata has been bestowed with Padma Bhushan (1969), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1989), Bharat Ratna (2001) apart from three National Awards and a couple of Bollywood awards.
There's controversy too. First came rumbles about her sibling rivalry with Asha Bhosle, a fall out with Asha's husband RD Burman and her fierce guarding of her turf from newer female playback singers.
Whatever the truth, Lata has gone down in history for her vast repertoire of 25,000-50,000 film songs. She is clearly the leading light in the Hindi film industry and a beacon for a newer crop of singers.

Compiled by Correspondent.