Among a number of artistes, India has, I prefer Lata Mangeshkar a well-known singer. Lata Mangeshkar has ruled over the hears of millions of her listeners throughout the world by the magic of her voice.
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She was born on 28th September, 1929, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. She received singing lessons from her father from the age of five. She entered into Marathi playback singing at the age of 13. She began working as a staff artiste at the age of 14. Lata’s melodious voice has not only made her famous but also brought success to many lyric writers,, music directors and actresses. She sang in almost all the principal Indian languages with equal success. Lata’s name appeared in the ‘Guinness Book of Recodes’ for singing over 30,000 songs. Lata composed music for some films and also, produced three films. Her song, ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo’ composed by Pradeep moved Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to tears. She was awarded the Padma Shri as well as the Bharat Ratan.
An artiste is a professional perform. He could be a dancer a singer or an actor. There are number of prominent playback singer in the Indian music industry. Lata Mangeshkar has appealed to me the most among all the singers. She has ruled over the hearts of millions of her listeners throughout the world by the magic of her voice. She has a sweet, fresh and an impressive voice.
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Lata Mangeshkar was born on 28th September 1929 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Her father Dinanath Mangeshkar owned a theatrical company. He was also a reputed classical singer of the Gwailor school. Lata was the eldest in the family of four daughters and one son. Her sisters and brother include Asha, Usha, Meena and Hridayanath.
Lata received singing lessons from her father from the age of five. She also studied with Aman Ali Kah Sahib and later with Amanat Kahn, and Pandit Tulsidas Sharma. her father’s recital and lessons left a strong impression on her, as did the songs of K.L. Saigal, who was her favorite singer and idol.
Lata’s father died when she was young. Master Vinayak Damodar Karnataki, the owner of Navyug Chitrapat Movice Company and a close friend of the Mangeshkar family took care of them. The helped Lata get stared in a career as a singer and actress. She entered into Marathi films as a play back singer at the age of thirteen. Her first playback song was ‘Natli Chaitrachi navalai’ for the film Phili Mangalagaur released in 1942. Her first Hindi song ‘Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal De Tu’ was for a Marathi film Gajabhau released in 1943.
Vinayak Rao who was happy at Lata’s performance in Gajabhau singed her as a staff artiste on a monthly salary of Rs. 60 in 1943. It was increased to Rs. 350 at the time Vinayak died in 1974. In 1945, the company shifted its headquarters to Bombay. Lata moved out into the big city.
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After Master Vinayak’s death in 1948, music director Ghulam Haider mentored Lata as a singer. Initially, Lata imitated Noor Jehan, famous singer of that era, but later she developed her own style of singing. Gradually, she earned a name for herself and her family. Today, she is one of the greatest female playback singer. Her voice has been compared to the Nightingale, Such is the melody of her voice.
In 1950s, Lata sang songs composed by various acclaimed music directors of the period including Anil Biswas, Shankar-Jaikishan, Naushad, S.D. Burman, C. Ramchandra, Hemant Kumar, Salil Chowdhury, Khayyam, Ravi Roshan, Kalyanji-Anandji, Madan Mohan etc. The 1960s thrust Lata Mangeshkar to being known as the undisputed leading female playback singer in Hindi cinema and it lasted for four decades.
One one occasion, Lata met Dilip Kumar, the actor. At that point o time, Lata sang only for Marathi films. He advised her that she should pay attention to there diction in Hindi and Urdu too. Lata took his advice and it did not take her long to establish herself, among the singers of Hindi films.
Lata Mangeshkar has helped budding music directors by offering to render playbacks for them. Even actresses found a place of honor for themselves through Lata’s voice. her melodious voice has brought success to many lyric writers and music directors.
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Lata Mangeshkar’s name has come in the Guinness Book of Records as the singer of the highest number of songs. She has sung over 30,000 songs. She has sung in almost all the principal Indian languages with equal success.
Lata has also composed music for some films with the adopted name of Anand Ghar. They were Ram Ram Pahune, Mohityanchi Manjula, Maratha Tetuka Melwawa, Sadhi manseord and Tambadi Ati. She acted in Pahili Mangala Gaur, Majhe Ball, Gajabhau, Badi Maa, Jeevan Yatra and Samudra Mandir. She produced Marathi and Hindi films like Wadal, Kanchan and Lekin. There are innumerable films which have hit songs of Lata. Anarkali, Mughal-E-Azam, Amar Prem, Guide, Ek Duje Ke Liye, Ram Teri Ganga Maili etc. are worth mentioning.
She also sang several playback songs for Marathi films, composed by Hridaynath mangeshkar, Vasant Prabhu, Srinivas Khale, Sudhir Phadke. During 1960s and 1970s she also sang several popular Bengali songs, composed by Salil Chowdhry and Hemant Kumar.
It was after India’s losses in the India-China war in 1962 that Lata had sung the song, ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon, Zara Aankh Me Bhar Lo Paani’ at a concert. The song, written by Pradeep and composed by C. Ramchandra, moved the then Indian Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru to tears. Nehru confessed, “Beti tune mujhe rula diya!”.
Lata Mangeshkar’s contribution for making music popular throughout India and the world in incalculable. She has reigned supreme throughout the last six and half decades. She has reigned supreme throughout the last six and a half decades. She has dedicated her life to music.
Lata Mangeshkar is the recipient of many awards and honors both within the country and abroad. The Government of Madhya Pradesh has instituted an annual award of Rs. 1 lakh in her name. She was honored with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhusan, Padma Vibhusan, Dada Saheb Phalke Award, Bharat Ratan, Three National Film Awards. Twelve Bengal Film Journalists Association Awards, Four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award etc.
Apart from her film songs, Lata adapted the works of leading poets and set them to music for private recordings. She has recorded devotional songs by Sant Tukaram. Her recording of the Bhagwat Gita in Sanskrit is her crowing achievement. Lata is a legend in her lifetime. She is undeniably the best singer India has ever produced.