Music legend Lata Mangeshkar, who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital early on Monday morning, is on "a path of recovery," her niece Rachana Shah said. "Lataji suffered from a viral chest infection. At present, she is on a path of recovery. We could have treated her at home But we decided to get her to hospital. It's close to our home plus treatment is thorough," Shah said.
Lata Mangeshkar was hospitalized after complaining of breathing difficulty. "She was brought to hospital at 2 am. She is in ICU," hospital sources said. "Lata didi is still in hospital. She is under observation. She is doing absolutely well and is stable. She will be discharged by tomorrow," Shah said.
Singer Asha Bhonsle visited her elder sister Lata later in the day. Winner of India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna and top cinema award Dadasaheb Phalke award, Lata Mangeshkar has lent her voice to songs in Hindi, Bangla and Marathi. Born in 1929, Lata Mangeshkar is the eldest of five siblings. Their father was classical musician Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, who gave the young Lata Mangeshkar her first music lesson. In 1942, when her father died, 13-year-old Lata Mangeshkar began her career in music.
In 1945, Lata Mangeshkar had an early hit in the song ‘Aayega Aanewala’ from the film ‘Mahal’, starring Madhubala. From there, Lata Mangeshkar's career soared to the greatest of heights. She sang raga-based compositions by Naushad in films like Baiju Bawra, Mother India and Mughal-E-Azam, Shankar-Jaikishan's melodic hits in Barsaat and Shree 420.
Salil Chowdhury's lilting tracks in Madhumati won Lata Mangeshkar a Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer and three more Filmfare Awards came by way of Bees Saal Baad, Khandan and Jeene Ki Raah.
