The entire music world was stunned with the news of the sudden demise of the Nightingale of India-Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai city on Sunday. She was 92.
With over30,000 songs to her name in 36 languages since the 1940s, Lata made it to the coveted Guinness Book of World Records as the globe’s most renowned artiste.
Her contribution to music industry in a career seven decades gained her the titles-Nightingale of India,Voice of the Millenium and the Melody Queen.
Fom Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition politician Rahul Gandhi to Bollywood celebrities like Hema Malini and cricket icon Virat Kohli,all took to social media to pay tributes as the governme nt announced two days of national mourning.
Indian President Ram Nath kovind condoled the death of Lata Mangeshkar.
PM Modi was among the first ones to share the tragic news with the nation on Twitter, saying that "beyond films, she was always passionate about India 's growth".
"The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people.
"She closely witnessed the transitions of the Indian film world for decades.
Beyond films, she was always passionate about India 's growth. She always wanted to see a strong and developed India," he tweeted.
India's main opposition Congress leader Gandhi tweeted,"Her golden voice is immortal and will continue to echo in the hea rts of her fans. My condolences to her family,friends and fans."
Bollywood actress Hema Malini said she was "deeply shocked" as with Lata's death,'an era in Bollywood has ended". Lata was, in fact, the singing voice of many leading actresses of yesteryears -- Hema Malini being the most prominent among them.
Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli also tweeted his condolences. "Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Lataji. Her melodious songs touched millions of people around the world. Thank you for all the music and the memories," he wrote.
Lata was born in the city of Indore in the central state of Madhya Pradesh on 28th September 1929. She began her music training under her father Deenanath, a theatre personality.
Officially she began her singing career at the age of 13, when the family relocated to Mumbai after her father's demise in 1942. Seven years later, Lata hogged limelight for her first major hit song 'Aayega Aanewaala' in a Bollywood movie.
From 1960s to 2000s, she dominated Bollywood. In 1974, Lata became the first Indian singer to perform at Royal Albert Hall in the British capital London.
In 1989, Lata was given Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest recognition in
the field of cinema. In 2001, Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, was bestowed on her by the Indian government.
Lata's sister Asha Bhosle is also a singing legend. But Lata had cleared said in an interview that they never competed with each other. "We're very close," she had said.
Lata Mangeshkar has won several awards and honours, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan (1969),[135] Padma Vibhushan (1999), Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievements (1999),[136] Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989), Maharashtra Bhushan Award (1997),[137} NTR National Award (1999), Bharat Ratna (2001), Legion of Honour (2007), ANR National Award (2009), three National Film Awards and 15 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. She has also won four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards. In 1969, she made the unusual gesture of giving up the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award in order to promote fresh talent. She was later awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993 and Filmfare SpecialAwards in 1994 and 2004.
In 2009, Mangeshkar was awarded the title of Officer of the French Legion of Honour,France's highest order.
In 2012, Mangeshkar was ranked number 10 in Outlook India's poll of the Greatest lndian.[141]
Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan said kambakht, kabhi besuri na hoti ("[she] is never off-key").[142] Dilip Kumar once commented,Lata Mangeshkar ki awaaz kudrat ki takhleek ka ek karishma hain, meaning "Lata Mangeshkar's voice is a miracle from God".
On 8 January 2022, Mangeshkar tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms and was admitted to
Breach Candy Hospital's intensive care unit in Mumbai. She remained in the ICU with signs of "marginal improvement" in her health. The doctors treating her had taken her off the ventilator on 28 January after her health "improved marginally", however she was back on the ventilator on 5 February after her health deteriorated and was undergoing "aggressive therapy".