Lata Mangeshkar

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**Lata Mangeshkar**

Born:	September 28, 1929 Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Occupation:	Singer, Record producer, Film director

Lata Mangeshkar (Marathi/Hindi:लता मंगेशकर) (born September 28, 1929) is a singer from India. Focusing mainly on Hindi and Marathi film music, she is one of the world's foremost Indian vocalists. She has sung in over twenty^[1] major Indian languages and has been deemed the Nightingale of India^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5], a honorary name also used for Sarojini Naidu and M. S. Subbulakshmi.

[edit] Childhood

Mangeshkar was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh to a classical singer and theatre actor named Dinanath Mangeshkar and his second wife named Shudhmati Mangeshkar (also known as Mai Mangeshkar). The Mangeshkars were a middle-class Maharashtrian family. Lata was the firstborn child, to be followed by siblings Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Mangeshkar.

Raised in Maharashtra, at the age of 5 Mangeshkar started working as an actress in several plays known as "sangeet nataks" in which her father was performing. Her father also started giving her singing lessons. Dinanath's recitals and lessons left a strong impression on his daughter, as did the music of K.L. Saigal, who was her father's favorite singer and her idol.

[edit] 1940s

Mangeshkar's first cinematic song was for the Marathi film Kiti Hasaal (1942), produced by Vasant Joglekar. However, her father disliked the idea of any of his daughters singing for movies, so the song was dropped from the film.

In 1942, Mangeshkar's father died of heart disease. Due to the death of her father and the resultant financial distress, Lata played cameo roles in many Hindi and Marathi films, despite not personally enjoying acting.

In 1945, Ghulam Haider took her to meet producer S. Mukherji, who was working on a movie starring Kamini Kaushal. Haider wanted the 16-year-old Mangeshkar to get a chance to sing, but the producer dismissed her voice. Annoyed, Haider said, "Let me fortell today that this girl will soon put to shame everyone else, including Noor Jehan. Producers and directors will fall at her feet, begging her to sing in their films."^[6]

Mangeshkar's big break came with the 1949 song "Aayega Aanewaala" from the movie Mahal for Madhubala and was composed by Khemchand Prakash. Mahal was a hit, a turning point for both Madhubala and Mangeshkar.^[6]

[edit] 1950s

The 1950s saw Mangeshkar soar to the top of the heap of Bollywood singers. She recorded songs for all the major composers of the period, including Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, S D Burman, C. Ramchandra, Hemant Kumar, and Salil Chowdhury.

Shankar Jaikishan used Lata as their female singer in all the movies they scored, mainly for Raj Kapoor. These movies include Aag, Aah (1953), Shree 420 (1955), and Chori Chori (1956). Some famous Lata tunes from these movies include "Mera Ang Ang Muskaya" (from Aah), "Ichak Dana Bichak Dana" (from Shree 420), and "Panchhi Banoon Udti Phiroon" (from Chori Chori).

Lata also became the main female singer for Naushad during the 1950s, beginning with Baiju Bawra (1952). Naushad's tunes were all classical raga-based compositions, and Mangeshkar turned out hits such as "Mohe Bhool Gaye Sanwariya" and "Bachpan Ki Mohabbat Ko" for Baiju Bawra.

S.D. Burman used Lata as his female singer for hit songs such as "Tum Na Jaane Kis Jahan Mein Kho Gaye" from Sazaa (1951), "Phaili Hui Hai Sapnon Ki Baahen" from House No. 44 (1955), and "Ab Aage Teri Marzi" from Devdas (1955). In 1957, however, Mangeshkar and Burman had a major falling-out, and Lata refused to record for him again until 1962. During this time, Burman groomed Asha Bhosle, Lata's younger sister, as his main female voice, and also utilized Geeta Dutt as well.

It was also during the 1950s that Lata formed her association with one of her absolute favourite composers, Salil Chowdhury. In 1953, Mangeshkar recorded "Aa Ri Aa Nindiya" from Do Bigha Zameen for "Salilda." 1958 saw the release of the Bimal Roy-directed blockbuster Madhumati, starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala. Chowdhury provided the music for the film, and "Aaja Re Pardesi" stands as one of Lata's most famous songs. It netted her her first Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer.

[edit] 1960s

The 1950s saw Mangeshkar make her case to enter the upper echelons of Bollywood music. However, it was the 1960s that saw Lata become the undisputed queen of Bollywood playback singing. She recorded songs for nearly every major composer in the industry, many of which became all-time hits.

1960 saw Lata render numerous hits for various music directors. She teamed up with Naushad to produce "Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya" for the lavish Mughal-era romance Mughal-E-Azam, perhaps the most popular song from that film. She also recorded several duets with Mohammad Rafi under Naushad's baton for Kohinoor, including the timeless "Do Sitaron Ka Zameen Par." For Shankar Jaikishan, she rendered the Hawaiian-themed number "Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh" from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, picturized on Bollywood's tragedy queen, Meena Kumari. Finally, her partnership with Salil Chowdhury continued to bear fruit in the classical-tinged "O Sajana Barkha Bahaar" from Parakh.

In 1961, Mangeshkar took the first step on the road to reconciliation with S D Burman, as she recorded a bhajan, "Allah Tero Naam," for Burman's assistant, Jaidev. One of Lata's finest devotional pieces, it is said to have awakened eminent classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj from his sleep, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

1962 saw Lata record perhaps her most famous song, a patriotic song- "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon" that was composed by C. Ramchandra and had its lyrics written by Pradeep. A moving tribute to Indian soldiers who fell in the Sino-Indian War, the song is said to have moved the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to tears when sang at the Indian Parliament. That year, she bagged her second Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the haunting "Kahin Deep Jale, Kahin Dil" from the movie Bees Saal Baad, composed by Hemant Kumar.

In 1963, Mangeshkar returned to collaboration with S.D. Burman, mainly as a result of a truce brokered by Burman's son, budding Bollywood composer (and future brother-in-law) R.D. Burman. The sugary sweet "Mora Gora Ang Lai Le" picturized on Nutan was a huge hit from the movie Bandini, directed by Bimal Roy. In 1965, she produced some more hits under Burman's direction for Guide, including "Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai" and "Gaata Rahe Mera Dil" (the latter a duet with Kishore Kumar).

Along with Salil Chowdhury, Madan Mohan was another of Mangeshkar's favourite composers. Madan Mohan created the ghazal "Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha" from Anpadh in 1962; the pair would produce many other memorable songs over the years. 1964 in particular saw the release of Raj Khosla's Woh Kaun Thi?, which featured music by Madan Mohan. "Naina Barse Rim Jhim" was a haunting yet emotional number from this movie which also garnered huge popularity.

The 1960s also witnessed the beginning of Mangeshkar's relationship with Laxmikant-Pyarelal, the duo for which she would sing the most songs in her career. She recorded for them in their first Bollywood film, Parasmani, in 1963, and continued to work with them in films such as Dosti (1964), Farz (1967), and Milan (1967), continuing on into the 1970s.

[edit] 1970s

Mangeshkar performed tracks for star Meena Kumari, again, this time in the film Pakeezah (1971), with music by Ghulam Mohammed.

S.D. Burman's final films were in the 1970s, before falling into a coma and dying in 1975. Lata performed in the films Prem Pujari, Sharmilee (1971), and Abhimaan (1973). In Abhimaan she performed vocals at the age of 44, for 25-year-old actress Jaya Bachchan.

Teaming up once more with Salil Chowdhury she performed in the film Annadata (1971) and the title song of Chhoti Si Baat (1974). She also released an album of Meera bhajans composed by her brother. The album was titled "Chala Vaahi Des". Some of the bhajans in the album include "saanware rang raachi" and "ud jaa re kaaga".

Continuing their relationship from the 60's into the 70's, Lata and Laxmi-Pyare were together again (with Rahul Dev Burman in the mix). Writers Anand Bakshi and Majrooh Sultanpuri wrote most of the tracks, penning songs for the films Amar Prem (1971), Caravan (1971), and Raj Kapoor's Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978). Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar performed songs for R D Burman and lyricist Gulzar in the film Aandhi in 1975. R D Burman also effectively tapped the melody in Lata's throat in the songs of the wonderful film Kinara, famous for "Naam gum jaayega" and "abke na saawan barse".

Mangeshkar performed in 1976 for composer Khayyam and songwriter Sahi Ludhiyanvi for the film Kabhi Kabhie, and again with Khayyam in Shankar Hussain in 1977 and "Chambal ki Kasam" in 1979. She also sang for Naushad in "Chambal ki Raani".

[edit] 1980s

In late 1970s and early 1980s, Lata worked with the children of composers she had earlier worked with. Apart from Sachin and Rahul Dev Burman, Lata worked has worked with Chitragupta and his sons Anand-Milind, Roshan and his son Rajesh Roshan, and Sardar Malik and his son Anu Mallik. Rajesh Roshan's first film Julie had some numbers sung by Lata, including Bhool gaya sab kuchh (duet with Kishore Kumar) and Yeh Raatein Nai Puraani.

Lata also sang in Raj Kapoor`s Ram Teri Ganga Maili, singing songs composed by the blind composer Ravindra Jain.

Apart from that, Mangeshkar has sung in many Rajshri Production movies, including the hit Maine Pyar Kiya.

[edit] 1990s

In 1990, Mangeshkar launched her own production house. Its first (and only movie), Lekin, flopped.^[6] Mangeshkar also recorded many non-film songs, including ghazals with Jagjit Singh.^[6]

Mangeshkar also sang for all of Yash Chopra`s films, including Lamhe, Darr, Yeh Dillagi, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Dil To Pagal Hai.

A. R. Rahman has recorded a number of songs with Mangeshkar, including "Jiya Jale" (from Dil Se, danced by Preity Zinta), "Khamoshiyan Gungunane Lagin" (One Two ka Four), and "O Paalanhaare" (Lagaan).

She has also sung for different successful films like 1942: A Love Story, Karan Arjun, Dushman and Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai.

[edit] 2000s

She continues to sing in Yash Chopra films such as Mujhse Dosti Karoge! and Veer Zaara.

She has also sung a few songs for movies like Zubeidaa, Lagaan, Page 3, Mohabbatein, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Bewafaa, Lucky: No Time for Love and Rang De Basanti.

[edit] Bengali songs

During the 1960s and 1970s, Mangeshkar worked with music directors like Salil Chowdhury and Hemant Kumar to create some hit Bengali songs like "Ogo Aar Kichhu To Nei", "Jare Jare Ure Jare Pakhi", "Nijhumo Shandhai", "Shat Bhai Champa", and "De Dol Dol Dol".

[edit] Trivia

Mangeshkar has produced movies and composed music under the pseudo name of 'Anand Ghan'.^[7]
Her favorite vacation spot is Panhala.^[8]

Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla wrote a novel about a gay Indian-American called Ode to Lata in honor of the performer.

Her favorite sport is cricket and she attends games at Lord's Stadium.^{[citation needed]}

Photography and cooking are two of her favorite hobbies.^[6]

She always sings barefoot.^{[citation needed]}

She can sing in three octaves.^{[citation needed]}

She has a perfume of her own.^[9]

She was the first Indian to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, in 1974.^{[citation needed]}

The Lata Mangeshkar foundation was established in October 1989, by the Mangeshkar family for various charities including the Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital at Pune.

[edit] Music Director

Lata composed music for following Marathi movies under the psuedo name of 'Anand Ghan'

1963 - Maratha Tituka Melvava
1963 - Mohityanchi Manjula
1965 - Sadhi Manase
1969 - Tambadi Mati

Lata won Maharashtra State Government's best music director award for the movie 'Sadhi Manase' and the song ‘Airanichya deva tula’ from the same movie received best song award.

[edit] Actor

Lata acted in following movies

1942 - Pahili Mangalagaur (Marathi)
1943 - Chimukla Sansaar (Marathi)
1943 - Maajhe Baal (Marathi)
1944 - Gajabhau (Marathi)
1945 - Badi Maa (Hindi)
1946 - Jeevan Yaatra
1946 - Subhadra
1948 - Mandir
1952 - Chattrapati Shivaji (guest appearance in one song) (Marathi)

[edit] Producer

1953 - Vaadal (Marathi)
1953 - Jhaanjhar (Hindi, with C.Ramchandran)
1955 - Kanchan (Hindi)
1990 - Lekin (Hindi)

[edit] Rivalry with Asha Bhosle

Further information: Asha Bhosle#Rivalry with Lata Mangeshkar

[edit] Awards and recognitions

1969 - Padma Bhushan^[6]
1974 - Recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for having sung the maximum number of songs in the world
1980 - Presented key of the city of Georgetown, Guyana, South America
1980 - Honorary Citizenship of The Republic of Surinam, South America
1985 - June 9, declared as Asia Day in honour of her arrival in Toronto, Canada
1987 - Honorary Citizenship of USA in Houston, Texas
1989 - Dada Saheb Phalke Award^[4]
1990 - Honorary Doctorate (Literature) By University of Pune, India
1990 - Raja-Lakshmi Award by Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai^[6]
1993 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
1996 - Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award
1997 - Rajiv Gandhi Award
1999 - NTR Award
1999 - Padma Vibhushan^[6]
1999 - Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement
2000 - Lifetime Achievement Award by IIFA in London
2000 - Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar by the Chaturang Pratishthan
2001 - Best Playback Singer of the Millennium (female) by Hero Honda and file magazine "Stardust". [1]
2001 - Recipient of Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award^[4]
2001 - Noorjehan Award (First Recipient)
2001 - Maharashtra Ratna (First Recipient)
2002 - Felicitation By CII (For Contribution to Music & the Film Industry)
2002 - Hakim Khan Sur Award (For National Integration by Maharana Mewar Foundation)
2002 - Asha Bhosle Award (First Recipient)
2004 - Living Legend Award by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). [2]
2007 - Knight of the Legion d'honneur Honour (French highest civilian award)[3]
Swar Bharati award given by Shankaracharya of Sankeshwar
The only Asian to have received the Platinum Disc of EMI London
Conferred the title of Asthaan Sangeet Vidwaan Sarloo (translation: Court Musician of the Shrine), Tirupathi.
Member of the Rajya Sabha
Awarded Doctor of Literature^[10] by
- Shivaji University, India
- Kolhapur University, India
- Pune University, India
- Khairagarh Music University, India
- Hyderabad University, India
- New York University.
- Baroda University.

Apart from the above, Lata has received about 250 trophies and 150 gold discs.

[edit] Filmfare Awards

The Filmfare Awards for playback singing first started in 1958. In 1956, the song 'Rasik Balma' from the film Chori Chori won the Best Song Filmfare Award. Lata refused to sing it live in protest of absence of a Playback Singer category. The category was finally introduced in 1958. Though, Male & Female Awards where started later on.

Lata Mangeshkar monopolized the best female playback singer award from 1958 to 1966. In 1969, Lata made the unusual gesture of giving up Filmfare awards in order to promote fresh talent.

1958 - Aaja Re Pardesi from Madhumati
1962 - Kahi Deep Jale Kahi Dil from Bees Saal Baad
1965 - Tumhi Mere Mandir Tumhi Meri Pooja from Khandan
1969 - Aap Mujhe Achhe Lagne Lage from Jeene Ki Raah
1993 - Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
1993 - Filmfare felicitated by the Maharashra Government for completion of 50 years.
1994 - Filmfare Special Award for Didi Tera Devar Deewana from Hum Aapke Hai Kaun

[edit] National Awards

1972 - Best Female Playback Singer for Parichay
1975 - Best Female Playback Singer for Kora Kaagaz
1990 - Best Female Playback Singer for Lekin

[edit] Maharashtra State Award

1966 - Best Playback Singer for Sadhi Mansa (Marathi)
1967 - Best Playback Singer for Jait Re Jait

[edit] Bengal Film Journalist's Association Award

All Best Female Playback Singer

1964 - for Woh Kaun Thi
1967 - for Milan
1968 - for Raja Aur Rank
1969 - for Saraswati Chandra
1970 - for Do Raaste
1971 - for Tere Mere Sapne
1973 - for Marjina Abdulla (Bengali)
1973 - for Abhimaan
1975 - for Kora Kagaz.
1981 - for Ek Duje Ke Liye
1983 - A Portrait Of Lataji
1985 - for Ram Teri Ganga Maili.

[edit] Lata Mangeshkar Award

The Lata Mangeshkar award is a national-level award was instituted by the state Government of Madya Pradesh in 1984. The award consists of a certificate of merit and a cash award of 1,000,000 Rupees. Award winners include:

Naushad (1984)
Kishore Kumar (1985)
Jaidev (1986)
Manna Dey (1987)
Khayyam (1988)
Asha Bhosle (1989)
Bhupen Hazarika (2000)
Mahendra Kapoor (2002)
Sandhya Mukherjee (2003)
Snehal Bhatkar (2004)
Manna Dey (2005)
Jayamala Shiledar (2006)
Hridaynath Mangeshkar (2007)

There is also a Lata Mangeshkar Award in issued by the Maharashtra Government starting in 1992.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0542196/bio
^ Chopra, Yash. "The nightingale of India turns 75", BBC News, 2004-09-28. Retrieved on February 19, 2006.
^ Lata Mangeshkar. Indobase. Retrieved on February 19, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c White Teeth: the soundtrack. PBS. Retrieved on February 19, 2007.
^ Wish Lata Mangeshkar. Rediff (2003-09-27). Retrieved on February 19, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Lata Mangeshkar - Voice of he Millunnium. Bollywoodvillage.com. Retrieved on February 18, 2007.
^ BFI, Lata Mangeshkar.
^ Singh, Saumit (2006-09-27). Singing seventies!. After Hrs. DNAIndia.com. Retrieved on February 19, 2007.
^ Verma, Suparn. "A perfume called Lata", Rediff, 1999-11-03. Retrieved on February 19, 2007.
^ Lata Mangeshkar profile. Rumela's web. Retrieved on February 19, 2007.

[edit] External links

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