Lata Mangeshkar Essay: A Tribute to the Melody Queen

We should thank the Almighty for bringing people like Lata Mangeshkar into our country. She has entertained and inspired millions of people for many years. Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar is known as the 'Nightingale of India'. Lata was born on September 28, 1929 in Indore and has worked extensively in various spheres of Indian popular and light Classical Music. She has sung Ghazals, Bhajans, and Pop. In fact, she has sung over 50,000 songs for three generations of heroines, from Madhubala to Zeenat Aman to Kajol. Even became the most recorded artist in the world with the Guinness Book of Records.

Originally, Deenanath's family had the surname Hardikar, but changed it to Mangeshkar in honor of his native Goa town Mangeshi. Her childhood name was Hema. She was renamed after a character in one of her father's plays, Latika. With the blessings of her own father, Lata Mangeshkar tasted the first fruits of Classical Music. The sky fell down when, in 1942, Pandit Dina Nathji passed away. Lata, who had just turned thirteen, was left with the mantle of responsibility.

Nevertheless, fate was not entirely cruel. They were taken care of by Vinayak Damodar, the owner of Navyug Chitrapat Company. In 1942, she sang the song "Nachu Yaa Gade" for a Marathi movie, but the song was cut from the final release of the film. In 1943, she also recorded her first Hindi song for a Marathi film.

Upon moving to Mumbai in 1945, she began to study Hindustani Classical Music with Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. Following partition, he migrated to Pakistan. Thus, she began studying with Pt Tulsidas Sharma and Amanat Khan Devaswale. She got her first break in 1948 when she sang a song in the Hindi film Majboor composed by Ghulam Haider.

 We all know what happened after that. Her life has never been the same since. She has created for herself a place of honor etched in gold. Lata Mangeshkar's versatility as a singer is demonstrated by the fact that she has sung in a number of languages ranging from love songs and blues to Classical and Raga songs to Bhakti and devotional - nothing seems to have been left untouched or unexplored by her.

In many different languages, her voice has breathed life and texture into thousands of songs. The voice of her songs symbolizes the voice of India in the world. Through the string of her sweet voice, her voice is able to unify and bind people who have been divided for a long time. Through the decades, her voice continues to resonate as a clear, distinct, and representative voice of an entire era and nation.

In 2007, she released an album, Saadgi, which contained eight ghazal-like songs written by Javed Akhtar. She released an album in 2011 called Sarhadein: Music Beyond Boundaries, which includes a duet between her and Mehdi Hasan. On 28 November 2012, she launched her own record label, LM Music, with an album of bhajans. She performed with her sister Usha on this album.

She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2000 for her contribution to vocal art and melody. This is also an important field of her work. As part of her contributions to the welfare of the country, she works to uplift the underprivileged.

Despite having such a great name. She appears to still be a simple person at heart. Lata Mangeshkar is famous for her white silk sarees with a traditional red border and plait. Her modesty and shy nature have also remained untouched. In addition to moving millions in India, her voice has helped spread the magic of Indian Music around the world.

Her Achievements

In 2001, Lata Mangeshkar was honored with the Bharat Ratna, the biggest award in Indian culture. Her other awards include Padma Bhushan in 1969, Padma Vibhushan in 1999, Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1999, Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989, Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 1997, NTR National Award in 1999, Bharat Ratna in 2001, Legion of Honor in 2007 (France's highest honor), ANR National Award in 2009, 3 National Film Awards, Filmfare awards, and Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The Greatest Indian poll of Outlook India ranked Lata Mangeshkar 10th in 2012. Apart from this, she was also awarded the Best Music Director Award by the Maharashtra State Government for the film Sadhi Manase. "Airanichya Deva Tula" was voted best song from the same film. A book on Lata Ji, titled "Lata Mangeshkar - A Musical journey" was also published by Yatindra Mishra. It tells the story of the Queen of Hindi Music from the 1940s to the present day.

About Lata Mangeshkar

Lata Mangeshkar was born in 1920 in Indore. Her father's name was Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar and her mother's name was Sevanti. Her father Deenanath Mangeshkar was a classical singer and an established theatre actor. Her mother was a Gujarati who was the second wife of Deenanath. His first wife named Narmada passed away. Lata Mangeshkar has 5 siblings, and she was the eldest of them all, followed by Meena, Asha, Usha, and Hridaynath.

All her four siblings grew up to become honors stabilized singers and musicians. Lata started acting as an actress from the age of 5, in her father's musical play, or the musical drama in Marathi. She loved her sister Asha very much and without her, she would not go anywhere. Lata Mangeshkar was first named Hema, but her father changed her name to Lata. Her father was her first Guru. Deenanath Ji passed away in the year 1942. At that time Lata was only 13 years old.

Her Struggle

It is said that the road to success is never easy. Lata Ji also faced many difficulties in making her career. Many musicians initially refused Lata Ji because of her shrill voice. Lata Ji was compared with the famous singer Nur Jahan of that time, but gradually Lata Ji started working on the strength of her passion and talent. Lata Ji’s amazing success made her the strongest woman in the world of playback singers. 

When Lata Mangeshkar's father passed away, Master Vinayak, owner of Navayuga Chitrapat Movie Company, assisted the Mangeshkar family and gave Lata Ji her first song. Lata Mangeshkar sang her first song "Naachu Ya Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari" but her song was removed in the final cut. She then sang her first Hindi song "Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal Le Tu" for a Marathi film Gajaabhaau.

Musical Career                                      

She has sung more than 50000 songs so far in her career. She achieved many records and received many awards for her songs. In an interview, Lata herself declared, "Ghulam Haider is truly my Godfather and the first music director for the faith in my talent."

There are many songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Some of the most popular songs are Lag jaa gale from Woh Kaun Thi, Mohe panghat pe from Mughal-E-Azam, Chalte Chalte from Pakeezah, Ae dil e naadaan from Razia Sultan, O sajna barkha bahaar from Parakh, Aayega Aanewaala from Mahal, Raina beeti jaaye from Amar Prem, Satyam Shivam Sundaram from Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Ehsaan Tera Hoga from Junglee , Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon from, Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai from Anarkali, Woh Chup Rahe To from Jahan Ara, Nainon Mein Badra from Mera Saya, Hawa Mein Udta from Barsaat, Nagma Oh Sher Ki from Ghazal, Suno Sajnaa from Aaye Din Bahaar Ke, Rasik Balmaa from Chori Chori.

Apart from singing songs, Lata Mangeshkar has also composed music in many films. She composed a song for the first time in 1955, in a Marathi movie Ram Ram Tamhane. She composed songs for a lot of Marathi movies in the 1960s. Apart from this, Lata Mangeshkar also produced four films, the first film she produced, in 1953, was a Marathi film, after which she produced three Hindi films.

Conclusion

Lata Mangeskar is one of the best singers in India. A book on Lata Ji, “Lata Mangeshkar- A musical Journey” was published by author Yatindra Mishra. The book tells about the life of the Queen of Hindi music from the 1940s to the current time. She will be always a “Singing Queen of Bollywood”. Lataji’s unbeatable voice is loved by every generation.