Singer Lata Mangeshkar dies

Veteran Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar has died in Mumbai on Sunday, at the age of 92.

Also known as the “Nightingale of India” and “Queen of Melody”, Lata Mangeshkar had tested positive for Covid-19 on January 8.

Mangeshkar’s death brings down the curtain on an era in the Indian film industry.

Lata Mangeshkar was born in 1929, the eldest daughter of Deenanath Mangeshkar, a Marathi and Konkani musician and his wife Shevanti, in Indore. She had four siblings: Meena Khadikar, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar – of whom she was the eldest.

Mangeshkar started her career at the age of 13 in 1942 and has sung over 30,000 songs in 36 languages, in a career spanning almost eight decades.

Her iconic songs include Lag Jaa Gale, Tere Bina Zindagi Mein Koi, Inhi Logon Ne Inhi Logon Ne, Yeh Galiyan Yeh Chaubara, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya, Bahon Mein Chale Aao, Jiya Jale and many more.

Mangeshkar has sung for almost all the popular Yash Chopra movies from his production house Yash Raj Films, including Chandni (1989),  Lamhe (1991), Darr (1993), Yeh Dillagi (1994), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997) and later in Mohabbatein (2000), Mujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002) and Veer-Zaara (2004).

In 1974, she became the first Indian to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

She was admitted to the Breach Candy hospital in the first week of January after she contracted Covid and pneumonia. Later, doctors had said that her health had improved. Earlier last week, she was taken off invasive ventilator.

Breach Candy hospital’s Dr Pratit Samdani said that Mangeshkar passed away at 8.12 am of multiple organ failure.

“She came here as a Covid patient and age was against her. We tried our best to save the legend. But she had complications,” he said.

Mangeshkar was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989. In 2001, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna for her contribution to the arts, thereby becoming the second vocalist to receive this honour apart from late Carnatic music giant M S Subbulakshmi. She was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.

Mangeshkar will be given a state funeral at 6pm today. Fans will be allowed to pay their final respects at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

Two-day national mourning will be observed in memory of Lata Mangeshkar and  the national flag will fly at half-mast for two days, as a mark of respect, reports ANI.

(Picture Courtesy: ANI)