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LATA MANGESHKAR: PAGE 3

LATA MANGESHKAR: IN THE NINETIES

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Merrill Lynch honours Lata Mangeshkar!

Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar has been conferred the 'life time achievement award' by Merrill Lynch Investment Managers and Adora, India's second largest diamond exporter, in recognition of her outstanding achievement in fields of art, culture and music.

76-Year-old Mangeshkar was in London in connection with Christie's auction of diamond jewellery created by her and crafted by Adora, which fetched 1,05,000 pounds.

Part of the auction money would be donated for the relief of earthquake victims in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir and children's charity 'Pratham', she said.
Receiving the silver inlaid trophy from Adora chief M Suresh, Mangeshkar said it was the responsibility of everyone to help alleviate suffering of quake victims and she had volunteered to do whatever she can in that connection.

Mangeshkar, winner of India's highest civilian award 'Bharat Ratna' and 'Dada Saheb Phalke' award for her contribution to the Indian cinema, said it would be good for people of India and Pakistan if relations between the two countries were normalised.

"I feel that will happen but I can't say when it will happen. But right now the victims of earthquake were in dire need of help and assistance and one and all should help them."

The fund-raising auction at the Langham hotel was attended among others by Lord Swraj Paul, NRI industrialist and British ambassador for overseas business, Joginder Sanger, NRI hotelier and vice chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and several other leading NRI industrialists.

Mangeshkar, the Supreme voice of popular Indian music who is the most recorded artist in the world, said 'swaranjali', the diamond jewellery designed by her, was reflection of her love for jewellery.

She said her father Dinanath Mangeshkar, himself a reputed singer, had given her a lot of diamond jewellery and she thought of bringing out new designs of diamond jewellery based on her own collections.

"I showed the designs, colour combinations and distinct jewellery line to Adora and they have brought out the new designs with my signature," she said, describing it as a fascinating story.

Each of the five jewellery pieces auctioned were embossed with Lata Mangeshkar's signature. The rose, a definite showstopper, which has 598 diamonds weighing 4.77 carats and gold weighing 27.876 grams fetched 30,000 pounds, while a diamond and ruby eternity set, with laser engraved with her signature went for 26,000 pounds.

A diamond suite, an enchanting piece of jewellery with unique blend of marquise-cut, pear-shaped diamonds weighing 19.63 carats in the necklace and 11.61 carats in the earrings, was sold for 28,000 pounds. A diamond and emerald suite went for 19,000 pounds while a diamond and blue topaz pendant fetched 2,600 pounds.

On the sidelines of the awards ceremony, Mangeshkar said she planned to build another hospital adjacent to the 450-bed Dinanath Memorial Hospital, she had built in memory of her father in Pune.

She recalled that the hospital, built in the record time of 18 months, was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in 2002.

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quote:

Part of the auction money would be donated for the relief of earthquake victims in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Jammu and Kashmir and children's charity 'Pratham', she said.

 

Noble gesture from Lata Mangeshkar, but then again she always supports charitable projects.

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Lataji:
"I remember Aji rooth kar ab kahan jayiyega in Arzoo. What a high pitch that was! My ears reddened when I sang it. But I stubbornly sang at that impossible scale, refusing to admit defeat to any range. I would get very angry, and sing at any range, without complaining.

I used to have arguments with Jaikishan. I would ask him, 'Kya baat hai, aap meri pareeksha le rahe hain? Maine aap ka kya bigada hai jo aap mera kaan laal kar rahe hain? (What's the matter? Why are you testing me? What have i done that you should trouble me so?)'

Actually, Ehsaan tera hoga was only meant to be sung by Rafi. But the film's hero, Shammi Kapoor, suddenly decided that the heroine should sing it as well. It was picturised with Rafi's voice on Saira Banu and later dubbed by me. So I had to sing it in the same sur as Rafi. The same was done with Jiya ho jiya kuch bol do (Jab Pyar Kissi Se Hota Hai).

I shared a great friendship with Shankar-Jaikishan"

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The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall, seating a maximum of 5,272, on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. Constructed beginning in 1867, the hall was inaugurated on 29 March 1871. Since 1941 it has held The Proms, an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events.

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LATA MANGESHKAR: IN THE NINETIES

In 1990, Lata launched her own production house. Her first (and the only) movie as a producer Lekin -- flopped, but the music (composed by her brother, Hridaynath) was well-appreciated. The song Yaara seeli seeli, written by Gulzar, is considered to be one of the best songs that Lata has ever sung.

In 1990s, Lata also recorded many non-film songs, including ghazals with Jagjit Singh. One such ghazal is Dhuan banake fiza mein, recorded in 1992. The songs that Lata recorded for Ramlaxman in the Rajashri Productions film Hum Aapke Hain Kaun were hits. Lata also sang for all of the Yash Chopra films, including Dil To Pagal Hai.

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


Surprise, surprise surprise searching for a hit song in the 90's is like looking for a needle in a haystack, hits by Lataji was almost non existant apart for a few that I think was not worthwile to list.

There was a noticeable hoarseness in her voice, she was not the Lata in voice as years gone by.

Artiiste that grab her position were Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik, Sadhana Sargam, Hema Sardesai, Kavita Krishnamurthy, and Alisha Chinai.

Lata in her own words says she wanted to give new comers a break

Was this the end of Lata Mangeshkar?

Will discuss more later:

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LATA MANGESHKAR: 2000

Lata has continued to perform in later years. She sings some of her old songs on the Mujhse Dosti Karoge soundtrack, alongwith two new numbers Jaane dil mein kab se hai tu (with Sonu Nigam) and Andekhi anjaani si(with Udit Narayan). A more recent example is in the film Veer Zaara - Tere Liye with Roopkumar Rathod, with songs composed by late Madan Mohan. She has also sung a few songs for movies like Page 3, Bewafaa, Lucky - No Time For Love and Rang De Basanti.

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Personal Life

Lata owns a flat in London. She and her sister Asha Bhosale can be often found vacationing in London.

Lata has received four Filmfare Awards, the Platinum Disc of EMI London and many other awards. Noor Jehan, whom Lata allegedly imitated in her early years as a singer, once said "people say Lataji considers me as a phenomenon. I would say that's her humility. Lataji is Lataji. No singer like her has ever been born."

In 2002, a controversy developed because soul music artist Truth Hurts sampled Lata's singing without crediting her or paying royalties in the single "Addictive". That same year, Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla wrote a novel about a gay Indian-American man called "Ode to Lata" in honor of the performer

Other controversy of earlier years related to the phenomenon of Suman Kalyanpur who sang like Lata with her voice nearly identical with Lata's and who was favoured to sing by an anti-Lata camp comprising music composers and producers.

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Addictive" is a 2002 single recorded by Truth Hurts for Dr. Dre's Aftermath label. One of the label's few R&B hits, "Addictive" features a guest rap from old school hip hop legend Rakim, and is based around a Hindi music sample, which eventually brought on a $500 million lawsuit against Aftermath.

Steve "Static" Garrett wrote the song's lyrics, and the record was produced by DJ Quik. Quik sampled for its instrumental track a Hindi-song he heard on television early one morning. The sample turned out to be "Thoda Resham Lagta Hai", a 20-year old song by Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar, which Aftermath neglected to clear the rights to. Copyright holders Saregama India, Ltd. issued a cease-and-desist order, which went unheeded. On September 12, 2002, Saregama filing a $500 million dollar lawsuit against Aftermath and parent company Universal Music Group, and filed an injunction to prevent further performances or broadcasts of "Addictive" [1].

Incidentally, "Addictive" was not the first hip hop or R&B song to use Indian or East Asian music; record producer Timbaland had been using Bhangra elements in his tracks for two years prior.

This song is still in recurrent rotation on many top-40, rhythmic, and urban stations. It is also known for spending 10 weeks at the top of American Top 40 (and also being the biggest dropper (from #6 to #32) in American Top 40 history).

A remix has also been made, produced by Dr. Dre featuring an additional verse by Rakim.

* In 2003 the song was certified gold by SNEP, France.

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Sister's Rivalry:

Asha B:

Rivalry with Lata Mangeshkar

Asha's sibling rivalry with her sister Lata Mangeshkar is often talked about, in spite of their insistence that these are just tales. As young children, they were very close. As a child, Lata used to carry Asha all the time. They were so inseparable that when Lata went to school she would take Asha with her, but one day the teacher protested and said that they cannot have two students on one fee. Lata refused to return to school without Asha and quit her studies[7].

Lata considered Asha's act of eloping with her lover as irresponsible, leaving her alone to sing and earn for the family. This led to tensions among them. Asha herself accepted in an interview[7] "” "It was a love marriage and Lata didi (elder sister) did not speak to me for a long time. She disapproved of the alliance." It is a well-known fact that at one time, their relationship was very adversarial and there have been periods of non-communication.

In her initial days in the industry, Asha always played second fiddle to her elder sister. Some say that Lata had once said something criticising Asha's relationship with O P Nayyar. This widened the rift between the two sisters and O P Nayyar also decided that he would never work with Lata. O.P. Nayyar had once revealed "” "Asha and Lata staying in opposite flats at Bombay's Pedder Road, shared a common maidservant. Now this maidservant had merely to come and tell the younger sister that Lata had just recorded something wonderful for Asha to lose her vocal poise. Such was her Lata phobia that it took me some months to convince Asha that she had a voice individualistic enough to evolve a singing style all of her own." [6] Asha once said that she has worked for years to create a voice and a style that was different from her Lata, so that she could carve her own niche and not be banished to live her shadow[7].

Asha and Lata have sung many songs together. Their first duet was for the film Daman (1951). [6]. Some of these include Man Bhawan Ke Ghar aye (Chori Chori, 1956), Sun ri sun papiha bole (Miss Mary, 1957), O chaand jahaan woh jaaye (Sharada, 1957), Mere Mehboob Mein Kya Nahi (Mere Mehboob, 1963), Ai kash kisi deewane ko (Aaye Din Bahar Ke, 1966), Main Chali Main Chali (Padosan, 1968), Chhap tilak sab (Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, 1978), and Man kyun behka (Utsav, 1984). While singing, Lata used to hold her notebook in her right hand, while Asha held her notebook in her left hand. This meant Lata had her face away from Asha, making it difficult for them to "anticipate" each other[7].

The movie "Saaz", was supposedly based on Lata and Asha's rivalry. Asha said about the movie "” "To have two women in long plaits, take a couple of incidents and exaggerate them into a 3-hour film is such a waste of time."[7] In last few years, Asha and Lata have often been seen in public, enjoying each other's company. In an interview with Times of India, Asha once said - "I remember, sometimes both of us would be at a function and some industry types would ignore me and interact only with her, as if to prove their loyalty. Later, didi (elder sister) and I would have a good laugh!"

The famous Bollywood lyricist-filmmaker Gulzar once said – "Asha was like Neil Armstrong's companion in the space rocket that touched the moon. After Lataji touched down on the moon, Ashaji could only be the second one to get there."

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LATA MANGESHKAR AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

1969 - Padma Bhushan
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 Suriname, 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
1990 - Honorary Doctorate (Literature) By University of Pune, India
1990 - Raja-Lakshmi Award by Sri Raja-Lakshmi Foundation, Chennai
1996 - Videocon Screen Lifetime Achievement Award
1997 - Rajiv Gandhi Award
1998 - Lux Zee Cine Lifetime Achievement Award
1999 - NTR Award
1999 - Padma Vibhushan
2000 - Lifetime Achievement Award by IIFA in London
2000 - Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar by the Chaturang Pratishthan
2001 - Bharat Ratna
2001 - Noorjehan Award (First Reciepient)
2001 - Maharashtra Ratna (First Reciepient)
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 Reciepient)
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 by
Shivaji University, India
Kolhapur University, India
Pune University, India
[Khairagarh Music University], India
Hyderabad University, India
New York University, India.

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


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

 

National Awards

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

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

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:.

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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 1,00,000 Rupees. Till date this award has been conferred on such giants of music field like

Naushad (1984),
Kishore Kumar (1985)
Jaidev (1986)
Manna Dey (1987)
Khayyam (1988)
Asha Bhosle (1989)
Bhupen Hazarika (2000)
Mahendra Kapoor (2002)
Sandhya Mukherjee (2003)

Music director O. P. Nayyar was also selected to be the recipient of the Award. He declined to accept it on the grounds that he would have preferred to accept an award named after a music director. He believed that a music director teaches a singer the nuances of music and not the other way around.

Lata Mangeshkar Award was also instituted by Maharashtra Government in 1992. The first recipient of this award was Manik Verma for her outstanding contribution in singing.

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SHOTGUN SINHA, DILIP KUMAR, LATAJI AND MUSIC GREAT NAUSHAD:

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WHO IS THIS GUY? IS HE SINGING A DUET WITH LATA:

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After Lata's birth, only in a few years Dinanath earned so much through the Naatak Mandli that he bought an 11-12-room mansion in Saangli. He also bought a buggy with four horses. In Goa, near his village Mangeshi when Dinanath was turning out as a successful child artist, his whole family opposed him because he came from a pujari parivaar (priest family). Since generations their Brahmin family was serving God Mangesh in their village and any other profession was considered undignified. Dinanath was opposed so he left the village and went to Indore and married a daughter of big Gujarati family. He was a dignified person. Since his own family rejected him, he gave up his Brahmin surname and took up Mangeshkar as surname after his hometown Mangesh.

Dinanath had a heart of king but his addiction alcohol became the reason for his downfall. When Lata was 6 yrs old, she got smallpox. After a while, she was fine but the scars from smallpox remained on Lata's face. On the other hand, Dinanath's Naatak Mandli went into great debt. He couldn't pay the artists, father made the 7-yr old Lata work on stage. Lata's first role was of Naarad.

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After that Lata got an opportunity to sing for the first time in a Marathi play "Raj Baahule Vaachaa". Some said this girl would be able to act well but won't be able to sing well.

Lata was more matured now. But the clouds of misfortune were even thicker now. When Lata turned 13, the financers who would invest lakhs of rupees in Naatak Mandli, started to stay away now. Dinanath had to give up the 11-room mansion and the whole family had to move to a chawl. Father Dinanath expired at the age of 42. Everything drowned in alcohol. Artists also stole the vessels/utensils from home. Mangeshar family was now starving to death. There were only four people to carry the bier of Dinanath at his funeral.

Only at an age of 13, Lata's shoulders had to carry the responsibility of the entire family. Three younger sisters Meena, Asha and Usha and one handicapped brother Hridaynath and Mother – Lata was responsible for all of them now. Before he died, father had called Lata and said,"I wished for a son before you were born. But now you are no less than a son. I trust that you will take care of the family after I die."

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Lata made it a goal of her life to fulfill the wish of her father. At that time, there was nothing left in the house. The family had become very poor. The question was from where to bring the food for dinner. In this kind of extreme difficulty Lata retained her self-respect. Once, hoping to get help from her relatives, she went to her hometown Mangesh but the answer she got from there was "we are priests from a dignified family with whom your relations have broke." That day Lata swore that "even when my good times come, I will never step in my hometown again" Lata also told her siblings, "if anyone gives us anything out of mercy, don't accept it."

Instead of asking relatives, a maid who used to work for them brought food from some other home because the family was hungry since two days. But Lata refused to take that saying, "if we accept this gesture then we will never get out of these bad times."

Her honor kept on testing Lata again and again. For Lata her self-respect was the treasure from her father. Lata had remembered an incident from her father's life. Once the king of Indore had invited Dinanath's mandli (group) to perform at the palace. When the group reached at the palace, they found out that the king had left for hunt since it was a bright night. The performance was postponed till the next day. Master Dinanath, without caring for king's anger, caring for his self-respect, left Indore with his naatak mandli (group).

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Lata had her respectful mother's example in front of her too. When in their bad days, because of the alcohol addiction Dinanath was sick in bed, one of his friends came to meet Dinanath and started to tease him, "Look at your health and mine. Alcohol has ruined your life." Dinanath's wife Shivaanti didn't like these words. Furiously she screamed, "Who are you to challenge my husband? First face me." That man had no choice but to apologize to Lata's mother after seeing her chandi-like (very angry) looks. Lata recalled this incident.

But in this selfish and unpredictable world, some angel comes about and helps. Mangeshkar family had to survive without asking for help from anyone. Then their angel came into their lives – Master Vinayak. In the good old days of father Dinanath, he was one of their acquaintances. Master Vinayak started his life on stage but now had entered the film world. He would play the main character in all the films he made. After knowing about the hard times Dinanath Mangeshkar's family had been through, he called Lata. Master Vinayak made Lata sing one song for a Marathi film "kini ha saal" (Bina Hasogi). After listening to the song, people once again said, "this girl has no good voice." People thought of Lata's voice as of a sick girl. But very few people knew about the bitter truth that when that song of Lata was being recorded, she had been hungry since last two days. Lata was a 13-yr old skinny, weak girl.

Lata's first song was never taken into a film. On the other hand, it was also the fact that this way, Master Vinayak was trying to help Lata's family. Even when the song was not used in the film, Master Vinayak paid 50 rupees to Lata as salary. Lata's only concern was to keep the family alive at that time.

The same year, means in 1942, Master Vinayak gave a role to Lata in his Marathi film "Pahili Mangalagaur". In this film, she played the younger sister of the main film heroine Snehprabha Pradhan. In addition to this, God knows why but Master Vinayak gave yet another opportunity to Lata for playback singing. After getting negative response from the audience, Master Vinayak had recognized the hidden talents of Lata. In this film, people didn't like Lata's song but her acting was praised. The admiration helped Lata act in eight films from 1942 to 1948.

These films saved Lata's family from starvation. This was a big thing. She was indebted to Master Vinayak. She could never forget that favor.

In 1944, Master Vinayak introduced Lata to the world of Hindi films as an actress. Before that her work was only limited to Marathi films made in Poona and Kolhapur. Now she got a Hindi film that was named "Badi Maa". Noor Jehan was the heroine of this film. In Master Vinayak's film unit, the monthly salary of a permanent artist was Rs. 80. While shooting for "Badi Maa" Noor Jehan, who was a singer and an actress of those times, also saw Lata as a potential successful singer. Once at leisure, after having Lata sing a song, Noor Jehan told director Vinayak, "Meri baat note kar leejiye. Iss ki yeh alag tarike ki aawaaz ek din poori duniya se apna loha manvaayegi"

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Along with Master Vinayak, Noor Jehan also adored Lata's voice. Noor Jehan was on top at that time and hearing her words brought tears to Lata's eyes. The fact was that those times were of singers who sang from throat and people were not ready to accept Lata's voice with high tone. Lata's confidence had started to come down because of continuous negative responses from audience but after Noor Jehan's few words of praise, Lata became grateful to Noor Jehan for entire life. After years Noor Jehan moved to Pakistan but the relations between Lata and Noor Jehan lasted. Some silly/unwise people kept on talking ill of them that why is Indian Lata keeping relations with Pakistani Noor Jehan? But they didn't know that Lata's nature was such that she would never forget a verbal favor by someone that helped increase her confidence. Relations are bound by no boundaries.

But Lata still had to stumble more in life. Master Vinayak came as God for Lata Mangeshkar's family. But the problems didn't end yet. In 1949, Lata's darkness filled life started to show silver lining. Only then Master Vinayak expired. At the age of 18, Lata's bank balance was Rs. 14. Right after the death of Master Vinayak, his film unit that was staying at a guesthouse was kicked out from there, along with Lata.

Lata came back on road once again.

Lata and Master Vinayak had father-daughter-like relations even then some of the jealous people had talked ill about them. Lata has said nothing in her defense.

Instead of returning to Poona or Kolhapur, Lata now decided to stay in Mumbai. She called her siblings to Mumbai. She bought a room in a Mumbai chawl. There was a temple right next to this chawl. In the peaceful environment near temple Lata stated her studies of music. She also included her four siblings in this education. There was only one tanpura that the five of them used.

Lata knew some people now because of her father's connections with Master Vinayak and Master Vinayak's connections with those people. Among them were Producer-director Vasant Jogalekar and music master Amaan Ali Khan. Vasant Jogalekar had Lata playback sing one song of film "Aap Ki Seva Mein". Lata got paid 400 rupees. In those times, that was quite a big amount. But even then people were not ready to accept Lata's high-toned voice. Some suggested her to act in comedy roles and some suggested her to sing in chorus but Lata refused saying she will never sing in chorus. Whatever she was earning, she spent it on her music education. To be able to sing in Hindi films pronunciations of Urdu words were important. She joined tuitions to learn Urdu pronunciations.

On one side there were people who disliked Lata's high-toned voice and at the same time there were now people ready to defend her. One of them was musician Ghulam Haider.

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Ghulam Haider took Lata to Shashidhar Mukherjee for one song. Shashidhar Mukherjee was an egotist and he refused to take Lata as soon as he heard her voice. The hero of film was Dilip Kumar. Ghulam Haider introduced Lata to Dilip Kumar thinking if the film hero can convince the film director then his job is done. Dilip Kumar also made fun: "yeh ladki kitni bhi achchi baatein kare magar innki baton se daal-bhaat ki boo nahin jaati".

On the other hand Ghulam Haider had decided that if film "Shaheed" if he gave the music then the voice would be only Lata's. Because of Ghulam Haider's constraint, Shashidhar Mukherjee for very angry and he fired Ghulam Haider from his movie.

Shashidhar Mukherjee had now started preparations for making "Anarkali". For music he called C. Ramchandra and he also insisted for taking Lata for singing. Shashidhar Mukherjee refused and on other hand C. Ramchandra considered this matter of fame and left the movie. Mukherjee called many musicians but before the work begins they all left. Shashidhar Mukherjee again called C. Ramchandra and they made Lata sing song "zamana yeh samjha ke hum pee ke aaye". In the song, at some points in between, there were hiccups so making that a matter and considering it a loss, Shashidhar Mukherjee sued C. Ramchandra for Rs. 75,000. But when film was released it was a hit only because of song "zamana yeh samjha".

Those were times of producer Chandulal Shah. When music director Naushad sent a tape of Lata's recordings to Chandulal, he said, "yeh to sadak par baithnewali ghatiya si tavaif ki aawaaz lagti hai" Famous music director Khemchand Prakash told Chandulal, "Sethji, aanewale waqt mein yeh ladki sab se badi star hai". After hearing this Chandulal Shah got very furious and asked Khemchand Prakash not to come at work the next day.

Lata also tolerated this insult. At that time, there was another music director named Shyamsundar. Along with success, he was also addicted to alcohol. While recording songs for film "Lahore" he called Lata Mangeshkar names. Lata left the recordings midway and left for home. After getting over the intoxication, Shyamsundar insisted Lata to sing that song. Producer Om Prakash went to pacify Lata but she promised to come at only one condition, that Shyamsundar had control over the things he said. But while recording another song he again said bad words. For her pride, Lata decided never to work with Shyamsundar again. But times were changing now.

Lata's name was in market now. Alcohol ruined Shyamsundar completely. Even though, he had insulted Lata, she felt sorry for Shyamsundar. Shyamsundar requested Lata to sing the famous hit song of those times "bahaaren phir bhi aayegi".

Before Mohammad Rafi, it was Durrani's times. He loved alcohol and women. He considered women toys. While singing a romantic song with Lata he started chhed-chhad(inappropriate behavior) with her. Humiliated Lata stopped the recording and left. With time Durrani vanished.

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Time passed.

Even the grand towers fell on the ground but Lata Mangeshkar kept on climbing the stairs of success. She never forgot the ones who helped her in her bad times. One of them was musician Naushad. Because of Naushad she got to sing in films like "Andaaz". Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Nargis acted in this film, which was produced by Mehboob Khan. When Naushad introduced Lata to him, Mehboob Khan said, "Naushad sahab, iss film ki har cheez badi hai, kya aap ko nahin lagta ki uss ke muqabale Lata ka naam bahot chhota hai?" "main nahin jaanta", Naushad replied in short. After that Mehboob Khan didn't say a word. Since that day Lata could never forget Naushad or Mehboob Khan.

Lata gained inspiration after the success of film "Andaaz", but the struggle didn't end yet. In those days, female singers were not given much importance. On the song records, the names of actresses were written instead of the singers. Lata sang the intoxicating song "aayega aanewala" from the famous film "Mahal"! But the record of that song had film character Kamini's name instead of Lata Mangeshkar's name. Madhubala played this character. But times changed and Lata Mangeshkar's name became essential for any film to be successful. The same voice that was considered high toned pleasantly surprised millions of countrymen. She became the nightingale of Hindi film lovers.

Now she had everything. Money, power, fame, and respect. One after the other she sand hundreds of songs. Fame and glory poured and there were all the comforts and luxuries but she spent lonely life. Some connected her name with the famous person of cricket world Rajsinh Dungarpur. They both appeared together in some stage shows in foreign countries. When Lata took vacation and went to London, Rajsinh would be seen near her but nobody can say anything for sure about their relations.

Some connected her name with Raj Kapoor! Some say that it is because Raj Kapoor liked it, Lata has started wearing white saari regularly but some are just phony talks. Lata stopped singing for Raj Kapoor's films after "Mera Naam Joker" because of his authoritarian nature. Only after her demands as a playback singer were satisfied she returned back to Raj Kapoor's camp.

There are a few other beliefs too about Lata Mangeshkar's life. Some believe that Lataji is the dev-daasi of the temple of their God Mangesh. While fighting for life Lata had taken a vow that if God Mangesh helps her become successful she will remain dev-daasi (unmarried) her entire life. Since years this tradition has remained. She goes to Mangeshi and as a true dev-daasi she sings a song to serve the God Mangesh.

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Another story says that to raise her siblings, Lata Mangeshkar has kept her personal life and her own wishes hidden. Everyone settled down and had a family but Lata Mangeshkar remained lonely.

Lata has also been accused many times in life. When it comes to singing in films, she has been blamed to create single-rightly situation for herself. It is said that she didn't even show mercy to her own sisters in this matter. If some musician tried to promote any other female singer then Lata ruined their life, it is said. A lot of new singers went missing. With Lata's one warning big producers would bend down on their knees. If after getting upset with Lata, if O. P. Nayyar didn't give an opportunity to Asha Bhosle to sing in his films then her voice would have also gotten lost somewhere like many other singers, people say.

But some consider this a false story. Having decided not to sing more than four songs per month, how can Lata Mangeshkar create this single-rightly situation? Kavita Krishnamurthy herself says, "If it wasn't for Lataji favor, no one would have known her till date." Kavita Krishnamurthy originally sang in chorus.

A big part of Lata's income goes to donations. There are many charities created for organizations like orphanages to hospitals. Three colleges in the state of Maharashtra run on Lata Mangeshkar's money. Moreover, she herself lives in an ordinary apartment in Mumbai, where middle class people live.

In this music journey of five decades, Lataji has sung for Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Nimmi, Geeta Bali, Nutan, Vaijayanti Mala, Waheeda Rehman, Sadhana, Nanda, Saira Banu, Mala Sinha, Asha Parekh, and Sharmila to Hema Malini and Madhuri Dixit to Kajol and Tabu. The number of songs is countless.

Lata Mangeshkar is one dant-kathaa (a story with a moral).

Lataji is such a great magic of nature that will not occur again for thousands of years. In a cultural program of India-Pakistan, Pakistani top artists said to Indian artists, "Give us Lataji, you may take Kashmir."

That is the value of Lataji.

Source: Gujarat Samachar
Date: Sunday 28 September, 2003.
Article: Kabhi Kabhie
By Devendra Patel

WHEW!! WHAT A STORY, AFTER THIS I GUESS WE ALL WILL HAVE AN IDEA OF THE ROUGH TIMES LATA WENT THROUGH:

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So far for the year 1949 we have listed about twenty popular songs from Lataji

Some of these songs were runaways hits that started to propel Lataji's career

ANDAAZ
1) Dar Na Mohabbat Karle.........Lata Mangeshker/Shamshad Begum
2) Koi mere dil mein.............Lata Mangeshkar
3) Uthaye Ja Unke Sitam..........Lata Mangeshkar
4) Meri Ladli....................Lata Mangeshkar

DULARI
5) Taqdeer Jaga Ke Aayi Hoon....Lata Mangeshkar
6) Jo dil mein khushi bankar......Lata Mangeshkar
7) Ai dil tujhe kasam...........Lata Mangeshkar

BARSAAT
8) Bichhde hue pardesi..........Lata Mangeshkar
9) Hawa mein udta jaye..........Lata Mangeshkar
10)Ab Mera Kaun Sahara .........Lata Mangeshkar
11)Barsaat Mein Hum Se Mile.....Lata Mangeshkar
12)Chhod Gaye Balam.............Lata Mangeshkar/Mukesh
13)Jiya Beqarar Hai ............Lata Mangeshkar
14)Meri Aankhon Mein Bas Gaya...Lata Mangeshkar

MAHAL
15)Ayega Ayega Aanewala.........Lata Mangeshkar
16) Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya.......Lata Mangeshkar

BADI BAHEN
17)Chale Jana Nahin.............Lata Mangeshkar
18)Chup Chup Khade Ho...........Lata Mangeshkar

These are all songs from 1949 Films; quite easy to select two more
A couple of these will be on our list;
We will later list about another 20's for the 50's.

These are the songs that should be remembered for a very long time, the songs that catapulted Lata Mangeshkar to fame; in proceeding with this thread, we will present these songs as our starting salvo:

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Hit songs for period 1990-1999

As was poointed out earlier, that hits by Lata was non existant, as she was singing far lower numbers of songs, giving breaks to different artiste: However we have managed to pinpoint a few songs within this decade that was done by Lata and was somewhat populare:

(1) Chudi Maza Na Dega..................(Sanam Bewafa 1991)

(2) Tu Mujhay Kabool....................(Khuda Gawah 1992)

(3) Meri Kwabon Mein....................(Dilwalay Dulhaniya Le Jayengay 1995)

(4) Didi Tera Devar Deewana.............(Hum Aapke Hain Koun 1994)

(5) Jiya Jale Jaan Jale ...............(Dil Se 1998)

(6) Kuchh Na Kaho .....................(Love Story 1998)

(7) Bedardi Tere Pyar Ne ..............(Henna 1991)

(8) Hum Jaisi Kahin....................(Bewafa Se Wafa 1992)

(9) Parmeshwar Rakhwala................(Chambal Ki Kasam 1999)

This is it for the 90's if one should listen carefully, it seems that the voice was no longer there:

Finally before we move to Links, Songs and Translations, we shall look at songs for 2000-2006: Did Lata fare any better than the 90's? we will see

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1950-1959

19) Tum na jaane kis jahaan................(Sazaa1951)

20) Mehfil Main Jal Uthi Shama..........Nirala 1951

21) Lagan More man ki......................(Baabul 1950)

22) Duniya Ne Teri Duniya Wale.............(DEEDAR 1951)

23) Tujhko deya humne......................(Aan 1952)

24) Aaj mere man mein Sakhi................(Aan 1952)

25) Bachpan ki Mohobat.....................(Baiju Bawra 1952)

26) Mohe Bhool Gaye Saawariya..............(Baiju Bawra 1952)

27) Bachpan Ki Din Bhulana Dena............(Deedar 1951)

28) Aaja Re Ab Mera dil Pukara.............(Aah 1953)

29) Jaane ne nazar.........................(Aah 1953) with Mukesh

30) Raja ki ayegi baraat...................(Aah 1953)

31) Yeh shaam ki tanhiyaan.................(Aah 1953)

32) Aja Ab Tu AAja.........................(Anarkali 1953)

33) Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai.................(Anarkali 1953)

34) Oo Aasmaan Wale........................(Anarkali 1953)

35) Kissine Apna Banaki Mujhko.............(Patita 1953

36) Na Shikwa hain Koyee...................(Amar 1954)

37) Jadugar Saiyyaan.......................(Nagin 1954)

38) Man Dole Mera Tan Dole Mera............(Nagin 1954)

39) Jayen tu Jayen Kaha....................(Taxi Driver 1954):

40) Jeewan ke safar may rahi...............(Muninji 1955)

41) Mera Salaam Leja.......................(Udan Khatola 1955)

42) Nagri Nagri Dware Dware................(Mother India 1957)

43) O Mere Lall Aja........................(Mother India 1957)

44) Duniya may Hamare......................(Mother India 1957)

45) Chand Phir Nikla.......................(Paying Guest 1957)

46) Ai Malik Tere Bandhe Hum...............(Do Akhen Bada Hath 1957)

47) Baje Damaroo Baje Damaroo..............(Kath Putli 1957)

48) O Raat kay Musafir.....................(Miss Mary 1957) with Rafi

49) Yeh Hasraton Ki Daag...................(Adalat 1958)

50) Meri Man ka Bawra Panchi...............(Amar Deep 1958)

51) Aaja Re Paradisi.......................(Madhumatti 1958)

52) Tera Jaana.............................(Anari 1959)

53) Bhaiya Mere Raakhi ko Bandhan..........(Choti Bahen 1959)

54) Lagay Chutayna ab Tu Sanam.............(Kali Topi Lall Rumal 1959)

55) Rasik Balama...........................(Chori Chori 1956)

56) Hum Pyar Ne Wale Jalne Ko..............(Jailor 1958)

57) Ab Raat Guzarne Wali...................(Aah 1953)

58) Ghadi Ghadi Mora Dil Dhadke............(Madhumati 1958)

59) Aplam Chaplam..........................(Azad 1955) with Usha Mangeshkar

Continues...........

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1960-1964

SONGS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IN VIEW OF LINKING THE MUSIC AND PRESENTING THE TRANSLATIONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE SAME ORDER:

60) Zindagee Bhar Nahi Bholenge............(Barsaat KI Ek Raat 1960)
61) Teri Rahon May Khadi Hain..............(Chaalia 1960)
62) Baje Payal Chun Chun...................(Chaalia 1960)
63) Mohobat Ki Jhooti Kahani Pe Roye.......(Mughal E Azam 1960)
64) Pyar Kiya Tu Darna Kya.................(Mughal E Azam 1960)
65) Ajeeb Daastaan Ye Hai..................(Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraye 1960)
66) Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraye .............(Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraye 1960)
67) Mera Dil Ab Tera O Sajna...............(Dil Apna Aur Preet Paraye 1960)
68) O Saajana Barkha Bahaar Aayi...........(Parakh 1960)
69) Ehsaan Tera Hoga Mujh Par..............(Junglee 1961)
70) Ja Ja Ja Mere Bachpan..................(Junglee 1961)
71) Kaashmir Ki Kali Ho Main...............(Junglee 1961)
72) Kabhi Tu Milegi Kahi Tu Milege.........(Aarti 1962)
73) Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil..............(Bees Saal Baad 1962)
74) Sapne Suhane Ladakpanke................(Bees Saal Baad 1962)
75) Mere Dil Kabhi Tu Koi Ayega............(Main Chup Rahongi 1962)
76) Tumhe Ho Mata..........................(Main Chup Rahongi 1962)
77) Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha................(Anpadh 1962)
78) Yeh Hariyali Aur Ye Raasta.............(Hariyali Aur raasta 1962)
79) Aye Meray Dilay Nadaan.................(Tower House 1962)
80) Wo Dil Kahaan..........................(Bharosa 1963)
81) Takdeer Ka Fasana......................(Sehra 1963
82) Mere Mehbood Tujhe.....................(Mere Mehboob 1963)
83) Mera Naam Rita Christina...............(April Fool 1964)
84) Lag Ja Gale............................(Woh Kaun Thi 1964)
85) Naina Bharse Rhimjhim Rhimjhim.........(Woh Kaun Thi 1964)
86) Tumko Hamaree Umar Lagi Jaye...........(Ayee Milan Ki Bela 1964)
87) Main Kamsin Na Hoon....................(Ayee Milan Ki Bela 1964)
88)Budha Mil Gaya..........................(Sangam 1964)
89) Aap Kyon Royen.........................(Woh Kaun Thi 1964)

To be continued..........

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Lata is thinking of retiring and helping in her recent opened Hospital.

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Diamonds are forever

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France to honour Lata Mangeshkar

Nov 14, 2006, 06:28

Mumbai, Nov 14. (PTI): The Legion of Honor, France's highest civilian award, will be awarded to the singing legend Lata Mangeshkar at a ceremony in Mumbai next month, the singer said on Monday.

"It is a huge honour for me that the French Government is honouring me in this manner. I was told that it is equivalent to India's Bharat Ratna," Mangeshkar told PTI here.

"This was in the pipeline for some time now and they had contacted me some time ago. But they could not find an appropriate time for the ceremony and the matter was stalled. Then they contacted me again some days ago, saying the ceremony would be held in mid-December," she added.

"I have got so many awards and honours but each one is special to me, specially because great artists like Satyajit Ray have received this before," Mangeshkar added.

Other Indian recipients of the award include filmmaker Satyajit Ray and superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

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1965-1966

90) Ajee Rooth Kar Ab....................(Arzoo 1965)

91) Bedardi Balama Tujhko................(Arzoo 1965)

92) Gumnaam Hai Koi......................(Gumnaam 1965)

93) Tumhe Mere Mandir**..................(Khandaan 1965)

94) Aaj Phir Jeene Ke Tamana.............(Guide 1965)

95) Saiyan Be-Imaan .....................(Guide 1965)

96) Ek Tu Jo Mila........................(Himalaya Ki Godmein 1965)

97) Pardesiyon Se Na Akhiyon Milana......(Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965)

98) Yeh Sama Sama hai Pyar Ka............(Jab Jab Phool Khile 1965)

99)Humsafar Mere Humsafar...............(Purnima 1965)

100) Baharon Mera Jeewan Bhi Sanvaro......(Aakhri Khat 1966)

Continues...........

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1966-1969

SONGS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IN VIEW OF LINKING THE MUSIC AND PRESENTING THE TRANSLATIONS ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN THE SAME ORDER:

101) Dheere Dheere Machal...............(Anupama 1966)

102) Kuch Dil Na Kaha.......................(Anupama 1966)

103) Phir Tere Kahani Yaad Aai...(Dil Diya Dard Liya 1966)

104) Lo Aagai Unke Yaad......................(Do Badan 1966)

105) O Mere Shah e Khubaan..........(Love In Tokyo 1966)

106) Sayonara Sayonara................(Love In Tokyo 1966)

107) Tu Jahaan Jahaan Chalega.........(Mera Saaya 1966)

108) Nainon May Badra Chaye............(Mera Saaya 1966)

109) Rahen Na Rahen............................(Mamta 1966)

110) Aaja Piya Tu He Pyar Doon..(Baharon Ki Sapne 1967)

111) Kya Janoon Sajan.............(Baharon Ki Sapne 1967)

112) Dekho Dekhoji..................(Farz 1967)

113) Mera Naan Hain Jhameela..(Night iIn London 1967)

114) Kya Jawaab Den...............(Bahu Begum 1967)

115) Rula Ke Gaya Sapna Mera....(Jewel Thief 1967)

116) Tuhe Sawariyaan Na He...............(Milan 1967)

117) Raat Aur Din Diya Jale......(Raat Aur Din 1967)

118) Jab Jab Bahar Ayee...............(Taqdeer 1967)

119) Na Tum Bewafa Ho.........(Ek Kali Muskai 1967)

120) Main To Pyar Se Tera......(Saathi 1968)

121) Bache Man Ki Sache...... .(Do Kaliyaan 1968)

122) Mere Jeewan Saathi...............(Saathi 1968)

123) Ye Kaun Aya......................(Saathi 1968)

124) Chandan Sa Badan....(Saraswati Chandra 1968)

125) Milti Hai Zaindagi Main..........(Aakhen 1968)

Continues...........

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Songs from the decade 40's

Songs from the decade 50's

Songs from the decade 60's

Songs from the decade 70's

Songs from the decade 80's

Songs from the decade 90's

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We do have six decades of songs by Lata Mangeshkar, our aim is to list at least 20 songs

for each decade, so we are talking about 120 songs:

Will try to get in like about 125:

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Awards:

She received the most honorable award Padma Bhushan in 1969, Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1989, Padma Vibhushan in 1999,   Bharat Ratna in 2001 and One Time Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008 by the Indian Government.

The awards received by the State Government of Maharashtra are the Best Play Back Singer in 1966, Best Music Director in 1966, Best Playback Singer in 1977, Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 1977 and Maharashtra Ratna award in 2001.

She won the “National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer” in the year 1972, 1974 and 1990 for singing the songs

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Albums:

In the year 1994, Lata Mangeshkar released an album “Shraddhanjali – My Tribute to the Immortals”. In this album Mangeshkar offered her tribute to the immortal singers such as Mohammed Rafi, Hemanth Kumar, K L. Saigal, Kishore Kumar and many other renowned singers by signing their songs in her voice.

She released her next album “Saadgi” on 21 June, 2007 presenting eight ghazals written by the renowned poet and lyricist Javeed Akhtar. It was composed by Mayuresh Pai. “Sarhadein – Music beyond boundaries” album was released on 12 April, 2011 featuring the renowned singers of Bollywood such as Sonu Nigam, Suresh Wadkar, Usha Mangeshkar, Hariharan, along with a Pakistani singer Ghulam