This is Part 11 of Legends of Indian Cinema, our 20-part series on the actors, filmmakers and musicians who shaped Indian films across languages. New here? Start with Part 1: Dadasaheb Phalke, or read the previous part, Part 10: Dr. Rajkumar.
Indian films are famous for their songs, and for more than 70 years one voice sang more of them than any other. Lata Mangeshkar gave voice to generations of heroines, from Madhubala to Kajol. Her songs are still sung at weddings, festivals and national events.
Early life
- Born on 28 September 1929 in Indore. She was the eldest child of classical singer and stage actor Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar.
- Her father died in 1942, when she was 13. She began acting and singing in films to support her family.
- Her siblings Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Khadikar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar also became musicians.
The breakthrough
- Early on, some producers said her voice was "too thin". Composer Ghulam Haider believed in her and gave her an important break in Majboor (1948).
- "Aayega Aanewala" from Mahal (1949), filmed on Madhubala, made her famous across India.
- Through the 1950s and 60s, she worked with almost every great composer: Naushad, Shankar–Jaikishan, S.D. Burman, Madan Mohan, C. Ramchandra, Salil Chowdhury and, later, Laxmikant–Pyarelal, R.D. Burman and A.R. Rahman.
Songs that defined eras
- "Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon" (1963), a non-film tribute to soldiers of the 1962 war. It reportedly brought Prime Minister Nehru to tears.
- "Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya" (Mughal-e-Azam, 1960), "Lag Jaa Gale" (Woh Kaun Thi?, 1964) and "Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai" (Guide, 1965).
- "Tujhe Dekha To" (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, 1995) and "Jiya Jale" (Dil Se, 1998) showed her voice reaching new generations.
- She sang in more than 30 languages, including Marathi, Bengali and Tamil, and recorded thousands of songs.
Honours
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1989) and the Bharat Ratna (2001), India's highest civilian honour.
- Three National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer.
- After winning several Filmfare Awards, she asked in 1970 not to be considered again, to give younger singers a chance.
- France made her an Officer of the Legion of Honour in 2007.
Legacy
Lata Mangeshkar died on 6 February 2022, aged 92. India declared two days of national mourning. Her songs remain the benchmark for every playback singer, and a chowk in Ayodhya was named after her in 2022.
Next in the series: Part 12: Amitabh Bachchan.
