It is a measure of Lata Mangeshkar’s achievement that all tributes and any adjectives seem like a gross understatement. It is hard to imagine any comparable artiste, in the annals of any country, who so saturated the cultural, emotional and affective life of their nation. This is not just a statistical achievement. The tens of thousands of songs recorded in 18 languages, the total domination of playback singing for a half century, the ability to define a whole genre of music, the innovations of tonality, pitch and modulation, would alone be formidable. But her impact cannot be measured in technical terms. A great artiste might give pitch perfect expression to a variety of emotions. Lata Mangeshkar went further: Her songs became the totality of our emotions to the point where it was impossible to think of an affective life outside of her songs, reports The Indian Express. Lata Mangeshkar was coming of age when a new nation was coming into being. But a new nation needed a new grammar across the whole gamut of our lives. It needed new cultural forms that could unite rather than divide a country just emerging from Partition. It is often said that Hindi cinema was that cultural form. But in retrospect that seems to be a bit of mischaracterisation. If Hindi cinema acquired a distinct identity as a genre it was largely because of playback singing. In retrospect, it is remarkable how much of that cinema is utterly forgettable. What is not forgettable is the music. The music became our public poetry and our public melody, it became our private therapy and consolation; it seemed to offer an utterance for every emotion and occasion: From loyalty to betrayal, from joy to sadness, from heightened spirits to the depths of despair. One can get too sophisticated about this. But it is hard to imagine an Indian, above a certain age, whose articulation of their inner life is not in the words of a Bollywood lyric. And the voice will invariably be Lata Mangeshkar’s. Read: Lata Mangeshkar: Tributes abound from cultural arena for 'India's Nightingale' It is in this context that Lata Mangeshkar’s playback singing achieved its unique status. Much can be written about the tone and pitch of her voice over the years. But what is indisputable is the fact that only she could give expression to literally every situation or emotional register. It is not just the melody, but that precision about words and emotions in her singing, that made her an ideal carrier of the totality of our lives. Someone once said, in a profound remark, that the greatness of playback singing in Bollywood’s halcyon days, was that no actor really needed to act. The entire affective burden of movies was carried by the songs: In fact the songs were the script, if there was such a thing. But the success of this genre required three things. It required great poetry and musical compositions. It required a genre of singing that exuded a sincerity with poetry that Lata Mangeshkar had in full measure. The singing would not overwhelm the meaning of the lyric, it would give it perfect expression. But most of all what it required was the creation of singers who could become everyone. The singer had to be a neutral enough medium so that they could appear to be every actor’s voice. But in a much more difficult act, the singer had to exude a kind of trust that they also became every listener’s voice and the grammar of their emotion. It is, I think, for this reason, more than anything else, that Bollywood playback singing was dominated by a few singers. For every time you heard a voice you also wanted it to be familiar so that you could think of it as your own. Much has been said about how Lata Mangeshkar managed to define the pitch and tonality of what the Indian female singing voice should be like, often to the exclusion of many other registers. But this worry misses the point: Could such a playback role have been performed by any other voice, one in which everyone, as an individual, could find themselves? Read: PM mourns death of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar It is difficult to gauge how significant she will be for future generations. It has to be said that there is no dearth of extraordinary musical talent, but the historical conditions that produce the need for a Lata Mangeshkar will probably never come again. The lyrics she sang will probably bear a greater burden of their gendered values, than, say, the ones that Rafi or Kishore got. (Just listen to that trance-like duet with Hemant Kumar, “Chupa lo yun dil mein pyaar mera”; the line “Tumhare charanon ka phool hun main” will now make you wince). For someone who sang in any every emotional register, it is hard to imagine a single song as a send-off: But try “Phaili hui hain sapanon ki bahein” from House No 44. It will be hard to come by a better combination of lilting innocence, and soaring dreams. The incomparable gift she gave us. If Lata Mangeshkar became representative of India, it was because the lyrics she sang, and the forms in which she expressed them, contained all of India in them: All of its languages, cultural registers, even its conflicts. It was not benchmarking India to a single measure; it was rather connecting its superabundance. She could give voice to collective emotions and mark the turning points in its collective life, as in “Aye mere watan ke logo,” the song that made Nehru and a whole nation break down. But what made her the ideal representative of the new nation was not that she represented us collectively, but that she could represent each one of us in our singularity: In every role we can imagine. Much has been made of the fact that her image was in part propelled by the ideal of the ascetic performer. She made the world of art acceptable to a conservative India, by projecting an ascetic femininity onto it, taking Bollywood out of a courtly grammar of self-presentation. But at the end of the day the focus on her persona, her personal asceticism, humility are beside the point. For it is the mark of her greatness that her music transcended every division and identity that was imposed on it. The most dedicated group of fans she has is in Pakistan, where identification with her is more vivid than in India. She had no equal and will never have one.

Lata Mangeshkar is one of the most celebrated singers of all time in India. Her career spans over six decades and she has sung in more than thirty-six different languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, and Urdu. During her eventful career, Lata sang more than 20,000 songs. Legendary vocalist Lata Mangeshkar's life came to an end at 92 years on February 6, 2022. This article will take you through a glimpse of her eventful life and career. Early Life Lata Mangeshkar was born at Indore in Madhya Pradesh under India on September 28, 1929. She was the eldest of the five children of Deenanath Mangeshkar, a renowned Marathi and Konkani singer, and his wife, Shevanti. From an early age, Lata showed a great interest in music and began learning to sing from her father. She started singing at the age of five and made her first public appearance at the age of nine. Her journey as a professional singer started at the age of 13. Read Lata Mangeshkar: Tributes abound from cultural arena for 'India's Nightingale' Career Lata Mangeshkar started her career in 1942, singing Marathi songs. In 1947, she sang for the first Hindi movie. She sang the song 'Pa Lagu Kar Jori' in Basant Joglekar's 'Aap Ki Sewa Mein'. Two years later, composer Ghulam Haider gave him his first big chance. After that, she continued singing. Known as the 'Nightingale of India', Lata Mangeshkar has sung nearly 30,000 songs in 36 Indian languages in her more than half-century-long career. When Lata was only 13 years old (1942), Deennath Mangeshkar died of a heart attack. As a result, the responsibility of the entire family fell on 13-year-old Lata. Master Vinayak, the owner of Navajug Chitrapat Film Company, a friend of the family, came and stood beside the Mangeshkar family. As a child, Lata occasionally sang in movies. But Binayak advised her to take singing and acting as a career. However, her song 'Khelu Sari Money House Vari' sung in a Marathi film was dropped from the final cut of the film. Yet Lata did not give up. Read Billionaire Singer Rihanna is Expecting her First Child with Rapper A$AP Rocky Master Vinayak assigned a small character for Lata Mangeshkar in his film ‘Pahili Mangala-Gaur’. In this film, she sang the song 'Natali Chaitrachi Navalai' composed by Dada Chandekar. However, There was still a constant battle with her life. She has never been able to find a film career interesting. She focused on playback singing. After Binayak's death, music director Ghulam Haider became Lata's guru. On his 84th birthday, she said, Ghulam Haider was the "godfather" of her life. Ghulam Haider took the opportunity to give a chance to Lata, she sang 'Dil Mera Tora, Mujhe Kahi Ka Na Chhora' in the movie 'Majboor' (1948). This one song forced the Bollywood industry to think about this new singer. The first big hit of her life was the song 'Aayega Aanewala' from the movie 'Mahal' (1949). Actress Madhubala synced her lips in this song. That was just the beginning. Then hundreds of songs took the hearts of millions of people. She got appreciation from people from all sectors and achieved innumerable awards and titles. In the fifties, she sang with all the renowned music directors. In the sixties, she produced all-time famous songs like 'Peer Kiya To Darna Kya' or 'Ajib Dastan Hai Yeh' and more. Read Akash Jure Megh on Bongo: Another Bangla adaptation of a Turkish hit TV series

Remembering eminent singer Lata Mangeshkar, respectfully revered by music lovers around the world as the 'Goddess of music' who passed away on Sunday at the age of 92, noted celebrities in Bangladesh have written down emotional tributes on their social media handles throughout Sunday. Shakib Khan, Dhallywood’s most celebrated superstar in recent years, wrote on a Facebook post from his verified page pouring his heartfelt respect to the legend. "She was a total legend in her singing. It’s so sad she’s gone but her voice and music shall live on in the hearts and souls of many! #RIP #LataMangeshkar," Khan wrote. Legendary actress and Member of Parliament Subarna Mostafa wrote, "The nightingale is no more… Rest in peace Lata Mangeshkar … You have filled the hearts of millions with your music. You will remain with us forever.. Deepest Respect and Love." Read: Hasina mourns Lata Mangeshkar’s sad demise Iconic singer Kumar Bishwajit wrote on his verified Facebook page: “There is only one Lata Mangeshkar. Even though she physically left the earth today, she will remain immortal among us. We will be forever indebted to her majestic voice. May peace be upon her soul." Singer-journalist Elita Karim wrote: "A sad day for millions around the world. As Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and music leaves for her abode, she does not leave behind the queen. #LataMangeshkar breathed her last a while ago, at the age of 92. The nightingale who has been inspiring generations of singers is finally at peace. Thank you for your music. You will live forever in our hearts." Celebrated singer Ankhi Alamgir shared a picture with the late-great singer alongside her step-mother and legendary singer Runa Laila on her Facebook profile, taken in Lata jee’s famous residence Prabhu Kunj in Mumbai on March 27, 2017. “Respect. Feeling cold, numb,” Aankhi Alamgir wrote her instant reaction upon hearing the news of the great singer’s demise.  Popular actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba wrote, “This is the end of an era. Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar passes away at the age of 92. RIP.”  Chanchal Chowdhury, one of the most beloved cultural personalities in the country, referred to the singer as the ‘Goddess of music’. Expressing his immense respect towards the legend, he wrote: "Adios, dear 'Goddess of music’ Lata Mangeshkar." Read: The day the music died in India Reminiscing his fond memory as a listener, ‘Indalo’ frontman and actor Jon Kabir wrote: "Rest well. Your voice woke me up so many times in the morning when I was a kid, all credit goes to my mom." Apart from these celebrities, a great number of music artists from different genres, film and television actors-directors and people from all walks of life have been expressing their utmost condolence and sharing fond memories of the legendary singer since receiving the news of her departure on Sunday morning.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday conveyed her profound condolences to the government and the people of India over the sad passing away of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar.In a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she mentioned that the people of Bangladesh mourn in solidarity with the people of India in this hour of grief. Also read: Lata Mangeshkar admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in MumbaiLata Mangeshkar, a cultural icon and a legend, was one of the most accomplished artists of all time, Hasina said, adding, “With her most extraordinary melodious voice, she sang innumerous songs in different languages, including Bangla, and touched the hearts of millions in our region and beyond. Her Bangla songs are now an integral part of the treasure trove of Bangla culture.”She recalled Lata Mangeshkar with deep respect and gratitude for her role in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. “Along with her fellow Indian artistes, contributed immensely towards promoting the cause of Bangladesh among the people of India.” Also read: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar hospitalised with CovidHasina offered her prayers for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar and expressed deep sympathy for the bereaved family members and millions of her fans across the world so that they have the fortitude to bear with such an irreparable loss.

Indians woke up on Sunday, a weekend holiday, to a shocking news that legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar died, as heartfelt tributes began pouring in for the 'Queen of Melody'. Lata, who had been hospitalised with Covid and pneumonia since the middle of January, passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai city around 8am at the age of 92. With over 30,000 songs to her name in 36 Indian and foreign languages since the 1940s, Lata made it to the coveted Guinness Book of World Records as the globe's most recorded artiste. READ: PM mourns death of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar From Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opposition politician Rahul Gandhi to Bollywood celebrities like Hema Malini and cricket icon Virat Kohli, all took to social media to pay tributes as the government announced two days of national mourning. PM Modi was among the first ones to share the tragic news with the nation on Twitter, saying that "beyond films, she was always passionate about India's growth". "The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people. "Dhe closely witnessed the transitions of the Indian film world for decades. Beyond films, she was always passionate about India's growth. She always wanted to see a strong and developed India," he tweeted. India's main opposition Congress leader Gandhi tweeted, "Her golden voice is immortal and will continue to echo in the hearts of her fans. My condolences to her family, friends and fans." Bollywood actress Hema Malini said she was "deeply shocked" as with Lata's death, 'an era in Bollywood has ended". Lata was, in fact, the singing voice of many leading actresses of yesteryears -- Hema Malini being the most prominent among them. Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli also tweeted his condolences. "Deeply saddened to hear about the demise of Lata ji. Her melodious songs touched millions of people around the world. Thank you for all the music and the memories," he wrote. Lata was born in the city of Indore in the central state of Madhya Pradesh on 28th September 1929. She began her music training under her father Deenanath, a theatre personality. Officially she began her singing career at the age of 13, when the family relocated to Mumbai after her father's demise in 1942. Seven years later, Lata hogged limelight for her first major hit song 'Aayega Aanewaala' in a Bollywood movie. READ: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar hospitalised with Covid From 1960s to 2000s, she dominated Bollywood. In 1974, Lata became the first Indian singer to perform at Royal Albert Hall in the British capital. In 1989, Lata was given Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest recognition in the field of cinema. In 2001, Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, was bestowed on her by the Indian government. Lata's sister Asha Bhosle is also a singing legend. But Lata had cleared said in an interview that they never competed with each other. "We're very close," she had said.

Legendary Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar has been hospitalised in the western city of Mumbai after testing positive for Covid-19. The 92-year-old 'Queen of Melody' was rushed to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the premier Breach Candy Hospital after her RT-PCR test result came positive, her niece Rachana told the local media on Tuesday. "She is mild Covid positive. Considering her age, doctors advised us that she should be in the ICU because she requires constant care. She will be fine. But it's going to take a while because of her age," Rachana said. Also read: Sohel Rana shifted from ICU to cabin Considered one of the leading and most respected playback singers in India, Lata has recorded songs in over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over 35 Indian languages and foreign languages. In fact, she began her singing career at the age of 13, after her father's demise in 1942. Seven years later, Lata hogged limelight for her first major hit song 'Aayega Aanewaala' in a Bollywood movie. Also read: Sourav Ganguly's daughter contracts Covid From 1960s to 2000s, she dominated Bollywood. In 1974, Lata became the first Indian singer to perform at Royal Albert Hall in the British capital. In 1989, Lata was given Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest recognition in the field of cinema. In 2001, Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, was bestowed on her by the Indian government.