Background and career
Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar (Marathi pronunciation: [ləˈt̪aː məŋˈɡeːʃkəɾ] ; born Hemalata Deenanath Mangeshkar; 28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Her contribution to the Indian music industry in a career spanning eight decades gained her honorific titles such as the "Queen of Melody" and "Voice of the Millennium".
Mangeshkar recorded songs in over thirty-six Indian languages and a few foreign languages, though primarily in Hindustani, Bengali and Marathi.
Known for her discipline, Mangeshkar always recorded her songs barefoot as a mark of respect for the recording studio, which she considered a temple. Despite her perfectionism, she famously never listened to her own songs after their release, stating in interviews that she would only find mistakes in her singing.
She received accolades and honors throughout her career. In 1989, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award was bestowed on her by the Government of India. In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, becoming only the second singer to receive India's highest civilian honour. In 2009, France made her an officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, the country's highest civilian award.
She was the recipient of three National Film Awards, 15 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards, four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards, before declining further ones, two Filmfare Special Awards, the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award amongst others. In 1974, she became the first Indian playback singer to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England.
