Lata Mangeshkar passed away at 92. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)Acclaimed singer Lata Mangeshkar breathed her last at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai on Sunday. She was 92. The singer, called the Nightingale of India, will be laid to rest at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park with full state honours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay homage to her.
Daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar and Shevanti Mangeshkar, Lata belonged to a musical family. Her father was a well-known Marathi musician and theatre artiste. She was first tutored by her father and later appeared as a child artiste in several of his plays.
Lata Mangeshkar recorded her first Hindi song called “Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal De Tu” for the Marathi feature Gajaabhaau, which had released in 1943. Later, she went on to collaborate with some of the most popular names of the Hindi music industry, including the likes of Anil Biswas, Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad Ali and SD Burman among others.
She has lent her voice to songs in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and other regional languages. She has been honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan as well as several National and Filmfare Awards.
"Today India has lost its voice. A voice that defined Indian Music for generations. Lataji has enriched our lives for decades with her soulful voice. Her legacy is unparalleled. Even though Lataji is not with us physically, her voice will remain in our hearts. Pranamam to Maa Saraswathi," tweeted the singer.
"I consider myself fortunate to have been a part of Lata Didi’s life. She always showered me with her love and blessings. With her passing away, a part of me feels lost too. She’ll always continue to live in our hearts through her music," the cricketing icon tweeted.
"It's difficult to accept that Lata Didi is no longer with us, and even more difficult to express how I feel; however, one thing I am certain of is that the heavens must be celebrating today," singer Hariharan tweeted.
"A legend is no more, #LataMangeshkar was a melodious queen who ruled the world of music for decades, she was uncrowned queen of music and her voice shall keep ruling the hearts of people for all times to come," tweeted Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Hussain.
Funeral is moving to Shivaji Park from Lata Mangeshkar's residence.
"The nightingale of India passed away today. Her sweet melodious voice will live on through generations to come. May her soul rest in peace #latamangeshkar," wrote Priya Dutt as she shared an old image of Sunil Dutt and the singer.
A public holiday has been declared on Monday in Maharashtra as a mark of respect for Lata Mangeshkar. The singer passed away on Sunday morning in Mumbai.
"Her songs have been a part of all of us and her voice engrained in every Indian and we will all cherish her forever. #RIP Lata Mangeshkar Ji. . . The end of an era!" tweeted actor Purabh Kohli.
Anticipating huge crowd at Nightangle Lata Mangeshkar's funeral, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has accorded temporary status of cremation ground to Shivaji Park. Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani told The Indian Express, "We have granted temporary status of cremation ground to Shivaji Park on security grounds."
"A formidable talent, Lata ji lives on through her music, her voice running through our hearts," Twinkle Khanna wrote as she shared an old image of Rajesh Khanna with Mangeshkar.
"You’re eternal and have gone down in posterity as the greatest singer, the nightingale of India," wrote Sonam Kapoor as she remembered the late singer.
(Photo: Varinder Chawla)
(Express photo by Yogesh Naik)
"I have learnt with deepest sorrow about the passing away of Lata Mangeshkar. India has lost a great daughter. She was the Nightingale of India and through her songs made an immense contribution to the cultural integration of the country. Her passing away is an immense loss to our nation and the void is going to be impossible to fill. My wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the members of Lataji's family, and we pray to God for the peace of the departed Soul," read former PM Manmohan Singh's statement.
Singer Asha Bhosle, younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar, looks outside the balcony to see the crowd gathered outside her residence Prabhu Kunj. More than 1000 people have gathered outside the late singer's residence.