Lata Mangeshkar, India’s nightingale, dies at 92; two-day national mourning announced

Breach Candy hospital medical director said that Mangeshkar passed away at 8.12 am. “She came here as a Covid patient and age was against her. We tried our level best to save the legend. But she had complications,” he said. Mangeshkar had been diagnosed with Covid-19 and pneumonia.

The Maharashtra government announced that the singer will be accorded a state funeral. Hospital director informed that Mangeshkar’s family plans to take her mortal remains to Prabhu Kunj, her residence, for two hours. Her mortal remains will then be taken to Shivaji Park for public darshan before cremation. As a mark of respect to the Bharat Ratna awardee, two-day national mourning have also been announced. The National Flag will fly at half-mast for two days and there will be no official entertainment.

On Saturday, Dr Pratit Samdhani of Breach Candy hospital, who was treating had performed certain procedures and said that she was tolerating them well, but later her condition deteriorated.

On Saturday, MNS President Raj Thackeray, NCP MP Supriya Sule, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi and Lata Mangeshkars sister Asha Bhosle, brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar went to the hospital to inquire about her health.

She was admitted to the Breach Candy hospital in the first week of January after she contracted COVID and was admitted to Breach Candy in first week of January after she contracted Covid and pneumonia. Later, doctors said her health had improved. Earlier last week, she was extubated and taken off invasive ventilator.

Mangeshkar had lung ailments two and a half years ago and was treated for them. She used oxygen often at home too.

Born on September 28, 1929 in Madhya Pradesh, Lata Mangeshkar had music in her genes. Her father Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar was a Marathi musician and a theatre actor. During her lifetime, Mangeshkar worked with music greats from various generations as she delivered iconic numbers that remain relevant to this day. Known for her versatility, Mangeshkar dabbled in other film industries as well.

After Lata Mangeshkar moved to Mumbai, she was mentored by Master Vinayak, a filmmaker of the 1930s and Ghulam Haider. She went on to nurture a special relationship with composer Madan Mohan, with whom she delivered some of her most memorable songs. “I shared a special relationship with Madan Mohan, which was much more than what a singer and a music composer share. This was a relationship of a brother and a sister,” she said later, calling “Woh chup rahe” from Jahan Ara as their favourite collaboration.

She had a similar relationship with Yash Chopra, and their collaboration yielded such hits as Dhool Ka Phool, Kabhi Kabhie, Silsila and Dil Toh Pagal Hai. She also worked with Chopra’s son, Aditya, on Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge. Perhaps, Dilip Kumar, whom she addresses as her older brother, said it best when he remarked, “None have been able to equal Lata’s refinement. It is very difficult for anyone to compete with her because she has invested so heavily in every person who cares for music – there’s such a lot of Lata Mangeshkar in everyone.”

Mangeshkar was conferred with three National Awards, and was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989. In 2001, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna for her contribution to the arts, thereby becoming the second vocalist to receive this honour apart from late Carnatic music giant M S Subbulakshmi. She was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.

Apart from lending her voice to several popular tracks, Lata Mangeshkar has also been credited as a music director. She composed music for Mohityanchi Manjula (1963), Maratha Tituka Melvava (1964), Sadhi Manase (1965) and Tambadi Mati (1969).

Mangeshkar has also produced a handful of films such as Vaadal, Jhaanjhar, Kanchan Ganga and Lekin.

Lata Mangeshkar is survived by her four younger siblings — Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Khadikar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar.