Lata Mangeshkar, one of India’s best-known playback singers, who has over a thousand Hindi film songs to her credit, is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and her health is being monitored by doctors at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital. The legendary singer was admitted to the hospital after she was diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia a few days ago. She contracted the virus after coming in close contact with a staff member who was also COVID-19 positive.
Mangeshkar, who is often called the Nightingale of India for her mellifluous voice, has been the recipient of several awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour. In fact, she is the second vocalist, after M. S. Subbulakshmi, to receive this honour. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, too, was bestowed on her in 1989 by the Government of India. But did you know that early in her career she had once rejected the Filmfare award?
During the Filmfare award ceremony in 1958, Bimal Roy’s Madhumanti won 9 awards, a record at the time, thus becoming the most-awarded film at the ceremony. One of these was for Best Playback Singer – Female. The award was meted out to Lata Mangeshkar for her song Aaja Re Pardesi in Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala’s Madhumanti.
However, shockingly, when the legendary singer was called on stage to accept the award, she refused to take her first Filmfare trophy. Everyone was surprised by her decision. When the singer was asked the reason for her unusual decision, she said that the Filmfare award trophy is like a woman and since it is naked, she cannot accept it.
The organisers finally wrapped the award with a handkerchief and presented it to the singer.
The singer has won four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards, two Filmfare Special Awards, Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award since then.
Meanwhile, in a recent interaction with ETimes, Lata Mangeshkar’s sister Asha Bhosle revealed that several pujas have been organised at the veteran singer’s home. She stated that Lord Shiva Rudras has been placed at her house and pujas are being organised for her recovery.
