The melodious voice of the nation, Lata Mangeshkar, transcended to her heavenly abode today. Born in 1929, Mangeshkar, who breathed her last in Mumbai at the age of 92, was more than just a playback singer. She warmed the hearts of millions with her “golden voice” and eventually became known as the “Nightingale of India”. She was the eldest of five siblings and her father Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar was a classical musician.
In a throwback interview, Lata Mangeshkar once spoke about her childhood and how she always had mischief on her mind when she used to play with kids in the neighbourhood. Once, she sat on a tyre and fit herself in it and let other girls drive her around the street.
“Bahut badmashi karti thi mein. Amrood todhna, aam. Aur mein bahut mashoor thi waha pe. Saara din mein hath mein lathi leke ghumti thi. Sabko maar-peet. Bahut masti karte the. (We used to have a lot of fun – breaking guava and mangoes from trees. I used to have a stick in my hand and would go around bashing everyone – we have loads of fun),” she told Lehren.
She had shared that as kids they weren’t allowed to watch films mostly because her father was a conservative man, adding that things like applying powder to the face or wearing makeup weren’t entertained.
“Mere pitaji bade conservative hai. Humare kapde, ya powder nahi lagana, ya makeup nahi karna, ya idhar nahi jaana ya udhar nahi jaana, wo waqt bhi aisa tha (My father was conservative. He was particular about our clothes, we couldn’t put powder or wear makeup. Our movement was restricted. But that time was different),” she had said.
Lata Mangeshkar had received the Bharat Ratna, which is India’s highest civilian award, in 2001. Some of her famous songs include Lag Jaa Gale, Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai, Lo Chali Main, Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai, Tere Bina Zindagi Se and many more.
Last month, the singer contracted COVID-19 and was rushed to the hospital. She was kept under observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Her health deteriorated on Saturday and she breathed her last on Sunday morning, February 6.
