The legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar tried her hand at acting from 1942 to 1948 but it never proved to be her forte. Music always took centre stage above all her other interests in life.
Lata Mangeshkar has being rightfully labelled the ‘Nightangle of India’. Mangeshkar has been the soulful voice that has echoed in the hearts and minds of over the last seven decades. Lata Mangeshkar would arguably go down as the greatest playback singer India ever had. There were many great playback singers who enthralled music buffs with their melodious voices but the connect which 'Lataji' established with the Indian film diaspora is unparalleled.
Mangeshkar collaborated with the legendary music directors like Shankar Jaikishen, Laxmikant Pyarelal, SD Burman and AR Rehman who brought the best out of the melody queen.
Here are five lesser known facts about the Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar -
The Indian legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar was born as Hema Mangeshkar but had her name changed to Lata after a character named Latika in one of her father Deenanath Mangeshkar’s plays.
It is a well-known fact that on hearing Lata Mangeshkar sing the famous patriotic song ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ in 1962, the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru could not control his emotions and teared up.
In 1974, Lata Mangeshkar added another feather to her cap by becoming the first Indian to perform at the well renowned Royal Albert Hall in London.
The melody queen Lata Mangeshkar held the Guiness World Record for the ‘Most recorded artist’ in the world from 1974 to 1991. Her versatile sister Asha Bhonsle currently holds that record.
