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10 facts you should know about Lata Mangeshkar

September 28, 2016 16:59 IST

That Lata Mangeshkar is one of the most celebrated playback singers of Hindi cinema is known to all.

But do you know her original name? Do you know her first song?

As the Nightingale of India celebrates her 87th birthday on September 28, we list down 10 facts about her that everyone should know!

 

Lata Mangeshkar

IMAGE: Lata Mangeshkar chats with Kishore Kumar: Photograph: Lata Mangeshkar/Twitter

The singing doyen was born Hema but was rechristened Lata after the famous character Latika from her father's play Bhaaw Bandhan.

 

Lata Mangeshkar

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Lata Mangeshkar. Photograph: Lata Mangeshkar/Twitter

In 1942, Lataji recorded her first song for the Marathi film Kiti Hasaal but unfortunately, the song was edited out.

Between 1942 to 1948, Lata Mangeshkar acted in over eight films and saw little success.

Lata Mangeshkar

IMAGE: Two musical maestro in one frame - AR Rahman and Lata Mangeshkar. Photograph: Lata Mangeshkar/Twitter

Lata Mangeshkar won her first Filmfare award for the song Aaja Re Pardesi for the 1958 movie Madhumati.

Lata Mangeshkar

IMAGE: Lata Mangeshkar celebrates rakhi with her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar. Photograph: Lata Mangeshkar/Twitter

In 1973, she won her first National Film Award for the song Beeti Na Bitai Raina, which featured in Jaya Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar starrer Parichay.

In 1990, the legendary singer launched her own production house with Lekin, directed by Gulzar. She sang Yaara seeli seeli in the film, which fetched her another National Award.

Lata Mangeshkar

IMAGE: Lata Mangeshkar with her sister Asha Bhosle. Photograph: Lata Mangeshkar/Twitter

In 1974, the Guinness Book of Records declared Lata Mangeshkar as the most recorded artist in history. But in 2011, her younger sister Asha Bhosle replaced her.