Adieu, Nightingale of India

 Lata Mangeshkar, India’s most beloved singer, who once moved Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to tears and known as the ‘Nightingale of India’ has passed away on Sunday at the age of 92. 

She had been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai in January after testing positive for Covid-19.

The doctor who treated her said she died of multi-organ failure.

She leaves behind millions of teary-eyed fans who grew up listening to her enchanting voice give wings to poets’ words.

The Indian government has announced two days of mourning from Sunday, during which the national flag would be flown at half-mast throughout the country.

She will be given a state funeral. Her cremation would take place in Mumbai on Sunday evening.

Bangladesh President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Lata Mangeshkar.

In a condolence message, President Hamid prayed for the salvation of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message said, “A great void is created in the subcontinent’s musical arena at the demise of the Sur Samraggi (Empress of Music).”

Hasina said, “She will remain alive forever in the hearts of the people in the region through her works.”

Several Bollywood stars also expressed their grief at the news.

Actor Hema Malini said she was “lucky” to have performed to several songs sung by Mangeshkar.

Her golden music career

Lata was the most in-demand playback singer in India, with every lead actress requesting her to sing their songs. Meanwhile, her records were selling in the tens of thousands, and she had a back catalogue of 30,000 songs spanning multiple genres and 36 languages.

But it was her Bollywood songs that made her so popular and memorable across the globe.

Vinayak Damodar Karnataki, who was the owner of Navyug Chitrapat movie company and a very close friend of Lata, helped in her singing career.

After Vinayak died in 1948, Lata was taught by music director Gulam Haider.

Sashadhar Mukherjee, a producer, was introduced to her by Haider and Mukerjee, on the other hand, criticised Lata’s voice as “very thin.”  

But that time Haider said that producers and directors would “fall at Lata’s feet” and “beg her” to sing in their films in the coming years. Later, with the song ‘Dil Mera Toda, Mujhe Kahin Ka Na Chhora’ for the film ‘Majboor’ in 1948, Haider gave Lata her first huge break. It was a huge success also.

“Ghulam Haider is truly my Godfather,” Lata declared on her 84th birthday in September 2013. He was the first music director who fully believed in my abilities.” ‘Aayega Aanewaala’ was one of the films first big hits for her.

She sang soulful numbers like ‘Lag Jaa Gale’ and ‘Aajkal Paaon Zameen Par.’ She has had a huge influence on Indian film music. Lata has been pushing the boundaries of music with her mind-boggling abilities since 1942.

Lata has collaborated with several legendary music directors including Madan Mohan, RD Burman, the duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal and recent AR Rahman.

Mangeshkar was fearless enough to take on prominent male singers like Mohammad Rafi, who claimed to have more singing credits in terms of numbers and was the first female singer to demand more compensation and royalties.

“I am a self-made person. I have learned how to fight. I have never been scared of anyone. I am quite fearless. But I never imagined I would get as much as I have,” she once said.

Awards 

Lata Mangeshkar was the recipient of three National Film Awards, seven Filmfare awards, and of course, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1989. She was conferred India’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna in 2001, becoming the second singer after MS Subbulakshmi to be so honoured, and the French awarded her the Officer of the Legion of Honour. She has also been lauded with numerous awards and honours including the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan.