Queen of Melody Lata Mangeshkar turns 78

Lata Mangeshkar, the Queen of melody, turned 78 years today.

New Delhi, Sept 28 : Lata Mangeshkar, the 'Queen of melody', turned 78 years today.

Paying homage to the melody queen on her birthday, lyricist Javed Akhtar, said: "Normally artistes strive for perfection. Only Lata Mangeshkar has achieved it. Perfection suits Lataji."

"She has proved perfection is possible in this imperfect world," he added.

'India's nightingale' Mangeshkar has lent her voice to thousands of songs as a playback singer from the 1950s to 2000s.

In the last 60 years, Mangeshkar has sung around 50,000 songs in various Indian languages, including film songs, classical songs, ghazals, bhajans and pop.

Born on September 28, 1929 in Indore, Mangeshkar got initial singing lessons from her father Dinanath Mangeshkar at the age of five.

She started her career as a playback singer with the Hindi film 'Aap Ke Sewa Main' in 1947, but her singing went unnoticed in this film.

Two years later, in 1949, Mangeshkar got recognition in playback singing with here songs for "Barsaat", "Andaaz", "Dulari" and "Mahal". The 'Aaega Aanewaala' from "Mahal" was a big hit.

Mangeshkar, considered a living legend, remains the queen of Indian playback singing.

From yesteryear's Nargis, Nutan, Madhubala and Meena Kumari, to today's Kajol and Madhuri Dixit, Mangeshkar has sung for actresses of all eras.

Mangeshkar has been felicitated with several awards and honours for her contribution to Indian music industry.

Mangeshkar is only the second Indian singer, after MS Subbulakshmi, to receive the Bharat Ratna, highest civilian honour of India. She was conferred the Bharat Ratna in the year 2001.

Besides, Mangeshkar has been conferred with Padma Bhushan (1969), Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1989), Padma Vibhushan (1999), and National Film Awards (1991).

ANI