Lata Mangeshkar: Her life in pictures

A musical powerhouse in her own right, the singer worked with several industry bigwigs over the course of her career

The iconic playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away on Sunday morning due to Covid-related complications at the age of 92, commanded an illustrious career spanning over several decades. The singer dominated the airwaves, having film credits such as Taj Mahal, Mughal e Azam, Pakeezah, Shree 420, Dil Wale Dulhaniya Lejayengay and Veer Zara to her name.

Mangeshkar, a musical powerhouse in her own right, worked with several industry bigwigs over the course of her long and fruitful career, including the likes of Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar.

Here is a look at the life of the legendary singer in pictures.

Credit: The Quint

Mangeshkar started off with a short-lived career as an actor due to lack of singing opportunities. The singer was forced by circumstance to work after the passing of her father when she was 13. She was the oldest of five siblings, with whom she is pictures here. Her younger sister Asha Bhosle is also one of Bollywood’s most successful playback singers.

 

Credit: The Quint

Lata was initially trained in Indian classical music, but has to abandon her studies after she became the sole breadwinner of her family. She shared in an interview with The Quint, “I couldn’t sing in the pure classical form since I was steeped in film music. Ideally, I should have been able to sing in the popular and classical idioms simultaneously.”

 

Credit: The Quint

Mageshkar pictured here at the premiere of the 1951 film Awaara alogside the cast including Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Shankar-Jaikishan and Nargis.

 

Credit: The Quint

Pictured here alongside fromer Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the 60s performing at the Maharashtra Day celebrations.

 

Credit: The Quint

Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi paired up for several iconic Hindi film duets, with the two pictured together here. The singer famously had a falling out with Rafi over the issue of royalties, with Lata being adamant on better pay and recognition. “I initiated the conversation about royalties for playback singers. Mukesh, Talat Mehmood and Mubarak Begum were with me on this issue. Mohammed Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor and some other artistes weren’t,” elaborated the singer, explaining that three years later, the two patched things up and continued working together.

 

Credit: The Quint

The singer with frequent collaborator Kishore Kumar in the 60s.

 

Credit: The Quint

Mangeshkar with Meena Kumari. On the Hindi film heroines she loved to lend her voice to, the singer shared, "I think my voice suited Meena Kumari, especially... as well as Madhubala, Nutan and Sadhana. Nargis had a strong bass in her voice, yet on the screen she emoted so beautifully that the songs clicked majorly. In later years, Kajol has added a special magic to the songs playbacked by me."

 

Credit: The Quint

Mangeshkar and her younger sister, singer Asha Bhosle.

 

Credit: The Quint

The Mangeshkar sisters pictured with legendary Pakistani singer Noor Jehan. The former always admired the work of Malika e Tarannum.

 

Credit: The Quint

At the recording of Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum in 1981 with producer and director Yash Chopra, actor Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

 

Credit: The Quint

Mangeshkar pictures with Beatle George Harrison. On her Western preferences, the Lag Ja Gale singer shared, "The Beatles are on the top of my playlist, no one compares to them. I have also been fond of Nat King Cole, the tracks by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, and Barbra Streisand."

 

The singer was coferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civillian honour, in 2001.