Lata Mangeshkar : A Quick Biography of a Great Woman Who Inspired Millions

She has been called the nightingale of India. For 5 decades her voice has mesmerized Indians all over the country. She is none other than playback singer, Lata Mangeshkar. Here is a voice that generations of Indians have grown up with. Her face is familiar even to little children. Her clout surpasses that of even powerful movie moghuls in the tinsel world. As for her talent it defies description. Lata is one of the most famous playback singers in Bollywood as the Hindi film industry is called.

Lata’s career started in 1942 and has spanned over six decades. She has sung songs for over 980 Hindi movies. She has also sung is over twenty regional Indian languages mainly Marathi. Her younger sister is the equally gifted singer, Asha bhosle Lata is the second vocalist to receive Bharat Ratna India’s highest civilian honor. Lata Mangeshkar was featured in the Guinness Book of world records from 1974 to 1991 for most recordings in the world. She has reportedly recorded at least 25,000 solo duet and chorus backed songs in 20 Indian languages between 1948 to 1974 (30,000 songs between 1948 and 1987 according to the 1987 edition). Though several sources have supported the claim others have raised doubts about its veracity claiming that the number is highly exaggerated and that her sister Asha Bhosle has recorded more songs that her.