About Lata Mangeshkar
One of the best-known and most respected singers in India, Lata Mangeshkar is an industry veteran with over 70 years experience, singing in a variety of languages and genres. She is a recipient of the prestigious Bharat Ratna.
Connect with Lata Mangeshkar's life
- Could you tell us about your childhood? A sort of reflection on your beginnings?
- Fans behave with extraordinary restrain with you. They never mob you. They worship you from a distance. Has it been difficult for you to live up to their expectations?
- At one time you were accused of indulging in a melodious monopoly. What do you call the monopoly of cacophony today?
- It is often said that composers made you sing songs at an unnecessarily high pitch just because you have the range?
- What is your assessment of yourself as singer?
- Who was your favourite co-singer?
- What is the greatest gift you’ve received in your life?
- Why have you always said no to an autobiography?
- How do you hold back the temptation of hitting out at criticism?
- What was the most valuable lesson you learnt in life from your mother?
- Your advice to younger singers?
- It is said you got the echo effect in ‘Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’ by singing a bit of the song from the bathroom of the recording studio, and that once while recording a song for Salil Choudhury you fainted. Is this true?
- Your improvisations often took your songs to another level. For example the ‘oye oye oye’ in the Bichua number from ‘Madhumati’?
- You started working at the age of 13 (in 1942). Didn’t that scare you? Did you wish your life to be like that of other teenage girls?
- You have completed nearly 75 years as a singer. How has the journey been?
- You’ve sung for so many actresses. What do you think of the new generation of actors such as Shraddha Kapoor and Alia Bhatt?
- How do you think the industry has changed over the years?
- Do you miss your old colleagues?
- Why have you stopped singing in Bollywood?
- Do you have any regrets?
- पार्श्व गायक के रूप में आपको अपना पहला ब्रेक कैसे मिला?
- आपने कुछ फिल्मों में भी काम किया है जब आप बहुत छोटे थे। क्या आपने कभी अभिनय को करियर बनाने के बारे में सोचा?
- ऐसा कौन सा गाना है जिसे आपने सबसे ज्यादा गाने का आनंद लिया है, और क्यों?
- Was there any song that you were embarrassed to sing?
- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was moved to tears by your song. What actually happened?
- पिछले कुछ वर्षों में संगीत निर्देशकों में क्या बदलाव आया है?
- Was there any director who had the ability to bring out the best music from you?
- Tell us about your infamous rift with Mohammed Rafi.
- Who was your favourite composer?
- Which heroines did you enjoy singing for?
- Whom among today’s actresses do you enjoy singing for?
- Were there any other musical influences in your formative years?
- Do you think that your training in classical music has proved useful to you in becoming a successful playback singer?
- How was struggle that you had to go through during your early years to establish yourself as a playback singer?
- Do you think that the influence of Western music on our film music has been healthy?
- Which songs sung by you are the most popular, according to you? The ones that people identify with you most?
- What was the one thing that you missed having in your life?
- You have sung in 26 languages. Which language was the most difficult?
- Which was your most memorable song recording ever?
- आप अपने अगले जीवन में क्या पुनर्जन्म लेना चाहेंगे?
- What was the most valuable lesson you learnt in life from your mother?
- How do you spend your free time?
- What saddens you in today’s Hindi music scenario?
- Your career is what legends are made of. Which is that one most memorable moment for you?
- With your career spanning over six decades, is there any composer you really miss and think that that things would have been different had they been around?
- Do you listen to your songs?
- आप अपने अगले जीवन में क्या पुनर्जन्म लेना चाहेंगे?
- पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू आपके गीत से आँसू चले गए थे। वास्तव में क्या हुआ था?
- क्या कोई ऐसा निर्देशक था जो आप से सर्वश्रेष्ठ संगीत को बाहर लाने की क्षमता रखता था?
- Could you tell us about your childhood? A sort of reflection on your beginnings?
- Fans behave with extraordinary restrain with you. They never mob you. They worship you from a distance. Has it been difficult for you to live up to their expectations?
- It is often said that composers made you sing songs at an unnecessarily high pitch just because you have the range?
- What is the greatest gift you’ve received in your life?
- Why have you always said no to an autobiography?
- What was the most valuable lesson you learnt in life from your mother?
- It is said you got the echo effect in ‘Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’ by singing a bit of the song from the bathroom of the recording studio, and that once while recording a song for Salil Choudhury you fainted. Is this true?
- Do you miss your old colleagues?
- Do you have any regrets?
- पार्श्व गायक के रूप में आपको अपना पहला ब्रेक कैसे मिला?
- आपने कुछ फिल्मों में भी काम किया है जब आप बहुत छोटे थे। क्या आपने कभी अभिनय को करियर बनाने के बारे में सोचा?
- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was moved to tears by your song. What actually happened?
- Tell us about your infamous rift with Mohammed Rafi.
- Were there any other musical influences in your formative years?
- How was struggle that you had to go through during your early years to establish yourself as a playback singer?
- Which was your most memorable song recording ever?
- What was the most valuable lesson you learnt in life from your mother?
- Your career is what legends are made of. Which is that one most memorable moment for you?
- With your career spanning over six decades, is there any composer you really miss and think that that things would have been different had they been around?
- At one time you were accused of indulging in a melodious monopoly. What do you call the monopoly of cacophony today?
- Who was your favourite co-singer?
- Your improvisations often took your songs to another level. For example the ‘oye oye oye’ in the Bichua number from ‘Madhumati’?
- You have completed nearly 75 years as a singer. How has the journey been?
- You’ve sung for so many actresses. What do you think of the new generation of actors such as Shraddha Kapoor and Alia Bhatt?
- Was there any song that you were embarrassed to sing?
- पिछले कुछ वर्षों में संगीत निर्देशकों में क्या बदलाव आया है?
- Who was your favourite composer?
- Which heroines did you enjoy singing for?
- Do you think that your training in classical music has proved useful to you in becoming a successful playback singer?
- Do you think that the influence of Western music on our film music has been healthy?
- Which songs sung by you are the most popular, according to you? The ones that people identify with you most?
- Do you listen to your songs?
- पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहरू आपके गीत से आँसू चले गए थे। वास्तव में क्या हुआ था?
- क्या कोई ऐसा निर्देशक था जो आप से सर्वश्रेष्ठ संगीत को बाहर लाने की क्षमता रखता था?
