Mangeshkar sang thousands of songs which were lip-synced by Bollywood's biggest heroines
Lata Mangeshkar, one of India's most beloved singers, whose voice is the soundtrack to more than a thousand Bollywood films, has died aged 92.
Lata Mangeshkar, one of India's most beloved singers who provided the soundtrack to hundreds of Bollywood films, has died aged 92.
She had been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai city in January after testing positive for Covid-19.
Mangeshkar was 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.
Her extraordinary career spanned more than half a century and she recorded thousands of songs in 36 languages.
Mangeshkar had an extraordinary career spanning over half a century, singing more than 30,000 songs across 36 languages.
She will receive a state funeral in Mumbai on Sunday which will be followed by two days of national mourning.
But it was her work in Bollywood, India's Hindi film industry, that made her a national icon.
During that period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country.
Obituary: Lata Mangeshkar, 'nightingale of Bollywood' dies
A the news broke, tributes began pouring in for Mangeshkar who was often called the "nightingale of Bollywood" for her role as a playback singer, recording the songs that actors would lip-sync on screen.
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.
President Ram Nath Kovind said the news was "heart-breaking for me, as it is for millions the world over" and added that in her songs "generations found expression of their innermost emotions".
She will be given a state funeral. Her cremation will take place in Mumbai on Sunday evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, said Mangeshkar's death had left a "void in our nation that cannot be filled".
As news broke, tributes began pouring in for Mangeshkar, who was often called the "nightingale of Bollywood".
Mangeshkar was a huge fan of cricket, and India's former captain Virat Kohli said her songs had "touched millions of people around the world".
President Ram Nath Kovind said the news was "heart-breaking for me, as it is for millions the world over" and added that in her songs "generations found expression of their inner-most emotions".
Several Bollywood stars also expressed their condolences. Actor Hema Malini said she was "lucky" to have performed to several songs sung by Mangeshkar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Mangeshkar's death left a "void in our nation that cannot be filled".
"No one can sing like her, she was very special. Her passing away is very saddening," she told the news agency ANI.
I am anguished beyond words. The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled. The coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people. pic.twitter.com/MTQ6TK1mSO
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that Mangeshkar's voice was "immortal" and would "continue to echo in the hearts of her fans".
Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli said her songs had "touched millions of people around the world".
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.
"No one can sing like her, she was very special. Her passing away is very saddening," she told news agency ANI.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee was among several people who said Mangeshkar's passing marked the end of "a golden era" for India's music lovers.
Obituary: Lata Mangeshkar, India's cultural icon
For decades, Lata Mangeshkar was the country's most in-demand singer, with every top actress wanting her to sing their songs.
Her records sold in the tens of thousands, and she boasted a back catalogue of some 30,000 songs spanning numerous genres and a total of 36 languages.
When she sang Aye mere watan ke logon (Ye, the people of my land), a haunting and soulful tribute to slain Indian soldiers in the disastrous 1962 war with China, at a public meeting, reports said India's then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru teared up.
She sang for every female star from the 1940s to the 1990s and worked with almost all the leading Bollywood directors, from Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt to Mani Ratnam and Karan Johar. A top lyricist once described her melodic voice and soulful singing as "pure and clear as the finest pearl of crystal".
But she was also much more than her voice. Mangeshkar was a passionate cricket fan and had a love for cars and the slot machines of Vegas. She also rubbed shoulders with some of Bollywood's brightest stars - and at least one Beatle.
You can read the full obituary here.
Journalist Vir Sanghvi called Mangeshkar the "voice of a nation, who unified India by singing so well in so many languages". He pointed out the emotional connection millions of Indians felt to her songs: "We fell in love to her songs; we celebrated with her music and when there was sadness she voiced if for us."
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada, comedian Aditi Mittal and many others described Mangeshkar's death as the "end of an era".
"Even as as Lata ji passes on from this physical realm - she will always live on and her voice will always be with us," tweeted Sripaada.
Memories of Mangeshkar took over social media in India as hundreds of people tweeted photos and videos of her, and shared their favourite songs by her.
Lag Ja Gale...The Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar ji singing one of her favorite songs.Om shanti #लतामंगेशकर जी #LataMangeshkar Rest in Peace #BharatRatna भारत रत्न ओम् शांति pic.twitter.com/PGrprS8d3E
Lag Ja Gale...The Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar ji singing one of her favorite songs.Om shanti #लतामंगेशकर जी #LataMangeshkar Rest in Peace #BharatRatna भारत रत्न ओम् शांति pic.twitter.com/PGrprS8d3E
Born in Indore city in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on 28 September 1929, she began learning music at the age of five from her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar, who was active in theatre.
Born in Indore in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on 28 September 1929, she began learning music at the age of five from her father, Deenanath Mangeshkar, who was active in the world of theatre.
After her father's death, the family moved to Mumbai (then Bombay) where a teenaged Mangeshkar began singing for Marathi movies.
After her father's death, the family moved to Mumbai where a teenage Mangeshkar began singing for Marathi movies.
She also did bit roles in a few films to support her family, but would say later that her heart wasn't in it. "I was happiest singing." she told interviewers.
She also took bit roles in a few films to support her family, but would say later that her heart wasn't in it. "I was happiest singing," she told interviewers.
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Her big break came in 1949 with the release of a haunting song titled Aayega Aanewala for the movie Mahal.
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Obituary: The 'nightingale of Bollywood'
'Nightingale of Bollywood' Lata Mangeshkar talks about her life and career
Her big break came in 1949 - a haunting song called Aayega Aanewala for the movie Mahal.
"Soon every female actor wanted her voice. But she was always busy and only a few fortunate music directors got the chance to make her sing," music director Mohammed Zahur Khayyam later recalled.
"Soon every female actor wanted her voice. But she was always busy and only a few fortunate music directors got the chance to make her sing," music director Mohammed Zahur Khayyam later recalled.
Over the next few decades, Mangeshkar sang thousands of songs lip-synced by Bollywood's biggest heroines across generations.
Over the next few decades, Mangeshkar sang thousands of songs which were lip-synced by Bollywood's biggest heroines across generations.
She was nominated to the upper house of India's parliament in 1999, but said later that she had been "reluctant" to take it up and that her tenure there was "anything but happy".
She was nominated to the upper house of India's parliament in 1999, but said later that she had been reluctant to take it up and that her tenure there was."
She received India's highest honour for civilians, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.
She received India's highest honour for civilians, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001.
In 2004, when she turned 75, one of Bollywood's biggest directors, Yash Chopra, wrote for the BBC that he saw "God's blessings in her voice".
In 2004, when she turned 75, one of Bollywood's biggest directors, Yash Chopra, wrote for the BBC that he saw "God's blessings in her voice".
Mangeshkar, who never married, had a rich life outside her work, with interests ranging from cricket to cars.
Mangeshkar, who never married, had a rich life outside her work with interests ranging from cricket to cars.
Her younger sister Asha Bhosle is also a celebrated Bollywood singer. The two always dismissed any hint of sibling rivalry, and even performed together occasionally.
Her younger sister Asha Bhosle is also a celebrated Bollywood singer. The two always dismissed any hint of sibling rivalry and even performed together occasionally.
"We're very close - we have never competed with each other," Bhosle told the BBC in 2015.
"We're very close - we have never competed with each other," Bhosle told the BBC in 2015.
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A Bollywood actress singing in Mughal E Azam, from 1960
