‘NIGHTINGALE OF INDIA’ LATA MANGESHKAR PASSES AWAY

Sun 06 February 2022:

Lata Mangeshkar, for whom the description playback singer is something of an understatement, died in Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Sunday. She was 92. Ms Mangeshkar was taken to the intensive care unit on January 8 after testing positive for COVID-19. Lata Mangeshkar was also being treated for both pneumonia. Over the next few weeks, Ms Mangeshkar showed signs of improvement. However, on Saturday, hospital authorities said that Lata Mangeshkar had been put back on the ventilator after her health deteriorated.

Lata Mangeshkar, a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Awards, was an icon of Indian cinema, having sung playback for an extensive list of Hindi films; she also sang in several regional languages including Marathi and Bengali. Ms Mangeshkar, who belonged to a prominent musical family, also composed music as well as produced a handful of films. She was popularly known as the ‘Nightingale of India.’

Government sources said that “two-day national mourning to be observed in memory of Lata Mangeshkar. The National flag to fly at half-mast for two days, as a mark of respect.”

Her mortal remains will be shifted to Prabhukunj, her Pedar Road residence, from 12:30 pm to 3 pm for homage. Later, iconic singer’s mortal remains will be shifted to Shivaji Park in Mumbai at around 4 pm to 6pm for public darshan. At 12:15 pm Lata Mangeshkar’s body will be taken from Breach Candy Hospital to Prabhu Kunj.

The last rites with full state honours will be conducted at Shivaji Park at 6.30pm today.

Ms Mangeshkar, who belonged to a prominent musical family, also composed music as well as produced a handful of films. She was popularly known as the ‘Nightingale of India.’

Lata Mangeshkar, born in 1929, was the eldest of five siblings, among them singer Asha Bhonsle who visited Mangeshkar in hospital after she was taken to ICU.

Their father was classical musician Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, who gave the young Lata Mangeshkar her first music lesson. In 1942, when her father died, 13-year-old Lata Mangeshkar began her career in music, juggling singing with acting parts in Marathi films.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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