Awards won by legendary Lata Mangeshkar

Beginning early at age of 13, Lata Mangeshkar's career as a playback singer spans over six decades. Apart from singing for 982 Hindi films, she has also lent her voice to many films in regional languages. So, she holds the Guinness Book of World Record title for having made the most number of recordings in the world.With all modesty Mangeshkar herself stated that she does not keep a record of the number of songs recorded by her, and that she did not know from where Guinness Book editors got their information.




She has been honoured with innumerable awards but the one that truly deserves a special mention is that she is the only second singer in the non-classical category in India to have received the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award. She is also the fifth woman to receive the Bharat Ratna, after Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Aruna Asaf Ali and M.S Subbalakshmi.

Several other awards and honors, including Padma Bhushan (1969), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1989), NTR National Award (1999), three National Film Awards, and 12 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards has been bestowed on this magnanimous personality. It is interesting to note that from the year 1958 to 1966 no other female singer was able to get the Filmfare award. After 1969, she even made the unusual gesture of giving up Filmfare awards in favour of fresh talent.She was later awarded Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.

In 1984, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh instituted the Lata Mangeshkar Award in honor of Lata Mangeshkar. The State Government of Maharashtra followed suit in 1992.

Further, Lataji brought in many constructive changes in Hindi film music which proved to be extremely beneficial for singers in the long run. She is the first singer to introduce the royalty system for singers in the industry. In fact, she is the one who insisted that the singer's name should be published with the songs instead of actors.

Her revolutionary ideas irked many bigwigs who tried to stop her, but she stayed firm. For instance she stopped singing with legendary singer Mohammed Rafi and even refused to sing for SD Burman, apart from other legendary composers from 1957 to 62, because her demand for royalty was not met.

Even today, her voice continues to be the most preferred one. Hope to hear more songs from Lataji that will remain in our minds forever.