Latabai Mangeshkar was born on 28th September, 1929, at Sikh Mohalla, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India. Lata's father , Pt. Dinanath Mangeshkar was also an amateur astrologer, he christened his newly born daughter Hema, as per the date and time of her birth. He, however, would prefer to call her Hridiya. Later on, the family members began calling her Lata. The name stuck and the eldest daugter of Dinanath and Shrimati permanently came to be known as Lata Mangeshkar.
Deenanath Mangeshkar a classical singer & stage actor, who came from Mangeshi in Goa was trained in the colourful Punjabi school of Baba Mushelkar. He owned a drama troupe which made him pitch his tent in nearly every town - such as Pune, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli and Miraj.
Lata's family was a wandering family. Lata's father was a singer and in the employ of a music-theatre outfit, Kirloskar Sangeet Mandali, that would move from place to place to stage its shows.
Although, the family surname was Hardikar, it was Lata's father who adopted Lata's paternal ancestors belonged to the priestly caste of the Karhadi Brahmin, and many of them fought fiercely against the Portuguese colonizers to maintain the dignity and sanctity of their temples.
Lata her sisters and a brother ( Meena, Asha, Usha & Hridaynath) did not receive a proper schooling However to compensate this shortcoming he gave his children music lessons early in life.As lata grew up ,the peals of girlish giggles (still a characteristic) were present when Lata was a playful tomboy studying music from her father Master Dinanath Mangeshkar.Dinanath told his wife that Lata is going to be a miracle since he knew a little about astrology though he died before she started singing.
Films in which young Lata acted: 1942 - Pahili Mangalagaur 1943 - Chimukla Sansaar 1943 - Maajhe Baal 1944 - Gajabhau 1945 - Badi Maa 1946 - Jeevan Yaatra 1946 - Subhadra 1948 - Mandir - 1952 - Chattrapati Shivaji (only in one song sequence)
The nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar, who has charmed her fans with over 50,000 songs she has sung as a playback singer in films, has no regrets that she never got married. Lata, whose voice quality retains the freshness and innocence of a 16-year-old girl, says that in a way it has been good that she did not get married. "Had I got married, I may have got divorced in a year or two. It has all been all for the good," she says.
For Lata ,the Filmfare Awards for playback singing first started in the year 1958. In 1956, 'Rasik Balma'( Chori- Chori ) won the Best Song Filmfare Award, Lata refused to sing it live in protest of no Playback Singer category, which paved way in 1958 of this new category ( though Male & Female Awards where started later on).
From the year 1958 to 1966 no other female singer was able to get the filmfare award. Since she had won the popular Filmfare awards so many times & had always been accussed of monopolising the industry (along with sister Asha), after 1969, she made the unusual gesture of giving up FILMFARE awards in favour of fresh talent.
Filmfare Awards: National Awards: Maharashtra State Award : 1966 - Sadhi Mansa - 1967 - Jait Re Jait
Bengal Film Journalist's Association Award: Other Awards: 1969 : Padam Bhushan 1974 : Guinness Book of World Records:for singing the maximum number Guinness book of World Records. 1980 : Was presented key of the city of Georgetown, Guyana, South America 1980 : Honorary Citizenship. The Republic of Suriname, South America 1985 : 9th June declared as Asia Day in honour of her arrival in Toronto, Canada 1987 : Honorary Citizenship of the U.S.A, Houston, Texas, U.S.A 1989 : Dada Saheb Phalke Award 1990 : Honorary Doctorate (Literature) By Pune University 1996 : Videocon Screen Lifetime Achievement Award 1997 : Rajiv Gandhi Award. 1998 : Lux Zee Cine Lifetime Achievement Award 1999 : Padma Vibhushan 1999 : NTR Award 2000 : Lifetime Achievement Award by IIFA in London 2000 : Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar by the Chaturang Pratishthan 2001 : Bharat Ratna - The Nation's Highest Civilian Award 2001 : Noorjehan Award : First Reciepient 2001 : Maharashtra Ratna : First Reciepient - 2002 : Asha Bhosle Award : First Reciepient
