Lata Mangeshkar, one of India’s most respected singers who sang tens of thousands of songs in her lifetime, died at the age of 92.
She had been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai city in January after testing positive for Covid-19.
Federal minister Nitin Gadkari confirmed the news on Sunday.
Mangeshkar had an extraordinary career spanning over half a century, singing more than 30,000 songs across 36 languages.
But it was her work in Bollywood, India’s Hindi film industry, that made her a national icon.
As news broke, tributes began pouring in for Mangeshkar, who was often called the “nightingale of Bollywood”.
“I am anguished beyond words,” India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter.
“The kind and caring Lata Didi has left us. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled.”
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
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 6, 2022
President Ram Nath Kovind said the news was “heart-breaking” and added that her accomplishments would remain “incomparable”.
Lata-ji’s demise is heart-breaking for me, as it is for millions the world over. In her vast range of songs, rendering the essence and beauty of India, generations found expression of their inner-most emotions. A Bharat Ratna, Lata-ji’s accomplishments will remain incomparable. pic.twitter.com/rUNQq1RnAp
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 6, 2022
Federal Minister of Pakistan also shared on his twitter that, “ Lata Mangeshkar was a melodious queen who ruled the world of music for decades.”
A legend is no more, #LataMangeshkar was a melodious queen who ruled the world of music for decades she was uncrowned queen of music her voice shall keep ruling the Hearts of people for all times to come #RIPLataMangeshker
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 6, 2022
Mangeshkar was 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.
After her father’s death, the family moved to Mumbai (then Bombay), where a teenaged Mangeshkar began singing for Marathi movies.
She also acted in small 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 got a big break in 1949 – it was a haunting song called Aayega Aanewala for the movie Mahal.
In a prolific career, she became the Indian film industry’s top vocalist and sang in more than 1,000 movies.
Her songs are played at the nation’s official Republic Day celebrations every year.
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.
“Coming generations will remember her as a stalwart of Indian culture, whose melodious voice had an unparalleled ability to mesmerise people,” Modi wrote of Mangeshkar.
She never married or had any children.