Lata Mangeshkar honoured with Hridaynath award

Legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar was today honoured with the first Hridaynath award for her contribution to Indian music at a function here this evening.

Lata, who turned 82 today, was presented a cheque of Rs one lakh, a trophy and a shawl by megastar Amitabh Bachchan.

The award has been instituted by Hridayesh Art, a city- based socio-cultural organisation.

After receiving the award, the melody queen showered praise on her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar, in whose name the award is being given.

"Hridaynath and my other three sisters never sought any financial help from me," she said.

Lata also praised Bachchan saying, "I consider you god as far as speaking in Hindi is concerned. I am proud that I have got the award from Amitabh Bachchan," she said.

Bachchan said Lata was a devotee of music.

"I pray to god to give us a long life so that we can hear Lata for years to come," he added.

Lata took the occasion to felicitate filmmaker Yash Chopra, in whose films she has sung innumerable famous songs. She also presented mementos to singers like Sunidhi Chauhan, Kavitha Krishnamurthy, Sonu Niigaam, Suresh Wadkar, Sudesh Bhosale and Bela Shende.

The function was also graced by tennis star Leander Paes, and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray among others. Source

Lata conferred lifetime achievement award

Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar was Monday presented the lifetime achievement award for her contribution to Indian music at a function here.

Receiving the award, given by a Bengali news channel Chobbish Ghanta, Lata said there was lot of similarity between the cultures of West Bengal and Maharashtra.

"I have sung lot of songs in Bengali. I have also rendered lot of songs in Marathi. I think there are lot of similarities between the two cultures," the legendary singer said.

She said her entire family were great admirers of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda.

Lata regretted that earlier she could speak Bengali, but found it difficult now due to lack of practice.

Human rights activist Binayak Sen and former renowned soccer player P.K. Banerjee were among those who received the Ananya Samman at the programme.

Singing legend Lata unveils 2011 calendar

Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar today unveiled ''Tera Sur Aur Mera Geet'' calendar for 2011.

The calendar contains dazzling photos of Mangeshkar and 24 music directors she has worked with in her illustrious career.

The music directors- both old and new- share 15 days each oF every month. The list includes Ghulam Haider, Khemchand Prakash, Shyam undar, R D Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Dr Bhupen Hazarika to A R Rahman among others.

Speaking at the release here today, Mangeshkar said a lot of thought had gone into the making of the calendar. Rare photographs were searched for and collected in an effort to present the maximum number of music directors she has worked with.

''I have worked with 115 music directors, so it was impossible to include all of them. The music of the olden times was good, and music hasn't changed, but the films have. I remember that Ghulam Haider and Khemchand Prakash, who I started my career with had told me that one day, I'd become so famous that I'll remember them,'' she reminisced.

She said she had no aims or ambitions for the new year.

''I have never had hopes and desires. God has always given me more than I could ever imagine,'' she said.

Lata Mangeshkar turns 81

'Teri Awaz hi Teri Pehchan Hai…' yes! You guess it right we are indeed talking about the evergreen Lata Mangeshkar.

The Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar turned 81 on Tuesday. The renowned playback singer grows younger with her voice even as she gets older.

Popularly known as 'Lata di', she started her singing career in 1942. Till now she lent her voice to over one thousand Bollywood movies.

Lata di sung songs in over thirty-six regional Indian languages and foreign languages. He exceptional voice quality and singing caliber took her to 'Gunnies Books Of World Record' for maximum recording in the world during 1974-1991.

She bagged several awards during her singing career, which includes Padma Bhushan (1969), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1989), Maharashtra Bhushan Award (1997), NTR National Award (1999), Bharat Ratna (2001) and three National Film Awards.