Today, September 28, 2025, marks the birth anniversary of Lata Mangeshkar, the "Nightingale of India". On this occasion, here are ten lesser-known facts about the celebrated singer:
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Born Hema Mangeshkar: Lata Mangeshkar was born as Hema Mangeshkar on September 28, 1929. Later, she was named Lata after a character called Latika from one of her father's plays, "BhaawBandhan".
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Early Start, Early Exit from School: Lata Mangeshkar began singing at the age of five. She only attended school for a single day. On her first day, she took her younger sister Asha to school and began teaching music to the students. When teachers scolded her, she left the school and never returned.
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First Song Removed: In 1942, Lata recorded her first song "Naachu Yaa Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari” for the Marathi movie Kiti Hasaal. Unfortunately, the song was removed from the final cut of the film.
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Initial Rejections: In her early days, Lata Mangeshkar faced numerous rejections from Bollywood directors and producers who considered her voice too thin and high-pitched for a female playback singer.
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Fainted During Recording: Lata Mangeshkar once fainted while recording a song with music composer Naushad on a hot summer afternoon in Mumbai. The recording studios lacked air conditioning, and even the ceiling fan was switched off during the final recording.
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Never Listened to Her Own Songs: Lata Mangeshkar confessed that she never listened to her own songs.
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Guinness World Record: The 1974 edition of The Guinness Book of Records listed Lata Mangeshkar as the most recorded artist, having sung around 25,000 songs. However, Mohammed Rafi contested this claim. The book continued to list Lata's name but also mentioned Rafi's claim. The entry was removed in 1991 until 2011, when Guinness recognized Lata's sister, Asha Bhosle, as the most recorded artist. Currently, Pulapaka Susheela holds the honor.
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Favorite Music Director: According to Lata Mangeshkar, Madan Mohan was the best music director she collaborated with, sharing a bond that was more like that of a brother and sister. She considered "Woh Chup Rahe" from Jahan Ara as their favorite collaboration.
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Rajya Sabha Tenure: Lata Mangeshkar served as a Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha from 1999 to 2005. She described her tenure as unhappy and was reluctant to be inducted. During her term as an MP, she did not take a single penny in salary or a house in Delhi.
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Sang in Oscar-Nominated Films: Lata Mangeshkar is the only Indian singer to have sung in two Oscar-nominated films: Mother India (1957) and Lagaan (2001).
Lata Mangeshkar's contribution to Indian music is immense. She recorded over 30,000 songs in 36 languages during her seven-decade-long career. Her last recorded song was "Saugandh Mujhe Is Mitti Ki" in 2019, a tribute to the Indian Army.
