Lata Mangeshkar Death Anniversary
Today marks the death anniversary of India’s Nightingale, Lata Mangeshkar. Born on September 28, 1929, in Indore, Lata Mangeshkar took her last breath on February 6, 2022, at the age of 92. Though she is no longer with us, her voice continues to live on in the hearts of millions across the world. On this occasion, let’s take a look at some remarkable aspects of her life.
Lata Mangeshkar Death Anniversary
Lata Mangeshkar Sang in 14 Languages
Lata Mangeshkar didn’t just sing in Hindi but also lent her voice to songs in 14 different languages. Throughout her lifetime, she recorded over 50,000 songs, earning her a place in the Guinness World Records. The book Lata Samagra by Suman Chaurasia contains a detailed list of her songs up until 2014.
Lata Mangeshkar Death Anniversary
A Voice for Multiple Languages
According to Lata Samagra, she sang 5,328 Hindi film songs, 198 non-film songs, and 127 unreleased songs. Her contributions extended beyond Hindi as well:
- 405 Marathi songs
- 206 Bengali songs
- 69 Punjabi songs
- 48 Gujarati songs
- 24 Sanskrit songs
Additionally, she re-recorded songs originally sung by other artists in her own voice.
Lata Mangeshkar Death Anniversary
A Shocking Incident: Attempt to Poison Her
Despite having millions of admirers, Lata Mangeshkar also had enemies. There was an attempt to poison her when she was 33 years old. She revealed in an old interview that someone had given her slow poison, leaving her bedridden in 1963. It was one of the darkest phases of her life. Thanks to medical treatment and her strong will to live, she recovered.
Why Did She Always Wear a White Saree?
Lata Mangeshkar was always seen in a white saree, whether at events, shows, or in public appearances. Though the border color and design of her sarees varied, the base color was always white.
She once shared the reason behind this: “I have loved the color white since childhood.”
Lata Mangeshkar Death Anniversary
‘I Feel Uncomfortable in Colorful Clothes’
In her biography Sur Gatha, written by Yatindra Mishra, Lata Mangeshkar explained her preference for white sarees:
“I like colors, and they look beautiful on sarees—but on others. I personally feel uncomfortable wearing colorful clothes. There’s no particular reason, but if I wear a red or orange saree, I feel like someone has thrown Holi colors on me. That’s why I prefer white or sandalwood shades.”
She further added:
“The whiter my saree, the happier I feel. You might wonder why I avoid colors, but I just don’t find deep-colored clothes appealing.”
She Always Wore Gold Anklets
Another interesting fact mentioned in the book is that Lata Mangeshkar never wore silver anklets. Instead, she always adorned her feet with gold anklets, based on an astrologer’s advice.
Once, Raj Kapoor even questioned her about it, saying that wearing gold below the waist is considered inauspicious. However, she didn’t pay much attention to such beliefs.
Lata Mangeshkar Death Anniversary
The Reason She Never Wore Lipstick
Lata Mangeshkar’s simplicity was well known. She was often seen in a white saree, a hair bun, kohl-lined eyes, and a red bindi—her signature look. However, she never applied lipstick.
The reason? Her father disapproved of women wearing lipstick. Out of respect for his beliefs, she never used it.
Lata Mangeshkar’s journey remains an inspiration, and her melodious voice continues to be cherished worldwide.
