S.H.MOULANA
RIYADH: Recipient of top Indian awards, Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhusan, Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke, Lata Mangeshkar was cremated on the same day she passed away with full state honours at Mumbai iconic Shivaji Park. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Shivaji Park to pay his last respects to the ‘Nightingale of India’.
Lata recorded her first song, ‘Natali Shitrachi’ in 1942 for the movie ‘Pahili Mangalagour’ when she was in her early teens. Her first hit song ‘Ayega’ was recorded in 1949. She has sung more than 5000 songs in 36 languages including in Sinhala. Who can forget the songs; ‘Siri Daru Heladiva’ and the song she recorded for the Sinhala film ‘Seda Sulang’ , ‘Sri Lanka Ma Priyadaru Jaya Bhumi’ in the year 1955.
Lata who belonged to a prominent musical family also composed music as well as produced a handful of films. ‘Lata leaves a void that will remain forever and she was not only an icon but part of the consciousness of India’ said the only Oscaaward-winningng Indian musician A.R. Rahman. There are tributes pouring from all parts of the world for the departed Nightingale. Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan said ‘With the death of Lata Mangeshkar the subcontinent has lost one of the truly great singers the world has known. Listening to her songs has given so much pleasure to so many people all over the world’. Lata may be gone but her songs live on!
