Lata Mangeshkar is an Indian playback singer, composer, and film producer who has been active in the music industry since 1942. She is popularly known as the ‘Queen of Melody’, ‘Nightingale of India’, and ‘Voice of the Millennium’.

Born in 1929, Lata Mangeshkar was the eldest daughter of the legendary singer and actor, Deenanath Mangeshkar. She was exposed to music at a very young age and started taking formal music lessons at the age of five. She was trained in classical music by Ustad Aman Ali Khan and later by Amanat Khan Devaswale.

Lata Mangeshkar made her singing debut in 1942 with the Marathi film ‘Kiti Hasaal’. She sang her first Hindi song ‘Dil Mera Toda’ in the same year. Her career skyrocketed after she sang the song ‘Aayega Aanewala’ in the film ‘Mahal’ in 1949. The song was an instant hit and she became an overnight sensation.

Lata Mangeshkar has recorded thousands of songs in multiple languages including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, and many more. She has sung for many legendary singers such as Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Asha Bhosle. She has also worked with many leading music directors such as Naushad, S.D. Burman, and R.D. Burman.

Lata Mangeshkar has won numerous awards and accolades for her contribution to the music industry. She has won four National Film Awards, two Filmfare Awards, and a Padma Bhushan. She was also honored with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2001.

Lata Mangeshkar has been an inspiration to many aspiring singers. She has been a mentor to many upcoming singers and has also launched her own music label, Lata Mangeshkar Music. She has also been involved in several philanthropic activities and has set up the Lata Mangeshkar Medical Foundation to provide medical aid to the needy.

Lata Mangeshkar is one of the most iconic singers of all time. She has been the voice of India for more than seven decades and her contribution to the music industry is unparalleled. She is an inspiration to many aspiring singers and her legacy will continue to live on for generations to come.