India's Nightingale Celebrates Her 83rd Birthday

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Lataji is a music legend and in her 70 years of film career, she has mesmerized millions of music lovers with her countless hits songs.

In 2001, Lata received the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India.

Lataji is the only Asian to have received the platinum disc of EMI music, a British multinational music company based in London.

Lataji has a great love for classical music. And she received classical music training from Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Amanat Khan Devaswale, and Pandit Tulsidas Sharma, in the early years of her singing career.

When Lata was 13, she got her first major break in Bollywood by composer Ghulam Haider. And Haider asked her to sing 'Dil mera toda' in 1948 film 'Majboor'.

But it was the song 'Aayega Aanewaala' from 1949 'Mahal' which catapulted lataji to success. Music Director Khemchand Prakash composed this song, while it was lip-synced on screen by the the Bollywood Actress Madhubala, the song defined the beginning of the Mangeshkarian magic. With this song she outshined the singing talent of the existing female singers. And with her singing legacy she continued singing for generations of Bollywood actresses from Madhubala to Kajol.Lataji has sung song in Hindi cinema in all genres like patriotic, devotional, romantic and melancholic songs. For her golden voice, she won many Filmfare Awards from the year 1958 to 1966. Then in 1969, she decided to give up Filmfare Awards in favour of fresh talent.

Lataji was honored with three National Awards for Best Playback Female Singer for her songs - Beeti na bitaai raina (in 1972 from Parichay ), Roothe roothe piya ( in 1975 from Kora Kagaz ), Yaara seeli seeli ( in 1990 from Lekin ).With this Lataji holds the record of being the oldest winner at the age of 61 of this award.

Other than singing, Lataji has passions for Photography. She is a sports lover and few of her favorite sports are Cricket, Football & Tennis. She has some choices for movies like Padosan, Gone with the wind, Limelight & Titanic.