Lata stands tall at 80, with memorable songs

If a poll is conducted on the most well known Indian singer alive, Lata Mangeshkar would win it hands down. There may be differences among music lovers as to who has been the greatest singer but there is bound to be unanimity on her name when it comes to naming the most successful singer the country has produced.

Lata at 80 stands tall with songs that mesmerised several generations of music lovers. In this long journey, which witnessed a lot of struggle, Lata gave her best during seven years starting from 1948 when she proved to the world that she was the real Mallika-eTarannum and Noor Jahan, the original top female singer of the sub-continent was at best a shade below her class. Most of early Lata songs were sung by her in the Noor Jahan style but she benefited from Partition and got to sing some of her best under the baton of India's most talented composers.

Lata's first big hit, Baharane phir bhi aati hain was composed by Pandit Shyam Sunder for Lahore.

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