Lata Mangeshkar turns 80

Indore, Sept 28 (ANI): Fans here today celebrated the 80th birth anniversary of Lata Mangeshkar, the 'Queen of melody'.

Suman Chaurasia, who has a collection of over 28,000 albums of the singer, which he has turned into a museum, cut birthday cake along with children.

"This museum has collection of her songs beginning from 1932 till 1990. We have published a book taking into account 80 best songs. Today, we are dedicating it to her," said Chaurasia.

The birthday cake was decorated with a candle in the shape of 81, as they say that one extra year was added for the singer's long life.

The melody queen, fondly called 'Didi' by family, fans and admirers, has mesmerised music lovers with her celestial voice for over six decades.

She was last heard in Vikram Bhatt's "1920" where she shared playback credits with Pandit Jasraj and Asha Bhosle, her younger sister.

Lata's father, Master Dinanath Mangeshkar had introduced her to the intricacies of classical music.

After his demise, the entire responsibility of looking after the family fell on her young shoulders and at the age of 13 she was compelled to don the greasepaint and act.

Lata has also acted in a few Marathi films like "Pahili Mangalagaur", "Majhe Bal", "Gaja Bhau" and even in Hindi movies like "Badi Maa", "Jeevan Yatra" and "Samudra Mandir".

Her playback career started in 1942, but her career graph took off only in 1948 with films like Nagin, Mahal, Madhumati and Baiju bawra. (ANI)