India’s nightingale, Lata Mangeshkar has turned 79 years of age. Lata has never celebrated her birthday in public and follows the same annual routine. She begins the day by praying at the Mahalaxmi Temple situated right across her home in Prabhu Kunj, Mumbai.

This time she may attend a function at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital that she built in Pune in memory of her father.

From her first super hit Aayega aanewaala to Jab pyaar kiya to darna kya and Noorie to her recent bests like Yeh hum aa gaye hain kahaan and Luka chuppi, Lata has managed to thrill music lovers of every generation with her soulful singing over her 66-year-long career and continues to do so.

From light classical music to film songs and from ghazals to bhajans and pop, she has sung a variety of numbers. Having worked with almost all top music composers and singers in the industry, Lata has sung more than 30,000 songs in over 20 Indian languages.

The singer featured in the Guinness Book of World Records from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world.

Landmark Songs

• 1958 - Aaja Re Pardesi from Madhumati

• -1960 - Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya from Mughal-E-Azam

• -1960 - Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh from Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai

• 1962 - Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil from Bees Saal Baad

• 1962 - Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha from Anpadh

• 1963 - Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon after the India-China war

• 1964 - Lag Ja Gale, Naina Barse Rim Jhim from Woh Kaun Thi?

• 1965 - Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai and Piya Tose from Guide

• 1966 - Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega from Mera Saaya

• 1970 - Rangeela Re from Prem Pujari

• 1971 - Khilte Hain Gul Yahaan from Sharmeelee

• 1972 - Chalte Chalte and Inhi Logon Ne from Pakeezah

• 1973 - Piya Bina from Abhimaan

• 1973 - Beeti Na Bitai from Parichay

• 1975 - Roothe Roothe Piya from Kora Kagaz

• 1990 - Yaara Sili Sili from Lekin

• 1998 - Jiya Jale from Dil Se

• 2001 - Khamoshiyan Gungunane Lagin from One Two Ka Four

• 2001 - O Paalanhaare from Lagaan

National Honours

• 1969 - Padma Bhushan

• 1972 - National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Parichay

• 1975 - National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Kora Kagaz

• 1989 - Dada Saheb Phalke Award

• 1990 - National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Lekin

• 1997 - Rajiv Gandhi Award

• 999 - Padma Vibhushan

• 2001 - Bharat Ratna (second vocalist to receive the award after classical singer M.S. Subbulakshmi)

• 2008 - One Time Award for Lifetime Achievement honour to commemorate the 60th anniversary of India’s independence

International Honours

• 1980 - Presented key of the city of Georgetown, Guyana, South America

• 980 - Honorary Citizenship of The Republic of Surinam, South America

• 1985 - June 9, declared as Asia Day in honour of her arrival in Toronto, Canada

• 1987 - Honorary Citizenship of USA in Houston, Texas

• 2004 - Her song Wada Na Tod was selected as a part of the soundtrack for Hollywood movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

• 2007 - Legion of Honour (highest French civilian award)

Other Milestones

• 1974 - The Guinness Book of Records listed Lata Mangeshkar as the most recorded artist in the history, stating that she had reportedly recorded ‘not less than 25,000 solo, duet and chorus backed songs in 20 Indian languages’ between 1948-1974

• 1974 - First concert overseas at the Royal Albert Hall, London

• 1984 - The Guinness Book of Records stated Lata Mangeshkar’s name for the ‘Most Recordings’

• 1999 - a perfume brand named after her Lata Eau De Parfum was launched

• 1999 - nominated as a member of Rajya Sabha

• 2001 - she established the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune, managed by the Lata Mangeshkar Medical Foundation (founded by the Mangeshkar family in October 1989)

Lata Mangeshkar is the best of all the singers we ever had… We wish her long life in all the health and happiness.