LEGENDARY Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar has been honoured with the first Hridaynath award for her contribution to Indian music at a function in Mumbai yesterday(28).
Lata, who turned 82 yesterday, was presented a cheque of Rs one lakh, a trophy and a shawl by megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
The award has been instituted by Hridayesh Art, a city-based socio-cultural organisation.
After receiving the award, the melody queen showered praise on her brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar, in whose name the award has been given.
"Hridaynath and my other three sisters never sought any financial help from me," she said.
Lata also praised Bachchan saying, "I consider you god as far as speaking in Hindi is concerned. I am proud that I have got the award from Amitabh Bachchan," she said.
Bachchan said Lata was a devotee of music.
"I pray to god to give us a long life so that we can hear Lataji for years to come," he said.
Lata took the occasion to felicitate filmmaker Yash Chopra, in whose films she has sung innumerable famous songs.
She also presented mementos to singers like Sunidhi Chauhan, Kavitha Krishnamurthy, Sonu Nigam, Suresh Wadkar, Sudesh Bhosale and Bela Shende.
Tennis star Leander Paes and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray were among others who attended the function.
