Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was honoured with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award on April 24. Bachchan received the recognition on April 24, the Memorial Day of Deenanath Mangeshkar, the theatre-music veteran and father of the Mangeshkar siblings.
The 81-year-old star, whose career spans over five decades in films, said he was blessed to receive the award.
‘I'm fortunate to receive this award today. I never really regarded myself worthy of such an award, but Hridyanath ji tried hard so that I could come here. He even invited me for this ceremony last year,’ he said.
‘Hridaynath ji, I apologise to you for last time. I had then told you I was unwell. I was healthy but didn't want to come here. This year I had no excuse, so I had to come here,’ Bachchan said in his award acceptance speech.
The actor said his father and celebrated Hindi poet Harivansh used to liken Lata Mangeshkar's voice to ‘shehad ki dhaar’ .
‘The sweetness in her voice was honey and as the flow of honey never breaks, her 'swar' never breaks. Whenever someone hits the right chord, our soul meets with 'parmatma' . And Lata Mangeshkar ji's 'swar' joins us with God,’ Bachchan said.
Singer Usha Mangeshkar, the third eldest Mangeshkar sibling, presented the award to Bachchan. Veteran singer Asha Bhosle, the second Mangeshkar sibling, was initially scheduled to present the trophies but was absent due to illness.
The award was established by the family and trust in memory of Lata Mangeshkar, the eldest of the five Mangeshkar siblings, who passed away in 2022.
During the event, music maestro A R Rahman was honored with the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for his contributions to Indian music. Rahman, a multiple award-winning musician known for his collaborations with Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle over the decades, mentioned his longstanding connection with the Mangeshkar family.
Marathi writer Manjiri Phadke was awarded the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for her contribution to literature. Actor Randeep Hooda was honoured with the Vishesh Puraskar for best film production and acting.
Actor Ashok Saraf was acknowledged for his contributions to cinema and drama, while actor Padmini Kolhapure received the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for her work in cinema.
Among the recipients were singer Roopkumar Rathod for his contributions to music, Bhau Torsekar for editorial services, and Atul Parchure for his contributions to theatre and drama.
About the award
Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award, also known as the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar, is presented annually to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the nation, its people, and society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first recipient, followed by Asha Bhosle in 2023.
The event was led by music composer Hridaynath Mangeshkar, the youngest of the Mangeshkar siblings.
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