The 'In memoriam' segment of the BAFTA awards 2022, held last night, featured a very special desi moment - legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar was remembered in the montage that also included Hollywood icon Sidney Poitier. Lata Mangeshkar died on February 6 at the age of 92. She was the first Indian artist to perform at the Royal Albert hall in London, the BAFTA tribute said. "Her film credits list is vast, but notable songs featured in Anamika (1973), Aasha (1980), Dil Se (1998) and Rang De Basanti (2006). In 2001, she was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna," said the 'In memoriam' montage.
Lata Mangeshkar died in February after spending many weeks in hospital. She was taken to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital in early January after testing positive for COVID. The singer was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit or ICU where she was treated for both COVID and pneumonia. After her death, Lata Mangeshkar was cremated with state honours.
Indian Twitter was moved by BAFTA's inclusion of Lata Mangeshkar. Author Aseem Chhabra tweeted a screenshot from the tribute montage:
.@BAFTA honors #LataMangeshkar in the In Memoriam section. pic.twitter.com/kouHpIBffj
— Aseem Chhabra (@chhabs) March 13, 2022
"Her loss is irreplaceable," tweeted a fan.
Thank you @BAFTA for including #Latamangeshkar in your In Memoriam section. As anyone who follows the Indian film industries would know, her loss is irreplaceable ????
— Sulagna (@maitra_sulagna) March 13, 2022
RIP pic.twitter.com/x1ZZhZVxXa
@BAFTA pays respect to our legendary singer ???? @mangeshkarlata ???? #LataMangeshkar #BAFTA
— Abhishek Bhalerao (@mumbaiactor_) March 13, 2022
Dilip Kumar, who died in July 2021, was honoured on the BAFTA website.
Touched that #Bafta recognised #DilipKumar and Indias nightingale #Latamangeshkar
— WanderingWalker (@WanderingWalke2) March 13, 2022
RIP
Not everyone on Twitter was as thrilled, however. While the BAFTAs recognised Lata Mangeshkar in their ceremony, they omitted beloved comedienne Betty White who died on December 31 at the age of 99. Unsurprisingly, Twitter was outraged.
#BAFTAs #BAFTA2022 #BAFTA how come Betty White wasnt mentioned in Memoriam she died on 31st December 2021, that's terrible.
— Roxy Cram (@RoxieC) March 13, 2022
Erm, did the @BAFTA miss Betty White out of the memorial part,or did I miss her? ????
— Erin (@EzzLou) March 13, 2022
Excuse me @BAFTA, but where was Betty White on the In Memoriam?
— Alice Pugh (@AlicePugh97) March 13, 2022
In a lame response, the BAFTAs tweeted back to one viewer that Betty White, like Dilip Kumar, featured in their online records and that they would "consider" the Golden Girls star for the TV awards broadcast.
HI there, Betty features in our online records https://t.co/cN8n2nwp76. Given her influential work in TV, we will consider her for the next Television Awards broadcast.
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) March 13, 2022
The Power Of The Dog was the big winner at the BAFTA awards, winning Best Film and Best Director for Jane Campion. Oscar favourite Will Smith won Best Actor for his performance in King Richard. West Side Story star Ariana DeBose continued her clean sweep of awards season by winning Best Supporting Actress.
