Kolkata:
Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar wastonight honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by aleading Bengali TV channel.
Accepting the award, 81-year-old Lata, whose 30,000 songsin 20 languages are unparalleled in the world, acknowledgedher musical bond with Bengal over the years.
"I can read and write a little Bengali," Lata said in herbrief speech while observing that her mother language Marathiis very sweet and has an affinity with Bengali.
"I sang many songs in Hindi. Next to it, I sang inMarathi and Bengali. My brother Hridaynath has set to musicmany songs in Marathi and also in Bengali. His Bengali songshave earned popularity.
"Ki bolbo? Bangla bhasha khub bhalo. Kintu ami bolte parina. (What should I say? The Bengali language is very good. ButI can't speak in Bengali)," she said when requested to speak.
Noting that she saw herself very close to Bengal, Latasaid she had read novels of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay andBankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
"I have read novels of Bankimbabu and Saratbabu.Saratbabu is my favourite. I have read all his novels morethan once."
The legendary singer, who was given a standing ovation bya galaxy of musical stars present at the function, said theentire Mangeshkar family were devotees of Ramakrishna andSwami Vivekananda.
Thanking the organisers, she said "I never expected this.The entire Mangeshkar family is grateful to the organisers forthe award and the honour."
The award by channel 24 Ghanta comprised a citation, anangavastram and a trophy which were handed over to her byclassical vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty.
Accepting the award, 81-year-old Lata, whose 30,000 songsin 20 languages are unparalleled in the world, acknowledgedher musical bond with Bengal over the years.
"I can read and write a little Bengali," Lata said in herbrief speech while observing that her mother language Marathiis very sweet and has an affinity with Bengali.
"I sang many songs in Hindi. Next to it, I sang inMarathi and Bengali. My brother Hridaynath has set to musicmany songs in Marathi and also in Bengali. His Bengali songshave earned popularity.
"Ki bolbo? Bangla bhasha khub bhalo. Kintu ami bolte parina. (What should I say? The Bengali language is very good. ButI can't speak in Bengali)," she said when requested to speak.
Noting that she saw herself very close to Bengal, Latasaid she had read novels of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay andBankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
"I have read novels of Bankimbabu and Saratbabu.Saratbabu is my favourite. I have read all his novels morethan once."
The legendary singer, who was given a standing ovation bya galaxy of musical stars present at the function, said theentire Mangeshkar family were devotees of Ramakrishna andSwami Vivekananda.
Thanking the organisers, she said "I never expected this.The entire Mangeshkar family is grateful to the organisers forthe award and the honour."
The award by channel 24 Ghanta comprised a citation, anangavastram and a trophy which were handed over to her byclassical vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty.
