#RIPLataji a phenomenal singer, someone who brought India together with her voice.
A short thread honoring her.
Her birth name was Hema. She was later renamed Lata after the key character Latika in the play Bhav Bandhan.
Her father Deenanath Mangeshkar had worked on that play. #RIPLataji
After the death of her father in 1942, the responsibility of the family fell on the shoulders of Lata.
She sang in Marathi films and even acted in a few.
The film Badi Maa, in 1948, starred Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle and Lata's idol Noor Jehan. #RIPLataji
One of her early breakthrough hits is 'Aayega Aanewala' from Mahal. This haunting tone was essentially the theme song for the film and after its recording, many wondered if a slow track work. #RIPLataji
It worked instantly.
It is said that the gramophone record carried the singer’s name as Kamini - the character played by Madhubala in the film. But post this song, playback singers were getting credits in records. #RIPLataji
When filmfare started its awards for films, initially it did not award singers. After pressure from singers, Filmfare started honoring singers in 1959.
Lata Mangeshkar was the first winner of the Best Singer award in 1959 - till 1968 it was combined for male & female singers.
There is a story that Lata Mangeshkar refused her first filmfare award as the the statuette was designed in the shape of a woman who had no clothes on.
The organisers finally wrapped the award with a handkerchief and presented it to the singer.
[citation needed] #RIPLataji
In 1971, Lata Mangeshkar wrote to Filmfare to not consider her for awards anymore. This was to encourage other singers.
In 1979, Asha Bhosle did the same and asked Filmfare not to considered for the awards anymore. #RIPLataji
List of Marathi films - Mohityanchi Manjula, Maratha Tituka Melvava, Saadhi Manasa, Tambdii Mati. What connects them?
All music given by one Anandghan.
Who is Anandghan? Its a pseduonym Lata Mangeshkar used to compose music. #RIPLataji
For Mohityanchi Manjula, no music director was available and Lata Mangeshkar agreed to compose the music.
The veteran director Bhalji Pendharkar was worried and sounded her out about the possible damage to her image if she failed.
Then came the idea of adopting a pseduonym.
For the music of Anand, Hrishikesh Mukherjee initially wanted Anandghan or Lata Mangeshkar. By then, her workload as a singer had increased and she politely refused.
Music for Anand by Anandghan would have sounded wonderful. #RIPLataji
Hrishikesh Mukherjee loved Lata Mangeshkar and even wanted her for a cameo in the film 'Golmaal'.
The song 'Ek Din Sapne Mein Dekha Sapna' had cameos by Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman.
Lata refused to do the cameo and Hrishikesh Mukherjee used a still photo
Lata Mangeshkar eventually did do a cameo in the film Pukar. The song 'Ek tu hi bharosa' was picturized on her.
It was that rare occasion where she sang for herself on screen. #RIPLataji
There have been stories of tiffs and rivalries with her sister Asha Bhosle. Both have denied it publicly.
@yooday mentions the cameo by Asha Bhosle in the film Taxi Taxie.
Maybe they played on the perceived rivalry and laughed it off. #RipLataMangeshkar
Kavi Pradeep was walking on the road when he thought of some lines. As he did not have pen and paper, he took a pen from a stranger and wrote the lyrics on the back of a cigarette box. It was then composed by Ramachandra and Lata agreed to sing it. #RIPLataji
Then in a fundraiser organized by the film industry for war widows in 1963, Lata Mangeshkar sang 'Aye Mere Watan ke Logo' in the presence of President S Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.
There was not a single dry eye after her rendition.
There are many more facts to add for a career as long and as stellar as Lata Mangeshkar.
But we wish everyone listens to her immortal voice today and leave you with a playlist.
A school-going kid once visited the Congress party office, where Tamil lyricist Kavirajar Kannadasan asked, "Would you like to work in films, child?" The kid said, "Ask my father."
This child was destined to become one of India's greatest superstars!
A thread on Sridevi! 🧵
It is said that when Sridevi was born, there was a bright red mark on her forehead, and hence people started that a devi had born in the house.
Thus she was named Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan.
Before ruling the box office as a leading star, Sridevi was a phenomenally accomplished child artist.
Here she is, sharing the screen with MG Ramachandran, playing his nephew in a film that also starred J. Jayalalitha!
This film, starring Supriya Pathak & Hugh Grant, is based on a novel by Mircea Eliade.
Its the story of a 23-year-old Mircea who came to Calcutta to study under philosopher Surendranath Dasgupta.
There, he fell in love with Maitreyi - teacher's daughter.
Sounds familiar? A 🧵
In this novel, Mircea fictionalizes how his love story was cut short because Surendranath Dasgupta was unhappy about the relationship. The relationship was "exposed" by Maitreyi Devi's sister.
The novel was published in 1933, a couple of years after Mircea's time in Calcutta.
For some additional context, Maitreyi was a savant! Maitreyi was mentored by Rabindranath Tagore, and she even wrote a book Mongpute Rabindranath (Tagore by The Fire Side) about the time spent with the great poet.
20 years ago, we were reminded that good films need not make money, & films that make good money need not be great!
On June 18, 2004, Lakshya was released, telling the story of an aimless rich youngster who joins the Indian Army & discovers his true goal.
A thread🧵
Lakshya was written by @Javedakhtarjadu: He was told by senior army officers about the declining enrollments to the Indian army each year, prompting him to promise to write a film addressing the issue!
The script marked Akthar's comeback as a scriptwriter after ages!
Lakshya was a departure from the kinds of war movies made at the time like Border, LOC Kargil etc.
In fact, director @FarOutAkhtar's goal was to tell a story about a boy who finds himself in the backdrop of Kargil War.
On June 15, 2001, the world saw the release of a monumental film in scale & vision, with its main plot revolving around a cricket match between India & the British Empire!
A thread 🧵on Lagaan, the film that convinced Aamir Khan to pursue the kind of films he believed in.
After two failed attempts at films, @AshGowariker's confidence was low.
He then conceived a story where a key battle is resolved by a cricket match. He pitched this to Aamir in 4 lines, who told him not to waste time on this.
Lagaan was @AshGowariker’s third foray into direction after his earlier two movies – Pehla Nasha and Baazi.
Baazi is famous for the “Item number” by Aamir Khan. Pehla Nasha had Aamir and SRK in the same movie with some cringe worthy puns
This is freedom fighter Raj Narain, who achieved the greatest electoral upset in India's history.
In the 1977 elections held after the lifting of the Emergency, Raj Narain defeated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
A thread 🧵
The story begins with the 1971 election.
Originally scheduled for 1972, Indira Gandhi called for early elections, catching opposition by surprise.
The opposition quickly recovered and nominated Raj Narain to contest against Mrs. Gandhi in Rae Bareli.
📸 @htTweets
Indira Gandhi was probably displeased with the nomination.
At a campaign rally she said, "Mr. Narain had been chosen by the opposition parties to contest from Rae Bareli because he was a well-known Nehru hater and baiter."