Thread by @thebetterindia

#DeathAnniversary
Beyond her world of playback singing, few know that Lata Mangeshkar's musical tastes were way more eclectic.
She enjoyed listening to Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Nat King Cole, the Beatles, Barbra Streisand and Harry Belafonte.

#LataMangeshkar #RarePic #Legend

She went to see Marlene Dietrich singing on stage and loved Ingrid Bergman's theatre.

She could also be found studio hopping at the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar's studio, where she bumped into his famous friend George Harrison.

In 1979, she became the first Indian to perform with the Wren Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. Here's how she later recalled the experience in her own words:

"Around 1974, I went to London for my first overseas concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

A gentleman called Tara Babu, who lived in London, came up to me and said, “Do you know you have found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records? It’s a tremendous honour.” I asked him to pardon my ignorance, but what is this Guinness Book of World Records?

The next thing I knew, a huge hubbub was on about me being listed as the most-recorded artiste in history. A lady from the Guinness Book dropped by the hotel I was staying and invited me to their office for a felicitation function.

I asked Mr Parmar to accompany me since my ability to converse in English is khatarnak (dangerous).

I was greeted with a beautiful bouquet and applause and asked if I had ever thought of moving to the UK.

Taken aback, I replied, “Never! I am Bharatiya; India will always be my home.” That statement was picked up by the press. The then-PM Mrs Gandhi read it and kindly sent me a letter of commendation."