Asha Bhosle got the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar, and Vidya Balan got the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award.
Vidya Balan was honoured with the Deenanath Mangeshkar Award for her contribution to cinema as an actor. While accepting the prestigious award, Vidya got emotional as she remembered the Nightingale of India, the late singer Lata Mangeshkar.
Vidya shared that the saree she had draped for the award function on Monday was gifted by Lata Mangeshkar, and expressed her love and gratitude for the legendary icon. Vidya shared, “As a new actress I was watching Lata Mangeshkar with awe, at an event. Later, I mustered the courage to actually call her. I heard her divine voice on the phone, she sent me a saree home and it was a boon to me. I always wanted to wear this saree and show her one day, but today was meant to be. And here I am wearing this saree, and receiving the prestigious Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Award. It is indeed a blessing for me and as I speak, I am shaking. Thank you so much for this honour bestowed upon me.”
Vidya then went on to say, “I have had the good fortune of receiving many awards in my career and I always thought of them as an appreciation for my work, today this award feels like an honour”.
At the award function, Lata’s sister and veteran singer Asha Bhosle received the coveted Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar. On this, she said, “This is my most prestigious award, but I wish Lata Didi were here in person.” Narrating incidents from her childhood, an emotional Asha Bhosle sang Mogara Phulala composed by Hridaynath Mangeshkar, which was originally sung by Lata Mangeshka and released in 1999.
Along with Vidya Balan and Asha Bhosle, Gazal singer Pankaj Udhas was conferred with the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar for his contribution to Indian Music as well.
The awards are held every year in which the Mangeshkhar family (younger siblings of the late Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Hridaynath Mangeshkar) honours various artistes for their contributions to the field of arts and society at large. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to be its first recipient.
In a statement about the award ceremony, the Mangeshkar family had said, “In memory of Master Deenanathji, whose monumental contributions as singer, musician and stage artiste have been an inspiration to the people of Maharashtra and India, the Mangeshkar family organises the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Awards to honour legends. We are glad that we have the love and support of the masses,” PTI noted.
