Lata Mangeshkar, the iconic Indian playback singer, was initially named Hema at birth. Her parents later made the decision to rename her Lata, a name that would eventually become synonymous with musical brilliance and a revered legacy in the global music industry.
The Original Name: Hema
Born on September 28, 1929, in Indore, Lata Mangeshkar's given name was Hema. This was her birth name, a common practice before families sometimes decide on a different name later in a child's early life.
The Transformation to Lata
The decision to change her name to Lata stemmed from a meaningful family connection to her father's artistic work. Her father, the renowned Marathi theatre artist and musician Deenanath Mangeshkar, had a female character named Latika in his critically acclaimed play, Bhaaw Bandhan. It was after this beloved character that he chose to rename his daughter, bestowing upon her the name Lata.
This change not only gave her the name she would carry throughout her illustrious career but also linked her identity to her father's profound artistic contributions from her earliest days.
Summary of Name Change
| Original Name | Changed Name | Reason for Change |
|---|---|---|
| Hema | Lata | Named after 'Latika', a character in her father Deenanath Mangeshkar's play Bhaaw Bandhan. |
