Lata conferred lifetime achievement award

Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar was Monday presented the lifetime achievement award for her contribution to Indian music at a function here.

Receiving the award, given by a Bengali news channel Chobbish Ghanta, Lata said there was lot of similarity between the cultures of West Bengal and Maharashtra.

"I have sung lot of songs in Bengali. I have also rendered lot of songs in Marathi. I think there are lot of similarities between the two cultures," the legendary singer said.

She said her entire family were great admirers of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda.

Lata regretted that earlier she could speak Bengali, but found it difficult now due to lack of practice.

Human rights activist Binayak Sen and former renowned soccer player P.K. Banerjee were among those who received the Ananya Samman at the programme.

Singing legend Lata unveils 2011 calendar

Singing legend Lata Mangeshkar today unveiled ''Tera Sur Aur Mera Geet'' calendar for 2011.

The calendar contains dazzling photos of Mangeshkar and 24 music directors she has worked with in her illustrious career.

The music directors- both old and new- share 15 days each oF every month. The list includes Ghulam Haider, Khemchand Prakash, Shyam undar, R D Burman, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Dr Bhupen Hazarika to A R Rahman among others.

Speaking at the release here today, Mangeshkar said a lot of thought had gone into the making of the calendar. Rare photographs were searched for and collected in an effort to present the maximum number of music directors she has worked with.

''I have worked with 115 music directors, so it was impossible to include all of them. The music of the olden times was good, and music hasn't changed, but the films have. I remember that Ghulam Haider and Khemchand Prakash, who I started my career with had told me that one day, I'd become so famous that I'll remember them,'' she reminisced.

She said she had no aims or ambitions for the new year.

''I have never had hopes and desires. God has always given me more than I could ever imagine,'' she said.