While the entire world worships Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar as the Swar Kokila (Nightingale of Melody), her public persona has traditionally been defined strictly through her iconic playback singing. Millions know her songs, but very few understand the woman behind the microphone—her distinct views on art, her deep literary roots, and her unexpected, fiery passions outside the recording studio.

Filling this massive void is a spectacular new biography titled "Lata Mangeshkar – The Ganga of Singing", authored by acclaimed music critic and film historian Indrajit Singh. Published officially by the Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, this 200-page archival treasure drops rare, deeply personal anecdotes that show a completely different side of the legendary icon.

The Secret Cricket Fanatic: Canceling Stadium Records for Sachin Tendulkar

One of the most heartwarming revelations in Indrajit Singh’s book is Lata Mangeshkar’s immense, lifelong obsession with professional cricket. Far from being a casual viewer, she closely analyzed athletic skills and followed the careers of legends spanning generations—from Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev to MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

However, her deepest maternal affection was reserved exclusively for Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

The Mother-Son Bond

Lata Mangeshkar viewed Sachin as her own son, a sentiment Tendulkar warmly reciprocated. The book reveals that Sachin's absolute favorite track sung by her was the hauntingly beautiful "Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega, Mera Saaya Saath Hoga".

Her dedication to his game was legendary. Whenever Sachin was playing an important match, she would blank out her calendar and cancel all professional studio recordings for the day. If he scored a century, she celebrated with pure euphoria; if he fell early, she would slip into deep melancholy for the rest of the day. Much like millions of everyday cricket fans, high-stakes India-Pakistan clashes would see her completely halt her singing engagements just to watch the broadcast seamlessly.

Barefoot Worship: Harish Bhimani on Her Stage Rituals

The book pulls invaluable insights from veteran announcer and writer Harish Bhimani, who toured extensively with the songstress during her historic live stadium concerts in the 1980s.

Bhimani shares a unique spiritual layout of her discipline:

• Music as a Mandate: For Lata Mangeshkar, a recording studio or a concert stage was not a commercial workspace; it was a sacred temple.

• The Barefoot Rule: She made it a non-negotiable personal rule to always slip off her footwear before stepping up to a microphone to record or perform live.

• Zero Tolerance for Disrespect: Bhimani notes that if any accompanying musician or crew member treated the musical environment with casual flippancy or lack of reverence, she would grow deeply upset and quietly distance herself from them.

Spurning Her Own Hits: The Preference for Off-Beat Poetry

In another fascinating segment, Lata Sur Gatha author and music historian Yatindra Mishra exposes a surprising truth: Lata Mangeshkar rarely liked listening to her own massive commercial chartbusters.

Instead, she possessed a sophisticated literary mind. She deeply admired the dense, nuanced poetry of lyricists like Shailendra, Sahir Ludhianvi, and Gulzar. Rather than pop melodies, she preferred singing complex, off-beat compositions and classical bhajans. She kept a close tab on Hindi and Marathi literature, studying poetic structures with immense devotion.

A Collector's Edition for Music Purists

Featuring a gorgeous foreword by modern lyricist Irshad Kamil, this book serves as an essential manual for students of cinema and musical heritage. Beautifully bound with rare, colored photographs capturing the songstress alongside global personalities, it provides an authentic look behind the white silk saree.

Book Metadata:

• Title: Ganga of Gayaki (The Ganga of Singing)

• Author: Indrajit Singh

• Publisher: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi

• Price: ₹330