Lata Mangeshkar was born on September 28 1929 in the Holkar city of Indore. Her father Dinanath initially tutored her in music. Lata's childhood was less stable. After Master Dinanath's death, she was adopted by Vinayak Damodar Karnataki, a close personal friend of the Mangeshkar family, godfather to the 5 siblings, and a rather famous moviemaker in his own right (better known as Master Vinayak, and also father of movie star Nanda). Master Vinayak would play a key role in helping Lata and Asha get started with their careers.

Lata was taught by a series of accomplished musicians. She was still a child oblivious to the machinations of the movie world and still unsure as to her real mission in life. She could be a singer or an actress. Indeed, as the tradition was at the time, Lata did act and sing for movies. Lata acted her last movie role in the early '50s.

In 1942, Master Vinayak started his last Navyug Chitrapat movie Pahili Managalagaur, and ensured a bit part for 13-year old Lata. This, from all records, is Lata's first stint with movies. Dada Chandekar created the music, but to the best of anyone's knowledge, there was no Lata in any of the songs.

Master Vinayak started Pahili Managalagaur and wanted Lata to sing, but he could not finish it. However, he succeeded with Vasant Joglekar, a script-writer/assistant director at Navyug to get Lata sing for Kiti Hasaal. Finally, one day, music director Sadashivrao Nevrekar brought the shy 13-year old into the recording studio. The Marathi song "Naachu Ya Gade Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhari " stands as Lata's first recording. The movie was Kiti Hasaal, and the year was 1942. The song never saw the light of day. But Master Vinayak at least sensed that the foundation had been laid for a new standard in good female singing.

In the 1942-43 period, Master Vinayak launched Prafulla Pictures, his third and last motion picture studio. He would make 6 movies under this banner. Additionally, he would direct one movie under Shantaram's Rajkamal Kalamandir, and he would also act in Shantaram's Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani . Of the 7 total movies created by the Master in the remaining 4 years of his life (1943-47), the first 3 were Marathi productions, and the remaining Hindi.  All 7 movies made during the 1943-48 period were to star Lata Mangeshkar, although not in particularly significant roles. Thus, before he departed, Master Vinayak made sure that Lata's entry into Bombay's Hindi medium, if not clear, was at least visible and within reach. The rest would be up to her. In his scheme of things, his beautiful goddaughter was destined to be a great movie star and a great singer. Right or wrong, that was his belief, and he tried everything within his power to lay that groundwork.

In1945, the script-writer/director Vasant Joglekar was now directing the Hindi movie Aap Ki Sewa Mein. The movie took more than 2 years to get released, but its place in history was secured when Datta Davjekar announced the successful recording of Paa Lagoon Kar Jori Re, Shyam Mo Se Na Khelo Hori Re the first released Lata song for any Indian movie in any language. Master Vinayak set the stage for Badi Maa starring Noor Jehan with other big stars – and at the bottom of the list entered Lata and Asha Mangeshkar. Datta Koregaonkar did the music. Badi Maa has one of the best collection of Noor Jehan songs in a single movie. And hidden among these Noor Jehan gems, there is a beautiful devotional song sung by Lata, Maata Tere Charnon Mein. The piece almost went unnoticed, almost more because an almost unknown little girl called Lata Mangeshkar on an even lesser known 12-year old sang it called Asha Mangeshkar. Maata Tere Charnon Mein came close to making history. It was almost the first Lata recording to be released. Datta Davjekar just edged past it with his own Aap Ki Sewa Mein.

In 1946, Master Vinayak would direct his second Hindi movie. Subhdra  that introduced Lata Mangeshkar to Vasant Desai, a mainstream Music Director of Shantaram's Rajkamal Kalamandir. Singer-actress Shanta Apte sings a beautiful duet with Lata - Main Khili Khili Phulwaari.     But our movie here is JEEVAN YATRA, a Rajkamal production directed by Master Vinayak, set to music by Vasant Desai, and enacted by an ensemble of big names like Nayantara, Yakub, Pratima Devi and of course, one small name - Lata Mangeshkar. Her solo "Chidiya Bole Choo Choo" is now an antique - a rare gem that would make any collector proud. In 1946, Master Vinayak finished the last movies of his life, Jeevan Yaatra, a Rajkamal production, set to music by Vasant Desai, and enacted by an ensemble of big names like Nayantara, Yakub, Pratima Devi and of course, one small name - Lata Mangeshkar with her solo Chidiya Bole Choo Choo. Mandir was another Master Vinayak movie, completed after his death by Dinkar Dattajirao Patil, in which Lata would act and sing as well with music by Vasant Desai.

Lata's Vasant Desai movies, her Datta Koregaonkar connection, and her exposure to Rajkamal Kalamandir had all collectively made an impact. She was known in some circles as the little girl with some promise, but none were willing to take a chance, except Ghulam Haider. It was in 1948 when Master Haider worked hard to get Lata her first few breaks. Three movies are notable in this range - Majboor, Padmini and Shaheed. The Majboor song "Dil Mere Todaa, Hai Mujhe Kisi Ka Na Chhoda " is a classic. Also, the Padmini song "Bedard Tere Dard Ko Seene Se Lagaa Ke" became popular.

Now Anil Biswas and Khemchand Prakash were active who wanted a classic, well-modulated voice that would never stray into savage territory. Her song of the Bombay Talkies film Mahal (1949) - "Aaega Aaega Aane Waala", was composed by the late Khemraaj Prakaash. This song had already swept over the whole of India and made her the voice of the time. She received her first proper named credit under her own name in actor/director Raj Kapoor's film Barsaat (1949). At the same time, Naushad and C. Ramchandra picked up on this voice. Lata needed no more help. Ghulam Haider's job was done. He finished the job where Master Vinayak left. For Lata Mangeshkar, the rest of history is on record. With everything in the world going her way starting 1948, there was no stopping for Lata Mangeshkar. In 1950, she teamed up again with Dinkar Patil and actually scored the music for his movie Ram Ram Pahune. She joined Dinkar Patil to found Surel Productions in 1952 and produced Wadal (1953). Datta Koregaonkar, made Daaman, Gumashta and Rishta, all to be sung largely by Lata Mangeshkar. Lata did her last acting role in the Hindi-Marathi dual release, the C. Ramchandra-scored Chhatrapati  Shivaji. She never acted again, or scored music under her original name. The reign of the Greatest Female Playback Singer to rule the Indian film playback singing for the next more than four decades.