MUMBAI– Celebrated singer Sonu Nigam has shared a heartfelt memory from 2013, recalling how the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar offered him comforting, motherly support at a time when he was grieving the loss of his own mother.
Taking to Instagram, Sonu posted a moving throwback photograph in which he is seen kneeling onstage with folded hands before Lata Mangeshkar, who smiles warmly in return, her hands also joined in a gesture of respect.
“This moment takes me back to 2013, just a few months after I lost my mother. I had the honor of performing at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital fundraising show at Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai,” Sonu wrote in the caption.
He went on to recount the moment of deep emotional connection backstage.
“Emotions overwhelmed me on that stage, and as I bowed down to Lata ji—grieving and vulnerable—she gently held me and said, ‘Main hoon na… Main hoon na…’ In that instant, her words wrapped around my aching heart like a mother’s embrace,” he shared.
Lata Mangeshkar, one of India’s most revered musical icons, passed away in February 2022 at the age of 92 due to multiple organ failure following treatment for pneumonia and COVID-19. Known as the “Queen of Melody,” “Nightingale of India,” and “Voice of the Millennium,” she left behind a monumental legacy.
Sonu Nigam, often called the “Modern Rafi” in homage to his musical idol Mohammad Rafi, is known for his versatility. His repertoire spans romantic ballads, classical, devotional, party anthems, patriotic songs, ghazals, qawwalis, and pop-rock hits. Over his illustrious career, he has recorded more than 6,000 songs in over 32 languages.
He has received several prestigious accolades, including a National Film Award and the Padma Shri—India’s fourth-highest civilian honor—in 2022. (Source: IANS)
