"If music be the food of love play on' the opening lines of William Shakespeare's famous play 'Twelfth Night' personify the desire of an abundance of love for the protagonist who is frustrated in courtship, thinking that this would make him lose his appetite for love. The sad demise of India's icon of the music industry Lata Mangeshkar has created a void that can never be filled. For a generation that has grown up and aged listening to this melodious voice called the 'Nightingale of India,' 'Voice of the Millennium' and the 'Queen of Melody' it is difficult to fathom a life without Lata Mangeshkar. From the time that she began her singing career, after the initial struggles that she faced, seven decades of soulful renditions captivating the hearts of millions of people there has been no one like her. The reason why she occupies a special place in the heart of every Indian is also because her coming of age and growth is synonymous with India's independence and the growth of the Bollywood film industry. Despite revolutionary changes in technology that changed the way music is created she reigned supreme as the queen of melody. Her soulful voice had an unmatched repertoire that could resonate with any character from a forlorn lover pining for her beloved, to a woman scorned and a mother's pain and anguish, all portrayed in numerous songs that made emoting so much easier for the character on screen, all because of Lata Mangeshkar's lilting and melodious voice.

For the people in uniform, manning the borders from the deserts to the jungles, the oceans and the icy heights of the Himalayas their only companion more often than not has been the radio or transistor which through the songs of Lata Mangeshkar somehow soothed their minds and body making them feel connected to their homes and families. Her emotional rendition of 'Aye mere watan ke logon' after the 1962 war that left many Indian soldiers martyred, brought tears to the eyes of then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. This song has since then come to occupy the pride of place as one of the most patriotic songs that is invariably played on occasions that commemorate the sacrifice of India's brave soldiers. Radio channels graduated from AM to FM, music moved from broadcasting to internet and apps and yet the songs of Lata Mangeshkar remained an inalienable part of every Indian's listening album through the last seven decades. Her voice was like a balm on aching bodies and grieving hearts, a lullaby for some and adrenaline for others. Giving solace and company to lonely souls, a spring in the step for others, her voice has been music to the ears of countless Indians. Her uncanny ease with which she could sing in as many as thirty languages ensured her voice reached far and wide in a diverse country like India.

Honoured with the nation's highest award the 'Bharat Ratna' while she was still alive, Lata Mangeshkar had lived through all the Prime Ministers' of independent India. Paeans would be sung and homilies written in her memory, aspiring singers would continue to learn from her music, but what is indeed certain is the fact that there would not be another like her. Her persona, that signified grace, modesty and humility with a kind word and a personal touch for all those who were lucky to be a part of her life, does not come easy, as such people live on to become legends leaving death as a mere transition from one world to another. Lata Mangeshkar, through her voice has not only made herself immortal but also made the country proud of her legacy that will live on forever continuing to soothe the souls of Indians for generations to come.