Mumbai: The Mangeshkar family announced on April 11 that the inaugural Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Award will be honored to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
PM will become the first person to receive the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar on April 24. The date will mark the 80th death anniversary of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, the father of Late Lata Mangeshkar.
The family and the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan charitable trust, in a statement, said that they have decided to introduce the award from this year in the honor and memory of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away at the age of 92 in February after suffering multiple organ failure.
Earlier, PM Modi had attended her funeral held in Mumbai in order to pay his last respects to the legendary singer, whom he regarded as his elder sister.
Only one individual will be awarded with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar every year. It will be given to someone who has made groundbreaking, splendid and immense contributions to the country, its people and society.
"We are pleased and honoured to announce that the first awardee is none other than the honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi," the statement read.
Narendra Modi will be felicitated with the award at the upcoming Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Awards ceremony.
The objective of the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Awards is to honor legends from the field of music, drama, art, medical and social work.
Veteran actors Asha Parekh and Jackie Shroff will receive the Master Deenanath Puraskar (special honour) for their "dedicated services in the field of cinema", the Mangeshkar family further said in the statement.
The Master Deenanath Puraskar for Indian music will go to Rahul Deshpande while the play "Sanjay Chaya" will get the best drama award.
Nutan Mumbai tiffin box suppliers charity trust will receive the Master Deenanath Puraskar (Anandmayee Puraskar) for its "dedicated services in the field of social service".
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