Kolkata, Aug 8 (IANS) Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar was Monday presented the lifetime achievement award for her contribution to Indian music at a function here.
Receiving the award, given by a Bengali news channel Chobbish Ghanta, Lata said there was lot of similarity between the cultures of West Bengal and Maharashtra.
"I have sung lot of songs in Bengali. I have also rendered lot of songs in Marathi. I think there are lot of similarities between the two cultures," the legendary singer said.
She said her entire family were great admirers of Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda.
Lata regretted that earlier she could speak Bengali, but found it difficult now due to lack of practice.
Human rights activist Binayak Sen and former renowned soccer player P.K. Banerjee were among those who received the Ananya Samman at the programme.