Playback legend Lata Mangeshkar turns 81 Tuesday, with fans swearing by her golden voice even as she has chosen to cut down on assignments after singing for over 1,000 Hindi movies.

Starting her career in 1942, she reigned over the film industry for decades and is still the first preference of many filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Madhur Bhandarkar and an inspiration to established singers of today.

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Lata, who was born Sep 28, 1929, also featured in the Guinness World Records book from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world. She was last heard in Bhandarkar's Jail.

"Lataji's birthday is a great event. She has given us so much in terms of music, love and affection. I just hope that she lives on forever and gives her blessings to us. I am very close to her and I am happy, proud and fortunate that she is close to me," said filmmaker Yash Chopra who has vowed only to work with her among the female singers in the industry.