Oscars 2022: Lata Mangeshkar's Absence From 'In Memoriam' Segment Angers Fans

The 94^th Academy Awards were a usual lavish affair but this year’s gala left many Indians upset. The Oscar’s ">‘In Memoriam’ section, which pays tribute to beloved and significant members of the global film industry who have passed away, did not include the name of Lata Mangeshkar who passed away earlier this year.

Mangeshkar passed away on February 6, 2022, after being in hospital for over two weeks due to COVID-19. Her contribution to Indian music was much revered by people across generations and she was the recipient of Bharat Ratna- India's highest civilian honour.

The Oscars have previously honoured Indian talents like Irrfan Khan, Sushant Singh Rajput, Bhanu Athaiya and Om Puri among others, after their demise. Besides, Lata Mangeshkar also received homage at British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTA). Due to the abovementioned reasons, many Indian viewers expected that Mangeshkar would be honoured by the Academy during its 2022 awards ceremony.

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Oscars 2022 Lata Mangeshkar controversy: Why are fans unhappy?

But when she was skipped over in the "In Memoriam" segment, fans of the singer expressed their anger and bafflement on social media. Renowned critic and screenwriter Raja Sen too expressed his disappointment on Twitted, also pointing out that Dilip Kumar—who passed away on July 7, 2021—wasn't featured in segment either. He wrote, “The 'In Memoriam' segment really should have featured these two legends. Inexcusable omission.”

Another Twitter user wrote, “The amazing world-record-setting Lata Mangeshkar (who passed away from COVID) sang more songs for more movies than shown in all Oscars combined. Yet, the Oscars2022; In Memoriam did not see it fit to honour her even with a mention. Sometimes, I think, colonialism still lives on.” Meanwhile, a user noted that Mangeshkar's exclusion from the In Memoriam list is bizarre and inexcusable.

At the award show hosted at Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, actors like Betty White, Carmine Salinas, Olivia Dukakis, Ned Beatty, Sonny Chiba and others were among the names that were in the "In Memoriam" segment.

It is to be noted that the award organisers also left out Full House star and popular comedian Bob Saget, who died at the age of 65 in January this year, from this segment.

However, the resentment for not mentioning such legends is receiving little attention on social media because the global audience is flabbergasted by the violence that unfolded on-stage during the ceremony. Actor Will Smith slapped comedian and host Chris Rock over a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith and her alopecia. Read more about it here.