Khemchand Prakash: Lata Mangeshkar's discoverer died young, wife begged at Mumbai station

• Khemchand Prakash, a "forgotten genius," discovered and shaped the careers of legendary singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar.
• He gave Lata Mangeshkar her first big break in "Ziddi" (1948) and national fame with "Aayega Aane Wala" from "Mahal."
• Prakash died at 42 in 1950, leading to his family's severe financial hardship, with his wife later found begging at a Mumbai station.
• Javed Akhtar noted that royalties from just one song, "Aayega Aane Wala," could have prevented his family's poverty.
• Prakash also composed for the iconic 1943 film "Tansen" and discovered Kishore Kumar.

Why It Matters: This highlights the tragic lack of royalties for artists, even for legendary creators.