"Pandit Ravi Shankar is a great artist and has spread the gospel of Indian classical music to far corners of the world. I personally revere him and believe that he should have received the Bharat Ratna long ago. I think it is wrong to say that he lobbied for the Bharat Ratna award," she told `Star News' in an interview.

The melody queen, who recently received the Padma Vibhushan, described as "unfortunate" charges of lobbying for national awards made against Ravi Shankar (by the vocalist Jasraj), a release issued by the private TV network said.

Interestingly, Jasraj had expressed the view that Lata was more eminently suited for the highest award, which invited derisive comment from another eminent vocalist Kishori Amonkar.

Deploring the current trend of violence and vulgarity in films,she squarely blamed the film industry for the "deteriorating standards".

"It is unfair to blame the audience... It is we who are to blame... We have spoilt public taste," she said.

She refuted the notion that the "Mangeshkar sisters" had for too long monopolised playback singing in the film industry as the cost of allowing younger talents to flourish.

Denying any professional rivalry between her sister Asha and herself, Lata said, "Asha and I live side by side in the same house.... In fact there is only a door between our apartments".