MUMBAI: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar will be awarded the inaugural National Yash Chopra Memorial Award. Industrialist-politician T Subbarami Reddy, who has produced host of Hindi movies like 'Vijay', 'Chandni' and 'Lamhe', announced the award in memory of late filmmaker Yash Chopra. The award, instituted by Reddy-led TSR Foundation, will be given to an outstanding film personality each year.

"In the first year we are giving this to Lata Mangeshkar for her immense contribution to cinema. She was very close to Yashji and she has sung for almost all his films," Reddy, a Congress leader, said.

"The award commemorates Yash Chopra's contribution to cinema. We were very close friends. He was a very good human being and a talented filmmaker," he said.

The Bollywood icon died away of dengue on 21 October, 2012 and the award ceremony is likely to take place on the same day every year.

The jury comprises the eminent personalities like Hema Malini, Simi Garewal and Anil Kapoor selected the winner. Garewal, who is related to the Chopra family, described him as a great filmmaker. Hema Malini said she felt lucky to have been directed by him in four films. He portrayed heroines beautifully in his films, she said.