Syed Kirmani: The entire 83 team joined Lataji in the chorus at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium

Syed Kirmani

After the Indian cricket team won the 1983 World Cup, a Lata Mangeshkar concert was organized at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Delhi to celebrate their victory. The concert was a huge hit and a sum of around Rs 20 lakh was collected. The members of the Indian team were given one lakh rupees each as a reward from that amount.

Kirmani told mid-day.com, "The passing of the Golden voice is a huge loss to the country and music lovers globally. She was such a down to earth person particularly during our playing days Chandra (BS Chandrashekhar) and me were huge fans of Mukheshji. Kalyanji-Anandji used to invite Chandra and I use to go along because I was a big fan of music as well. We used to go to their house and Lataji used to be there as well. They used to give us private musical entertainment and we would always look forward to visit their house.

She was closely associated with late Raj Singh Dungarpur. When we won the World cup she was there to highlight the historical victory of 1983. The entire 83 team joined her in the chorus at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Delhi. A gramophone record was launched with voices of Lataji and the cricketers together, besides the cash reward we were presented with.

I pay my condolences to the Mangeshkar family. My father-in-law and wife were huge fans of Lataji and my wife had a picture with her. My wife had also taken an autograph of hers for my father-in-law. I'm sure she will be entertaining the almighty and the angels up there."