Concert after 1983 World Cup is close to my heart : Lata

- Mona Parthsarathi           Let us know what you think about this story

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has invited the Bharat Ratan awardee on the silver jubilee celebration of the world cup triumph to be held in Delhi on Sunday. The legendary singer, however, refused the invitation citing ill health.

Although she admits that neither she can forget the world cup final nor her 1983 concert in the capital, which she did to raise funds for winning team.

"I watched the final at the Lords. I could not believe that we have won the world cup defeating the two times champion West Indies. Naturally, being an Indian I felt very proud of the achievement." said Lata in an interview to PTI.

"I had invited Kapil Dev and his team for a dinner before the match in my hotel. I wished them best of luck and after that our team created a history." Lata was in London for a concert during world cup 1983 and she was desperate to watch the final match after Kapil's boys won the semifinal.

She performed in 1983 to raise funds for winning team through a special concert following their triumph in quadrennial extravaganza for the first and only time. She did it free of cost. The concert, held in Indraprashtha Stadium, raised Rs 20 lakh and each team member received one lakh.

Two decades later, Jagmohan Dalmiya who headed BCCI in 2003, repaid the debt to Lata by a fund raising match for her Pune hospital. The match was held after 2003 world cup when Saurav Ganguly led Indian team reached in the final.

"The duration of the concert was 4 hours. I remember that all the members of the team have sung a song with me specially composed by my brother Hridaynath. Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev were standing besides me." remembers the melody queen.

"After winning the trophy Kapil Dev has invited me for a dinner with the Indian team in London. I went there for a while and congratulated the team." she said.

She told that after that concert in Delhi she had to flew back to London for a show thus could not get a chance to meet the players.

When asked about her favourite player, she said, "undoubtedly Sunil Gavaskar. He was the number one. Kapil is also amongst my favourite and how can I forget Sachin. He is the god of cricket. He is favourite of all cricket lovers." said Lata.

Lata still has that enthusiasm and love for cricket. She watches all the matches of Indian team and defeat still upsets her a lot.

"Team India lost in first round in 2007 world cup. I felt very bad but it is pars and parcel of the game. I followed IPL also and backed Mumbai Indians for obvious reasons." she said.

She finds the changes in the game in these 25 years are for the better.

"Why cricket only, everything has changed including music. I don't see any harm in it. It is natural and for the good." she said.

Which song of her she would like to dedicate for 1983 world cup winners.

"It has to be Vande Mataram."

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