Tributes

"Mera Saaya Saaath Hoga" is Sachin Tendulkar's Favourite Song
10 April 2012

Cricket was Madanji's favourite sport. He would always be at the stadium for any major cricket match in Bombay, and had befriended many leading cricketers, who reciprocated with their admiration for his music.

The erstwhile captain of the Indian team, late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, attended a few recordings of Madanji and Lataji, as well.

Sachin Tendulkar, who was recently felicitated for his unprecedented feat of scoring 100 centuries, was thrilled when Lataji hummed a line of "Mera Saaya Saath Hoga", a Madanji composition from MERA SAAYA (1966). This was at a special event in his honour with various Sachin admirers in attendance.

As Lataji said later in an interview [excerpt below]
"I think people were taken aback because I haven't sung publicly in a long time. I knew Mera Saaya Saath Hoga is Sachin's favourite song. But I asked him at the function. He got up and said, 'Yes, it's my favourite song and I'd be honoured if you sing two lines of that song. 'Did I have a choice after that?"

The now 82 year old Lataji, who had originally sung the song 47 years ago for Madanji, received a standing ovation from the distinguished guests present.

Lataji and Madanji, one of the most admired singer / composer teams, are still loved for their songs by their fans, till this day.