Salim Merchant: Lata ji’s appreciation always gave me goosebumps

After fighting for 28 days against several illnesses India’s nightingale Lata Mangeshkar passed away today. Thousand of people have reached the

Shivaji Park

in Mumbai, to pay their tributes. We spoke with musician Salim Merchant and he says that it feels like God’s child has left us today. He further adds, “She was a blessing for all of us. I feel that we are actually fortunate to be living in the time when we could listen to her songs and see her. Today even though she leaves us she will always be alive through her music.”

He says that he feels fortunate that he could speak with her on several occasions and whenever she used to praise his work he would get goosebumps. “I had the great opportunity to speak with her several times and she was always kind. She always expressed her love towards our music and our songs for movies like

Chak De India

and Dor. I kept getting goosebumps when she appreciated our music and compositions. She was also very kind and generous to share her experiences of recording for great musicians like

Madan Mohan Ji

. We used to talk for long on phone about the current music situation and how it was in her time. I will always cherish all those beautiful moments for the rest of my life,” he says.

A two day national mourning will be observed due to her demise and the national flag too will fly at half mast. The army too provided an open truck to ferry the last remains of the legendary singer from

Prabhu Kunj

to Shivaji Park. Her last rites will happen at the Hindu Samshan Bhoomi in Dadar.