NEW DELHI: Noting that "When I was a child, my mother used to put me to sleep by singing Didi's songs as lullaby", legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has said the Nightingale of Indian cinema- Lata Mangeshkar is "like a mother to me."

Speaking at a function to felicitate the singer on her 85th birthday, Tendulkar said "Didi's songs have always ?been an integral part of my ?persona, whether I used to hear them ?then ?on a cassette recorder, ?later on ?a CD player ?and now on an iPod, though the ?gadgets kept changing with time, the singer remained the same - Lata Mangeshkar."

He further said, "Didi's songs have always been a great motivation and moral support for me throughout my cricketing career, whether ??I was in a dull mood or in an elated one or just otherwise."

?He recalled: "I went to meet her at her place a few months ago just as a routine visit and casual chat, that is when she showed to me on her iPad all the screen shots she had taken of my various innings while watching them live on the television, including my last innings which I played in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. She also gifted me her own hand written music notes for my new house which she had penned for one of her 60's songs. I have framed that and put it on the wall in my music room next to a picture of the Almighty, as that is as pristine as God for me".

He remarked that "while listening to Didi's songs, everyone gets mesmerised and carried away that they also start singing, realising how poorly they sing only when the music system is off, and I am no exception to this illusion. This shows her class and the fact that we are only good as bathroom singers."

The Bharat Ratna awardee could not be present at the function but through a live telephonic conference she said "I was very keen to attend my 85th birthday felicitation, which unfortunately I am not able to attend due to my sudden ill health. I very much wanted to come as my favourite cricketer Sachin had come to felicitate me, but could not make it for which I deeply regret."

To commemorate this grand occasion, renowned Kathak exponent Shama Bhate performed a specially choreographed "Meera Ballet" with her 'Nad Rup Dance Group?'. The performance was a Broadway musical rendition inspired by Lataji's famous spiritual album 'Meera Bhajans' which was released in 1985 and was a huge success. The ?classical dance and music ?ballet was performed by a group of 30 ?kathak ?dancers ?of the 'Nad Roop Dance Group'?, who adorned in traditional Rajasthani ensemble, ?and backdrop ?brought ?alive the ancient magnificence and grandeur ? of that era?.

Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar's son Adinath Mangeshkar's music and dance organisation ?-

'Swarbharti' collaborated with 'Hridayesh Arts' to present the authentic Indian classical dance ballet.

While dedicating it to the public, Pandit Hridaynath said, "It is my pleasure that one of my best spiritual composition 'Meera Bhajans' sung by ?Lata ?Didi ? herself has come to realisation ?today ?through this beautiful ?classical dance ?ballet which is its first performance and will have many more to follow."

He then fondly remembered, "Lata Didi was very sick during the recording of this album and was advised by the doctor to go for an urgent surgery procedure but had insisted that she will not leave the studio until the recording of this album is over. After finishing the recording, she was rushed to the hospital where she was admitted for 15 days. This was her dedication and commitment for the album."

The grand felicitation event was attended by eminent music stalwarts and dignitaries like Usha Mangeshkar, Pankaj Uddhas and his wife, filmmaker Kiran Shantaram, Mrs. Anjali Tendulkar, Thane Municipal Commissioner Asim Gupta, Mr. Vishwanath Karad and Mr.Rahul Karad and many more.