ASHA BHOSLE A SINGING EVEREST
Asha Bhosle who was born on September 8, 1933 in the small hamlet of Goar Sangli, Maharashtra, into the musical Marathi family of Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar. Her father was a theater actor and classical singer who had been born in the village of Mangeshi in Goa. When she was nine years old, her father died. The family moved from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Bombay.She is best known as a Bollywood playback singer, although she has a much wider repertoire. Her career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over 950 Bollywood movies and sold many records. Asha Bhosle is considered as one of the most versatile of South Asian singers — her range of songs includes film music, pop, ghazals, bhajans, traditional Indian Classical music, folk songs, qawwalis, and Rabindra Sangeet. She has sung in over 14 languages including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, English, Russian, Czech, Nepali, Malaysia and malayalam. Asha Bhosle is believed to have sung over 12,000 songs, but such estimates are not easy to validate.
Biography
She began singing and acting in films to support their family. She sang her first film song Chala Chala Nav Bala for the Marathi movie Majha Bal (1943). The music for the film was composed by Datta Dawjekar. She made her Hindi film debut when she sang the song Saawan aaya for Hansraj Behl's Chunariya (1948).At the age of 16, she eloped with 31-year old Ganpatrao Bhosle (1916-1966),
marrying him against her family's wishes. Ganpatrao was sister Lata's personal
secretary. The marriage failed miserably. Her husband and in-laws mistreated
her. After a few years of marriage, Bhosle was turned out (around 1960) by a
suspicious Ganpatrao and she went to her maternal home with two children and
pregnant with her third child, Anand. She continued to sing in films to earn
money. At that time, prominent playback singers like Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum and Lata Mangeshkar monopolized the singing for the "heroine" roles and
the big films. Asha Bhosle used to get the assignments they didn't take: singing
for the bad girls and vamps, or songs in the second-grade movies. In the 1950s,
she sang more songs than any other playback singer in Bollywood, but most of
these were in B or C-grade films. Her earliest songs were composed by A R
Qureshi, Sajjad Hussain and Ghulam Mohammed, but none of these were hits. Her
songs in Dilip Kumar-starrer Sangdil (1952), composed by Sajjad Hussain, got her
some recognition. Bimal Roy gave her a chance to sing in Parineeta (1953). Raj
Kapoor also gave her chance to sing Nanhe munne bachche with Mohammed Rafi in
Boot Polish (1954), which became very popular.She also sang many songs for Marathi films such as Majha hoshil Kaa?, Khedyamadhle ghar kaularu, bugadi mazi and Nach re mora which are considered classics today. She also sang many Marathi bhajans, natyageet and bhav-geet in this period which are popular in Maharashtra to this day.
O. P. Nayyar gave Asha Bhosle a big break in C.I.D. (1956). She first achieved
success in B. R. Chopra's Naya Daur (1957), composed by O. P. Nayyar. O.P Nayyar
and Asha Bhosle's collaboration produced many hits. Later, she also received
patronage of composers such as Sachin Dev Burman and Ravi. O. P. Nayyar and Asha
Bhosle had a professional and personal parting of the ways in the 1970s.
In 1966, Asha's performance in the duets from music director R D Burman's first
successful movie, Teesri Manzil won popular acclaim. Their collaboration
produced several hits in the 1970s and resulted in a marriage. In 1960s and
1970s, she became the voice of Bollywood's most famous dancer, Helen. It is said
that Helen would attend her recording sessions so that she could understand the
song better and plan dance steps accordingly. Some of the most popular Asha
Bhosle-Helen numbers are Piya tu ab to aaja ( Caravan), O Haseena Zulfon Wali
(Teesri Manzil), and Yeh Mera Dil ( Don).In Umrao Jaan (1981) and Ijazat (1987), she sang beautiful traditional ghazals and proved her versatility.
Her film activities slowed in the 1990s. Her performance in the 1994 hit
Rangeela was particularly notable. As late as 2005, 62-year-old Asha Bhosle's
numbers for the Tamil film Chandramukhi and Lucky Lips for Salman Khan-starrer Lucky were chartbusters.
Career milestones
Naya Daur, 1957
Asha Bhosle's first big success was B R Chopra's Naya Daur ("The New Age",
1957). Her duets with Rafi like Maang ke saath tumhara, Saathi haath badhana and
Uden jab jab zulfein teri, penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and composed by O P Nayyar,
gave her recognition. Asha and O P Nayyar had worked earlier as well. But it was
the first time that she had got to sing all the songs for the lead actress. B R
Chopra, the producer of Naya Daur recognized her talent and got her to sing in
many of his later films including Waqt and Gumraah, Humraaz, Aadmi Aur Insaan,
Dhund etc.
Teesri Manzil, 1966
Asha Bhosle became a pop crooner with Rahul Dev Burman's Teesri Manzil (1966).
When she first listened to the tune of the song Aaja Aaja, she felt that she
would not be able to sing the Western dance number. R D Burman offered to change
the music. She was offended a bit and took it as a challenge to sing the song.
After rehearsing for 10 days, when she finally sang the song, an impressed R D
Burman handed her a 100-rupee note. Aaja Aaja and other songs of the film, O
Haseena Zulfonwali and O Mere Sona Re (all three duets with Rafi, another
popular Bollywood singer), became rage of the day. Shammi Kapoor, the actor of
the movie, once said – "If I did not have Mohammad Rafi to sing for me, I would
have got Asha Bhosle to do the job".
Umrao Jaan, 1981
By 1980s, Asha Bhosle had been stereotyped as a "cabaret singer" and a "pop
crooner". In Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan, she sang ghazals like Dil cheez kya hai,
In aankhon ki masti ke, Ye kya jagah hai doston and Justju jiski thi. The songs
proved her capable of doing fairly serious songs. The music director Khayyam,
had lowered her pitch by half a note. Asha herself was surprised that she could
sing so differently. The ghazals won her the first National Award of her career
and proved her versatility.
Rangeela, 1995
In 1995, a 62-year old Asha Bhosle did playback for young actress Urmila
Matondkar in the movie Rangeela. She pleasantly surprised her fans with superhit
songs like Tanha Tanha and Rangeela Re. The songs were composed by iconoclastic
music director A. R. Rahman, who went on to record many more songs with her.
Particularly notable was Asha Bhosle's first song with A R Rahman, Tanha Tanha,
an oomph-oozing number.
Partnership with music directors
O.P. Nayyar
Music director O.P. Nayyar's association with Asha Bhosle is part of Bollywood .When her talent was not recognized by anybody in Bollywood, Nayyar
recognized her potential and gave patronage to her. He was the composer who
first gave Asha her own distinct identity. Many people have speculated about a
romantic relationship between the two. Nayyar first met Asha in 1952, at the music recording of Chham Chhama Chham. He first called her for a film called Mangu (1954)). He gave her a big break in CID (1956). However, it was the success of Naya Daur (1957),that made the duo very popular. After 1959, she was emotionally and professionally involved with Nayyar.
The team of O.P. Nayyar and Asha Bhosle is best remembered for their breezy and
sometimes sirenish songs. Some good examples of their sensuous numbers are Aaiye
meherbaan picturized on Madhubala ( Howrah Bridge, 1958) and Yeh hai reshmi
zulfon ka andhera picturized on Mumtaz (Mere Sanam, 1965).They recorded songs for many hit movies like Naya Daur (1957), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), Howrah Bridge (1958), Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), etc. Some of their most popular songs include Aao huzur tumko (Kismat),Jaaiye aap kahan (Mere Sanam) etc. O.P. Nayyar used the Asha Bhosle-Mohammad Rafi duo for his most popular duets. some of these songs include Ude jab jab zulfein teri (Naya Daur). Main pyaar ka rahi hoon (Ek Musafir Ek Haseena),Deewana Hua Baadal, Ishaaron hi isharon mein (Kashmir Ki Kali) etc.Asha recorded her last song for O.P. Nayyar in the movie Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974). The solo number Chain se got many awards, but it wasn't included in the movie.
They split on August 5, 1972. It is not clear what made them part their ways. On
being asked the reason for their parting, O P Nayyar once said, "I know
astrology very well. I knew that one day I had to part with her. Something also
happened, that upset me, so I left her." Nevertheless, he also said "...now
that I am seventy-six, I can say that the most important person in my life was
Asha Bhosle. She was the best person I ever met."The parting of Asha Bhosle and O.P. Nayyar was bitter, and probably therefore she has hesitated to give Nayyar his due. While talking about O.P. Nayyar in an interview with The Times of India, she once remarked - "Whichever composer gave me work, it was because my voice was suited to his music at that point. No one musician did me any favor by asking me to sing for him." She gives the credit for her first big break to B. R. Chopra, the producer of Naya Daur.
Khayyam
Another music director who recognized Asha Bhosle's talent early was Khayyam.
His partnership with Asha Bhosle dates back to his first movie Biwi (1948).
Khayyam gave her some good assignments in the 1950s, including Dard and Phir
Subah Hogi. But the team is chiefly remembered for the songs of Umrao Jaan.
Ravi
Music composer Ravi considered Asha as one of his favorite singers. She sang for
his first movie Vachan (1955). The melodious lullaby from the movie, Chandamama
door ke became an overnight hit among young mothers in India. Ravi got her to
sing bhajans for the movies Gharana, Grihasti, Kajal and Phool Aur Patthar, at a
time when most of the composers remembered her only when they needed to record
B-grade songs picturized on the vamps or the side-heroines. Ravi and Asha Bhosle
recorded a variety of songs, including the popular funny duet with Kishore Kumar
- C A T...Cat maane billi (Dilli Ka Thug). The bhajan Tora man darpan (Kajal) is
considered one of Asha Bhosle's best songs.
Biography
She began singing and acting in films to support their family. She sang her first film song Chala Chala Nav Bala for the Marathi movie Majha Bal (1943). The music for the film was composed by Datta Dawjekar. She made her Hindi film debut when she sang the song Saawan aaya for Hansraj Behl's Chunariya (1948).At the age of 16, she eloped with 31-year old Ganpatrao Bhosle (1916-1966),
marrying him against her family's wishes. Ganpatrao was sister Lata's personal
secretary. The marriage failed miserably. Her husband and in-laws mistreated
her. After a few years of marriage, Bhosle was turned out (around 1960) by a
suspicious Ganpatrao and she went to her maternal home with two children and
pregnant with her third child, Anand. She continued to sing in films to earn
money. At that time, prominent playback singers like Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum and Lata Mangeshkar monopolized the singing for the "heroine" roles and
the big films. Asha Bhosle used to get the assignments they didn't take: singing
for the bad girls and vamps, or songs in the second-grade movies. In the 1950s,
she sang more songs than any other playback singer in Bollywood, but most of
these were in B or C-grade films. Her earliest songs were composed by A R
Qureshi, Sajjad Hussain and Ghulam Mohammed, but none of these were hits. Her
songs in Dilip Kumar-starrer Sangdil (1952), composed by Sajjad Hussain, got her
some recognition. Bimal Roy gave her a chance to sing in Parineeta (1953). Raj
Kapoor also gave her chance to sing Nanhe munne bachche with Mohammed Rafi in
Boot Polish (1954), which became very popular.She also sang many songs for Marathi films such as Majha hoshil Kaa?, Khedyamadhle ghar kaularu, bugadi mazi and Nach re mora which are considered classics today. She also sang many Marathi bhajans, natyageet and bhav-geet in this period which are popular in Maharashtra to this day.
O. P. Nayyar gave Asha Bhosle a big break in C.I.D. (1956). She first achieved
success in B. R. Chopra's Naya Daur (1957), composed by O. P. Nayyar. O.P Nayyar
and Asha Bhosle's collaboration produced many hits. Later, she also received
patronage of composers such as Sachin Dev Burman and Ravi. O. P. Nayyar and Asha
Bhosle had a professional and personal parting of the ways in the 1970s.
In 1966, Asha's performance in the duets from music director R D Burman's first
successful movie, Teesri Manzil won popular acclaim. Their collaboration
produced several hits in the 1970s and resulted in a marriage. In 1960s and
1970s, she became the voice of Bollywood's most famous dancer, Helen. It is said
that Helen would attend her recording sessions so that she could understand the
song better and plan dance steps accordingly. Some of the most popular Asha
Bhosle-Helen numbers are Piya tu ab to aaja ( Caravan), O Haseena Zulfon Wali
(Teesri Manzil), and Yeh Mera Dil ( Don).In Umrao Jaan (1981) and Ijazat (1987), she sang beautiful traditional ghazals and proved her versatility.
Her film activities slowed in the 1990s. Her performance in the 1994 hit
Rangeela was particularly notable. As late as 2005, 62-year-old Asha Bhosle's
numbers for the Tamil film Chandramukhi and Lucky Lips for Salman Khan-starrer Lucky were chartbusters.
Career milestones
Naya Daur, 1957
Asha Bhosle's first big success was B R Chopra's Naya Daur ("The New Age",
1957). Her duets with Rafi like Maang ke saath tumhara, Saathi haath badhana and
Uden jab jab zulfein teri, penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and composed by O P Nayyar,
gave her recognition. Asha and O P Nayyar had worked earlier as well. But it was
the first time that she had got to sing all the songs for the lead actress. B R
Chopra, the producer of Naya Daur recognized her talent and got her to sing in
many of his later films including Waqt and Gumraah, Humraaz, Aadmi Aur Insaan,
Dhund etc.
Teesri Manzil, 1966
Asha Bhosle became a pop crooner with Rahul Dev Burman's Teesri Manzil (1966).
When she first listened to the tune of the song Aaja Aaja, she felt that she
would not be able to sing the Western dance number. R D Burman offered to change
the music. She was offended a bit and took it as a challenge to sing the song.
After rehearsing for 10 days, when she finally sang the song, an impressed R D
Burman handed her a 100-rupee note. Aaja Aaja and other songs of the film, O
Haseena Zulfonwali and O Mere Sona Re (all three duets with Rafi, another
popular Bollywood singer), became rage of the day. Shammi Kapoor, the actor of
the movie, once said – "If I did not have Mohammad Rafi to sing for me, I would
have got Asha Bhosle to do the job".
Umrao Jaan, 1981
By 1980s, Asha Bhosle had been stereotyped as a "cabaret singer" and a "pop
crooner". In Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan, she sang ghazals like Dil cheez kya hai,
In aankhon ki masti ke, Ye kya jagah hai doston and Justju jiski thi. The songs
proved her capable of doing fairly serious songs. The music director Khayyam,
had lowered her pitch by half a note. Asha herself was surprised that she could
sing so differently. The ghazals won her the first National Award of her career
and proved her versatility.
Rangeela, 1995
In 1995, a 62-year old Asha Bhosle did playback for young actress Urmila
Matondkar in the movie Rangeela. She pleasantly surprised her fans with superhit
songs like Tanha Tanha and Rangeela Re. The songs were composed by iconoclastic
music director A. R. Rahman, who went on to record many more songs with her.
Particularly notable was Asha Bhosle's first song with A R Rahman, Tanha Tanha,
an oomph-oozing number.
Partnership with music directors
O.P. Nayyar
Music director O.P. Nayyar's association with Asha Bhosle is part of Bollywood .When her talent was not recognized by anybody in Bollywood, Nayyar
recognized her potential and gave patronage to her. He was the composer who
first gave Asha her own distinct identity. Many people have speculated about a
romantic relationship between the two. Nayyar first met Asha in 1952, at the music recording of Chham Chhama Chham. He first called her for a film called Mangu (1954)). He gave her a big break in CID (1956). However, it was the success of Naya Daur (1957),that made the duo very popular. After 1959, she was emotionally and professionally involved with Nayyar.
The team of O.P. Nayyar and Asha Bhosle is best remembered for their breezy and
sometimes sirenish songs. Some good examples of their sensuous numbers are Aaiye
meherbaan picturized on Madhubala ( Howrah Bridge, 1958) and Yeh hai reshmi
zulfon ka andhera picturized on Mumtaz (Mere Sanam, 1965).They recorded songs for many hit movies like Naya Daur (1957), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), Howrah Bridge (1958), Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), etc. Some of their most popular songs include Aao huzur tumko (Kismat),Jaaiye aap kahan (Mere Sanam) etc. O.P. Nayyar used the Asha Bhosle-Mohammad Rafi duo for his most popular duets. some of these songs include Ude jab jab zulfein teri (Naya Daur). Main pyaar ka rahi hoon (Ek Musafir Ek Haseena),Deewana Hua Baadal, Ishaaron hi isharon mein (Kashmir Ki Kali) etc.Asha recorded her last song for O.P. Nayyar in the movie Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974). The solo number Chain se got many awards, but it wasn't included in the movie.
They split on August 5, 1972. It is not clear what made them part their ways. On
being asked the reason for their parting, O P Nayyar once said, "I know
astrology very well. I knew that one day I had to part with her. Something also
happened, that upset me, so I left her." Nevertheless, he also said "...now
that I am seventy-six, I can say that the most important person in my life was
Asha Bhosle. She was the best person I ever met."The parting of Asha Bhosle and O.P. Nayyar was bitter, and probably therefore she has hesitated to give Nayyar his due. While talking about O.P. Nayyar in an interview with The Times of India, she once remarked - "Whichever composer gave me work, it was because my voice was suited to his music at that point. No one musician did me any favor by asking me to sing for him." She gives the credit for her first big break to B. R. Chopra, the producer of Naya Daur.
Khayyam
Another music director who recognized Asha Bhosle's talent early was Khayyam.
His partnership with Asha Bhosle dates back to his first movie Biwi (1948).
Khayyam gave her some good assignments in the 1950s, including Dard and Phir
Subah Hogi. But the team is chiefly remembered for the songs of Umrao Jaan.
Ravi
Music composer Ravi considered Asha as one of his favorite singers. She sang for
his first movie Vachan (1955). The melodious lullaby from the movie, Chandamama
door ke became an overnight hit among young mothers in India. Ravi got her to
sing bhajans for the movies Gharana, Grihasti, Kajal and Phool Aur Patthar, at a
time when most of the composers remembered her only when they needed to record
B-grade songs picturized on the vamps or the side-heroines. Ravi and Asha Bhosle
recorded a variety of songs, including the popular funny duet with Kishore Kumar
- C A T...Cat maane billi (Dilli Ka Thug). The bhajan Tora man darpan (Kajal) is
considered one of Asha Bhosle's best songs.
Sachin Dev Burman
One of Bollywood's most famous composers, Sachin Dev Burman and his favorite
singer, Lata Mangeshkar, were not on good terms from 1957 to 1962. During this
period, S D Burman used Asha Bhosle as his lead female voice. She and S D Burman
gave many hit songs in movies such as Kaala Pani, Kaala Bazaar, Insaan Jaag
Utha, Lajwanti, Sujata and Teen Deviyaan (1965). They recorded many songs
together after 1962 as well. Most famous of these songs were Asha Bhosle's duets
with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar.The song Ab ke baras in Bimal Roy's Bandini (1963) consolidated her position as a lead singer. The seductive song Raat Akeli Hai from Jewel Thief (1967), picturised on Tanuja, became very popular.
Rahul Dev Burman (Pancham)
Asha first met Rahul Dev Burman (a.k.a. "Pancham") when she was a mother of two
and he was in 10th grade having dropped out to pursue music. Their partnership
was first noticed in Teesri Manzil (1966). She went on to record a variety of
songs with him - cabarets, rock, disco, ghazals, Indian classical music and many
more.In the 1970s, Asha Bhosle and Pancham's youthful, Western songs took Bollywood music by storm - the raunchy cabaret Piya tu ab to aaja ( Caravan, 1971, picturized on Helen), the rebellious Dum Maro Dum ( Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1971), the sexy Duniya mein (Apna Desh, 1972), the romantic Chura liya (Yaadon Ki Baaraat).
Ilaiyaraaja
The prolific south Indian film composer Ilaiyaraaja began employing Asha
Bhosle's vocals in the early 1980s, their earliest collaboration being for the
film Moondram Pirai (1982) (or Sadma, its Hindi remake in 1983). Their
association continued, mostly through the latter half of the 1980s and early
1990s. Some of their notable songs from this period include Shenbagamae (Enga
Ooru Paattukkaaran, 1987, Tamil). In 2000, Asha sung Ilaiyaraaja's theme song
for Kamal Haasan's political film Hey Ram. The song, Janmon Ki Jwala (or Aparna's Theme), was a duet with ghazal singer Hariharan.
A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman is given the credit for Asha Bhosle's "comeback" with Rangeela
(1994). Songs like Tanha Tanha and Rangeela Re were chartbusters. She and Rahman
went on to record more hits like Mujhe Rang De (Thakshak), Radha kaise na jale
(Lagaan), duet with Udit Narayan), Kahin aag lage (Taal, 1999), O Bhanware
(Daud, duet with K J Yesudas), Venilla Venilla (Iruvar,1999). Rahman once said,
"I think of them (Lata and Asha) only when I feel I have composed something that
fits their stature".[5]
Other composers
Asha Bhosle has worked with many other composers too, most notably Jaidev and C
Ramchandra. Asha recorded one of the Bollywood's first Rock n' Roll numbers
Eeena Meena Deeka with C Ramachandra . C Ramachandra used Asha Bhosle as the
chief singer in many of V. Shantaram's films, the most notable being Navrang
(1959). When S D Burman's assistant, Jaidev started giving music independently,
he got Asha to sing some of his songs as well. They worked in Hum Dono, Mujhe
Jeene Do and other movies.Whenever Kishore Kumar composed music for his films such as Jhumroo and Door Gagan ki chhaon mein(1964).
One of Bollywood's most famous composers, Sachin Dev Burman and his favorite
singer, Lata Mangeshkar, were not on good terms from 1957 to 1962. During this
period, S D Burman used Asha Bhosle as his lead female voice. She and S D Burman
gave many hit songs in movies such as Kaala Pani, Kaala Bazaar, Insaan Jaag
Utha, Lajwanti, Sujata and Teen Deviyaan (1965). They recorded many songs
together after 1962 as well. Most famous of these songs were Asha Bhosle's duets
with Mohammed Rafi and Kishore Kumar.The song Ab ke baras in Bimal Roy's Bandini (1963) consolidated her position as a lead singer. The seductive song Raat Akeli Hai from Jewel Thief (1967), picturised on Tanuja, became very popular.
Rahul Dev Burman (Pancham)
Asha first met Rahul Dev Burman (a.k.a. "Pancham") when she was a mother of two
and he was in 10th grade having dropped out to pursue music. Their partnership
was first noticed in Teesri Manzil (1966). She went on to record a variety of
songs with him - cabarets, rock, disco, ghazals, Indian classical music and many
more.In the 1970s, Asha Bhosle and Pancham's youthful, Western songs took Bollywood music by storm - the raunchy cabaret Piya tu ab to aaja ( Caravan, 1971, picturized on Helen), the rebellious Dum Maro Dum ( Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1971), the sexy Duniya mein (Apna Desh, 1972), the romantic Chura liya (Yaadon Ki Baaraat).
Ilaiyaraaja
The prolific south Indian film composer Ilaiyaraaja began employing Asha
Bhosle's vocals in the early 1980s, their earliest collaboration being for the
film Moondram Pirai (1982) (or Sadma, its Hindi remake in 1983). Their
association continued, mostly through the latter half of the 1980s and early
1990s. Some of their notable songs from this period include Shenbagamae (Enga
Ooru Paattukkaaran, 1987, Tamil). In 2000, Asha sung Ilaiyaraaja's theme song
for Kamal Haasan's political film Hey Ram. The song, Janmon Ki Jwala (or Aparna's Theme), was a duet with ghazal singer Hariharan.
A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman is given the credit for Asha Bhosle's "comeback" with Rangeela
(1994). Songs like Tanha Tanha and Rangeela Re were chartbusters. She and Rahman
went on to record more hits like Mujhe Rang De (Thakshak), Radha kaise na jale
(Lagaan), duet with Udit Narayan), Kahin aag lage (Taal, 1999), O Bhanware
(Daud, duet with K J Yesudas), Venilla Venilla (Iruvar,1999). Rahman once said,
"I think of them (Lata and Asha) only when I feel I have composed something that
fits their stature".[5]
Other composers
Asha Bhosle has worked with many other composers too, most notably Jaidev and C
Ramchandra. Asha recorded one of the Bollywood's first Rock n' Roll numbers
Eeena Meena Deeka with C Ramachandra . C Ramachandra used Asha Bhosle as the
chief singer in many of V. Shantaram's films, the most notable being Navrang
(1959). When S D Burman's assistant, Jaidev started giving music independently,
he got Asha to sing some of his songs as well. They worked in Hum Dono, Mujhe
Jeene Do and other movies.Whenever Kishore Kumar composed music for his films such as Jhumroo and Door Gagan ki chhaon mein(1964).
Asha has also worked with many other composers like Naushad, Madan Mohan,
Shankar-Jaikishan, and Salil Chaudhary among others. Shankar Jaikishan worked
very little with Asha. However, the team produced quite a few hits including the
seductive Parde mein rehne do ( Shikar, 1968). Asha got her second Filmfare
Award for the song. Asha also sang the song Zindagi ek safar hai suhaana (
Andaz) for Shankar Jaikishan, in which she tried to yodel like Kishore Kumar,
whose version of the song is more better known. When Raj Kapoor was not on
speaking terms with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha got to sing the songs of Mera Naam
Joker (1970), composed by Shankar-Jaikishan. Madan Mohan also recorded few songs
with Asha, including the popular folk number Jhumka gira re from Mera
Saaya(1966). In Chhoti Si Baat (1975), Asha sang the Jaaneman Jaaneman number
with K J Yesudas for Salil Chowdhury. Composer Anu Malik and Asha have recorded many hit songs together, including songs for his first movie Sohni Mahiwal (1984). Their most popular songs include Filhaal (Filhaal), Kitabein bahut si (Baazigar) among others. The four lines sung by Asha in Anu Malik's Jab dil mile (Yaadein) stood out among voices of Sukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan and Sunidhi Chauhan. Another Asha patron is the young composer Sandeep Chowta, who got her to sing Kambakht Ishq (A duet with Sonu Nigam) (Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, 2001). The song was very popular among the Indian youngsters.
Asha has worked with Lata-patrons like Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Naushad, Ravindra
Jain, N Dutta, Hemant Kumar. Once when Naushad was asked to sum up the essential
difference between Lata and Asha, he said that Asha "lacks certain something
which Lata, and Lata alone has". Later he accepted in an interview, "May be I
said it because I then had a closed ear on Asha". Naushad, later in his life,
also admitted that he has been unfair to Asha Bhonsle. Asha has also worked with
other noted Bollywood composers like Jatin Lalit, Bappi Lahiri, Kalyanji-Anandji, Usha Khanna, Chitragupt, and Roshan.
Non-Bollywood music
Marathi music
Asha Bhosle is regarded as an icon of Marathi music (Marathi is her mother tongue). She has sung several non-film songs of the genre commonly referred to as Bhaav Geet, which consist mostly of poems written by notable poets. A good example of is the popular album Rutu Hirawa ("Green Season"), composed by Shreedhar Phadke.
Asha's renditions of her brother Hridayanath Mangeshkar's compositions have been
very popular with Marathi music lovers. As in Hindi; her Marathi songs also
represent her wide range, from westernized tunes like Ruperi Walut ("meet me on
the silver sands in the coconut groves") to complex classical compositions such
as Tarun aahe Ratra Ajuni ("The night is still young"). Here Marathi bhajans are
also very popular among Maharashtrians. A good example is her rendition of
saint-poet Dnyaneshwar's Kanadawo Vithallu. Her rendition of Marathi natya
sangeet composed by her father Dinanath Mangeshkar are still popular.
Asha is endearingly referred to as Ashatai (tai is Marathi for elder sister) by
Maharashrians. She performs a very popular Marathi concert titled Nakshtranche
Dene ("Gift from the constellation").
Private albums
In 1995, Asha underwent the gatha bandan (thread-tying) ceremony with Hindustani
classical music maestro Ali Akbar Khan to learn a classical repertoire held
within the Maihar gharana (stylistic school of Indian classical music), as
handed down to Khan by his father Allauddin Khan (the guru of Ravi Shankar).
Later, Asha and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan recorded eleven fixed compositions (or
bandishes) in California for Legacy, a private album that won them a Grammy
Award nomination. In 1990s, Asha experimented with the remixed R D Burman songs. She was criticized by many, including Khayyam for tampering with old melodies.
Nevertheless, albums like Rahul And I became quite popular. In 1997, Asha did a
private Indipop album Janam Samjha Karo with Leslie Lewis. The album was hugely popular and won her many awards including the 1997 MTV Award.
Asha had been once asked by the director B R Ishaara to compose music for one of
his films, but she had politely declined. In 2002, she turned music composer
with the album Aap Ki Asha, an eight-song music and video album. The lyrics were
written by Majrooh Sultanpuri (his last lyrics) and the music was composed by
Asha herself. The album was released by Sachin Tendulkar on May 21, 2001 at a
lavish party in Mumbai. The album received mixed reviews.
Asha had spotted Pakistani singer Adnan Sami's talent when he was about 10 years
old. At that time was performing in London, with R D Burman. It was she who had
asked him to pursue his interests in music seriously. When Adnan grew up and
became a professional musician, Asha sang the title duet with him for his
best-selling album Kabhi to nazar milao. The two came together again in the
album Barse Badal. The album comprises eight songs, based on Indian Classical
music. She contributed the song Yun Na Thi to the recording Womad Talking Book
Volume Four: An Introduction to Asia 1 on Womad Records.
Ghazals
Asha has sung ghazals for many albums like Meraj-E-Ghazal, Aabshar-E-Ghazal and
Kashish. In 2005, Asha released a self-title album (Asha), a tribute to the four
ghazal maestros - Mehdi Hasan, Ghulam Ali, Farida Khanum and Jagjit Singh. The
album features eight of her favorite ghazals like Farida Khanum’s Aaj Jaane Ki
Zid Na Karo, Ghulam Ali’s Chupke Chupke, Aawargi and Dil Mein Ek Lahar, Jagjit
Singh’s Ahista Ahista and Mehdi Hassan’s Ranjish Hi Sahi, Rafta Rafta and Mujhe
Tum Nazar Se. These classic ghazals were recreated with modern sounds by the
musician Pandit Somesh Mathur. The album was aimed at the younger generation,
who, according to Asha, are "turned off" by the traditional sounds of tabla and
sarangi.
Concerts and collaborations with foreign artists
In 1980s and 1990s, Asha went globe-trotting, staging concerts in Canada, Dubai,
UK, USA and many other countries. In 1989, during a world tour, she performed in
13 US cities in 20 days. Immediately after this, she had an already sold-out
concert scheduled in Stockholm, Sweden. Due to the stressful schedule, Asha
suffered a massive attack of colitis, together with fever, cough and weakness.
In Stockholm, a pre-concert crisis meeting was called, attended by Asha's son
(and manager) Anand and the sponsors. It was decided that the orchestra will
play many instrumental tracks, the accompanying singers like Suresh Wadkar will
shoulder the load, and Asha will make a small appearance. But Asha rejected all
such "insane" proposals. Asha's sang at the concert with great difficulty, in a
not-so-good voice. Her first set of six Bollywood songs didn't receive any
response from the audience, which consisted mostly of Indian and Pakistani
expats. Before the start of the second set of songs, a fan in the crowd
requested her to sing a Marathi song. Asha obliged and sang Naach-naachuni ati
mi damale ("I'm very tired of this endless dancing"). The mood took her over,
and she rendered the song very beautifully. When the song ended, the auditorium
erupted with claps and the encores started. After the concert, Asha was in bed
for a month, recuperating from overexertion. In October 2002, she did a concert
with Sudesh Bhosle and others, in London, for "Help the Aged" to help raise
funds for older people in India. In 2007 she toured the USA, Canada, and West
Indies in a tour called the incredibles. In this tour she was accompanied by
Sonu Nigam, Kunal Ganjawala and Kailash Kher. This tour went on to hold more
than 20 concerts and was originally scheduled for only 12.
In the mid-1980s, Asha sang with Boy George (Bow down mister) and Stephen
Lauscombe. In 1997, she sang a love song with the boy band Code Red, at the age
of 64. She also recorded the song The Way you Dream (One Giant Leap, ) with
Michael Stipe that was used in the English movie, Bulletproof Monk. In 1997, the British band Cornershop paid tribute to Asha with their song Brimful of Asha, an international hit which was later remixed by Fatboy Slim. In 2001, the CD single of Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like A Bird" included a "Nellie vs. Asha Remix" created by Digital Cutup Lounge.In 2002, she appeared along with Michael Stipe on the track "The Way You Dream" on the self-titled album by 1 Giant Leap.
In 2003, British opera pop singer Sarah Brightman sampled her song "Dil Cheez
Kya Hai" on her album Harem. It was used as the intro for her song "You Take My
Breath Away".In 2005, American string quartet Kronos Quartet re recorded the R D Burman compositions like Chura liya, Piya tu, Mera Kuchh Saaman among others and got Asha to sing them. Despite her age (she had crossed 70), she recorded three to four songs in a day, leaving the quartet members stupefied. On August 23, 2005, You've stolen my heart - Songs From R D Burman's Bollywood was released in US. The album was nominated for Grammy Awards 2006 in the category of "Best
Contemporary World Music Album".
Also in 2005, the Black Eyed Peas sampled her song "Yeh Mera Dil" in their hit
single "Don't Phunk With My Heart". In late 2006, Asha collaborated with
Australian test cricket star, Brett Lee. The single, "you're the one for me"
debuted at number 4 on the charts and reached a peak position of number 2.
In 2006 Asha Bhosle recorded one song for the soundtrack of Pakistani movie Mein
Ek Din Laut Kay Aaaonga. She sang the song Dil Key Taar Bajey with famous
Pakistani pop singer Jawad Ahmed. The song was aired as the part of the film's
promortional campaign and became very popular, featuring on top music charts.
Awards
Asha Bhosle has won eight Filmfare awards (one special award for "Rangeela").
She won the award in 1967 and 1968, when Lata Mangeshkar still used to accept
the award (Lata asked not to be considered for the award after 1969 to promote
new talent). After receiving the award in 1977, Asha emulated her elder sister
and requested that her name not be considered for the awards hereafter. She was
later given the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Following is the
list of her Filmfare Awards:
1967 — Garibon ki suno (Dus Lakh, 1966)
1968 — Parde mein rahne do ( Shikar, 1968)
1971 — Piya Tu Ab To Aaja ( Caravan, 1971)
1972 — Dum Maro Dum ( Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1971)
1973 — Hone Lagi Hain Raat (Naina, 1973)
1974 — Chain se Humko Kabhi (Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, 1974)
1977 — Yeh Mera Dil ( Don, 1978)
2000 — Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
Asha has won two Indian National Awards:
1981 — Dil Cheez Kya Hai (Umrao Jaan)
1986 — Mera Kuch Samaan (Ijazat)
In 1997, she became the first Indian singer to be nominated for the Grammy
Award, for Legacy, an album with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. She has received
seventeen Maharashtra State Awards. She received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in
2001 for her outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
Asha has won numerous other awards, some of which include:
1987 — Nightingale Of Asia Award (from the Indo–Pak Association, UK)
1989 — Lata Mangeshkar Award (Government of Madhya Pradesh)
1997 — Screen Videocon Award (for the album Jaanam Samajha Karo)
1997 — MTV Award (for the album Jaanam Samajha Karo)
1997 — Channel V Award (for the album Jaanam Samjha Karo)
1998 — Dayawati Modi Award [2][3]
1999 — Lata Mangeshkar Award (Government of Maharashtra)
2000 — Singer of the Millennium (Dubai)
2000 — Zee Gold Bollywood Award (for Mujhe rang de from Thakshak)
2001 — MTV Award (for Kambakht Ishq)
2002 — Zee Cine Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan)
2002 — Zee Cine — Hall of Fame
2002 — Screen Videocon Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan)
2002 — Sansui Movie Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan)
2002 — Swaralaya Yesudas Award for outstanding contributions to Indian music
2005 — Most Stylish People in Music [5]
Rivalry with Lata Mangeshkar
Asha's sibling rivalry with her sister Lata Mangeshkar is often talked about, in
spite of their insistence that these are just tales. As young children, they
were very close. As a child, Lata used to carry Asha all the time. They were so
inseparable that when Lata went to school she would take Asha with her, but one
day the teacher protested and said that they cannot have two students on one
fee. Lata refused to return to school without Asha and quit her studies.
Lata considered Asha's act of eloping with her lover as irresponsible, leaving
her alone to sing and earn for the family. This led to tensions among them. Asha
herself accepted in an interview — "It was a love marriage and Lata didi
(elder sister) did not speak to me for a long time. She disapproved of the
alliance." It is a well-known fact that at one time, their relationship was very
adversarial and there have been periods of non-communication.
In her initial days in the industry, Asha always played second fiddle to her
elder sister. Some say that Lata had once said something criticising Asha's
relationship with O P Nayyar. This widened the rift between the two sisters and
O P Nayyar also decided that he would never work with Lata. O.P. Nayyar had once
revealed — "Asha and Lata staying in opposite flats at Bombay's Peddar Road,
shared a common maidservant. Now this maidservant had merely to come and tell
the younger sister that Lata had just recorded something wonderful for Asha to
lose her vocal poise. Such was her Lata phobia that it took me some months to
convince Asha that she had a voice individualistic enough to evolve a singing
style all of her own."Asha once said that she has worked for years to create
a voice and a style that was different from her Lata, so that she could carve
her own niche and not be banished to live her shadow.
Asha and Lata have sung many songs together. Their first duet was for the film
Daman (1951). Some of these include Man Bhawan Ke Ghar aye (Chori Chori,
1956), Sun ri sun papiha bole (Miss Mary, 1957), O chaand jahaan woh jaaye
(Sharada, 1957), Mere Mehboob Mein Kya Nahi (Mere Mehboob, 1963), Ai kash kisi
deewane ko (Aaye Din Bahar Ke, 1966), Main Chali Main Chali (Padosan, 1968),
Chhap tilak sab (Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, 1978), and Man kyun behka (Utsav,
1984). While singing, Lata used to hold her notebook in her right hand, while
Asha held her notebook in her left hand. This meant Lata had her face away from
Asha, making it difficult for them to "anticipate" each other.
The movie "Saaz", was supposedly based on Lata and Asha's rivalry. Asha said
about the movie — "To have two women in long plaits, take a couple of incidents
and exaggerate them into a 3-hour film is such a waste of time." In last few
years, Asha and Lata have often been seen in public, enjoying each other's
company. In an interview with Times of India, Asha once said - "I remember,
sometimes both of us would be at a function and some industry types would ignore
me and interact only with her, as if to prove their loyalty. Later, didi (elder
sister) and I would have a good laugh!"
Personal life
Family
Asha's house is situated in Prabhukunj Apt on Peddar Road area of South Mumbai.
She has three children and five grandchildren. The eldest of her three children
is Hemant Bhosle (named after Hemant Kumar), who initially dabbled in music
direction but then quit to become a pilot. Asha's daughter Varsha, who is
younger than Hemant, worked as a columnist for The Sunday Observer and Rediff.
The youngest child is Anand Bhosle, who has studied business and film direction.
He manages Asha's career. Her grandson, Chaitanya (Chintu) Bhosle (Hemant's son)
also ventured in the world of music, as a member of a successful boy band, "Band
of Boys". Her sisters Lata and Usha Mangeshkar are playback singers. The other
two siblings, sister Meena Mangeshkar and brother Hridayanath Mangeshkar are
music directors.
Asha in Kitchen
Asha is an excellent cook and cooking is her favorite hobby. She often gets
flooded with requests by Bollywood celebrities for kadai ghosht and biryani and
has rarely turned down a request. In fact, her paya curry, Goan fish curry and
dal are very popular with the Kapoor family of Bollywood. Once, when asked in a
Times of India interview, what if her singing career hadn't taken off, she said
"I'd have become a cook. I would have cooked in four houses and made money."
Asha is a successful restaurateur and runs a restaurant in Dubai.
Asha in fashion mode
Asha's fashion statement is white sarees with sparkling embroidery, pearls
around her neck and diamonds. Harrington of Kronos Quartet said "The first time
I met Ashaji she was dressed in the most beautiful sari with diamonds and looked
very regal. Then I looked down and saw that she was wearing tennis shoes! I
thought I love this woman."
Footnotes and references
Asha Bhosle has been credited variously as Asha, Asha Bhosle, Asha Bhonsale,
Asha Bhonsle, Asha Bhonsley, Asha Bhosale and Asha Bhosley . She is often referred to as Ashaji — the Hindi suffix ji denotes respect.
Many fans of Asha Bhosle say that she has sung over 20,000 songs. In an
interview Asha Bhosle: Sa Re Ga Ma… Retrieved on 2006-05-03.), Asha Bhosle was asked "You must have sung around 25,000 songs till date…". She replied, "…no singer in the entire world can humanly sing 25,000 songs. In fact I would like to state humbly that I am the only singer who has sung the maximum number of songs — 12,000. If you sing one song a day, you can humanly sing 365 songs a year and 3650 songs in ten years.
In around 60 years of my career I could sing 12,000 songs because there were
times I had sung even four songs a day." In 1980s and 1990s, the Guinness Book
of World Records mentioned the names of Lata Mangeshkar ("reportedly recorded
not less than 25,000") and Mohammad Rafi ("claimed to have recorded 28,000
songs") for the record of "Most Recordings". However, it has been pointed out
that Rafi recorded only 4,956 songs, and Lata Mangeshkar recorded only about
6,000 songs, while Asha Bhosle has recorded over 12,000 songs.The Guinness entry was removed in 1991.
Shankar-Jaikishan, and Salil Chaudhary among others. Shankar Jaikishan worked
very little with Asha. However, the team produced quite a few hits including the
seductive Parde mein rehne do ( Shikar, 1968). Asha got her second Filmfare
Award for the song. Asha also sang the song Zindagi ek safar hai suhaana (
Andaz) for Shankar Jaikishan, in which she tried to yodel like Kishore Kumar,
whose version of the song is more better known. When Raj Kapoor was not on
speaking terms with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha got to sing the songs of Mera Naam
Joker (1970), composed by Shankar-Jaikishan. Madan Mohan also recorded few songs
with Asha, including the popular folk number Jhumka gira re from Mera
Saaya(1966). In Chhoti Si Baat (1975), Asha sang the Jaaneman Jaaneman number
with K J Yesudas for Salil Chowdhury. Composer Anu Malik and Asha have recorded many hit songs together, including songs for his first movie Sohni Mahiwal (1984). Their most popular songs include Filhaal (Filhaal), Kitabein bahut si (Baazigar) among others. The four lines sung by Asha in Anu Malik's Jab dil mile (Yaadein) stood out among voices of Sukhwinder Singh, Udit Narayan and Sunidhi Chauhan. Another Asha patron is the young composer Sandeep Chowta, who got her to sing Kambakht Ishq (A duet with Sonu Nigam) (Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, 2001). The song was very popular among the Indian youngsters.
Asha has worked with Lata-patrons like Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Naushad, Ravindra
Jain, N Dutta, Hemant Kumar. Once when Naushad was asked to sum up the essential
difference between Lata and Asha, he said that Asha "lacks certain something
which Lata, and Lata alone has". Later he accepted in an interview, "May be I
said it because I then had a closed ear on Asha". Naushad, later in his life,
also admitted that he has been unfair to Asha Bhonsle. Asha has also worked with
other noted Bollywood composers like Jatin Lalit, Bappi Lahiri, Kalyanji-Anandji, Usha Khanna, Chitragupt, and Roshan.
Non-Bollywood music
Marathi music
Asha Bhosle is regarded as an icon of Marathi music (Marathi is her mother tongue). She has sung several non-film songs of the genre commonly referred to as Bhaav Geet, which consist mostly of poems written by notable poets. A good example of is the popular album Rutu Hirawa ("Green Season"), composed by Shreedhar Phadke.
Asha's renditions of her brother Hridayanath Mangeshkar's compositions have been
very popular with Marathi music lovers. As in Hindi; her Marathi songs also
represent her wide range, from westernized tunes like Ruperi Walut ("meet me on
the silver sands in the coconut groves") to complex classical compositions such
as Tarun aahe Ratra Ajuni ("The night is still young"). Here Marathi bhajans are
also very popular among Maharashtrians. A good example is her rendition of
saint-poet Dnyaneshwar's Kanadawo Vithallu. Her rendition of Marathi natya
sangeet composed by her father Dinanath Mangeshkar are still popular.
Asha is endearingly referred to as Ashatai (tai is Marathi for elder sister) by
Maharashrians. She performs a very popular Marathi concert titled Nakshtranche
Dene ("Gift from the constellation").
Private albums
In 1995, Asha underwent the gatha bandan (thread-tying) ceremony with Hindustani
classical music maestro Ali Akbar Khan to learn a classical repertoire held
within the Maihar gharana (stylistic school of Indian classical music), as
handed down to Khan by his father Allauddin Khan (the guru of Ravi Shankar).
Later, Asha and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan recorded eleven fixed compositions (or
bandishes) in California for Legacy, a private album that won them a Grammy
Award nomination. In 1990s, Asha experimented with the remixed R D Burman songs. She was criticized by many, including Khayyam for tampering with old melodies.
Nevertheless, albums like Rahul And I became quite popular. In 1997, Asha did a
private Indipop album Janam Samjha Karo with Leslie Lewis. The album was hugely popular and won her many awards including the 1997 MTV Award.
Asha had been once asked by the director B R Ishaara to compose music for one of
his films, but she had politely declined. In 2002, she turned music composer
with the album Aap Ki Asha, an eight-song music and video album. The lyrics were
written by Majrooh Sultanpuri (his last lyrics) and the music was composed by
Asha herself. The album was released by Sachin Tendulkar on May 21, 2001 at a
lavish party in Mumbai. The album received mixed reviews.
Asha had spotted Pakistani singer Adnan Sami's talent when he was about 10 years
old. At that time was performing in London, with R D Burman. It was she who had
asked him to pursue his interests in music seriously. When Adnan grew up and
became a professional musician, Asha sang the title duet with him for his
best-selling album Kabhi to nazar milao. The two came together again in the
album Barse Badal. The album comprises eight songs, based on Indian Classical
music. She contributed the song Yun Na Thi to the recording Womad Talking Book
Volume Four: An Introduction to Asia 1 on Womad Records.
Ghazals
Asha has sung ghazals for many albums like Meraj-E-Ghazal, Aabshar-E-Ghazal and
Kashish. In 2005, Asha released a self-title album (Asha), a tribute to the four
ghazal maestros - Mehdi Hasan, Ghulam Ali, Farida Khanum and Jagjit Singh. The
album features eight of her favorite ghazals like Farida Khanum’s Aaj Jaane Ki
Zid Na Karo, Ghulam Ali’s Chupke Chupke, Aawargi and Dil Mein Ek Lahar, Jagjit
Singh’s Ahista Ahista and Mehdi Hassan’s Ranjish Hi Sahi, Rafta Rafta and Mujhe
Tum Nazar Se. These classic ghazals were recreated with modern sounds by the
musician Pandit Somesh Mathur. The album was aimed at the younger generation,
who, according to Asha, are "turned off" by the traditional sounds of tabla and
sarangi.
Concerts and collaborations with foreign artists
In 1980s and 1990s, Asha went globe-trotting, staging concerts in Canada, Dubai,
UK, USA and many other countries. In 1989, during a world tour, she performed in
13 US cities in 20 days. Immediately after this, she had an already sold-out
concert scheduled in Stockholm, Sweden. Due to the stressful schedule, Asha
suffered a massive attack of colitis, together with fever, cough and weakness.
In Stockholm, a pre-concert crisis meeting was called, attended by Asha's son
(and manager) Anand and the sponsors. It was decided that the orchestra will
play many instrumental tracks, the accompanying singers like Suresh Wadkar will
shoulder the load, and Asha will make a small appearance. But Asha rejected all
such "insane" proposals. Asha's sang at the concert with great difficulty, in a
not-so-good voice. Her first set of six Bollywood songs didn't receive any
response from the audience, which consisted mostly of Indian and Pakistani
expats. Before the start of the second set of songs, a fan in the crowd
requested her to sing a Marathi song. Asha obliged and sang Naach-naachuni ati
mi damale ("I'm very tired of this endless dancing"). The mood took her over,
and she rendered the song very beautifully. When the song ended, the auditorium
erupted with claps and the encores started. After the concert, Asha was in bed
for a month, recuperating from overexertion. In October 2002, she did a concert
with Sudesh Bhosle and others, in London, for "Help the Aged" to help raise
funds for older people in India. In 2007 she toured the USA, Canada, and West
Indies in a tour called the incredibles. In this tour she was accompanied by
Sonu Nigam, Kunal Ganjawala and Kailash Kher. This tour went on to hold more
than 20 concerts and was originally scheduled for only 12.
In the mid-1980s, Asha sang with Boy George (Bow down mister) and Stephen
Lauscombe. In 1997, she sang a love song with the boy band Code Red, at the age
of 64. She also recorded the song The Way you Dream (One Giant Leap, ) with
Michael Stipe that was used in the English movie, Bulletproof Monk. In 1997, the British band Cornershop paid tribute to Asha with their song Brimful of Asha, an international hit which was later remixed by Fatboy Slim. In 2001, the CD single of Nelly Furtado's "I'm Like A Bird" included a "Nellie vs. Asha Remix" created by Digital Cutup Lounge.In 2002, she appeared along with Michael Stipe on the track "The Way You Dream" on the self-titled album by 1 Giant Leap.
In 2003, British opera pop singer Sarah Brightman sampled her song "Dil Cheez
Kya Hai" on her album Harem. It was used as the intro for her song "You Take My
Breath Away".In 2005, American string quartet Kronos Quartet re recorded the R D Burman compositions like Chura liya, Piya tu, Mera Kuchh Saaman among others and got Asha to sing them. Despite her age (she had crossed 70), she recorded three to four songs in a day, leaving the quartet members stupefied. On August 23, 2005, You've stolen my heart - Songs From R D Burman's Bollywood was released in US. The album was nominated for Grammy Awards 2006 in the category of "Best
Contemporary World Music Album".
Also in 2005, the Black Eyed Peas sampled her song "Yeh Mera Dil" in their hit
single "Don't Phunk With My Heart". In late 2006, Asha collaborated with
Australian test cricket star, Brett Lee. The single, "you're the one for me"
debuted at number 4 on the charts and reached a peak position of number 2.
In 2006 Asha Bhosle recorded one song for the soundtrack of Pakistani movie Mein
Ek Din Laut Kay Aaaonga. She sang the song Dil Key Taar Bajey with famous
Pakistani pop singer Jawad Ahmed. The song was aired as the part of the film's
promortional campaign and became very popular, featuring on top music charts.
Awards
Asha Bhosle has won eight Filmfare awards (one special award for "Rangeela").
She won the award in 1967 and 1968, when Lata Mangeshkar still used to accept
the award (Lata asked not to be considered for the award after 1969 to promote
new talent). After receiving the award in 1977, Asha emulated her elder sister
and requested that her name not be considered for the awards hereafter. She was
later given the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Following is the
list of her Filmfare Awards:
1967 — Garibon ki suno (Dus Lakh, 1966)
1968 — Parde mein rahne do ( Shikar, 1968)
1971 — Piya Tu Ab To Aaja ( Caravan, 1971)
1972 — Dum Maro Dum ( Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1971)
1973 — Hone Lagi Hain Raat (Naina, 1973)
1974 — Chain se Humko Kabhi (Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, 1974)
1977 — Yeh Mera Dil ( Don, 1978)
2000 — Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
Asha has won two Indian National Awards:
1981 — Dil Cheez Kya Hai (Umrao Jaan)
1986 — Mera Kuch Samaan (Ijazat)
In 1997, she became the first Indian singer to be nominated for the Grammy
Award, for Legacy, an album with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. She has received
seventeen Maharashtra State Awards. She received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in
2001 for her outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.
Asha has won numerous other awards, some of which include:
1987 — Nightingale Of Asia Award (from the Indo–Pak Association, UK)
1989 — Lata Mangeshkar Award (Government of Madhya Pradesh)
1997 — Screen Videocon Award (for the album Jaanam Samajha Karo)
1997 — MTV Award (for the album Jaanam Samajha Karo)
1997 — Channel V Award (for the album Jaanam Samjha Karo)
1998 — Dayawati Modi Award [2][3]
1999 — Lata Mangeshkar Award (Government of Maharashtra)
2000 — Singer of the Millennium (Dubai)
2000 — Zee Gold Bollywood Award (for Mujhe rang de from Thakshak)
2001 — MTV Award (for Kambakht Ishq)
2002 — Zee Cine Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan)
2002 — Zee Cine — Hall of Fame
2002 — Screen Videocon Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan)
2002 — Sansui Movie Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan)
2002 — Swaralaya Yesudas Award for outstanding contributions to Indian music
2005 — Most Stylish People in Music [5]
Rivalry with Lata Mangeshkar
Asha's sibling rivalry with her sister Lata Mangeshkar is often talked about, in
spite of their insistence that these are just tales. As young children, they
were very close. As a child, Lata used to carry Asha all the time. They were so
inseparable that when Lata went to school she would take Asha with her, but one
day the teacher protested and said that they cannot have two students on one
fee. Lata refused to return to school without Asha and quit her studies.
Lata considered Asha's act of eloping with her lover as irresponsible, leaving
her alone to sing and earn for the family. This led to tensions among them. Asha
herself accepted in an interview — "It was a love marriage and Lata didi
(elder sister) did not speak to me for a long time. She disapproved of the
alliance." It is a well-known fact that at one time, their relationship was very
adversarial and there have been periods of non-communication.
In her initial days in the industry, Asha always played second fiddle to her
elder sister. Some say that Lata had once said something criticising Asha's
relationship with O P Nayyar. This widened the rift between the two sisters and
O P Nayyar also decided that he would never work with Lata. O.P. Nayyar had once
revealed — "Asha and Lata staying in opposite flats at Bombay's Peddar Road,
shared a common maidservant. Now this maidservant had merely to come and tell
the younger sister that Lata had just recorded something wonderful for Asha to
lose her vocal poise. Such was her Lata phobia that it took me some months to
convince Asha that she had a voice individualistic enough to evolve a singing
style all of her own."Asha once said that she has worked for years to create
a voice and a style that was different from her Lata, so that she could carve
her own niche and not be banished to live her shadow.
Asha and Lata have sung many songs together. Their first duet was for the film
Daman (1951). Some of these include Man Bhawan Ke Ghar aye (Chori Chori,
1956), Sun ri sun papiha bole (Miss Mary, 1957), O chaand jahaan woh jaaye
(Sharada, 1957), Mere Mehboob Mein Kya Nahi (Mere Mehboob, 1963), Ai kash kisi
deewane ko (Aaye Din Bahar Ke, 1966), Main Chali Main Chali (Padosan, 1968),
Chhap tilak sab (Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, 1978), and Man kyun behka (Utsav,
1984). While singing, Lata used to hold her notebook in her right hand, while
Asha held her notebook in her left hand. This meant Lata had her face away from
Asha, making it difficult for them to "anticipate" each other.
The movie "Saaz", was supposedly based on Lata and Asha's rivalry. Asha said
about the movie — "To have two women in long plaits, take a couple of incidents
and exaggerate them into a 3-hour film is such a waste of time." In last few
years, Asha and Lata have often been seen in public, enjoying each other's
company. In an interview with Times of India, Asha once said - "I remember,
sometimes both of us would be at a function and some industry types would ignore
me and interact only with her, as if to prove their loyalty. Later, didi (elder
sister) and I would have a good laugh!"
Personal life
Family
Asha's house is situated in Prabhukunj Apt on Peddar Road area of South Mumbai.
She has three children and five grandchildren. The eldest of her three children
is Hemant Bhosle (named after Hemant Kumar), who initially dabbled in music
direction but then quit to become a pilot. Asha's daughter Varsha, who is
younger than Hemant, worked as a columnist for The Sunday Observer and Rediff.
The youngest child is Anand Bhosle, who has studied business and film direction.
He manages Asha's career. Her grandson, Chaitanya (Chintu) Bhosle (Hemant's son)
also ventured in the world of music, as a member of a successful boy band, "Band
of Boys". Her sisters Lata and Usha Mangeshkar are playback singers. The other
two siblings, sister Meena Mangeshkar and brother Hridayanath Mangeshkar are
music directors.
Asha in Kitchen
Asha is an excellent cook and cooking is her favorite hobby. She often gets
flooded with requests by Bollywood celebrities for kadai ghosht and biryani and
has rarely turned down a request. In fact, her paya curry, Goan fish curry and
dal are very popular with the Kapoor family of Bollywood. Once, when asked in a
Times of India interview, what if her singing career hadn't taken off, she said
"I'd have become a cook. I would have cooked in four houses and made money."
Asha is a successful restaurateur and runs a restaurant in Dubai.
Asha in fashion mode
Asha's fashion statement is white sarees with sparkling embroidery, pearls
around her neck and diamonds. Harrington of Kronos Quartet said "The first time
I met Ashaji she was dressed in the most beautiful sari with diamonds and looked
very regal. Then I looked down and saw that she was wearing tennis shoes! I
thought I love this woman."
Footnotes and references
Asha Bhosle has been credited variously as Asha, Asha Bhosle, Asha Bhonsale,
Asha Bhonsle, Asha Bhonsley, Asha Bhosale and Asha Bhosley . She is often referred to as Ashaji — the Hindi suffix ji denotes respect.
Many fans of Asha Bhosle say that she has sung over 20,000 songs. In an
interview Asha Bhosle: Sa Re Ga Ma… Retrieved on 2006-05-03.), Asha Bhosle was asked "You must have sung around 25,000 songs till date…". She replied, "…no singer in the entire world can humanly sing 25,000 songs. In fact I would like to state humbly that I am the only singer who has sung the maximum number of songs — 12,000. If you sing one song a day, you can humanly sing 365 songs a year and 3650 songs in ten years.
In around 60 years of my career I could sing 12,000 songs because there were
times I had sung even four songs a day." In 1980s and 1990s, the Guinness Book
of World Records mentioned the names of Lata Mangeshkar ("reportedly recorded
not less than 25,000") and Mohammad Rafi ("claimed to have recorded 28,000
songs") for the record of "Most Recordings". However, it has been pointed out
that Rafi recorded only 4,956 songs, and Lata Mangeshkar recorded only about
6,000 songs, while Asha Bhosle has recorded over 12,000 songs.The Guinness entry was removed in 1991.
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