Asha
Bhosle was born on 8th September, 1933 in a Marathi family. Her father was the
renowned singer and actor Dinanath Mangeshkar. He trained her in classical
music at a very young age. Though she had her brush with acting as a child
artist, it was quite natural for her to choose playback singing like her older
sister Lata Mangeshkar. Sadly, her father expired suddenly in the year 1942
causing much commotion in her family. They had to move from Pune to Bombay and
settle again. Asha got the chance to sing in a Marathi film when she was ten
years old. Her initial years saw a lot of struggle since her elder sister Lata
was in much demand and unfair comparisons rose every now and then.
In the year 1948 she got to
make her playback debut in Hindi in a film called Chunariya. The song was called "Saawan
Aaya" and Asha was noticed for her different playful voice. When she
was 16, she eloped with Lata's personal secretary Ganpatrao Bhosle and married
him much against the family's wishes. The marriage failed miserably and Asha
Bhosle was driven out by Ganpatrao following some misunderstanding. She came
back to her maternal home with two kids and pregnant with the third one.
However, this did not deter her from pursuing her dreams and she continued to
sing for films. During 1950's she got assignments that were rejected by leading
singers like Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum or or in a duet with them. These songs were basically meant for the
sidelined roles like vamps, cabaret numbers or C-grade movies. It took a lot of
perseverance from Asha to make it to the top. She had no choice but to take up
all available assignments to provide for her children.
Music composer Ravi considered Asha 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 recorded a variety of songs, including the popular funny duet
with Kishore Kumar –
"C A T...Cat. Cat Maane Billi" (Dilli Ka Thug).
The bhajan "Tora
Maan Darpan" (Kajal) is considered one of Asha's best songs.
Her hard work and efforts
paid off when she was given her first big break with the movie C.I.D (1956).
In 1957, she got her big
break with composer O.P. Nayyar in the films Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) and Naya Daur (1957). And 1958 saw the release of three of her
films: Lajwanti (1958), Howrah Bridge (1958), and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958); their hit songs took Asha right up to the
top. Thereafter, she became Nayyar's premier singer until the early 1970s, and
they created musical magic together, particularly in the films Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Mere Sanam (1965), Humsaya (1968),
andPran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974).
She was noticed by other
music directors like S.D Burman after the phenomenal success of these songs.
She and S.D Burman created many hit soundtracks for movies like Kaala Pani, Kaala Bazaar, Insaan Jaag Utha,
Lajwanti, Sujata and Teen Deviyaan.
Most famous of these songs were Asha Bhosle's duets with Mohammed Rafi and
Kishore Kumar.
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 (1961), Mujhe Jeene Do(1963), Do Boond Pani (1971) and other movies. In 1971, the pair
released an LP of eight non-film devotional songs and ghazals called An Unforgettable Treat. Asha
considered Jaidev a close friend who stood by her when she was struggling
personally and professionally. Upon his death in 1987, she released a
compilation album of lesser-known songs he had composed for her, called Suranjali.
Shankar-Jaikishan worked relatively little with Asha.
However, the trio produced quite a few hits including the seductive "Parde
Mein Rehne Do" (Shikar, 1968). Asha got her second Filmfare Award for the song. She also sang "Zindagi Ek
Safar Hai Suhana" (Andaz, 1971)
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 recorded
a number of 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.
Salil's 1956 movie Jagte Raho also
had a number recorded by Asha, "Thandi Thandi Saawan Ki Phuhaar".
The 1970s she start a new relationship
(which eventually became her second marriage) with composer Rahul Dev Burman - and it became the birth of a great
combination. A master of 1970s pop and disco music, Burman gave Asha a hip and
happening sound altogether, and the two of them made their greatest hits with Hare Raama Hare Krishna (1971), Jawani Diwani (1972), Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977). Unfortunately, she again got stereotyped, this time in
singing mainly Western-styled songs.
Asha became the voice of
Helen, one of the most graceful dancers of that era. Helen would visit Asha
during her recordings to understand the feel of the song and choreograph her
steps accordingly. Some of her evergreen hits featuring Helen are Piya Tu Ab To Aaja (Caravan), O Haseena
Zulfon Wali (Teesri Manzil), and Yeh Mera Dil (Don). A popular song "Jaane Jaa" from the movie Jawaani Diwaani (1972) required her to
switch from high pitch to low almost simultaneously which she did with utmost
ease and perfection. The song "Dum
Maro Dum" of the movie "Hare
Rama Hare Krishna" showed an entirely new side of her talent. The
romantic "Chura Liya Hai Tumne"
from the movie "Yaadon Ki
Baarat" is hummed even today and is considered to be one of the most
romantic songs of this century.
Prolific Indian film
composer Ilaiyaraaja began employing Asha's vocals in the
early 1980s, their earliest collaboration being for the film Moondram Pirai (1982) (remade in Hindi as Sadma in 1983). Their association continued,
mostly through the latter half of the 1980s and early 1990s. Another notable
song from this period is "Shenbagamae"
(Enga Ooru Paattukkaaran, 1987, Tamil). In 2000, Asha sung the theme
song for Kamal Haasan's
political film Hey Ram. The
song, "Nee Partha Parvai" (Janmon
Ki Jwala in Hindi) (or
Aparna's Theme), was a duet with singer Hariharan.
However, in 1981, the
composer Khayyam revealed another,
more lyrical quality to Asha's voice. Their collaboration in the Urdu film Umrao Jaan (1981), where the songs were mostly poetry, reveal some of her
finest songs. And Ijaazat (1987), another such film, got her the
National Award.
In a rare feat, noted
lyricist Gulzar,
music director R.D. Burman and Asha Bhosle, came together in 1987, to
create a double album, titled, Dil Padosi Hai, which was released on 8
September 1987. 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 (orbandishes) in California for Legacy, a private album that earned them a Grammy Award nomination.
In 1995, 62-year-old she
sang for actress Urmila Matondkar in the movie Rangeela.
The soundtrack featured songs like "Tanha Tanha" and "Rangeela
Re" sung by her, and composed by music director A.R. Rahman,
who would go on to record several songs with her. During the 2000s, several of
her numbers became chartbusters, including "Radha
Kaise Na Jale" from Lagaan (2001),
Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), Taal (1999) "Kambakht
Ishq" from Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001) (composer Sandeep Chowta), "Yeh Lamha"
from Filhaal (2002),
"Lucky Lips" from Lucky (2005). In October 2004, The Very Best of Asha Bhosle, The Queen of Bollywood, a
compilation album of songs recorded by Asha Bhosle for albums and Bollywood
films that were released between 1966 and 2003, was released.
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 "Ye
Lamhaa Filhaal" (Filhaal) and "Kitabein Bahut Si" (Baazigar)
among others. The four lines sung by Asha in Malik's "Jab Dil Mile" (Yaadein) stood out among voices of Sukhwinder Singh,Udit Narayan and Sunidhi Chauhan.
Asha had also sung for Anu's father Sardar Malik in the 1950s and 1960s, most
notably in Saranga (1960).
In 1990s, Asha experimented with 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 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). The album was
released by Sachin Tendulkar on 21 May 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, she 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.
Asha has sung ghazals for many albums like Meraj-E-Ghazal, Aabshar-E-Ghazal and Kashish.
In 2005, Asha released a self-titled album as a tribute to the four ghazalmaestros – Mehdi Hassan, 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
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.
Numerous compilations of Asha's songs have
been released as well. To commemorate her 60th birthday, EMI India released three cassettes: Bala Main Bairagan Hoongi(devotional
songs), The Golden Collection:
Memorable Ghazals (non-film ghazals by composers such as Ghulam Ali, R.D.
Burman and Nazar Hussain), and The
Golden Collection: The Ever Versatile
Asha Bhosle (44 popular
film songs).
In 1996, Asha
Bhosle sang Channeache Rati among
several other songs in Rajendra Talak's Konkani album Daryachya Deger with Suresh Wadkar.
In 2006, she recorded an album Asha
and Friends, singing duets, with film actors Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar and
famous cricket player Brett Lee, with whom she sang,You're the One for Me (Haan Main Tumhara Hoon). All
these songs composed by Shamir Tandon
were shot on video by journalist turned director
In 1980s and 1990s, Asha
went globe-trotting, staging concerts in Canada, Dubai, UK, U.S. 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 would
shoulder the load, and Asha will make a small appearance. But Asha rejected all
such proposals and sang at the concert with great difficulty, in a not-so-good
voice. Her first set of six Bollywood songs did not 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"). 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 the elderly in India. In 2007 she toured the US, Canada, and West
Indies in a tour called "The Incredibles". In this tour, she was
accompanied by singers Sonu Nigam, Kunal Ganjawala and Kailash Kher. This
tour, originally scheduled for only 12 concerts, went on to hold more than 20.
Asha's house is situated in
Prabhukunj Apt on Peddar
Road area
of South Mumbai. The
eldest of her three children, Hemant
Bhosle (named after Hemant
Kumar), spent most of his early years as a pilot and quit to have
a brief career as a music director. Bhosle's daughter Varsha committed
suicide on 8 October 2012, she was 56 years old and worked as a columnist for The
Sunday Observer and Rediff.
Asha's youngest child, Anand Bhosle,
has studied business and film direction. He manages Asha's career. Her
grandson, Chaitanya (Chintu) Bhosle
(Hemant's son) is a part of the world of music. He is a member of India's first
& only boy band, "A
Band of Boys".
Asha Bhosle has recorded
over 10,000 songs for over 800 movies. Although every class (ghazals, pop, etc)
of song. she was nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award for Best
Contemporary World-Music Album. Even at 70, there is no stopping Asha
Bhosle....
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