So this thread has been a long time coming. And an apt occasion for it has arrived.
Asha Bhosle, or Asha Tai as she's fondly called, celebrates her 90th birthday today, 8th September, 2023.
And what an eventful, illustrious journey it's been for her!
For a long time, I would claim Asha Bhosle as my favorite female singer. Even above the established number one singers of that time, including her accomplished sister.
For, in my mind, every singer had a strong niche that they excelled in, but no one had the staggering versatility that Asha Bhosle had.
I think she knew it too, because she has sung every type of song there is and knocked each one out of the park. Classical, cabaret, bhajan, ghazal, romantic, sensual, fun-filled, poignant - you name it, and she's sung it. And sung it with class and elan.
And not just in Hindi but in several languages. She has had collaborations with international pop and rock heavyweights like Boy George, Robbie Williams & Michael Stipe to name just a few.
She re-invented herself time and again to cater to modern sensibilities. She experimented with various genres outside of Film music and came out on top in those too!
She was born into the illustrious Mangeshkar clan in Sangli, Maharashtra on 8 September 1933, the second of five children. She lost her father at the tender age of 9, after which the family moved to Mumbai where her eldest sister, Lata began working in films.
Asha sang her first song "Chala chala nav bala" for the Marathi film, Majha Bal (1943) when she was only 10. Her Hindi film break came in the form of the song, "Sawan aaya" in the film Chunariya (1948) with music composed by Hansraj Behl.
At the age of 16, she eloped with a much older Ganpatrao Bhosle creating a strain with her family that took years to mend.
Professionally too, she continued to struggle competing against established female playback singers such as Shamshad Begum and Geeta Dutt and of course, her own sister, Lata.
It was O.P. Nayyar that recognized her unique style and launched her in C.I.D (1956). There was no looking back for Asha from there on.
From Mera naam chin chin choo to Aao huzoor tumko, she has given a string of hits for O.P. Their personal and professional association ended abruptly and bitterly in the 1970s but Asha was an established artiste by then. Nothing and no one could shake her.
She has had fruitful associations with several music directors from R.D. Burman (whom she later married & lost as well) to A.R. Rahman. Khayyam insisted that only she would sing the songs for Umrao Jaan - a film that is still hailed as Asha's tour de force - where she had to sing in a lower octave than she was accustomed to.
Despite facing so many ups and downs, Asha Tai has always shown a strong resilience and a fierce joie-de-vivre that is reflected in her songs too.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHA TAI!
Thank you for the music & the memories!
Let's celebrate this legendary, talented, versatile artiste whose smile is as infectious as her songs.
I'm going to post my own Asha top 12, keeping it limited to one song per Music Director and to solo songs only.
I know there are scores I'll have missed, I'll leave it you guys to post some of her more popular songs, including duets. And of course, tidbits and trivia on her life and times are most welcome!
Her Urdu diction is exemplary too.
It's special to me! 
)
comment:
p_commentcount