The living legend and the most versatile female singer till date born on 8th Sep 1933 daughter of popular actor and singer Dinanath Mangeshkar started in 1944 with more than 20, 000 songs contribution to the Indian cinema leaves her sister Lata or any other singer far behind as far as variety of songs are concerned be it Love song, Mujra, Cabaret, Qawali, Pop, Remix, Ghazals or songs in the 14 different regional languages and winner of 10 filmfare awards and many more other popular awards. Sky is no limit for her and all I can say is that we are lucky to have her singing even in our generation with peppy numbers like Radha kaise na jale-Lagaan, Le Gayi le Gayi-DTPH or seriously dance floor ones like Khallas’, Sharara’s & Kambakht Ishq’s or Lucky Lips from Lucky
Quotes: -(Source:- Screen India)
->You hear people saying, “Ek ‘gajal’ gao.” That’s because we are not promoting Urdu, which is one of the most beautiful languages of India.
->Hum ghati Marathi ke bachche, humein kya maloom Urdu kya hai. I even kept a tutor, and learnt Alif, be, te, se.
- Jaiyen aap kahaan-Mere Sanam(1965)
My favourite, must be yours too. Hill top, this Asha on Asha picturization showed the industry that OP Nayyar can make great romantic songs too and not the tradition ello ello kinda numbers!
jab uthhoge meree betaab nigaahon kee tarah.
rok legee koee daalee meree baahon kee tarah.
- Chura Liya hai tumne-Yaadon ki baarat(1973)
Rafi with whom Asha Tai had sung most of songs came together to render this beautiful track.
Guitar lovers love the initial piece here.
- Do lafzon ki hai-The Great Gambler(1979)
RD Burman composed this italiano-indiano song in late 70’s with Asha and Amitabh which was a huge hit then.
- Mera kuch saaman-Ijaazat(1987)
Asha ji bagged a NATIONAL award for the most difficult song to sing nit because of it tune but because of jumbled urdu words penned together by Gulzar.
Ek akeli chatri mein jab,
aadhe aadhe bhig rahe the .
Aadhe sookhe, aadhe gile, sookha to main le aayi thi,
Gila man shaayad, bistar ke paas pada ho,
Woh bhijwa do, mera woh samman lauta do.
- Dil cheez kya hai-Umrao jaan(1981)
Khayyam(Mohammed Zahoor Khayyam Hashmi) was a surprise in late 70’s and early 80’s.
Kabhi Kabhie, Umrao Jaan and Razia Sultan surprised people with his unique capability in the world of ghazals. Asha was always his choice.
Is anjuman mein aap ko aana hai baar baar
Deevaar-o-dar ko gaur se pehchaan lijiye
Dil cheez kya hai aap meri jaan lijiye
- Roz roz aankhon-Jeeva(1986)
If Asha can sing with Kishore she can sing with his son too. A great track picturised on Mandakini & Sanjay Dutt got lost somewhere and will emerge someday in the form of a good remix like what happened to Bin tere sanam.
Jabse Tumhari Naam Ki Misri Honth Lagayi Hai
Meetha Sa Gham Hai Aur Meethi Si Tanhaai Hai
Roz Roz Aankhon Tale Ek Hi Sapna Chale
Raat Bhar Kaajal Jale, Aankh Mein Jis Tarah
Khwaab Ka Diya Jaale
- Katra katra-Ijaazat(1987)
Nota Bene: - RD Burman changed his trend in the eightees to suit the movies made for classes with Naseeruddin Shah, Raj Babbar etc taking over and Ijaazat & Masoom are the example of his mastermind.
- Khali haath shaam aayi hai-Ijaazat(1987)
Great lyrics were always backbone of songs made for classes. Nowadays you dont get to see these things.
- Chotisi kahani se-Ijaazat(1987)
Echo by the same singer running in the background is what ar Rahman does very frequently. RD Burman had used it in those days.just imagine his talent.
10.Aage bhi jaane na tu -Waqt(1965)
This is what you call melody. Song in the party by the swimming pool. Asha ji sang this cool number composed by Ravi
- Yeh mera dil-Don(1977)
Will Kareena make us forget Helen in Farhaan Akhtar’s DonII or not cant be said but no replacement can ever be for Asha ji who won a Filmfare for this song too.
- Yeh lamhaa filhaal jee lene de-Filhaal(2001)
ANU MALIK’s unique creations comprises of Refugee, Virasat & Filhaal.
Listening to her in this song is like rowing down a river in a moonlit night. A gift for the new generation by Asha-Gulzar: -
Pehle se likha kuch bhi nahin
Roz naya kuch likhti hai tu
Jo bhi likha hai, dil se jiya hai
Yeh lamha filhaal jee lene de
13.Aiye meherbaan -Howrah Bridge(1958)
Dada Muni and Madhubala with Asha’s voice had created a rare combination and this sensational song was born.
- Tanha Tanha -Rangeela(1995)
ar Rahman must have been impressed with the extremely talented Asha Ji after Rangeela, Rang de-Thakshak, Mere dil ka woh-Kabhi na kabhi
15.Sapna Mera Toot Gaya -Khel Khel Main (1975)
RD Burman aka RDX and asha ji combination in singing need no explanation be it Duniya mein logo ko or Piya tu ab toh aaja
- Woh Haseen Dard De Do -Humsaaya(1968)
OP NAYYAR again! Only if you keep track of asha songs or your old songs lover you will love this song.
- Aankhon se Jo Utri hai Dil Mein -Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon(1964)
This OP NAYYAR song is one of my favourite track of Asha Bhonsale and yes! it does have the Ghoda-gaadi kind of beats by Nayyar.
- Yeh kya jagah hai dosto-Umrao jaan(1981)
Simply mind blowing! Rekha asking people about the world she was forcefully brought into. Only Asha, Lata and Anuradha Paudwal can sing ghazal that perfectly. Lets see if Aishwarya can recreate the magic in the remake dancing in Anu Malik tune.
19.Parde mein rehne do- Shikar(1968)
A filmfare is what she got after this song composed by Shankar Jaikishan with an Arabic touch. Biddu recreated the magic with Asha ji with a remix which became popular too.
- Chain Se Humko Kahin -Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye(1974)
If you wanna have a goodnight sleep dont forget to add this track in your collection. OP Nayyar gave a bengali touch to this number and Asha ji gave her master voice to this really slow number to win a **Filmfare
If you love the Khayyam songs from Umrao Jaan, Bazaar etc dont forget to grab a copy of less publicised **Asha aur Khayyam non filmi ghazals with track Chaha Tha Ek Shaks Ko released in 1998 and you will come back to me and say Thank You Iffy! Trust Me!
Authors Note: - Thanks again for the great response to Sonu Nigam Top 20! It does take lot of research and a lot of hard work goes into collection of all these information and I did not want to take any chance with my own favourite Asha Ji.I love her so much that I consider her my granny:)
Thanks! Your appreciation is the best reward and I would love to hear your view on my favourite Asha Ji