Versatility could well be Asha Bhosle’s second name. No type of song has been beyond her vocal range be it a club dance, sad song, bhajan, ghazal, pop etc.
Asha made her playback debut in 1948 with the film Chunariya. But it took a long, long time for Asha to make it to the top. It’s not as if singing opportunities didn’t come her way. In fact in the 1950s Asha sang more songs than any other playback singer but the bulk of these were in small films with no distinction. And if she did get a chance to sing in an A film it was probably just the song of the heroine’s friend or a female duet with bigger singers like Lata, Shamshad Begum or Geeta Dutt. But Asha had no choice. Having made an ill-advised marriage which alienated her from her family, she had to take up all the assignments she got to fend for her children.
She is the voice that her father, Master Dinanath Mangeshkar, trained, along with her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar. Like her sister, she began her career as a child artiste and later branched into singing for films. Her rich, versatile voice mastered the saat surs(seven melodies) easily. She has sung for countless actresses, from Nutan to Waheeda Rehman to Rekha to Urmila Matondkar to Shamita Shetty. And through those many decades, her magic has always been constant.
This is perhaps my most personal review since I admire and love Ashaji so much. I have even thought of starting a new religion called Asha-ism, and its basically me worshiping Ashaji.
Because she has sung so many songs for over 5 decades I have decided to put the songs in 2 categories namely Duets and Solos. Here are my picks:
Duets:
AAJA AAJA [Teesri Manzil] - a duet with mohammed. asha and rafi tantilize you with their playful vocals. rafi shines when he sings with ashaji. KUDOOS!
WE CAN MAKE IT - ashaji sings in english! beautiful music and lyrics with the company of boyband’Code Red’. this song is a keeper.
KABHI TO NAZAR MILAO - with pakistani singer adnan sami. this song is slow and sweet and asha and adnan’s voices go well together.
THE WAY YOU DREAM - recorded for the album’one giant leap’ asha sings her part in hindi and michael stipe sings his part in english. REWIND!
RADHA KAISE NA JALE [Lagaan] - an A.R.Rahman/Asha Bhosle gem. these two people know how to creat magic.
KAMBAKTH ISHQ [PTKK] - this song has an original as well as a cover version. both are equally pleasing to the ears.
CHURA LIYA HAI [Yaadon Ki Barat] - an old gem. asha sings for r.d. burman. mohammed rafi lends his vocals here. A MASTERPIECE!
O BHAVRE [Daud] - another asha/rahman gem. duet with Yesudas.
SAPNE MEIN MILTI HAIN [Satya] - asha’s vocal are very tantalizing in this song. even her laughs in the end sounds melodious. asha duets with Suresh Wadker
YEH VAADA RAHA [Yeh Vaada Raha] - WOW! WOW! WOW! . bhosle and burman again! kishore kumar sings a few lines in this song but the song clearly belongs to asha.
Solos:
EENA MEENA DEEKA [Asha] - a spicy number. asha sounds 17!
JISM HAI [Paanch] - the singers on this album are mostly young guns like sunidhi and shaan. ashaji manages to blend in with these young guns and makes the young guns sound old compared to her. VERSATILITY!
JHUMKA GIRA RE [Mere Saaya] - this one is a classic.
KAHIN AAG LAGE [Taal] - another rahman gem. asha gives her 150% whenever she sings for rahman.
DIL CHEEZ KYA HAI [Umrao Jaan] - asha sings a bhajan. this was perhaps the song that launched rekha’s career.
RANG DE [Thakshak] - I said it before. bhosle and rahman know how to create music. asha’s vocals are just sooooo damn melodious!
KUCH NA KAHO - this song makes me cry. beautifully sung.
FILHAAL [Filhaal] - my oh my. where do I begin?! asha would have won a filmfare award for this song had she not given up the filmfare award.
DUM MARO DUM [HRHK] - this song was recorded in 1972 and is still very much alive today. in this song ashaji sings high and low. that is the power of ashaji’s voice. everlasting!
TANHA TANHA [Rangeela] - I can never get over this song. this was the first time asha sung for rahman and the results was pure MAGIC. Urmila owes alot to this great woman for making her shine on screen. HATS OFF TO ASHAJI!
Others on Asha:
Lata Mangeshkar - Asha is a very versatile artiste. Whether it’s a sad song or cabaret, she sings the number well. I’m not saying this because she’ my sister. But it’s my duty as an artiste to notice the virtues in her voice. I don’t think we’ve another singer like her in our midst.
Alka Yagnik - She is ageless, versatile and very young in spirit. It is so easy to make conversation with her. She is so easy to communicate with. I have been aware of both the sisters [Lata and Asha] right from the age of four. I used to sing their songs and would often find that Ashaji’s way of expressing nuances was very difficult.
Kavita Krishnamurthy - At 70, her zest for life is wonderful. Her clothes, style, involvement with her family, the way she carries herself and her enthusiasm is very inspiring.
Abhijeet - She is one singer even male singers can learn from. If I have a style, the credit goes to Asha Bhosle. I have developed it by listening to her. It is her stamp. She has changed herself over the decades.
Sadhana Sargam - Just listening or even seeing her inspires me. She is so versatile it amazes me. It is very difficult to choose from her vast repertoire of songs. Some of her songs are very difficult to sing, even for me.
Udit Narayan - We are very lucky to have her in our midst. She has her own style, her adaa, which is very attractive. Whether she sings a ghazal, dance or classical number, she stamps it with her style. I am fortunate I could work with her.
Shaan - When she sings, you don’t need visuals. Her voice conveys everything. She is the best. She has so much resilience that everyone can learn from her not only as a singer but as a human being. She has been a good wife, mother and singer. She has done everything well. She has lived a complete life.
Rediff.com: Who do you give credit for your success?
Ashaji: My parents and God. I believe in destiny and the philosophy of karma. Many people have contributed, but I struggled alone. For the latest success, the credit really goes to my children.