| Asha Bhonsle, one of the
Mangeshkar sisters was born on 8th September, 1933
to the renowed Maharashtrian parent, actor and
singer Dinanath Mangeshkar in a small hamlet called
'Goar' in Maharastra. Like her older sister Lata
Mangeshkar Asha also initially did a small stint as
a child artist. But being trained in classical music
by her father Dinanath Mangeshkar it was more
natural she too turn to playback singing like Lata
did.
In April 1942 her father Dinath Mangeshkar died,
causing upheaval in the family which moved from Pune
to Kolhapur and in turn to Bombay. Around the age of
ten she apparently sang her first film song in the
Marathi film Majha Bal. Asha like her other sisters
and brother was introduced to music at a very tender
age. Asha remembers her birthplace as she says
" I still remember my childhood days in sangli,
because of me Lata didi use to bunk the school, I
cannot forget sangli as it's my birth place ".
In a world so much in awe of elder sister Lata
Mangeshkar, s he had to work that much harder. Time
has not touched her voice, she can please pop lovers
with rap and remix. At the same time, she has the
ability to match the tunes of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
Playful love songs or lusty cabaret numbers,
soulful ghazals or funky pop, Bhosle's trod
everywhere, with aplomb. From the early rock 'n'
roll Eena meena deeka, to the seductive Burman
number Piya tu ab to aaja in Caravan, to the
unforgettable ghazals of Umrao Jaan.To a
large degree, her success can be attributed to her
versatility. She has successfully sung in many
different voices and in many different styles.
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. in the 1950s Asha sang
more songs than any other playback singer but the
bulk of these were in small films with no
distinction.That was the time of Lata Mangeshkar , Shamshad
Begum and Geeta Dutt.
1957 was her breakthrough year when O.P. Nayyar
used her to sing the heroine's songs in Tumsa Nahin
Dekha and Naya Daur. The same year S.D. Burman had
his rift with Lata. Also Geeta Dutt’s troubled
marriage did not make her easily available .
Consequently S.D. Burman chose to groom Asha along
with O.P. Nayyar rather than wait for Geeta. The
following year Asha made it right to the top with
hit songs in films like Howrah Bridge (1958),
Chalti ka Naam Ghadi (1958) and Lajwanti (1958).
Asha got involved with O.P. Nayyar and thereafter
she remained his premier singer till their break-up
in the 1970s.
The 1960s saw Asha at her best as she belted out
her best songs particularly under O.P. Nayyar's
baton - Aankhon se Jo Utri hai Dil Mein from Phir
Wohi Dil Laya Hoon(1964), Jayiye Aap Kahaan
Jayenge from Mere Sanam (1965) and Woh Haseen Dard
De Do from Humsaaya (1968) to name but a few.
The 1970s also brought her close with R.D. Burman
who gave her a new hip and happening sound
altogether. Piya Tu Ab To Aajaa (Caravan (1971)),
Dum Maro Dum (Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971)),
offered fresh and stimulating challenges to her
voice. Jaane Jaa from Jawaani Diwaani (1972) had her
switching from the higher scales to the absolute
lower ones within the song with ease!
1980’s brought a lucky and prosperous year for
Asha as she rocked the show with evergreen ghazals
like Dil Cheez Kya Hai, In Aankhon ki Masti, Yeh
Kaisi Jagah hai Doston, Justaju Jiski Ki (Umrao
Jaan,1981) , a few of the finest singing.Ijaazat
(1987) saw her in top form winning a National
Award for Mera Kuch Samaan, a most difficult song to
sing as the lyrics were more in prose form rather
than standard rhythmic verse.
Asha Bhosle has since sung in virtually every
Indian language, in Russian and Malay, has sung
Rabindra Sangeet (the songs of Bengali poet Tagore),
has sung with the bhangra groupAlaap , the Indian
rap act Baba Sehgal and Boy George, the former lead
vocalist of the British pop group Cassette
compilations and recyclings of her work are
numerous.
In the 1990s Asha has even further widened her
horizon by succesfully coming out with albums in
Indipop giving the albums a western touch and
beating the Indian pop artists on their own turf.
Though she has cut down on her singing now she still
makes an Urmila Matonder or Aishwarya Rai sizzle in Rangeela
(1994) or http://(1999).
Today her vocals are in better, more supple,
sensuous and inviting shape then ever before. If we
listen to her singing R.D. Burman’s Teri meri
yaari badi purani, right before going on to Sandeep
Chowta’s Kambakht ishq, we notice no
perceptible difference in the rendition of the two
tracks, even though they are separated by 30 years
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