The Irreplaceable Asha Bhonsle

 

Asha Bhosle, the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar was born on 8th September 1933 in a Gomantak Marathi Brahmin family in Sangli, Maharashtra. She was the third among five siblings. Her father, Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar was a renowned classical singer and stage actor. Her first foray into Hindi film playback happened with the song ‘Saawan Aaya’ from the film ‘Chunariya’ with composer Hansraj Behl in 1948. When she was 16,

Initially, her songs were basically meant for the sidelined roles like vamps, cabaret numbers, or C-grade movies but it was O P Nayyar who gave her real break with C I D in 1956. With O. P Nayyar, Asha gave out hits after hits like ‘Aaiye Meherban’, ‘Deewana Hua Badal’, ‘Isharon Isharon Mein’, ‘Aao Huzur Tumko’, ‘Ude Jab Jab Zulfein Teri’, etc.

This talented singer can sing a ghazal and a peppy cabaret number with amazing levels of energy and style. Be it the romantic "Oh Mere Sona Re" or the sensuous "Aaiye Meherban" or the peppy "Kambakth Ishq", Asha Bhonsle can add life to any song.  she has sung in almost all genres including film music, pop, bhajans, ghazals, traditional Indian classical music, qawwalis, folk songs, and Rabindra Sangeet..

Her collaboration with R.D Burman took her to the peak of her career. The duo of Asha and R.D Burman produced hits after hits starting from Teesri Manzil in 1966. 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’ from the movie ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ showed an entirely new side of her talent. 

                                                                    https://youtu.be/xkNXojm0fIA

In the 90's, she experimented with peppy numbers and produced hits like ‘Tanha Tanha’, ‘Yaire’, ‘Kambakth Ishq’, ‘Chori Pe Chori’, with much younger music directors like A.R. Rahman, Anu Malik, and Sandeep Chowta. 

She received the Dada SahebPhalke award in 2000. She was honored with the Padma Vibushan Award by the Government of India in 2008. She won 8 Filmfare awards in the best Female Playback Singer Category in the years 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, and 1979. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Filmfare in 2001. She has won 2 National Awards, in 1981 for the song ‘Dil Cheez Kya hai’ from Umrao Jaan and in 1986 for ‘Mera Kuchh Saman’ from the film Ijaazat. In this Blog, I am posting her Award-Winning Songs

Song from Shikar, 1968

https://youtu.be/6i9YxZKnQeY

Song from Ijaazat 1986

Song from Lagaan 2002