Asha Bhonsle- The World's Most Recorded Artist.

 

Asha Bhosle (Born on 8th Sep 1933) made her Hindi film debut when she sang the song "Saawan Aaya" for Hansraj Behl's Chunariya (1948) but before that she sang her first film song '"Chala Chala Nav Bala" for the Marathi film Majha Bal (1943). She had sung over 12,000 songs, she was officially acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recorded artist in music history

Initially, she sang songs in low-budget B- or C-grade films. She used to get the assignments only when reputed female singers of that time like Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begum, and Lata Mangeshkar refuse singing for the bad girls and vamps, or songs. The first time she sang in a big banner film was in Bimal Roy's Parinnta 1953 The song of that film  "Gore gore haathon me mehndi racha ke"..but none of the songs was picturised on the heroine of the film Meena Kumari.

Another big banner film was RK Films Boot Polish in 1954,  Raj Kapoor signed her to sing "Nanhe Munne Bachche" with Mohammed Rafi.It was O. P. Nayyar who gave Asha a break in CID (1956). For the first time, she sang for a heroine in Big banner.The song O Leke Pehla  Pehla Pyar is basically sung by Mohammad Rafi and Shamshad Begum but in the second version, Asha sang for Shakeela the heroine of the film. After that O P Nayyar took her in  B. R. Chopra's Naya Daur (1957),  Her duets with Rafi like "Maang Ke Saath Tumhara", "Saathi Haath Badhana" and "Uden Jab Jab Zulfein Teri", penned by Sahir Ludhianvi, earned her recognition. It was the first time she sang all the songs for a film's leading actress. In 1957 another hit film released  Tumsa Nahin Dekha and the song Dekho Kasam Se Kahate Hain Tum Se became another hit that year.

Sachin Dev Burman and his favourite singer, Lata Mangeshkar, were not on good terms from 1957 to 1962.During this period, S D Burman used Asha as his lead female voice.She and Burman gave many hit songs in movies such as Kaala Pani, Kaala Bazaar, Insaan Jaag Utha, Lajwanti, Sujata and Teen Deviyaan (1965).In 1958 Kaala Pani she gave voice to Madhubala once again recall the duet song "Achcha Ji Main Haari Chalo Maan Jaao"  The song "Ab Ke Baras" in Bimal Roy's Bandini (1963) consolidated her position as a lead singer.

 With O P Nayyar she gave hit songs in  Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962) and Kashmir Ki Kali (1964). Recall the songs "Main Pyaar Ka Rahi Hoon" (Ek Musafir Ek Haseena), "Deewana Hua Baadal" and "Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein" (Kashmir Ki Kali). Mere Sanam, another great hit of 1965, has several beautiful songs sung by Asha and composed by Nayyar. Jaayiye aap and Yeh hai reshmi zulfon ka andhera. Both solos present two distinct emotions. Asha does full justice to both. The former is a haunting love number while the latter is a seductive one.

In 1966, she collabarated with R D Burman for Teesri Manzil.  From this film started a creative and romantic partnership that revolutionised Hindi Film Music. 

After Teesri Manzil both sang together a song in 1970 film The Train, Meri Jaan Maine Kaha which became hit.Asha Bhosle and R D Burman created nostalgia from Dum Maro Dum from Hare Rama Hare Krishna.The same year released Caravan,it's song Piya Tu Ab To Aaja became a cult song of this Jodi.In the 1970s, Asha and Pancham's youthful Western songs took Bollywood music by storm.

 The romantic "Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne" (Yaadon Ki Baaraat, 1973). Pancham also recorded many hit duets with Asha and Kishore Kumar such as "Jaane Jaan" (Jawani Diwani) and "Bhali Bhali Si Ek Soorat" (Buddha Mil Gaya).
The 1975 hit Khel Khel Mein is yet another R D Burman favourite. It had fun-filled duets like Khullam khulla pyar karenge, but its most outstanding number was the mournful solo Sapna mera. 

 In the 1980s, she traveled across the US, Canada and Britain to give concerts that draw thousands of South Asians. Unlike other singers, including Lata Mangeshkar who remains stiff, she moves around. Her concerts are always lively.In 1981 she scales epoch-creating heights with the Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan (1981). Khayyam's soft, lingering songs like In aankhon ki masti mein and Dil cheez are among the best film songs ever composed.
By the mid-80s Asha was not singing enough.With the rise of singers like Anuradha Paudwal and Alka Yagnik, her career starts sliding but she simply cannot be written out. RD burman was also not getting films.RD reinvents his and Asha's career with an astounding score in the 1987 Gulzar film Ijaazat. The hauntingly sad song Mera kuch samaan sounds sadder by Asha's passionate rendering. 
  The 1990 film Lekin is produced by Lata and her brother Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar. The film, whose score is composed by Hridaynath, sees Lata singing more numbers. But Asha also gets an opportunity to transform the intricate song Jhoote naina into a masterpiece.
 Composer A R Rahman ropes her in to sing in Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela (1995). The songs  "Rangeela Re" and Tanha Tanha were especially famous. After that in Daud (1997), the O Bhanware number with Yesudas reminds listeners that Asha is still in command over her voice. In 1999 film Takshak composed by Rehman, One of the best songs in the film, Rang de, goes to Asha Bhosle.
In 2001 a new composer Sandeep Chowta got her to sing the song  Kambakth Ishq number in Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya (2001), She was at her seductive best.In the same year, her duet with Udit Narayan, Radha kaise na jale, in the Aamir Khan-starrer Lagaan (2001) wins her more fame.She got  Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001.
Asha Bhosle has won seven Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards of 18 nominations.After receiving the award in 1979, Bhosle emulated her elder sister and requested that her name not be considered for the nominations hereafter.She was later given a Special Award for Rangeela in 1996, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001

Asha has won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer twice:

• 1981: Dil Cheez Kya Hai (Umrao Jaan)
• 1986: Mera Kuch Samaan (Ijaazat)
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•                              The Story Behind The Song Dum Maro Dum Asha Bhonsle Ki Jubani
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• Magic of Two Golden Voices When Lata and Asha Sing Together


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Kishore Kumar- It's A Mad Mad World

 

Kishore Kumar was eccentric or unusual start from his childhood, when he was studying in a boarding school of Indore,in his hostel room's wall he scribbled Kishore's name, in his own handwriting, in his favorite style, in reverse: Ramaku Rashoki. For several years, one of the walls of his hostel room stood witness to his eccentricity.

He was a rare combination of madness and devotion to work. He was unpredictable, he was a genius, and he was even crazy. He had a relaxed appeal to him evident in films like Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi throughout his music performance he fools around from one corner to another. His madness and frolic become amply resound when in the song   Aaake Seedhi Lagi filmed on both him and Pran, he sings the parts of both the male and the female. The song can make anybody laugh in seconds! And who can forget the song from the film Padosan in which he played the music teacher and participated in a hilarious music competition with Manna Dey.

It was said that Kumar would sing only after the confirmation of payment from his secretary was received. On one occasion, when Kumar learnt that he was paid half for the movie he was roped in as an actor, he appeared on the sets with makeup placed on one side of his face. Seeing him when the director questioned him, he replied “Adha Paisa Tu Aadha Makeup (half makeup for half payment)”.

The legendary singer placed a sign ‘Beware of Kishore Kumar’ at the door of his residence. The famous producer of Hindi film industry H.S.Rawail came to his home to pay his dues. After paying the dues, Rawail tried to shake hands with the singer, he took the producer’s hand in his mouth, bit it, and said ‘Didn’t you see what my signboard says?’.

In an interview , he revealed that he preferred talking to his trees. He also introduced the journalist with the trees by their names at his bungalow and said they were his close friends.

Despite all these eccentric behaviors of the singer, Kishore Kumar was loveable and will remain the same forever for his fans.

Please watch the video below, a collection of his comic and funny songs sung or acted by him

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Mukesh- The Man With Golden Voice

 

‘Dil jalta hai to jalne de’. was the first major song from Mukesh from ” Pehli Nazar”(1945). It was Anil Biswas who composed this song and wanted him to sing in Saigal style The song became so popular that he was branded for the sad songs. He was next to Saigal for such types of songs. Initially, all the composers used Mukesh mainly for such songs.

After this film, however, Anil Biswas helped Mukesh to develop his own distinct style, away from the Saigal effect. Mukesh's songs of Anokha Pyaar-1948, Lajawab-1950, and Aaram-1951 are a testimony to this effort becoming a success. Just listen to the ‘ Aye Jaan e Jigar’ song and you will agree.  The anguish of a failed lover, despondency of a purposeless life, the Heartache-all this is expressed by Mukesh like no other singer.

Naushad also recognized Mukesh's voice, he took him for the first time in the 1948 film 'Anokhi Ada'.Mukesh coming out a winner with his ‘ kabhi dil dil se takrata to hoga’. Mela-1948 put a stamp of approval on Mukesh from none other than Dilip Kumar. He sang many songs for him, in fact he was the voice of Dilip Kumar in Andaz(1949) and Rafi was the voice of Raj Kapoor in that film.

Along with Mohammad Rafi, Manna Dey, and Kishore Kumar, he was one of the most popular and legendary singers of his era. Amongst the numerous nominations and awards he won, his song "Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha Hai" from filmRajnigandha (1973) won him the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. Mukesh was also popular as being the voice of the actor Raj Kapoor.

Mukesh won 4 Filmfare Awards,Sab Kuch Seekha Humne from Anaari 1959,Sabse Bada Naadan from Pehchan 1970,"Jai Bolo Beimaan Ki" from Beiman 1972 and "Kabhi Kabhie Mere Dil Mein" from Kabhi Kabhi 1976

Mukesh died of a heart attack on 27 August 1976 in Detroit, Michigan, US, where he had gone to perform in a concert. His body was flown to India by Lata Mangeshkar, where a grand funeral ceremony was held in the presence of several actors, with personalities of the Indian film industry and fans paying tribute.

In this blog, we have chosen a few of his Jolly & Happy Songs. Watch the video below from my Youtube channel

https://youtu.be/nwsts_0XeUQ

Mohammad Rafi was the Favorite Voice of Dharmendra

 

According to Dharmendra, it was Rafi Sahaab’s voice that gave a boost to his film career. Mohammad Rafi sang 104 songs for Dharmendra. The first song Rafi sang for Dharmendra was 'Jane Kya Dhoondti Rehti Hain Yeh Ankhen Mujhme' for the film 'Shola Aur Shabnam released in 1961. This was Dharmendra's second film. In his first film, no song was picturized on him.

There were 2 songs that were picturized on Dharmendra in Shola Aur Shabnam, this was a duet with Lata Mangeshkar'Jeet Hi Lenge Baazi'.   These songs are popular even today.   

Song of Shola Aur Shabnam 1961

Song of Shola Aur Shabnam 1961

The next song Rafi Saab sang for Dharmendra was a duet from the 1964 film 'Pooja Ke Phool', in the same year Rafi sang 4 songs for Dharmendra inAap Ki Parchaiyan, recall the song 'Main Nigahen Tere' 

Song of Aap Ki Parchaiyan 1964

 Rafi Sahaab did have a typical style while singing for Dharmendra too so that one always identified the performer and the singing voice as one. He always sang for him in a very soft voice

In an interview in the seventies when asked for his favorite song sang for Dharmendra, he mentioned 'Kahin se maut ko laao ke gham ki raat kate '(Film: Mera Qusoor Kya Hai, Lyrics: Rajendra Krishna, Music: Chitragupt Srivastav, 1964). He also mentioned that there were quite a few songs that were close to his heart like “Mujhe dard-e-dil ka pata na tha” (Akashdeep, 1965, Lyricist: Majrooh Sultanpuri and music: Chitragupt), 

What a strange that Rafi Saab's last recorded song was for Dharmendra for the 1981 film 'Aas Paas'

Song of Akashdeep 1965

Song of Aas Paas 1981 Rafi's last recorded song

If you liked this blog, you would also appreciate my Youtube Channel , the link is given below

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I post here some of my fav songs of Rafi picturized on Dharmendra

Song of Aye Din Bahar Ke 1966

Song of Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) .

Song of Dulhan Ek Raat Ki (1967) 

Song of Izzat (1968) 

Song of Mere Hamdam Mere Dost (1968) 

Song of Ishq Par Zor Nahin (1970) 

Song of Pratiggya (1975) .