Asha BhosleAsha Bhosle has been credited variously as Asha, Asha Bhosle, Asha Bhonsale, Asha Bhonsle, Asha Bhonsley, Asha Bhosale and Asha Bhosley (See her IMDB entry for details). She is often referred to as Ashaji - the Hindi suffix ji denotes respect. (Marathi:आशा भोसले) (born September 8, 1933) is an Indian singer. She is best known as a Bollywoodplayback singer, although she has a much wider repertoire. Her career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over 925 Bollywood movies Asha has also worked with other noted Bollywood composers like Jatin-Lalit, Bappi Lahiri, Kalyanji-Anandji, Usha Khanna, Chitragupta, and Roshan.
In 1995, Asha underwent the gatha bandan (thread-tying) ceremony with Hindustani classical music maestro Ali Akbar Khan to learn a classical repertoire held within the Maihar gharana (stylistic school of Indian classical music), as handed down to Khan by his father Allauddin Khan (the guru of Ravi Shankar). Later, Asha and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan recorded eleven fixed compositions (or bandishes) in California for Legacy, a private album that won them a Grammy Award nomination.
In 1990s, Asha experimented with the remixed R D Burman songs. She was criticized by many, including Khayyam for tampering with old melodies. Nevertheless, albums like Rahul And I became quite popular. In 1997, Asha did a private Indipop album Janam Samjha Karo with Leslie Lewis. The album was hugely popular and won her many awards including the 1997MTV Award.
Asha had been once asked by the director B R Ishaara to compose music for one of his films, but she had politely declined. In 2002, she turned music composer with the album Aap Ki Asha, an eight-song music and video album. The lyrics were written by Majrooh Sultanpuri (his last lyrics) and the music was composed by Asha herself. The album was released by Sachin Tendulkar on May 21, 2001 at a lavish party in Mumbai. The album received mixed reviews.
Asha Bhosle and Adnan Sami on the cover of Kabhi To Nazar Milao
Asha had spotted Pakistani singer Adnan Sami's talent when he was about 10 years old. At that time was performing in London, with R D Burman. It was she who had asked him to pursue his interests in music seriously. When Adnan grew up and became a professional musician, Asha sang the title duet with him for his best-selling album Kabhi to nazar milao. The two came together again in the album Barse Badal. The album comprises of eight songs, based on Indian Classical music. She contributed the song Yun Na Thi to the recording Womad Talking Book Volume Four: An Introduction to Asia 1 on Womad Records.
Asha has sung ghazals for many albums like Meraj-E-Ghazal, Aabshar-E-Ghazal and Kashish. In 2005, Asha released a self-title album (Asha), a tribute to the four ghazal maestros - Mehdi Hasan, Ghulam Ali, Farida Khanum and Jagjit Singh. The album features eight of her favorite ghazals like Farida Khanum's Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo, Ghulam Ali's Chupke Chupke, Aawargi and Dil Mein Ek Lahar, Jagjit Singh's Ahista Ahista and Mehdi Hassan's Ranjish Hi Sahi, Rafta Rafta and Mujhe Tum Nazar Se. These classic ghazals were recreated with modern sounds by the musician Pandit Somesh Mathur. The album was aimed at the younger generation, who, according to Asha, are "turned off" by the traditional sounds of tabla and sarangi.
Asha Bhosle on the cover of Asha Bhosle:The Rough Guide to Bollyywood legends
Numerous compilations of Asha's songs have been released as well. To commemorate her 60th birthday, in 1993 EMI India released three cassettes: Bala Main Bairagan Hoongi (devotional songs), The Golden Collection: Memorable Ghazals (non-film ghazals by composers such as Ghulam Ali, R D Burman and Nazar Hussain), and The Golden Collection: The Ever Versatile Asha Bhosle (44 popular film songs).
Concerts and collaborations with foreign artists
In 1980s and 1990s, Asha went globe-trotting, staging concerts in Canada, Dubai, UK, USA and many other countries. In 1989, during a world tour, she performed in 13 US cities in 20 days. Immediately after this, she had an already sold-out concert scheduled in Stockholm, Sweden. Due to the stressful schedule, Asha suffered a massive attack of colitis, together with fever, cough and weakness. In Stockholm, a pre-concert crisis meeting was called, attended by Asha's son (and manager) Anand and the sponsors. It was decided that the orchestra will play many instrumental tracks, the accompanying singers like Suresh Wadkar will shoulder the load, and Asha will make a small appearance. But Asha rejected all such "insane" proposals. Asha's sang at the concert with great difficulty, in a not-so-good voice. Her first set of six Bollywood songs didn't receive any response from the audience, which consisted mostly of Indian and Pakistani expats. Before the start of the second set of songs, a fan in the crowd requested her to sing a Marathi song. Asha obliged and sang Naach-naachuni ati mi damale ("I'm very tired of this endless dancing"). The mood took her over, and she rendered the song very beautifully. When the song ended, the auditorium erupted with claps and the encores started. After the concert, Asha was in bed for a month, recuperating from overexertion. In October 2002, she did a concert with Sudesh Bhosle and others, in London, for "Help the Aged" to help raise funds for older people in India.
In the mid-1980s, Asha sang with Boy George and Stephen Lauscombe. In 1997, she sang a love song with the boy band Code Red, at the age of 64. She also recorded the song The Way you Dream (One Giant Leap, [1]) with Michael Stipe that was used in the English movie, The Bullet Proof Monk.
In 2005, American string quartetKronos Quartet re recorded the R D Burman compositions like Chura liya, Piya tu, Mera Kuchh Saaman among others and got Asha to sing them. Despite her age (she had crossed 70), she recorded three to four songs in a day, leaving the quartet members stupefied. On August 23, 2005, You've stolen my heart - Songs From R D Burman's Bollywood was released in US. The album was nominated for Grammy Awards 2006 in the category of "Best Contemporary World Music Album". Earlier, in 1990s, a friend had introduced David Harrington of Kronos Quartet to the song Aaj ki raat. Harrington was mesmerised, and the song ended up on the album Kronos Caravan.
Asha Bhosle has won eight Filmfare awards (one special award for "Rangeela"). She won the award in 1967 and 1968, when Lata Mangeshkar still used to accept the award (Lata asked not to be considered for the award after 1969 to promote new talent). After receiving the award in 1977, Asha emulated her elder sister and requested that her name not be considered for the awards hereafter. She was later given the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Following is the list of her Filmfare Awards: *1967 – Garibon ki suno (Dus Lakh, 1966) *1968 – Parde mein rahne do (Shikar, 1968) *1971 – Piya Tu Ab To Aaja (Caravan, 1971) *1972 – Dum Maro Dum (Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1971) *1973 – Hone Lagi Hain Raat (Naina, 1973) *1974 – Chain se Humko Kabhi (Pran Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye, 1974) *1977 – Yeh Mera Dil (Don, 1978)
Asha has won two Indian National Awards: *1981 - Dil Cheez Kya Hai (Umrao Jaan) *1986 - Mera Kuch Samaan (Ijazat)
Asha has won numerous other awards, some of which include: *1987 – Nightingale Of Asia Award (from the Indo–Pak Association, UK) *1989 – Lata Mangeshkar Award (Government of Madhya Pradesh) *1997 – Screen Videocon Award (for the album Jaanam Samajha Karo) *1997 – MTV Award (for the album Jaanam Samajha Karo) *1997 – Channel V Award (for the album Jaanam Samjha Karo) *1999 – Lata Mangeshar Award (Government of Maharashtra) *2000 – Singer Of the Millennium (Dubai) *2000 – Zee Gold Bollywood Award (for Mujhe rang de from Thakshak) *2001 – MTV Award (for Kambakht Ishq) *2002 – BBC Lifetime Achievement Award (presented by the UK Prime MinisterTony Blair) *2002 – Zee Cine Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan) *2002 – Zee Cine - Hall Of Fame *2002 – Screen Videocon Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan) *2002 – Sansui Movie Award (for Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan)
Asha's sibling rivalry with her sister Lata Mangeshkar is often talked about, in spite of their insistence that these are just tales. As young children, they were very close. As a child, Lata used to carry Asha all the time. They were so inseparable that when Lata went to school she would take Asha with her, but one day the teacher protested and said that they cannot have two students on one fee. Lata refused to return to school without Asha and quit her studies{{cite web
title=Kavita Chhibber's interview with Asha Bhosle
accessdate=2006-05-03.
Lata considered Asha's act of eloping with her lover as irresponsible, leaving her alone to sing and earn for the family. This led to tensions among them. Asha herself accepted in an interview - "It was a love marriage and Lata didi (elder sister) did not speak to me for a long time. She disapproved of the alliance." It is a well-known fact that at one time, their relationship was very adversarial and there have been periods of non-communication.
In her initial days in the industry, Asha always played scond fiddle to her elder sister. Some say that Lata had once said something criticising Asha's relationship with O P Nayyar. This widened the rift between the two sisters and O P Nayyar also decided that he would never work with Lata. O.P. Nayyar had once revealed - "Asha and Lata staying in opposite flats at Bombay's Pedder Road, shared a common maidservant. Now this maidservent had merely to come and tell the younger sister that Lata had just recorded something wonderful for Asha to lose her vocal poise. Such was her Lata phobia that it took me some months to convince Asha that she had a voice individualistic enough to evolve a singing style all of her own." Asha once said that she has worked for years to create a voice and a style that was different from her Lata, so that she could carve her own niche and not be banished to live her shadow.
Asha and Lata have sung many songs together. Their first duet was for the film Daman (1951). . Some of these include Man Bhawan Ke Ghar aye (Chori Chori, 1956), Sun ri sun papiha bole (Miss Mary, 1957), O chaand jahaan woh jaaye (Sharada, 1957), Mere Mehboob Mein Kya Nahi (Mere Mehboob, 1963), Ai kash kisi deewane ko (Aaye Din Bahar Ke, 1966), Main Chali Main Chali (Padosan, 1968), Chhap tilak sab (Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki, 1978), and Man kyun behka (Utsav, 1984). While singing, Lata used to hold her notebook in her right hand, while Asha held her notebook in her left hend. This meant Lata had her face away from Asha, making it difficult for them to "anticipate" each other.
The movie "Saaz", was supposedly based on Lata and Asha's rivalry. Asha said about the movie — "To have two women in long plaits, take a couple of incidents and exaggerate them into a 3-hour film is such a waste of time." In last few years, Asha and Lata have often been seen in public, enjoying each other's company. In an interview with Times of India, Asha once said - "I remember, sometimes both of us would be at a function and some industry types would ignore me and interact only with her, as if to prove their loyalty. Later, didi (elder sister) and I would have a good laugh!"
The famous Bollywood lyricist-filmmaker Gulzar once said – "Asha was like Neil Armstrong's companion in the space rocket that touched the moon. After Lataji touched down on the moon, Ashaji could only be the second one to get there."
Asha's house is situated in Peddar Road area of Mumbai. She has three children and five grandchildren. The eldest of her three children is Hemant Bhosle (named after Hemant Kumar), who initially dabbled in music direction but then quit to become a pilot. Asha's daughter Varsha, who is younger than Hemant, works as a columnist for The Times of India and Rediff. The youngest child is Anand Bhosle, who has studied business and film direction. He manages Asha's career. Her grandson, Chaitanya (Chintu) Bhosle (Hemant's son) also ventured in the world of music, as a member of a successful boy band, "Band of Boys". Her sisters Lata and Usha Mangeshkar are playback singers. The other two siblings, sister Meena Mangeshkar and brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar are music directors.
Asha is an excellent cook and cooking is her favorite hobby. She often gets flooded with requests by Bollywood celebrities for kadai ghosht and biryani and has rarely turned down a request. In fact, her paya curry, Goan fish curry and dal are very popular with the Kapoor family of Bollywood. Once, when asked in a Times of India interview, what if her singing career hadn't taken off, she said "I'd have become a cook. I would have cooked in four houses and made money."
Asha is a successful restauranteur and runs a restaurant in Dubai, called Asha's. Asha's offers traditional north-western Indian cuisine. It has a presence in the Wafi City development in Dubai and in Kuwait. Asha Bhosle has a 20 per cent stake in the business. Asha is not involved in day-to-day running of the restaurant, which is looked after by the Wafi Group. She takes care of the kitchen and the decor. She personally trained the chefs for almost six months. According to a December 2004 report in the Menu Magazine{{cite web
accessdate=2005-11-11, Russell Scott, a former head of Harry Ramsden's (the fish and chips chain), secured the UK rights to the Asha's brand and planned to open up to 40 restaurants over the next five years.
Asha's fashion statement is white sarees with sparkling embroidery, pearls around her neck and diamonds. Harrington of Kronos Quartet said "The first time I met Ashaji she was dressed in the most beautiful sari with diamonds and looked very regal. Then I looked down and saw that she was wearing tennis shoes! I thought I love this woman."
Asha is a good mimicry artist as well. At a concert at World Trade Center Duabi, on April 222004, she mimicked the song Kabhi To Nazar Milaao in the voices of Noor Jehan, Lata Mangeshkar and Ghulam Ali{{cite web
