It was considered next to impossible for any female playback singer to emerge past the shadow of Lata Mangeshkar, the nation’s melody queen. But this feat was achieved by Asha Bhosle, who passed away recently.
Having once worked in the shadow of fame of her much more famous sister, Bhosle sought the same apex. One must not lose sight of the fact that Mangeshkar ‘s voice defined the film industry’s idea of femininity.
But Bhosle’s route to the top was an arduous climb It lay through the debris of leftovers unwanted by other singers.
These songs were mostly bawdy pieces picturised on the vamp. Bhosle took them all.
They were cabaret, the flirtatious numbers, rhythm driven tunes. Asha Bhosle gave them her everything.
She found her full expression with composers like O P Nayar and R D Burman .Bhosle opened up the idea of female voice.
She gave it a new sound and timbre. Her badge of honour were tipsy songs, remember “Dum maro Dum” from Hare Krishna Hare Ram..
The nation was enthralled. But Asha Bhosle wanted more
That is where Muzaffar Ali got her to sing in Umrao Jaan. It was the story of a 19th century courtesan set in Awadh in its twilight years.
The result was a slew of ghazals. Khayyam’s compositions that remain some of the finest in the genre.
Bhosle had a 30,year old carrer then. But it was Umrao Jaan which won her first National Award.
She won her first nomination for Grammy in 1977 for Legacy. It was a collaboration with sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan.
Her second nomination came in 2006.Davud Harrington, of Kronos Quartet, her collaborator presented her at Carnegie Hall this ” It is like introducing an Indian version of Elvis to a whole new generation”.
Asha Bhosle made her debut in Maratha industry as a 10 year old. Her Hindi debut was in Raat ki Rani..
But she was catapulted to a new height after BR Chopra’s Naya Daur. The score was set by Nayar
Bhosle would be remembered by her abandon and playfulness and the abandon with which she sang. It is all the more memorable as it was her 80th birthday performance.
She laboured tirelessly and changed the Hindi film industry by staying with her conviction. Her influence on Hindi film music will endure..
