Asha Bhosle
- Music Artist
- Music Department
- Actress
One of the greatest playback singers in Bollywood history, Asha Bhosle
has recorded over 10,000 songs for over 800 movies. Although every
class (ghazals, pop, etc) of song was within her vocal range, her
specialty was in sensual songs or Western-styled songs--she had an
uncanny knack for making every actress for whom she sung, from
Zeenat Aman to
Urmila Matondkar, smolder on screen as
never before.
Born on 8 September 1932, Asha, like her sister, the legendary
Lata Mangeshkar, was trained by her
father, Dinanath Mangeshkar, in
classical music, and it was only a matter of time before she too turned
to playback singing. She made her debut with the film
Chunaria (1948), but it took her a long
time to make it to the top. Between 1948 and 1957, she sang more songs
than any other playback singer, but the majority of these were in
small, indistinct films--and whatever big film she got a chance to sing
in, it was usually for the heroine's best friend or in a duet with
bigger singers like Shamshad Begum,
Geeta Dutt, or her own sister. And
unfortunately having made an ill-advised marriage that alienated her
from her family, she had no choice but to take up all available
assignments to provide for her children.
However, in 1957, she got her big break with composer O.P. Nayyar in
the films
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) and
Naya Daur (1957). And 1958 saw the
release of three of her films:
Lajwanti (1958),
Howrah Bridge (1958), and
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958);
their hit songs took Asha right up to the top. Thereafter, she became
Nayyar's premier singer until the early 1970s, and they created musical
magic together, particularly in the films
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963),
Mere Sanam (1965),
Humsaya (1968), and
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974).
Initially Asha's singing style was initially reminiscent of Dutt's, but
she soon overcame that and evolved her own distinctive style. Her voice
possessed a lilting, versatile quality that could capture any song at
any form or scale. By the end of the 1960s, she was second only to her
sister, and the two of them were the queens of Indian playback singing
right through to the 1990s. However, in spite of her incredible vocal
range, she was getting typecast in singing sensual songs.
The 1970s saw her start a new relationship (which eventually became her
second marriage) with composer
Rahul Dev Burman - and so saw the birth
of a great combination. A master of 1970s pop and disco music, Burman
gave Asha a hip and happening sound altogether, and the two of them
made their greatest hits with
Haré Rama Haré Krishna (1971),
Jawani Diwani (1972),
Procession of Memories (1973), and
Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977).
Unfortunately, she again got stereotyped, this time in singing mainly
Western-styled songs.
However, in 1981, the composer Khayyam revealed another, more lyrical
quality to Asha's voice. Their collaboration in the Urdu film
Umrao Jaan (1981), where the songs
were mostly poetry, reveal some of her finest songs. And
Permission (1987), another such film, got
her the National Award. Today, unlike her sister, she has remained
active in playback singing--she still makes actresses sizzle in songs,
most notably in the films
Rangeela (1995),
Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), and
Taal (1999). She has also released several
Indipop (Indian pop) music albums, and their success has reaffirmed
Asha's.
Recently, she was nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award for Best
Contemporary World-Music Album. Even at 70, there is no stopping Asha
Bhosle....
has recorded over 10,000 songs for over 800 movies. Although every
class (ghazals, pop, etc) of song was within her vocal range, her
specialty was in sensual songs or Western-styled songs--she had an
uncanny knack for making every actress for whom she sung, from
Zeenat Aman to
Urmila Matondkar, smolder on screen as
never before.
Born on 8 September 1932, Asha, like her sister, the legendary
Lata Mangeshkar, was trained by her
father, Dinanath Mangeshkar, in
classical music, and it was only a matter of time before she too turned
to playback singing. She made her debut with the film
Chunaria (1948), but it took her a long
time to make it to the top. Between 1948 and 1957, she sang more songs
than any other playback singer, but the majority of these were in
small, indistinct films--and whatever big film she got a chance to sing
in, it was usually for the heroine's best friend or in a duet with
bigger singers like Shamshad Begum,
Geeta Dutt, or her own sister. And
unfortunately having made an ill-advised marriage that alienated her
from her family, she had no choice but to take up all available
assignments to provide for her children.
However, in 1957, she got her big break with composer O.P. Nayyar in
the films
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957) and
Naya Daur (1957). And 1958 saw the
release of three of her films:
Lajwanti (1958),
Howrah Bridge (1958), and
Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958);
their hit songs took Asha right up to the top. Thereafter, she became
Nayyar's premier singer until the early 1970s, and they created musical
magic together, particularly in the films
Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963),
Mere Sanam (1965),
Humsaya (1968), and
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye (1974).
Initially Asha's singing style was initially reminiscent of Dutt's, but
she soon overcame that and evolved her own distinctive style. Her voice
possessed a lilting, versatile quality that could capture any song at
any form or scale. By the end of the 1960s, she was second only to her
sister, and the two of them were the queens of Indian playback singing
right through to the 1990s. However, in spite of her incredible vocal
range, she was getting typecast in singing sensual songs.
The 1970s saw her start a new relationship (which eventually became her
second marriage) with composer
Rahul Dev Burman - and so saw the birth
of a great combination. A master of 1970s pop and disco music, Burman
gave Asha a hip and happening sound altogether, and the two of them
made their greatest hits with
Haré Rama Haré Krishna (1971),
Jawani Diwani (1972),
Procession of Memories (1973), and
Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977).
Unfortunately, she again got stereotyped, this time in singing mainly
Western-styled songs.
However, in 1981, the composer Khayyam revealed another, more lyrical
quality to Asha's voice. Their collaboration in the Urdu film
Umrao Jaan (1981), where the songs
were mostly poetry, reveal some of her finest songs. And
Permission (1987), another such film, got
her the National Award. Today, unlike her sister, she has remained
active in playback singing--she still makes actresses sizzle in songs,
most notably in the films
Rangeela (1995),
Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), and
Taal (1999). She has also released several
Indipop (Indian pop) music albums, and their success has reaffirmed
Asha's.
Recently, she was nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award for Best
Contemporary World-Music Album. Even at 70, there is no stopping Asha
Bhosle....