Asha Bhosle Birthday Special: A List Of Lesser-Known, Yet Exemplary, Songs By The Legendary Singer
On the occasion of Asha Bhosle's 88th birthday, here's a playlist of her lesser-known, yet exemplary, songs.
Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle turns 88 today. The songstress has mesmerised everyone - youngsters, adults and seniors - with her voice, which stands out just for how different it is. There are a few songs, however, which did not gain as much popularity as they should have. On the occasion of the 88th birthday of the maverick singer, here's a playlist of her lesser-known, yet exemplary, songs.
WOH HANS KE MILEY HUMSE HUM PYAAR SAMAJH BAITHHE (Bahaarein Phir Bhi Aayengi, 1966): Normally, we associate Asha Bhosle’s timeless collaborations with composer OP Nayyar with the thumping Punjabi boisterous Bhangra beats. But the two did create some truly pensive paeans to pain and suffering inherent in love. This song filmed on the exquisitely expressive Mala Sinha is a marvel of composition singing and poetry expressing the ironic thrusts of unrequited love in a cloudburst of shaded shimmering images.
KABHI KISIKO MUQAMMAL JAHAAN NAHIN MILTA (Ahista Ahista, 1981): A ghazal that rips open your heart with its anguish and despair,this little-known Khayyam compositions is also sung separately by Bhupinder. Lekin sorry Boss, jo baat Asha ji ke gaane mein hai woh aur kahan?!
KABHI KABHI SAPNA LAGTA HAI (Ratnadeep,1979): Tum samjha do mann ko kya samjhaayen? When Asha ji articulates Gulzar Sa'ab’s words she is not asking a simple question. Hidden in those words are an eternity of questions pertaining to love , commitment, compromise and separation. This love duet (with Kishore Kumar) is high on expression.Flawless rendition by Asha ji.
RAAT JO TUNEY DEEP BUJHAAYE (non-film album Meraj-e-Ghazal with Ghulam Ali): One of Asha ji’s most masterly creations. Composed for the Ghazal album Meraj-e-Ghazal that they did together, this number journeys into a broken heart trying to pick up the shattered piece. Asha ji’s control over aggravated emotions is nowhere more evident than here.
CHORI CHORI SOLAH SHRINGAR KAROONGI (Manoranjan, 1974): RD Burman usually gave the more Indian classical songs to Lata ji. So how did this startling bejewelled melody filled with mental and ornamental nuances get to Asha ji’s throat? The results are devastating, to say the least. Manoranjan had another startling melody Aaya hoon main tujhko le jaoonga where Ashaji scaled ‘nuke’ heights.
SAPNA MERA TOOT GAYA (Khel Khel Mein, 1975): That RD Burman and Asha Bhosle together revolutionized the way we look at the film song goes without saying. While they together sang some swinging numbers like Meri jaan maine suna and Duniya mein logon ko, Sapna mera toot gaya is a rare song rendered by Asha-RD in the tragic mould. While Asha sings about lost love, flashback memories of happier times with her lover are expressed by RD. Complex and accomplished, this is a vintage RD-Asha collaboration.
UMMEED HOGI KOI (Dil Padosi Hai, non-film album with R D Burman and Gulzar, 1987): This album featured a feast of masterpieces. My pick of the lot is Jaane do mujhe jaane do...a composition so layered and intricate only Asha ji could’ve unraveled the mystery of Gulzar Saab’s poetry so fluently.
MAIN JA RAHI THI LEKAR MANN MEIN TRISHNA (Bidaai, 1974): An abandoned mother’s lament as she breathless her last and sings of all her children who have gone away. Who can listen to Asha ji in this Laxmikant-Pyarelal composition without bursting into tears?
YEH SAAYE HAIN DUNIYA HAI PARCHHAIYON KI (Sitara, 1980): Gulzar Saab’s imperishable poetry about the transience vagaries and fleeting pleasures of success in showbiz, put forward with heartrending eloquence by Asha ji. This is another song of her astonishing repertoire that leaves us open-mouthed in wonderment and admiration.
PYAAR MEIN MOHABBAT DIL JO TOOT JAATEY HAIN (Rocky, 1981): Mujras and Asha Bhosle are synonymous with Khayyam’s masterpiece melodies in Umrao Jaan. But hang on. This RD Burman Mujra from Sanjay Dutt’s debut filmed on Reena Roy begs to be heard, so that we know once and for all, this timeless songstress’ vocal prowess .
Image Source: youtube/ashabhosleitaly/narjismusic/seplvintage/redchilliesentertainment/ashabhosleofficial/atanuraychaudhuri/5dimensions/mastkalandr, spotboye archives
Image Source: youtube/ashabhosleitaly/narjismusic/seplvintage/redchilliesentertainment/ashabhosleofficial/atanuraychaudhuri/5dimensions/mastkalandr, spotboye archives
