By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On The Eve Of Her Birth Anniversary
प्यासे प्यासे इन मेरे लबों के लिये
तेरे होठों ने हज़ार वादे किये
भूलने वाले कोई जिये तो कैसे जिये
अरे हां अरे हां अरे हां हा
ला ला ल ला ला ल ला ला ल ला ला ल ला आ आ
(Caravan-1971)
Asha Bhosle is a name that conjures up visions of sensuousness, romanticism & playfulness. Her awe-inspiring voice, coupled with titillating overtone, made her darling of millions of her fans worldwide.
Asha Bhosle is blessed with being the sister of Lata Mangeshkar, Usha, Meena & Hridyanath Mangeshkar. Sardool Singh Kwatra, a noted music director of Punjabi films (‘Posti’ fame) reportedly gave her a breakthrough in one of his earlier films in 1950s,although there are other claims too. Kwatra also made lata, Shamshaad begum & Rajkumari sing under his baton.
O. P. Nayyar, the celebrated music maestro provided the budding singer a life life time opportunity following his rift or estrangement with Lata. It would be no exaggeration to say that Lata’s loss became Asha’s gain . Although she made her presence felt with her number ‘Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar Bhar Ke Aankhon Me Khumaar’ in Raj Khosla’s ” C.I.D.( 1956) under the music score of her mentor O. P. Nayyar, her best was seen in the 1957 Nasir Husaain directed ” Tumsa nahin Dekha” starring Shammi Kapoor & Amita.The film proved to be a super-hit with many a memorable song like ‘Sar Par Topi Lal, Haath Mein Resham Ka Rumal’,’Aaye Hai Door Se, Milne Huzoor Se’ & Dekho Kasam Se Kehte Hai Tumse Haan’ all rendered by Asha-Rafi duo again under the baton of O. P. Nayyar.
Perhaps the best was yet to come. It did come in 1958 movie “Howrah Bridge”, directed by Shakti Samanta under the music score of Nayyar. Interestingly, Nayyar gave her preference over a much popular ,but vainglorious Geeta Dutt, to the surprise & chagrin of many, to sing the all-time super-hit sensuous club number ‘Aaiye meharabaan, baithiye jaane-jaan,shauq se lijiye ji, ishq ke imtihaan’.It did wonders and there was no looking back for Asha Bhosle. She was now flooded with offers of new assignments. Bibhuti Mitra direccted ” Phagun”( 1958) featuring Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan proved another musical hit to elevate the singer on top of the chart to rub shoulders with her arch rivals-with songs like, ‘Ek Pardesi Mera Dil Le Gaya’, ‘Tum Roothke Mat Jaana” ( Asha-Rafi) & ‘Piya,Piya, Na Laage Mora Jiya’ ( Asha) to name some.
Asha Bhosle appeared as a singer in Nayyar’s all films.Joy Mukherjee-Sadhna starrer ” Ek Musafir Ek Hasina” ( 1962) was also welcomed with thunderous applause by the cinegoers.The film was a musical bonanza with awe-inspiring songs like ‘Bahut Shukriya, Badi Meharbaani’, ‘Aap Yun Hi Agar Humse Milte Rahe’,& ‘Main Pyar Ka Raahi Hoon (Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle) to mention few.” Phir Wohi Dil Laaya Hoon” ( 1962), “Kashmir Ki Kali” ( 1964) & ” Mere Sanam” were other gems from O. P. Nayyar.
‘Ye dekh ke dil jhuma, li pyaar ne angdayi'( Kashmir Ki Kali), ‘Meri jaan tum pe sadke ahsaan itna kar do’ (Sawan Ki Ghata -1966) ‘O hasina zulfo vali janejahan’,’O mere sona re sona re sona’ ,Aaja aaja mai hu pyaar tera, allah allah inkar tera , ooo aaja’ (Teesri Manzil),’Maang ke saath tumhaara maine maang liya sansaar’,Ude Jab Jab Julfen Teree’, ‘Saathi Haath Badhana Saathi Re’,& ‘Reshmi Salwaar ,Kurta Jaali Ka'( Naya Daur-1957) , ‘Phir miloge kabhi is baat ka vaada kar lo'( Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi’-1966),’Nili- nili ghata o bhigi bhigi hawa'(Hum Hindustani),’Abhi na jaao chhod akar ke dil abhi bharaa nahi'( Hum Dono-1961),’Chodd do aanchal jamaana kya kahega'(Paying Guest- 1957), ‘Piya Tu Ab To Aaja'( Caravan-1971) & ‘Dum Maro Dum ‘( Hare Rama Hare Krishna'(1972) were other hits of Asha Bhosle.
Asha Bhosle married music director R. D. Burman in 1980 and they remained together until the latter’s death in 1994. Asha sang in over thousand films. She also rendered her voice to many regional songs including one ‘Re man Aiso Kar Sanyasa’ from 1969 “Nanak Naam Jahaj Hai” under the baton S. Mohinder ( May His soul rest in peace).
