THE BIRTH OF AN ARTIST

Her first song ever, Asha ji sang “Chala Chala Nav Bala” in 1943 for a Marathi movie “Majha Bal”.

HINDI FILM INDUSTRY RECEIVES A NEW VOICE

This song marks Asha Tai’s debut in the Hindi film industry. The song was a part of Hansraj Behl’s film “Chunariya“.

NAYA DAUR FOR ASHA TAAI

Until B.R. Chopra’s “Naya Daur” Asha ji used to get the songs rejected by the then-popular singers which included Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Dutt. However her duets with Mohammad Rafi which includes Ude jab jab zulfein teri turned out to be one of her most popular songs gaining her immense recognition.

THE ASHA-BURMAN ERA

It was 1966 and Asha Bhosale was to perform in one of R.D Burman’s first soundtracks, for the movie “Teesri Manzil”.

When Asha ji first heard the dance number she felt it was not her cup of tea to sing a westernized tune. When Burman offered to change the music, our determined Asha Bhosale took it as a challenge and the result was the sensational “Aaja Aaja” along with such other songs as “O Haseena Zulfonwali” and “O Mere Sona Re”. Asha tai went on to deliver many hits with R.D Burman which ended with them tying the knot in 1980.

This was the era when Asha taai was the playback singer of Helen.

GHAZALS AND AWARDS

As of 1980, Asha taai was stereotyped as a cabaret singer and pop crooner. With a will to shatter the stereotype, Asha ji in 1981 took up a new genre of ghazal singing lending her vocals to several ghazals for

the Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan, including “Dil Cheez Kya Hai”, “In Aankhon Ki Masti Ke”, “Yeh Kya Jagah Hai Doston” and “Justaju Jiski Thi”. The ghazals won her the first National Film Award of her career. A few years later, she won another National Award for the song “Mera Kuch Samaan” from Ijazaat (1987).

From singing for characters of vamps, cabaret dancers, disco dancers to saree clad actresses, and tawaifs, Asha Ji is surely a legend and has contributed immensely in the music industry.

Here’s wishing Asha Taai a very happy 87th birthday.