Asha Bhosle

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Asha Bhosle started singing at the tender age of 10 to support the family!

She lost her father the great musical stalwart Master Deenanath Mangeshkar when she was just 9 years old. Responsibility of running the house came upon her and her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar, who was 13 years old. Thanks to the family friend Master Vinayak, Asha got a break in Marathi film to sing a song. She was 10 years old. The song ‘Chala Chala Nav Bala' for the film ‘Majha Bal' with composer Datta Davjekar.

A bagful of woes! A rough marriage!

Asha Bhosle's personal life has been a bagful of woes. At the young age of just 16 years, she fell in love with her secretary, Ganpatrao Bhosle who was twice his age. Despite family opposition and elder sister Lata Mangeshkar's resistance, Asha did not pay heed and ended up in a rough marriage. She eloped and had three children, sons Hemant and Anand and daughter, Varsha. But the marriage was a failure as Asha was thrown out by her husband with two young children and pregnant with the third.

The tragic romance between Asha Bhosle and O.P. Nayyar

Though Asha Bhosle sang her first solo song back in 1949 yet she had to struggle for almost 10 years to get a major break which ultimately was given by music director O.P. Nayyar in 2 super hit films CID (1957) and Naya Daur (1957). Later she sang some timeless numbers for O.P. Nayyar like  ‘Aaiye Meherban', ‘Deewana Hua Badal', ‘Isharon Isharon Mein', ‘Aao Huzur Tumko', ‘Ude Jab Jab Zulfein Teri', etc. The two came so close that the media started rumors of their relationship. Thus the two ended their relationship with the recording of an apt song ‘Chain Se Hum Ko Kabhi Aap Ne Jeene Na Diya… ' (Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye) (1974) and then parted ways.

Asha Bhosle finally got solace in the arms of R.D. Burman

After her split with Nayyar, Asha Bhosle came in contact with Asha Bhosle. Though Asha was 6 years elder than R.D. Burman, yet the duo shared a loving, fruitful and a very happy relationship. They married in 1980 and lived happily together until R.D. Burman departed in 1994.

1950

In the late 50's Music director O.P. Nayyar made Asha a Star!

Music director O.P. Nayyar had differences with Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar hence the duo never worked together but Nayyar wanted to prove Lata that he is a better music director and can produce quality music without Lata Mangeshkar. Hence he worked hard on Lata Mangeshkar’s younger sister Asha and refined her talent. He brilliantly explored the inborn talent of Asha and gave her a series of hit songs in super hit films like Leke Pahla Pahla Pyar.. (CID ); Saathi Haath Badhana.. Naya Daur); Aaiye Meherbaan ….(Howrah Bridge) and "Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera….(Mere Sanam). Aao Huzoor Tumko……(Kismat), Jaaiye Aap Kahan….(Mere Sanam), Main Pyaar Ka Rahi Hoon (Ek Musafir Ek Haseena), Deewana Hua Baadal and Ishaaron Ishaaron Mein (Kashmir Ki Kali), etc. These songs became so popular that Asha Bhosle became a Star Singer!!  Asha Bhosle won a Filmfare Best Singer award under O.P. Nayyar for the song ‘Chain se hum ko kabhi aap ne jeene na diyaa (Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye 1974).

1960

In the 60's S.D. Burman gave new wings to Asha Bhosle

Few are aware that it was music maestro S.D Burman who extracted the real talent in Asha Bhosle. Actually S.D Burman only worked with Lata Mangeshkar but in the late 50’s S.D. Burman had a tiff with Lata Mangeshkar from 1957 to 1962! The period witnessed the rise of Asha to dizzy heights as she has sung some of the most difficult songs like Kali ghata chhaye mora jiya tadpaye, Sujata (1959); Sach hue sapne tere jhoom le o man mere, Kaala Bazaar (1960); Dekhane mein bhola hai dil ka salona, Bambai Ka Babu (1960); Koi aya dhadkan kehti hai, Lajwanti (1958); Nazar lagi raja tore bangle par, Kala Pani (1958); Ab ke baras bhej, Bandini (1963) etc.

Music Director Ravi helped Asha Bhosle win her First Best Playback Singer Filmfare Award.

Thanks to music directors O.P.Nayara and S.D. Burman showing faith in Asha, many more music directors in the '60s gave Asha an opportunity like music director Ravi. Under the music compositions of Ravi, Asha Bhosle did many hit films like Gharana, Grihasti, Kajal, Phool Aur Patthar, Waqt, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Gumrah, Bahu Beti, China Town, Aadmi Aur Insaan, Dhund, and Humraaz. Asha won her First Best Playback Singer Filmfare Award for the song Garibon Ki Suno– Dus Lakh (1968). Few hits songs of the duo are Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu, Waqt (1965):Jab Chali Thandi Hawa, Do Badan (1966):Chanda Mama Door Ke, Vachan (1955) etc.

1970

R.D. Burman and Asha Bhosle ruled the 70's

Asha Bhosle and Rahul Dev Burman Jodi came to prominence after Teesri Manzil (1966). In this film, R.D. Burman experimented a variety of song and all songs were hit, particularly ‘O  Haseena Zulfon Wali' became a huge hit. In the 1970s, Asha and R.D. combination fetched Asha 2 Filmfare awards in a row for the songs "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" (Caravan -1972) and "Dum Maro Dum" (Hare Rama Hare Krishna, 1973). The Jodi created ripples with innovative numbers like "Duniya Mein" (Apna Desh, 1972) and the romantic "Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne" (Yaadon Ki Baaraat, 1973). Pancham also recorded many hit duets with Asha and Kishore Kumar such as "Jaane Jaan" (Jawani Diwani) and "Bhali Bhali Si Ek Soorat" (Buddha Mil Gaya).

1980

Asha Bhosle won 2 National Awards

Music director Khayyam extracted the best out from Asha Bhosle when he used her to sing Ghazals for his film Umrao Jaan (1981). Asha proved she can sing classical with as much panache as other genres and went on to win the National Award for Best Playback Singer for the song "Dil Cheez Kya Hain… Umrao Jaan (1981). Five years later, Asha won her Second National Award for Best Playback Singer, under R.D. Burman music for the song " Mera Kuch Saaman …(Ijaazat).

1990

Asha and AR Rahman created magic

In the '90s, when Asha Bhosle had turned 60 years old, yet she did not abandon music, instead, she experimented with peppy numbers and along with young A.R. Rahman. With the Aamir Khan film Rangeela (1994)), Asha Bhosle made a comeback with hit songs like "Tanha Tanha" and "Rangeela Re… Her other hits with Rahman are Radha Kaise Na Jale" (Lagaan), "Kahin Aag Lage" (Taal), "O Bhanware" (Daud, a duet with legend singer K. J. Yesudas).

2000

Asha Bhosle is the first Indian singer to be nominated for a Grammy.

In 2001, she came up with a CD - "Nellie vs. Asha Remix" created by Digital Cutup Lounge. In 2005, You've Stolen My Heart: Songs from R.D. Burman's Bollywood was released in the US. The album was nominated for Grammy Awards 2006 in the category of "Best Contemporary World Music Album. Thus Asha Bhosle is the first Indian singer to be nominated for the prestigious International Grammy Awards. Readers may note International Grammy Awards are World Music Industry’s equivalent award to Hollywood films awards like Oscar Award.