Wishing Asha Bhosle a very Happy 92nd Birth Anniversary (b. 8 September 1933- ) with her best songs by RD Burman
At the beginning of blogging, I remember, I made a comment, talking about the blog that, On this blog you would not find best songs of Asha Bhosle by RD Burman. Today I can say, that was a flippant and immature comment. Not because circumstances have made me celebrate this year as the year of RD Burman, but also because I have come across some songs of the combination which I can easily put among her best by any music director.
Born on 8th September 1933 to the legendary Dinanath Mangeshkar, the death of the patriarch in 1943, brought the family of a widow and 4 daughters and a brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar on the verge of penury. The responsibility for taking care of the family fell on the eldest sibling, Lata Mangeshkar. A kind-hearted friend of the family, Master Vinayak (father of Nanda), helped her get singing roles in Marathi Dance-Drama and films. He later set her up in Bombay film world, where starting as a bit actor-singer, within a short span of time Lata Mangeshkar stormed the scene as a Tsunami and swept away all the established singers of the era and emerge as the voice for heroines.
In this scenario, Asha Bhosle had a Lata Mangeshkar-complex, all the doyens were creating their best for the Didi, until some favourable circumstances helper her in getting some superb songs. Some music directors accentuated her different tonal quality. Finally she came into her own. Asha Bhosle was the first choice of some music directors, like Ravi and N Datta. SD Burman composed some excellent songs for her during the period of hiatus with Lata Mangeshkar. OP Nayyar is one music director who held his own without ever working with Lata Mangeshkar. His first female singer of choice and his muse was, Asha Bhosle, and he took upon himself to mentor her as a lead singer in her own right. Jaidev composed some great songs for her. Umrao Jaan’s songs by Khayyam in Asha Bhosle’s voice have left an indelible imprint, and has outdone all the courtesan songs.
RD Burman is an important link in the long list of Asha Bhosle admirers. Both were impulsive persons. Their professional togetherness led to their marriage. Asha Bhosle had made some terrible judgements in marriage, relationships, and personal affairs. Our first reaction was it was a bemel marriage – she was 16 years older to him and she had grown up children from her first marriage. RD Burman also passed away early at the age of 55 years, setting off some unflattering gossip. Besides, she suffered some enormous personal tragedies. The fate has been unusually harsh on her, but that did not deter her from her musical pursuits. She has by far sung the most songs, and has recorded more songs in all the languages and all the genres of all the singers, in the world – as per the information available in public domain. She has received numerous accolades: the civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan; Dadasaheb Phalke Award; Grammy nomination. She has aged gracefully. She retained the timbre in her voice, till well into her late 80s.
We are celebrating this year as the Year of RD Burman. Continuing the series of tributes to him I post his best songs for Asha Bhosle as my greetings to her on her 92nd birth anniversary. The first two songs, though from the 1980s have been my top favourites, and these are the songs which have held me in thrall and made me look at RD Burman with some respect. The remaining songs are in chronological order, bringing up to the 80s to show how this combination has evolved.
1. Khaali hath sham aayi hai, khaali hath jayegi by Asha Bhosle from Ijaazat (1987), lyrics Gulzar, music Gulzar
Late 80s we thought was the end of melody and decline of RD Burman. Then comes Ijaazat, adapted from the Bengali film Jatugrih based on strains in marital relationship because of the other woman. By that time Rekha had grow into a mature and sensitive actress. Here is beautiful song picturised on a forlorn wife lamenting her emptiness.
Searching for songs of this combination gave me a bonus when I stumbled upon a short video, perhaps a music rehearsal session which has RD Burman humming this song in the beginning, followed by Asha Bhosle’s song we know. RD Burman. RD Burman’s singing this song is very melodious forcing us to realise that there was a softer side to him. Now if someone says he has sung some songs in Bengali which are absolutely melodious, I trust him. Let us see if some Bengali-knowing gentleman gives us a glimpse of RD Burman’s music in Bengali.
2. Phir se aiyo badra bidesi tere pankhon par moti jharun by Asha Bhosle from Namkeen (1982), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman
This sensitive film based on the story by Samresh Basu was also directed by Gulzar. Besides being the lyricist he also wrote the screenplay of the film. This was a sad tale of mother and her three unmarried daughters living in a remote village in Himachal Pradesh. The mother was a former dancer in nautanki, but wants to be away from it to give her daughters some respectability. The wait becomes unending. The clouds and Raag Desh have a natural pathos. One of the best in this genre. This song of Saawan, and interminable wait, to my mind, elevates it to the level of SD Burman-Asha Bhosle’s Ab ke baras bhej bhaiya ko babul saawan mein deejo bulaye re.
3. Dum maro dum mit jaayein gham, bolo subah shaam Hare Krishna Hare Ram by Asha Bhosle & chorus from Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), lyrics Anand Bakhshi, music RD Burman
How do the foregoing two songs compare with the early songs of this combination? This was a chartbuster and set RD Burman on the path of unparalleled domination of the 70s.
4. Aaj ki raat koi aane ko hai re baba by Asha Bhosle from Anamika (1973), lyrics Majrooh Sultanpuri, music RD Burman
RD Burman maintains the dividing line: Heroine songs (Baahon mein chale aao humse sanam kya parda) for Lata Mangeshkar, but raunchy songs for Helen in the voice of Asha Bhosle.
5. Sooni re sejariya saajan bin tere by Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar from Namak Haram (1973), lyrics Anand Bakhshi, music RD Burman
RD Burman continues with the established trope of Hindi films. Here is a nice song picturised on two courtesan dancers in mujra style sung by Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar, one of the dancers is Jayshree.
6. Babuji mujhe maaf kar do, zara sa insaf kar do by Asha Bhosle from Imaan (1974), lyrics Anand Bakhshi, music RD Burman
This song is picturised on Leena Chandravarkar, the heroine of the movie, who does a raunchy act. RD Burman still seems to be tentative about himself and about Asha Bhosle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_hLFUhzTnE&list=RDU_hLFUhzTnE&start_radio=1
7. Chori chori solah singaar karungi by Asha Bhosle from Manoranjan (1974), lyrics Anand Bakhshi, music RD Burman
I like the tune of the song, never mind the picturisation. Full credit to Zeenat Aman to act in this remake of Irma La Douce, starring Jack Lemon and Shirley MacLaine. The story was about a street worker who had to solicit customers in a provocative dress, and a bumbling constable.
RD Burman is back to using Asha Bhosle for the second or third woman in the next two songs.
8. Koi mar jaaye kisi ne yahan kya dekha hai by Asha Bhosle from Deewaar (1975), lyrics Sahir Ludhianvi, music RD Burman
Deewaar became a cult film because of Salim-Javed’s story, script and dialogues, and Amitabh Bachchan who consolidated his character as an Angry Young Man. Women and songs had no place actually in the film, but we find this Asha Bhosle solo on the third woman Aruna Irani, who performs it as a mujra in qawwali style.
9. Bechara dil kya kare by Asha Bhosle from Khushboo (1975), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman
This movie was based on a story by Sharat Chandra Chatterjee, also directed by Gulzar. A sensitive film starring Jeetendra, Hema Malini and Farida Jalal, this song is somewhat peppy, and I would call it a middling song in the evolution of RD Burman-Asha Bhosle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4uVGUxvi14&list=RDj4uVGUxvi14&start_radio=1
10. Tum kitney din baad miley by Asha Bhosle from The Great Gambler (1979), lyrics Anand Bakshshi, music Rd Burman
This seems to be an ambiguous song. Amitabh Bachchan walks in the club with Neetu Singh. The club singer-dancer pulls Amitabh Bachchan away from Neetu Singh and sings the complaining song where he had been all this while. Neetu Singh is bewildered at this bold act by Zeenat Aman.
11. Piya bawri by Asha Bhosle (and Ashok Kumar) from Khubsoorat (1980), lyrics Gulzar, music RD Burman
In this Hrishikej Mukherjee film, Rekha comes as a guest for a short stay in this family of stifled discipline imposed by the matriarch of the family, Deena Pathak. Her hen-pecked husband, Ashok Kumar and bahu Shashikala, in a surprisingly decent role, have to suppress their tabla playing skill and dancing talent respecively. The film was entirely carried on the shoulders of the chirpy girl Rekha who gradually chips at the stifling rules, and makes them break free when the lady of the house is away, She eggs them on to showcase their talents on the terrace when Ashok Kumar plays the tabla and Sashikala dances kathak. Asha Bhosle is the lead singer in the movie.
12. Pyar karnewaale pyar karte hain shaan se by Asha Bhosle from Shaan (1980), lyrics Anand Bakshi, music RD Burman
In this multi-starrer it is difficult to say who was the principal heroine or if there was one at all. The principal actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shammi Kapoor, Bindiya Goswami and Parvin Babi were all lovable crooks. This song is pitcurised in a club on Parveen Babi where the main objective is to steal the diamond necklace of a maharani. This caper brings all the four together to commit larceny as a team. This is an unabashed solo by Asha Bhosle.
From this point I would move to the two songs of the 1980s I posted in the beginning. This completes the circle, and I leave conclusion to the erudite readers. The starting point could be Hans Jakhar’s statistics that RDB composed 341 songs for Lata Mangeshkar, and 513 songs for Asha Bhosle, but most of the memorable solos he gave to Lata Mangeshkar.
Acknowledgement and Disclaimer
The song links from the YouTube have been given or embedded only for the listening pleasure of the music lovers. This blog has no commercial interest and makes or suggests no claim of copyright, whether directly or indirectly, over these songs, which vests with the respective rights holders.
