A Musical Tribute To Asha Bhosle - 75 Years

Asha Bhosle completed 75 years on 8th September. She first recorded a song in 1943, 65 years back. What a journey it has been since then for this grand lady of Indian music! Still lends her voice to actors young enough be her grand daughters! Here’s a musical tribute to Asha Bhosle.

Nanhe Munne Bacche Teri from the movie Boot Polish (1954) was one of her earliest songs as she made the transition from B-Grade movies playback to the top directors. Raj Kapoor gave her the break here.



Uden Jab jab Zulfein from Naya Daur (1957). Naya Daur was Asha's first break which vaulted her to stardom. The pair of Asha-Nayyar went on to create tremendous music later and were also involved emotionally. BR Chopra was the producer of the movie.




Her partnership with Pancham da was legendary and lasted till RD Burman's death. Asha discovered herself many times over with RD Burman's compositions. She became well known as the voice of Helen with Piya tu... She did songs ranging from the racy Caravan to the soulful Ijaazat, romantic Yaadon Ki Baarat and melodious Hara Rama Hare Krishna with him. Here are two Pancham - Asha songs

Dum Maro Dum - Hare Krishna Hare Ram (1971)



Jaane Jaa Phir Raha, Dhudndta Hi Raha (Jawani Diwani)



In Ankhon ki Masti from Umrao Jaan in 1981, the movie for which she won her first National Award. She could sing ghazals too!



Parde Mein Rehne Do - Never one to miss out on a trend, Asha was one of the first of the older playback singers to make the foray into the remix world and achieved instant success. One of her earlier remixes which became a roaringly successful video.



She recorded a duet with Australian cricket hero Brett Lee "You're the One For Me" (2006)



Asha sings Aaiye Meherbaan Live (a OP Nayyar Composition from Howrah Bridge)



She celebrates her 75th anniversary with what else – a new album!

Some other Asha trivia. She has been nominated for Grammy. She can sing a Mozart aria in her own scale and she owns Queen Anne furniture! She has also won the Dada Saheb Phalke award, the highest honour in Indian cinema.

Here’s to many more years of Asha and her songs!

All about Asha Bhosle

Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You

If I had to live my life without you near me
The days would all be empty
The nights would seem so long
With you I see forever oh so clearly
I might have been in love before
But it never felt this strong

How many youthful love ballads have commenced here! This beautiful melody originally written by Gerry Goffin and Michael Masser and sung by George Benson, was given a whole new makeover by Glenn Mederios. Its the original love song, sung for the truly wholesome first love. Tell me, which young lover wouldnt have presented a recording of this song to his lover, fifteen years back! Mederios, a Hawaaian singer, recorded this at sixteen. It went to the States and became extremely popular just by word of mouth, no extensive trailer release, no pre release hype! It has even been used by the US Army at one point!

Here's a video of this song and the complete lyrics

If I had to live my life without you near me
The days would all be empty
The nights would seem so long
With you I see forever oh so clearly
I might have been in love before
But it never felt this strong

Our dreams are young
And we both know they'll take us
Where we want to go

(Chorus 1)
Hold me now
Touch me now
I don't want to live without you

(Chorus 2)
Nothing's gonna change my love for you
You ought know by now how much I love you
One thing you can be sure of
I'll never ask for more than your love

(Chorus 3)
Nothing's gonna change my love for you
You ought know by now how much I love you
The world may change my whole life through
But nothing's gonna change my love for you

If the road ahead is not so easy,
Our love will lead the way for us
Like a guiding star
I'll be there for you if you should need me
You don't have to change a thing
I love you just the way you are
So come with me and share the view
I'll help you see forever too

(Repeat Chorus 1)

(Repeat Chorus 2)

(Repeat Chorus 3)

Mummy Woes

I have recently shifted to a new place leaving behind the comfort of my home state, Mom, Dad, in-laws, aunts, uncles, etc, etc. You get the drift. With all the attendant heartache (or relief!), I have also left behind the comfort of a domestic help.

It’s a novel experience for me caring for my children all alone and all day. Before this, I always had people to cook and care for the child. So much for the advantages of working out! Working seems so very simple compared to this! You just need to take care of the target and the rest falls into place. Like a fat cheque at the end of the month! You come home at 8 in the evening, cuddle the child, before handing him over to be fed. In the meantime you catch the news and then some cartoon with the toddler.

Now look where I am. It seems my entire life is just planning the next meal and then ensuring that that meal goes where it's intended and not into the dustbin! Just when breakfast is over, lunch needs to be cooked. After running around feeding a cantankerous kid his lunch (it takes roughly around 2 hours, maybe…if one is lucky), its time to plan for the tea time snack and dinner. But I have been cheating on dinner, so far. I’ve been getting it mostly from the local deli. It’s another matter that the man behind the counter asked me yesterday, “no house cooking, ma’am? you work outside?” leaving my husband grinning and me …furious!

Moreover, it is not all cooking too. Clothes, dishes, they all need to be cleaned (only part that’s automated), hung, dried, folded et al. Wipe the table, put aside books, shoes, cds, plates… believe me keeping house is a never ending process. Just when I think I can put my feet up with a mug of tea, I find the apple juice has been spilled. While I wipe that clean, the kid has found a means to climb the TV unit, of course not before tearing the day’s papers to shreds and strewing the neatly folded clothes all over the carpet. And as I run mad clearing up, he manages to break a egg. Well, I hope, the baby will have to have a nap. I can catch a bit of breath, then. Maybe start a novel or, just maybe, if I am lucky, get in a blog. That is the hope I have been nourishing the past fortnight. And it still remains a wistful forlorn hope…for I go to sleep before the kid does!

It reminds me of the story of “Uncle ___ Hangs A Portrait” from Three Men in a Boat! I have never believed that being a home-maker is easy. I am being proved right many times over. Sshh…Don’t wake him. Its 12 AM and he is finally asleep!

All said and done, I don’t think I will trade all these for Office work ever again. Especially when my child whispers to me at night, Mama, please do not go to Office – ever! Its not really tough being a Mom...