As I drive towards a journey nowhere, I ask my friends to entertain me. How? One friend suggests that we should play, "Dheere dheere zara zara, from the film Agar Tum Na Hote," and I say, "Dude, go ahead, it's a lovely song picturised on Rekha and Raj Babbar.
Rewind further and I am wondering which song to play when I'm all set to take the flight to Delhi. I'm in my car and my father asks me to play one of my favourite Asha Bhosle songs. And I tell him, "It should be any Asha number from Izazat directed by Gulzar." And by the way, I am not an exception. When I meet the next generation, they talk about Dum maro dum or Pyar karnewale or Guru guru and the binding factor is Asha Bhosle. On one hand, she croons a number composed by the legendary Khayaam for Umrao Jaan, on the other hand, she isn't reluctant to croon for Sridevi in Waqt Ki Awaaz. At the same time, she sings a- Rajesh Roshan-composition in his nephew's debut Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000). Forget the age, Asha Bhosle personifies versatility in the true sense of the term.Well, she sings Tip tip tip baarish for Neelam and Hakki pet lakhamma for Mandakini. And when we hear the number, we close our eyes, and one voice reverberates irrespective of the actress, she sings for.
Generations don't matter. If it's for Tanuja or Asha Parekh or Zeenat Aman or Rekha or Parveen Babi or Kajol or Ameesha Patel, the authenticity stays and music lovers relate to the voice. Come on, name one singer who has had the temerity to tread on so many different routes which none before has done. She has thus carved out a distinct place of her own in Hindi film music. Asha Bhosle dares to take the route unexplored. And this is the reason why she is SPECIAL.
The options she throws at us makes us give her a place which nobody can even match up to. Phoole gondho neyi or Phool phute jhore jaaye, two of her biggest Bengali hits, composed by RD Burman and Bhappi Lahiri respectively still top the chart busters.
Tere liye jeena from Shaan has her pitted against her sister, Lata Mangeshkar. And this is not the only number. Yet, she delivers. And she remains etched in our heart.
Happy Birthday, Ashaji. You still have so much to give! Let's celebrate September 8, your birthday cherishing the enormous contributions you have made to our lives.
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