One of the most iconic playback singers in Bollywood, Asha Bhosle has recorded over 10,000 songs for more than 800 movies. Her extraordinary talent has enabled her to excel in every genre of song, from ghazals to pop, with a special knack for sensual and Western-styled songs.
Born on September 8, 1932, Asha was trained in classical music by her father, Dinanath Mangeshkar, alongside her sister, the legendary Lata Mangeshkar. She made her debut with the film Chunaria in 1948, but it took her a while to reach the top. Between 1948 and 1957, she sang more songs than any other playback singer, but mostly for small, unknown films.
However, her big break came in 1957 with composer O.P. Nayyar in the films Tumsa Nahin Dekha and Naya Daur. This led to a string of hit songs and cemented her position as Nayyar's premier singer until the early 1970s. She collaborated with Nayyar on numerous films, including Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Mere Sanam, Humsaya, and Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye.
Initially, Asha's singing style was reminiscent of Geeta Dutt's, but she soon evolved her own unique style. Her voice possessed a lilting, versatile quality that could capture any song at any scale. By the end of the 1960s, she was second only to her sister, and the two of them dominated Indian playback singing for decades.
The 1970s saw her start a new relationship with composer Rahul Dev Burman, resulting in some of her greatest hits, including Haré Rama Haré Krishna, Jawani Diwani, Procession of Memories, and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen. However, she was again typecast, this time in singing mainly Western-styled songs.
In 1981, composer Khayyam revealed another, more lyrical quality to Asha's voice, showcasing her finest songs in the film Umrao Jaan. Her collaboration with Khayyam earned her the National Award, and she continued to make actresses sizzle in songs, most notably in the films Rangeela, Dil To Pagal Hai, and Taal.
Recently, she was nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World-Music Album. Even at 70, Asha Bhosle remains an active and iconic playback singer, still making actresses sizzle in songs and reaffirming her status as one of the greatest playback singers in Bollywood history.
