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Asha
releases her first score
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Mutual admiration
society! Sachin Tendulkar expresses his admiration for Asha
Bhonsle, as the singer looks on approvingly.
Photos: Prakash Yeram
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May 21, 2001,
was one of the historic days in Asha Bhonsle’s life as she
presented to the music lovers her first attempt at composing - an
album humbly titled Aap Ki Asha. The album, which has Asha composing
and singing eight songs, was released by Universal Music on a grand
scale at a suburban five-star hotel, in Mumbai, and was graced by
some prominent film personalities. What added to the significance
was the fact that the singer completes 50 years of her singing career.
The function
began with a fashion show, where leading models Aditi Gowitrikar,
Kelly Dorjee and others catwalked to the hit songs of Asha, from
the 60s to the 90s. The models sported clothes which were similar
to what the artistes wore in the song sequence. Like when the song
Dum maro dum was played, the models sported the hippie look, and
for O mere sona re one saw the female model in a tight, short kurta
and churidar, similar to what Asha Parekh had worn in the song sequence.
The clothes were designed by Manish Malhotra and Aria. The concept
though different, turned out to be howlarious. Imagine the evergreen
hits of Asha being played in the background and the models strutting
around, modelling the clothes with emotionless demeanour. It just
didn’t gel, and everything looked quite out of sync. It would
have worked better if the songs had been emoted on stage instead.
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Adnan
Sami flanked by Sameer Sen and Sonu Nigam.
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Nitin
Mukesh with Yash Chopra.
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Jagjit
Singh greets Leslie Lewis while Chitra Singh and Anandji (extreme
right) look on.
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Anandji
has a word with Talat Aziz as his wife smiles.
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Zeenat
Aman oozes style while her son watches intently. Seen behind
is Pamela Chopra.
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Asha then took
centrestage to talk about her attempt at composing with Aap Ki Asha.
Dressed as always in a shimmering white saree, a white gajra adorning
her hair, and sporting her trademark glittering diamond earstuds,
the ageless singer had the audience in rapt attention as she narrated
anecdotes which spurred her to take up composing. "From the
time I have been singing, I have always been made aware of the fact
that the composer has an upper hand. In olden days, when I worked
with stalwart composers of the ‘golden era in music’,
I remember them telling us that if we couldn’t manage to sing
in a particular sur, they would change the tune to a simpler one.
It was like a challenge to a singer and I would take up the challenge.
How can we call ourselves singers if we can’t manage to sing
in a particular sur however difficult it is? During discussions,
music directors had pointed out to me that it is the composer to
whom a song belongs and the singer is just a voice. Though I didn’t
agree with them, because I feel a singer puts in his/her emotions
in the song, it set me thinking. And I realised that composing is
indeed more challenging. One fine day, writer-filmmaker B.R. Ishara
asked me to compose music for his film. At that time I wasn’t
confident if I would be able to do it, so I declined. But all these
incidents eventually led to me trying my hand at composing,"
explained the singer.
Asha revealed
that most of the compositions in this album were worked on while
she was tarvelling in her car. "I would think of a tune and
then sing it to my brother Hridaynath, and ask his opinion. He would
just nod his head and say it was okay, and would ask me to try a
bit harder. That helped me to better my composing," she said
with a smile.
After she had
readied her compositions, Asha said that she asked her favourite
lyricist, Majrooh Sultanpuri, to write the lyrics. "He would
call me bitiya and said he would do anything for me," she recalled,
"His lyrics in this album is his last work, and one thing I
can confidently say is that his lyrics are much better than my music.
I devote this album to him." Asha also thanked music arranger
Tabun Sutradhar for helping her out with the album.
Describing
the songs in the album as the right balance of the old and new,
she said that they would appeal to the new generation for their
peppiness. "I have tried out something for the first time.
It is just an attempt. I have no intention of shifting to or taking
up composing full time. Hope you like it. Even if you don’t
like it, please don’t say anything," she requested flashing
her dimpled smile.
Asha then called
ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to release Aap Ki Asha. As the little
hero stood next to the singing legend, Asha sung paens to him describing
him as "Har Maharastrian ka dil aur Hindustan ki naak",
and added that she was thrilled to have her album released at the
hands of Sachin.
V.J. Lazarus,
chief of Universal Music, India, joined the two legends on stage,
and in his speech, applauded Asha, calling her the "epitome
of success." Continuing further, he said, "I think she
is a success because she has lead a full, natural and happy life,
as a daughter, as a wife, as a mother and as a grand-mother."
Dramatically he ended, "Asha is hope to the millions, and one
in many billions." And the audience applauded in unison, as
the legendary singer smiled shyly.
Lazarus presented
her with a plaque to celebrate the success of her last album with
Universal Music titled Songs Of My Soul. This was followed by Tendulkar
formally releasing Aap Ki Asha. Eagerly speaking after the launch,
Tendulkar returned the compliments to the singer. "It’s
a great honour for me to release Ashaji’s album, whose songs
we have grown up listening to. Even if I had a test match tomorrow,
I would still come and release her album today," he said, and
added, "During matches, music helps me to relax and keep my
composure. I am always tuned in to music before I go out on the
field to bat. I’ll carry Aap Ki Asha with me for the Zimbabwe
tour." To this, Asha beamed.
At the end
of the launch function, the music video of the song Na marte hum
to kya karte, featuring Diya Mirza alongwith Asha, was screened.
One expected
to see many music and film personalities, with whom Asha had worked,
to grace the occasion. But only a handful of the music and film
fraternity was present. Among those who came in to give their good
wishes were the latest wizkid on the music scene, Adnan Sami, whose
album with Asha still tops the charts; veteran composer Anandji,
Yash Chopra with wife Pamela, Jatin-Lalit, Sonu Nigam, Sameer Sen,
Talat Aziz with his gorgeous wife, Zeenat Aman with her son, lyricist
Gulshan Bawra, Jagjit Singh with wife Chitra, a flamboyantly dressed
Leslie Lewis, Alyque Padamsee in a long overcoat, Kabir Bedi, Usha
Khanna, Vanraj Bhatia and Jolly Mukherjee.
And yes, a
part of the Mangeshkar family was also present. Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar
with his wife and son Adinath, and younger sis Usha Mangeshkar were
there to applaud Asha’s debut as a composer. Lata Mangeshkar
though, was conspicuous by her absence. She was in her favourite
city, London.
—
Salma Khatib
salmakhatib@hotmail.com
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