My Current Top Ten

Ashaji has sung thousands of songs--so many songs that even picking a top 100 is difficult. Some of these have been great compositions--sung by anyone they would have remained great, sung by Ashaji they were elevated to the realms of the sublime, many others owe their popularity and enduring value solely to her magnificent voice and peerless singing.
My personal top 10 keeps changing. I get hooked to a certain batch of her songs every week and keep listening to them--could be her ghazals or bhajans or Marathi numbers or random film songs.
Here is a list of songs currently on my playlist--some newly discovered, some happily rediscovered and all greatly appreciated and enjoyed.

1. Khoya khoya chanda, khoye khoye taare...--beautiful tune, matchless singing, Asha's voice is magical and the song weaves a spell. Love the way she enunciates 'chand hamare'
2. Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahi milta--philosophical content in the poetry--something one can identify with--Ashaji's singing and the dard in her voice make one go back to the song again and again.
3. Piya banwari--no one can beat Ashaji when it comes to semiclassical and the song is romantic too--showcases the techinical prowess and emotive abitlity of Ashaji to perfection and is at that period when her voice was at its peak in richness and tonal quality.
4. Ashkon se teri humne which starts with Lataji's meri veena tum bin roye--has anyone seen the movie--why are these 3 songs intertwined so? Whatever the reason, the 2 singers' voices at this stage are distinct enough to create a pleasant contrast and 10 minutes of absolute listening satisfaction.
5. Raat bhar deeda-e-namnaar from Kahkashaan--a song that makes U feel why isn't there more, it is just too short, a haunting number that makes one go warm and cold at the same time.
6. Yeh char din bahar ke--an old world duet by 2 of my fav singers. Lilting and beautiful. (another one in this category is mere dil meri jaan from Jaalsaaz)
7. Saath ho tum aur raat jawan--another of my fav duets--makes one want to fall in love!!!!
7. Tera dil kahan hai from Chandni Cowk--irresistably cute!!!!! Seems to embody all that is sweet and young and innocent.
8. Aali re mere naina --not an easy one to sing at all--but Ashaji carries it off with utmost ease--her voice like water seems to glide through the most intricate of notes.
9. Kevha tari pahate--don't really know what it means but it is a song that caught me the first time I heard it and the fascination has never ebbed. If I had to pick one regional song I listen to the most it would be this one.
10. Gungunati hai, geet gati hai zindagi--a nice romantic number--one of the numbers I like best amongst her latest.

Do add Ur thoughts on this list or Ur own lists.
P

If I make my top ten, but i will make top 20. then it will be:

1) Chori Chori Solaah singhaar karungi....

2) Tere Khayalon main Hum, Teri hi baanhon mian hum

3) Ab key Baras Bhej Bhayya ko babu

4) Meri Jaan O Meri Jaan Acha naahi itna sitam

5) Woh zindagi jo thi ab tak teri panahon main

6) Tang Aachuke hain Kashmakeshe-zindagi sey hum

7) Aaj koi pyar sey dil ki baaten keh gaya

8) Kya dekha naino waale naina kyun bhar aaye

9) Mujhko sahara dene waale yeh dil kahe tera shukriya

10) Bekasi had sey jab guzar jaaye

11) Naa Pehlu main dil hai,

12) Chain sey humko kabhi aap ney jeene na diya

13) Kaali ghata chhaye mora jiya tarsaye

14) Bekas ki tabahi key saaman hazaron hain,

15) Lehraye jiya bal khaye jiya

16) Nikley they kahan jaane ke liye

17) Saathi re bhool na jaana mera pyar

18) Bechara dil kya kare sawan jale bhadun jale

19) Mujhey teri baanhon main najane kya milta hai

20) Aur kya ehde-wafa hote hain

Arif Shaikh

Wow wow wow ek se badhkar ek gaane!!! All these songs are so much part of my childhood and growing years. I love tere khayalon mein hum. Aur kya ahede wafa too has been one of my all time favs. Who sings the male version? Chain e humko kabhi somehow always brings a lump to my throat.

But I have not heard 4 of these--can u name the films and mds?
Kya dekha naino waale naina kyun bhar aaye
Mujhko sahara dene waale yeh dil kahe tera shukriya
Naa Pehlu main dil hai
Mujhey teri baanhon main najane kya milta hai
They just do not ring a bell.
P

Here r my favourite Ashaji's songs

Yehi woh jagah hai yehi woh fizayein

Kevha tari pahate

Bachpan ke din bhi kya din the

Yeh raatein yeh mausam nadi ka kinara

Balma khuli hawa mein

Bade hain dil ke kaale

Poocho na humein hum unke liye

Hum panchi mastane

Aao na gale lagalo na

Kaa re durawa kaa re abola



Lata

There are many more. Here are some of my favroties ( not in same order)

1. Sapana Mere toot Gaya
2. Dum Maro Dum from hara Rama Hare Krishna
3. Bhini Bhini Bhor aaye (Dil Pasosi hai)
4. Apni Chavi Dhikha ke .... Chaap Tilak sab chini with Lata (Mein tulsi tere aangan ki
(Please upload if any one has this number)
5. Chural Liya hai tumne jo dil ko (yadoon ki Baraat)
6. Sheesha ho ya dil ho (Aasha)
7. Zara holle Holle chalo more Sajna ( Sawan Ki Ghata
8. Dil Cheez Kya Hai and others from Umrao Jaan
9. Sun Sun Kasam se (kala Sona)
10. Hum Intezar karege tera Kamayat Tak. Khuda kare ke kamayat ho aur tu aaye.

...Sanjaya

Let me just list some among my favourite solos of Asha-ji and not in any order, but couldn't stop at 10:

Poocho na hamen hum unke liye
Tora man darpan kehlaaye
Meri baat rahi mere man mein
Zindagi ke rang kayi re
Yehi woh jagah hai
Yeh reshmi zulfon ka andhera
Main shaayad tumhare liye ajnabi hoon
Raaton ko chori chori
Aagey bhi jaane na tu
In ankhon ki masti
Jaaiye aap kahaan jayenge
Ankhon se jo utri hai dil mein
Pardey mein rahney do
Tanha tanha

Plus two duets:

Sooni sooni raat ke sitaar par
Jhoote naina bole

Some of my favorites that haven't found a mention above

1 Aapke Dard Jawan Hai
2 Aiye Mehereban Betheiye Meri Jaan
3 Bagh Mein Kali Khili
4 Bhanwara Bada Nadaan Hain
5 Dil Lagakar Hum Yeh Samjhe
6 Husn Ke Lakhon Rang
7 Justju Jiski Thi
8 Maar Dalega Dard-E-Jigar
9 Nadi Nare Na Jaon Shaam
10 Naina Hain Pyase Mere
11 Raat Akeli Hain Buz Gaye Diye
12 Shokh Nazar Ki Bijliyan Dil Pe Mere Giraye Ja
13 Ta Thai Tat Thai

Duets to follow

T

PS: Haven't heard many from those mentioned above, BE PREPARED, requests coming up!!!

Kya Dekha Naino Waale, Film = Dharam Putar (1961)
Mujhko Sahara Dene Waale, Film = "Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai (1962)
Na Pehlu Main Dil Hai, Film = "Paapi (1953)
Mujhe Teri Baanhon Main, Film = Nayi Duniya Naye Log (1973)

Arif

Kya Dekha Naino Waale, Film = Dharam Putar (1961)
Mujhko Sahara Dene Waale, Film = "Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai (1962)
Na Pehlu Main Dil Hai, Film = "Paapi (1953)
Mujhe Teri Baanhon Main, Film = Nayi Duniya Naye Log (1973)

Arif
Oh! what a selection!!! Kaafi purane khiladi malum hote ho!!!

9. Kevha tari pahate--don't really know what it means but it is a song that caught me the first time I heard it and the fascination has never ebbed. If I had to pick one regional song I listen to the most it would be this one.
Jewha tari pahaate ultun raatra geli.... means sometime around dawn,night was over.

I like Asha Taayi's all songs from Umrao Jaan:

• Dil Cheez Kya Hai
• Justuju Jis Ki Thi
• In Aankhon Ki Masti
• Zindagi Jab Bhi
• Yeh Kya Jageh Hai Doston
• Jab Bhi Milti Hai

Songs from Aabshar-e-ghazal

• Yahi Wafa Ka Sila Hai Tho
• Sochte Sochte
• Jab Raat Ki Tanahaayi
• Kahin Taare Kahin Shabnam
• Kuch Door Hamaare Saath
• Log Kehete Hein
• Pehele Bhi
• Yun Na Thi Mujhse

Shohorat Ki Bulandi Bhi, Pal Bhar Ka Tamaasha Hai
Jis Daal Pe Baite Ho, Woh Toot Bhi Sakthi Hai

How true!

Yeh gana kaunsa hai Zindagi jab bhi? Jab bhi milti hai to is the 1 min song right?
Ya Umrao Jaan is such a complete album--each song is a veritable gem.
Speaking of her non film albums I think all are great. I am still overawed each time I hear the songs from meraj-e-ghazal. And Dil Padosi Hai has so much variety-- a song for every mood and occasion. And the Kashish ghazals--wish they would rerelease that album.
P

Yaar mere,

Abshaar-e-ghazal ka
'dard dil mein utha' ek bahut achi ghazal hai, usku kyun
chhad diya

zankib

Dard dil mein utha Sochte Sochte,
Yaad Kya Aagaya, Sochte Sochte.

Haan priyaji, aur Marathi bhavgeet aur abhang ki tho kya baat hai...