I started posting stuff about this article in one of the other threads but now see that it deserves a thread all its own.

Two songs mentioned in the artcile are especially interesting. One is the marathi track she sings live, and the other is Ave Maria, apparently recorded in UK sometime in the 80s? Anyone have either one?

thanks a bunch
-manoneet

http://www.indianmelody.com/ashaarticle1.htm

thanks, it was a great article.

I had read this article before, but once I started reading it, I could not stop.
Incredibly incredibly powerful article. Paints a picture of an amazing woman
who pulled herself out of so many problems to emerge into a self-made
powerhouse. This article still tears me up every single time I read it.

A few years back, I remember watching the film "What's love got to do with
it" which was about the life of Tina Turner. Asha's life is not very different.
THe same abusive husband, the complete control that he had over her money,
the lack of freedom. Asha left her husband pregnant, with literally the torn
slippers on her feet, 2 children and the clothes they wore. Everything that
we see today was built after that piece by piece by piece. I recall her saying
once that she had NO idea how much she got paid for a song at the time; the
money went directly to her husband who put it away. As late as the late 50s,
she really did not know that she was a celebrity in her own right because Bhonsle
beat her up lest she get a swollen head. If I recall right, I had heard that this
celebrity had no maid in the house and did all the cooking and cleaning herself
after having put in a whole day's work at the recording studios.
A movie about her life may be uncomfortable for several people but it would
be one hell of a tribute to strong women.

It is hard for me as a fan to separate Asha Bhonsle the voice from the person.
I am hopelessly in love with the voice ever since I saw her live in Bombay's
Shanmukhananda Hall back in the mid 70s. I was a kid who had ABSOLUTELY
NO INTEREST in Hindi music, listening only to the popular Western music of the
time. The only Hindi song that I knew was "Dum maaro dum" which had come
out a few years earlier; this despite the fact that Vividh Bharati played
regularly in the house. I went to the concert mainly because I could not be
left alone at home and because I did not mind hearing "Dum maaro dum" live.
And boy did Asha's voice change things. I did not become an overnight fan
of Hindi music (that would take another 6 years). I just became enthralled by
that voice. She was on stage with Pancham and Bhupinder was a guitarist in
the band. I cannot believe I still remember the concert but I do recall it in
bits and pieces.
It started out with Asha singing "ParitraaNaaya saadhu naam vinaashaya cha
drushkritaam" from backstage. When she came on stage, she sang "Jab
andhera hota hai" with Bhupinder. I had never heard that song till then and
it would be years before I found it again on a RDB collection that was released
after he died. But the tune and the singing stuck in my head especially the
"Chor chor chor chor" part at the end. And then Pancham drove into the hall
on a motorbike sitting behind a guy dressed as a cop and Asha cracked a
("rather lame" IMO) joke about "Lagta hai chor pakDa gaya".
And then for the rest of the evening, they sang their hits most of which I was
hearing for the first time including "Piya tu ab to aaja", "Sapna mera TooT gaya",
"Jaan-e-ja DhoonDta phir raha" and many others. Pancham did the male
voice for most of the songs. He also sang the hot new song of the time "Mehbooba
mehbooba" from "Sholay" and demonstrated how they used the sound of blowing
into a bottle to get the effect of the first few notes in the song.
I vaguely recall a lot of celebrities being at the show including Kalyanji-Anandji
and Anandji went on stage and sang a song (it might have been "Mera jeevan
kora kaagaz kora hi rah gaya") and Ashok Kumar who was just recovering from
his heart attack sang the kids song from "Aashirwaad". I was fascinated by the
show that I walked over to the first 2 rows and sat down. Guess since I was a
kid, nobody stopped me. I ended up sitting next to Ashok Kumar who asked
me my name, etc. I did not know who he was and really did not want to be
disturbed from my watching the show, so I gave him short answers and then
proceeded to watch the show. Wish I knew then about Hindi cinema and HFM
what I know now.

But enough of my faint memories from an ancient show and back to the original
thread. The voice had me hooked from that day. But much later in life, when I
heard the sordid details of the life of the woman behind the voice, my respect for
her became immense.

Hats of to a great lady with a grand voice and an even grander personality.

I have the songs from the album "Ave Maria" that a collector friend of mine got
from Asha herself. Sadly this album was never released in India. "Ave Maria"
was in the top European charts for several weeks. But nobody in India ever
knew about the song or the album. There are 4 songs on the album:
- Ave Maria
- Vishnu shloka
- Calling
- Thief of our lovers' hearts (not sure of the exact title here)

Of the above, I believe "Calling" was composed by Asha herself.
I have the songs but not with me right now since I am out of town
on work AGAIN. So I hope, when I get back to California, I can find,
digitize and post them before I leave for India next week.

SB sahab,

Your article is almost as enthralling as the original itself. Ok, *almost*.

Seriously, you should post it somewhere mainstream like rediff or something. As for Asha ji, her spirit is remarkable. A rich life that is such a source of inspiration.

-Manoneet

ps: looking forward to ave maria!! Hope you ul soon.

Thanks for sharing Ur first experience of hearing Asha live, SB.

This article by Varsha is I think the best article anyone has written on her. Even the few other snippets by Varsha on Asha's shows and so on make great reading for the personal touch and Varsha's own admirable writing skills. When there was talk of an autobiography I used to always hope that Varsha would translate it into English but looks like that is not going to be.

Like SB, I too admire Asha as much for her personality as her voice and singing.
I admire her formiddable courage and determination to keep fighting despite all odds--personal troubles, the difficulty of being a single working woman with kids especially in those days, the estrangement from her family and the second rate treatment meted out to her by the entire film industry. She is an awesome fighter and truly an inspiration.

Even today how many realise the value of Asha's music, how many even understand the kind of singer she is/was. At the most they talk of her cabarets or Western songs. Yet the lady herself is always smiling, always with the same zest for life, always full of energy, looking to the future. I see people of her age, I see people of my age, including myself moan and complain about trifles, giving up on life and I see Asha, at 72 mastering the computer, learning to play the guitar, singing and dancing and enjoying her shows, working on new projects, always busy, always occupied and always with something to work on. Jiyo to aise!!!

Personally too I identify with Asha, being myself someone with no patience for hypocrites and the thekedaars of society. Being if not strong willed at least strong minded and doing what I believe in, what I feel. Therefore I feel a kindship with Asha--for her boldness, her fearlessness in calling a spade a spade and the way she lives life on her own terms.

I remember mentioning this to someone--don't know if it was on the board or just a conversation. Asha and her music have been a part of my life ever since I can remember. Whenever I am down and everything seems wrong, her voice is the only thing that can make life smile again. Asha does not know me but mera unke saath dil ka rishta hai. I guess that is the way many fans feel.

I often think Asha should have been born in another era and she would have got her rightful due as a singer but am I glad I was born at a time when I could know if only from afar the legend that is ASHA.

BTW I have the Ave Maria album--also cassette quality. Unlike SB I cannot ul very big files unless I go to the net cafe in the weekend. If SB does not ul it in a few days will try and ul the songs on Saturday.

Has anyone got the Marathi song?