New Delhi, July. 28 (PTI): She has taken strides with time to remain the golden voice in Hindi music. However, for Asha Bhosle, music of the old days still retains a charm that is lacking today.
"Earlier, musicians used to do a lot of hard work. The lyrics were good, the tunes were sweet. But, that does not mean that today's musicians shy away from hard work. Still the charm is lacking", she says.
While musicians these days have been trying to cash in on the craze for remixes and fusions, Asha stresses on exposing children to Indian music in their original forms.
"Our children nowadays listen to remixes and fusions. But they should be exposed to our own music in its original forms. They should listen to classical music as well. That way, they will develop good understanding of our roots in general and music in particular", she says.
Known for her experimentation with old songs, Asha has come up with an album of old Gazals this time. "Asha", the new album, features nine re-recorded Gazals of Mehdi Hasan, Farida Khannum, Gulam Ali and Jagjit Singh.
"I have tried to recreate the same old music in this album and sing the songs as they were. I cannot say how successful I have been. But, I have tried...," she says.
Though Asha rues that music has lost the charm of the old days, she has hopes on the new generation of musicians.
"I personally like Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargan and Shreya Ghosal. These people are talented and they are capable of giving new standards to Hindi music", she says.
Despite being witness to the changes that Hindi music has gone through over the decades and having adopted to the changes with ease and exuberance, Asha still thinks she does not know what makes good music.
"I do not know how to make good music or what it takes to create good music. Had I known, probably people would have liked all my songs", she says.
Critical acclaim may have come in plenty for Asha, but she has always considered the love of the public as the parameter for judging success. For her, a good song is one that people like and never fades with time.
"The success of an artist lies in his or her acceptance among public. I feel great when people like my songs and they express their love to me. It becomes more satisfying when small children like my songs", she says.
While people at her age would most likely find the going tough in any field, Asha has been continuing her musical journey without a hitch. For her, age does not lie in years, but in the mind only.
"If you think that you are young and you will remain young forever, time cannot defeat you. If you are mentally tough, you will never grow old", she says.
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