Asha Bhosle was born in Sangli, Maharashtra, into the family of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar. Her father was a theater actor and classical singer who had been born in the village of Mangeshi in Goa. When she was nine years old, her father died. The family moved from Pune to Kolhapur and then to Bombay.

She and her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar began singing and acting in films to support their family. She sang her first film song Chala Chala Nav Bala for the Marathi movie Majha Bal (1943). The music for the film was composed by Datta Dawjekar. She made her Hindi film debut when she sang the song Saawan Aaya for Hansraj Behl’s ‘Chunariya’ (1948).

She was 16 when she eloped with the 31-year-old Ganpatrao Bhosle and married him despite of her family’s objection. Ganpatrao was Lata Mangeshkar’s personal secretary and the marriage failed because of Asha’s husband and in-laws ill-treatment. Later, Ashaji married the famous music director RD Burman in 1980 and were together until he passed away.

She has won many awards for her contribution to the arts including many Filmfare awards, BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, Swaralaya Yesudas Award, The Freddi Mercury Award, the Padma Vibushan, two National Awards and The Dadasaheb Phalke Award. She was also the first Indian singer to be nominated for a Grammy.

Ashaji is obviously one of our most favorite singers because of her unusual voice and hatke adaa that is prevalent in her songs. She is a delight to watch on screen and is always dressed impeccably in beautiful sarees and diamonds! We still remember on Sundays whenever ‘Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera’ would play on Chitrahaar, it would make us so happy. What sets her apart is her music apart from the film industry…she has released many of her own albums and her music videos are just as entertaining as watching a song.

She is the only filmi singer who has reinvented herself over the years to give the audience a variety of songs. If she sang sad depressing songs in the early 60s, then she also sang Helen’s cabarets in the 70s. From soulful ghazals to pop, she tried everything. She recorded the a huge number of songs with RD Burman in the 80s and made remixes of her own songs in the 90s. Later on she made a few albums where she collaborated with other singers and actors who tried their hand in singing.

There are so many songs of hers that we love, this is just a small list of our favorites:

Dilli Ka Thug – Yeh Raatein Yeh Mausam (1958)
Howraah Bridge – Aayen Meherbaan (1958)
Sujatha – Kali Ghata Chhaye Song (1959)
Hum Dono – Abhi Na Jaao Chod Kar (1961)
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam – Bhanwara Bada Nadaan (1962)
Dil Hi To Hai – Nigahen Milane Ko Jee Chahta Hain (1963)
Phir Wahi Dil Laya Hoon – Aankhon Se Jo Utri Hai Dil Mein (1963)
Woh Kaun Thi – Shokh Nazar Ki Bijliyan (1964)
Mere Sanam – Jaiye Aap Kaha Jayenge (1965)
Waqt – Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu (1965)
Mera Saaya – Jhumka Gira Re (1966)
Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi – Yehi Vo Jagah Hain (1966)
Jewel Thief – Raat Akeli Hain (1967)
Kismat – Aao Huzoor Tumko (1968)
Hare Rama Hare Krishna – Dum Maro Dum (1971)
Caravan – Piya Tu Ab to Aaja (1971)
Phagun – Chum-Chum Ghungru Bole (1973)
Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye – Chain Se Humko Kabhi (1974)
Namak Halal – Raat Baaqi Baat Baaqi (1982)
The Great Gambler – Do Lafzon Ki Hain Dil Ki Kahani (1979)

Favorite Albums (Where she sang two or more songs)
Teesri Manzil (1966)
Umrao Jaan (1981)
Rangeela (1995)

Not many people know that Ashaji is a great cook and her paya curry, Goan fish curry and dal are very popular with the Kapoor family. Oh we would love to have some Goan fish curry prepared by Ashaji, chalo ek din hopefully we can make a request! Even though Ashaji is turning 76 today, there is no sign of stopping for this diva.

She’s collaborating with Robbie Williams for his eighth solo alblum, Reality Killed The Video Star. This is not her first international collaboration and her first collaboration was with British singer-songwriter, Boy George, on his single Bow down mister, in 1991. She has worked on other projects that include – British boy band Code Red on “We can make it,” American rock singer Michael Stipes on “The way you dream” and American String Quartet, Kronos Quartret on the album, You’ve Stolen My Heart, for which she was nominated for the Grammy Awards 2006 and the band Cornershop released a song as a tribute to her, titled “A brimful of Asha.”

We admire her for taking risks in her career and delivering an array of songs that have entertained us for years. We absolutely love Asha Ji and look forward to many more songs in the future. Need to give “mera kuch saaman” another listen…hands down, this our favorite Asha Ji song!
______________________________________________________________________
Background information is from Wikipedia

Sampooran Singh Kalra, better known by his pen name Gulzar is an Indian poet, lyricist and director. He was born to Makhan Singh Kalra and Sujan Kaur, in Dina, Jhelum District, British India. Before he was Gulzar saab he worked as a car mechanic in a garage. He took the pen name Gulzar Deenvi after becoming an author. He’s won countless accolades for his work including an Oscar for “Jai Ho” but that’s not of extreme importance because he’s also won a Padma Bhushan, five National Awards and 20 Filmfares.

Gulzar saab has also given a new genre to Hindi Literature known as Triveni. Triveni is a form of Hindi/Urdu poetry initiated by the poet Gulzar. Unlike sher, a triveni consists of three misras. The first two are complete in themselves, but the addition of the third misra gives a new facet all together. You can hear this genre in the album ‘Koi Baat Chale’ on which he collaborated with Jagjit Singh.

He also has one of the most beautiful voice; it’s so calming to listen to. Check out this poem he recited at the Vishwa Hindi Sammelan.

“Jungle Jungle Pata Chala Hai, Chaddi Pehen Key Phool Khila Hai” – this is what we looked forward to on Sunday mornings. We’d get up early and make sure to catch the theme song of ‘The Jungle Book.’ Obviously at that age we didn’t know who had written the song, but today we pay tribute to the one and only Gulzaar saab whose worked we’ve admired since we were little kids.

Gulzaar saab has never really been in the limelight, but whenever you see him, he’s dressed in the most beautiful plain white khaadi kurta-pyjamas…that’s one of our favorite things about him. Apart from his dress sense, we can’t really comment on Gulzar saab the person. We certainly wish we had a way with words like Gulzar saab taanki hum unki tareef main chand alfaaz likh sakein…lekin hum toh unki juti ke barabar bhi nahin, so instead we’re going to talk about some of our favorite works by Gulzar saab.

He directed Maachis (1996), Lekin… (1990), Ijaazat (1987), Angoor (1982), Khushboo (1975), Mausam (1975), Aandhi (1975), Mere Apne (1971) among others. Many of his movies tackled issues that were relevant and still are many years after, but he also has a great sense of humor…as seen in Angoor, an all time favorite movie!

He also produced a TV serial, Mirza Ghalib (1988), telecast on DD National in which Naseeruddin Shah played the role of Ghalib.

As we were making a list, it became terribly difficult to post every song we love because it’s so long, so we’ll post a few and try to post more of our favorite Gulzar saab songs on the site occasionally. Here are some of them:

Khamoshi – ‘Hamne dekhi hai’ (1969)
Khamoshi- ‘Tum Pukar Lo Tumhara Intezar Hai’ (1969)
Anubhav – ‘Meri Jaan Mujhe Jaan Na Kaho’ (1971)
Parichay – ‘Musafir Hoon Yaro’ (1972)
Aandhi – ‘Zindagi Mein Shikwa To Nahin’ (1975)
Ghar – ‘Aap Ki Ankhon Mein Kuchh’ (1978)
Thodi Si Bewafai – ‘Hazar Rahen Mud Ke Dekhi’ (1980)
Sannata – Bas Ek Chupsi Lagi Hai (1981)
Masoom – ‘Tujhse naraaz nahin zindagi’ (1983)
Ijaazat – ‘Mera kuchh saamaan’ (1987)

Favorite Albums:

Maachis (1996)
Dil Se (1998)
Satya (1998)
Asoka (2001)
Saathiya (2002)
Bunty Aur Babli (2005)
Yaahan (2005)
Omkara (2006)
Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007)
No Smoking (2007)
Kaminey (2009)

Okay this will never end, so we’ll stop here…

We feel so fortunate to be able just share time with this living legend, that hum aise mahaan kavi ki kavitaaon ka lutf utha sakte hain. We look forward to many more songs by one of our most favorite lyricist in filmistan…

Film: Delhi 6 (2009)
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman
Director: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Music By: A.R. Rehman
Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi

Rehna Tu
Hai Jaisa TU
Thoda Sa Dard Tu
Thoda Sukun

Rehna Tu
Hai Jaisa Tuuu
Dheema Dheema Jhonka
Ya Phir Junoon
Thoda Sa Resham
Tu Humdam
Thoda Sa Khurdura
Kabhi Aad Jaa, Ya Lad Jaa
Ya Khushboo Se Bhara

Tujhe Badalna, Na Chahoon
Rati Bhar Bhi Sanam
Bina Sajawat Milawat
Na Zyaada Na Hi Kam

Tuhje Chaahon, Jaisa Hai Tu
Mujhe Teri Barish Mein Bheegna Hai Ghul Jaana Hai
Tujhe Chaahon, Jaisa Hai Tu
Mujhe Teri Lapat Mein Jalna Raakh Ho Jaana Hai

Tu Zakham De, Agar
Marham Bhi Aakar Tu Lagaaye
Zakham Pe Bhi Mujhko Pyaar Aaye

Dariya O Dariya
Doobne De Mujhe Dariya (2)

Rehna Tu
Hai Jaisa Tu
Thoda Sa Dard Tu, Thoda Sukun

Rehna Tu
Hai Jaisa Tu
Dheema Dheema Jhonka, Ya Phir Junoon

Haath Tham Chalna Ho
To Dono Ke Daaye Haath Sang Kaise
Haath Tham Chalna Ho
To Dono Ke Daaye Haath Sang Kaise

Ek Daaya Hoga, Ek Baaiya Hoga
Thaamm le, Haath Yeh Thaam Le
Chalna Hai Sang Tham Le

Rehna Tu
Hai Jaisa Tu
Thoda Sa Dard Tu
Thoda Sukun

Rehna Tu
Hai Jaisa Tu
Dheema Dheema Jhonka, Ya Phir Junoon

Thoda Sa Resham
Tu Humdum
Thoda Sa Khurdura
Kabhi Tu Aad Jaa, Ya Lad Jaa
Ya Khushboo Se Bhara

Tujhe Badalna, Na Chahoon
Rati Bhar Bhi Sanam
Bina Sajawat Milawat
Na Zyaada Na Hi Kam

Tuhje Chaahon, Jaisa Hai Tu
Mujhe Teri Barish Mein Bheegna Hai Ghul Jaana Hai
Tujhe Chaahon, Jaisa Hai Tu
Mujhe Teri Lapat Mein Jalna Raakh Ho Jaana Hai