If we want to understand the personality of Asha Bhosle properly, then we should pay attention to the lines of this popular song of Hare Rama Hare Krishna. This song was written by Anand Bakshi Sahab, composed by Pancham da RD Burman, and although it was filmed on Zeenat Aman; But Asha Bhosle implemented it in her life. This is the reason why Asha Bhosle became famous not only for her cool singing but also for her cool personality and modern thoughts. How tradition is adapted to the pace of times. Asha Bhosle's success story This can be understood very well.
The film of 1971 was- Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Evergreen Dev Anand was its main architect. Wrote the story, produced, directed and also played the lead role. At the center of the story was Zeenat Aman's character Jasbir Jaiswal versus Janice, who was influenced by the hippie movement. His brother Prashant Jaiswal, who is Dev Anand, is on a mission to bring him on the right path. Zeenat Aman had debuted in this role and made the then young audience crazy.
Asha Bhosle had sung for this hippie role of Zeenat Aman in the film- Beat Dam… May the sorrow disappear, say Hare Krishna Hare Ram in the morning and evening… The thinking of the people associated with the hippie movement was somewhat different. He believed in smoking ganja, growing long hair and living like a wandering nomad. He neither had any regard for tradition nor any concern for making the future. Lived completely in the present. The notable lines of the song filmed on Zeenat Aman are as follows - What has the world given us/What have we taken from the world/Why should we care about everyone/What has everyone done to us?
I said in the beginning that this song does not reflect any of the actors in the film. The revolutionary beginning that the song is known for without any consequences can be felt only in the singing and personality of Asha Bhosle. Really, Asha Bhosle never cared for anyone. He inherited classical music from the Mangeshkar family. She received guidance from her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar in her pursuit of classical music, but she abandoned classical music and embraced western pop. Asha Bhosle had realized long ago that it would be better to move with time.
You have read in detail the story of protests, uproar, ban, boycott of Asha etc. regarding the song Dum Maaro Dum. Call it unique, the one who faced the most opposition was also rewarded. Something similar happens with Asha also. Due to various reasons, Asha faced the most opposition in the house. But the same hope also gave rise to new hope in the future.
The songs for which Lata Mangeshkar considered it against her reputation and dignity to sing, were sung by Geeta Dutt in yesteryears. Geeta Dutt used to give voice to the heroines who performed in clubs and cabarets during that period. The songs in which beauty, hypnotism as well as intoxication were prominent. But after Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle took over this legacy. Didn't think what the world would say to him. Asha Bhosle took over the innings of item songs for heroines with intoxicatingly entertaining performances like Helen, Bindu, Aruna Irani, Padma Khanna etc.
Among the lead actresses, Baijayanti Mala, Sadhna, Nanda, Waheeda Rehman, Zeenat, Rekha, Hema etc. kept singing for everyone. Like in my shadow The earring fell… Saiya took my first look at Jiya… Johnny is my name Millions of colors of beauty… in the third oath Eat paan, our soldiers…From to Rangeela dance harder...and the company's Khallas… Till etc.
There was a film of 1968 – Sangharsh. Dilip Kumar and Baijayanti Mala played the lead roles in this film. There is a song from this film- The pictures were of love in which we broke that glass… I stopped dying by suffocation, learned to live happily… This song was picturized on Baijayanti Mala. Later, when a song like Saiya Ji Aaj Hume Break Up Liye started making headlines, its seeds could be seen in this song of struggle, which was then sung with full strength by Asha Bhosle. This power was really in Asha Bhosle only. She remained steadfast in her mission to achieve a different destination than Lata.
I had told in my previous article that Asha had the desire to rebel against tradition since her adolescence. The second stanza of the song Dum Maaro Dum of Hare Rama Hare Krishna also fits her personality very well – Chahe Jiyenge, Marenge/Hum Na Kisi Se Darenge/Humko Na Roke Jamana/Jo Chahede Hum Karenge… Indeed, Asha did whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. Not afraid of anyone. Leaving aside the worries of living and dying. Asha married her elder sister's secretary Ganpatrao Bhosale, who could have been so cool.
It can be declared justified or illegitimate later, but in that time of 1949, it was not easy to have such courage. However, after this Asha showed her real strength. He was tortured in his in-laws' house. She also did not get proper support from her husband. Despite this, he did not give up singing and did not break his relationship with Riyaz Nahi, who wrote the story of his future. She separated from her husband in 1960. Meanwhile, meetings with RD Burman continued in the studio.
Incidentally, apart from Hare Rama Hare Krishna under the music direction of RD Burman, he was seen in Caravan, Apna Desh and Yaadon Ki Baaraat respectively. Dum maaro dum…, Piya, you have come now…, you have stolen the people of the world… Like singing songs. All these songs became big hits even then and are still heard a lot. Remix versions of these songs also became equally popular. After this, their hearts met and they got married in 1980. I stopped dying by suffocation, learned to live happily… The world should not stop us/We will do whatever we want… This was the second marriage of both of them.
Believe me, Asha Bhosle never embraced taboos nor allowed decorum to be tarnished. No matter how modern or western she sang, her traditional attire was always the Indian saree. She learned from heritage and destroyed stereotypes. He gladly adopted the music of every era. This is the reason why listeners of every generation were his admirers and are so even today.
