Flower power and Asha Bhosle
So just what is it that makes Asha Bhosle such an icon? She's almost as old as her sister, the legendary Lata Mangeshkar. She's been singing for almost the same time as Lata didi. And yes, she's never been seen in anything else other than a sari! But there's something about Ashatai (as she is fondly called) that has endeared many, almost everyone, from our generation.
Perhaps it's her sheer chutzpah. But we are yet to come across someone who has the nerve to sing Marathi bhakti geet (devotional numbers) on the one hand and pop numbers with Adnan Sami on the other… and be popular amongst both sets of listeners.
We can possibly go on about why we simply can't stop loving this inimitable music icon. But here's why we are talking about her – Sa Re Ga Ma Music has brought out a two-CD compilation of Asha Bhosle's songs from the '70s titled: Asha Bhosle – Bollywood Queen of the '70s. And we'd say you go right ahead and buy it.
Now, the '70s itself were a great time to be alive in. They were the times of the flower power and of celebration and excess.
The '70s were also a time when some very memorable films were made. It was that glorious decade when superstars were born… and so were clichés.
Creative juices in the music industry were flowing just as freely. And the compilation encapsulates this impulse very well.
Not surprisingly the album starts off with Dum Maro Dum that landmark song from Hare Rama Hare Krishna, which came to define the era.
CD One has 13 songs largely from the first half of the '70s. The ever-popular Piya tu from Caravan, O Saathi Chal from Seeta Aur Geeta and Tum Bhi Chalo from Zameer – it's all here!
