When Asha Bhonsle struggled with dreams of making it big
Mumbai, Sept. 9 (PTI): Asha Bhonsle is now one of the most revered singers in the country, but behind the success of that magical voice is the story of a struggle for survival and the desperation to get out of the mire of poverty.
The singer, who turned 74 yesterday, revealed her early days of struggle in a candid speech to a packed audience that gathered here to felicitate her on the occasion.
“My husband had a salary of merely Rs 100 and we stayed in a small one-room tenament in the northern-most suburb of Borivali. Only I know how I have struggled in those years,” Asha, daughter of noted Marathi artiste Dinanath Mangeshkar and Lata Mangeshkar’s younger sister, said.
“I used to travel in crowded local trains across Mumbai from one rehearsal to another, one recording to the other with my small child in tow. But throughout that difficult period, there was a perseverance, a belief in myself that I had to get out of this mire of poverty and give my children a better life.”
In an emotional speech, Asha recounted how many critics panned her for singing cabaret songs and not doing “serious work”.
“I never thought about what kind of songs I wanted to sing. I sang anything that came my way because to me, my children’s education and future was very important,” noted Asha, who is now recognised for her versatility.
Asha also dwelt on her failed marriage to Ganpatrao Bhonsle, whom she eloped with as a 16-year-old, saying, “I believed that one could survive on love and fresh air but of course, that is only possible in films. In real life, when poverty hits you, it is very difficult to cope but I’m someone who has learnt to laugh through all the troubles.”
All of life’s tough lessons taught Asha that no human being should be looked down upon.
“It is because I have gone through so much that even today I still have respect for every human being, no matter from which strata of society they are. My children do not like it when I speak to my watchman or the gardener but I tell them that that is the way I am,” she said.
The singer was earlier felicitated by veteran music directors Yashwant Deo and Khayyam and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray.
Speaking on the occasion, Thackeray said Asha deserved to be felicitated on a bigger platform. “We have our first Marathi president now and I think it would appropriate if you are felicitated at her (Pratibha Patil’s) hands.
“We will definitely make a case for it and let us hope that all those votes we have given her are of at least some use,” he said.
In her speech, Asha said she was recording a classical album with Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki and that she would now concentrate on classical and Marathi folk songs.
Source courtesy: The Hindu News.
November 9th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Asha ji Happy birthday and happy diwali as well. I knew only your voice but now came to know that even a great celebraty like you had to struggle a lot. It is a lesson to all.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
ASHA G, MAINE JANM K BAAD PEHLI BAAR KOI SURILA SHABD SUNA THA TO WO THA AAPKA GANA, MAINE JO PEHLA BHAJAN SUNA THA WO AAPNE GAYA THA, JO PEHLA SHARARTI GANA SUNA THA WO AAPNE GAYA THA, JO PEHLA SAD SONG SUNA THA WO APNE GAYA THA, JO PEHLA CABRET SONG SUNA THA WO APNE GAYA THA, JO PEHLA DIL KO HILANE VALA EKDUM SENSITIVE GANA SUNA THA WO BHI APNE GAYA THA, AAPKE GHAR K PAAS SE GUJARTI HUI HAWA ME BHI SUR HOGA, AAPKE BAGICHE ME KOYAL BHI GATE HUE SHARMATI HOGI, GAR ME HAWA KA EK JHONKA HOTI TO PURA DIN AAP KE ASPAS HI MANDRATE REHTI, REALLY I WORSHIP U,MY ONLY WISH IS TO C U B4 I DIE, MAY GOD BLESS U, NOT 4 U OR ME, BT 4 “MUSIC”.THANK GOD 4 GIVING US ASHA G.
May 15th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
ASHA G, SANGEET KI SARGAM KA PEHLA SUR HI AAP HO AUR AAKHRI SUR BHI AAP HI HO, MERE LIYE SANGEET KA MATLAB HI AAP HO, KOI KAISE MAN SAKTA HAI K SABSE JYADA CABRET SONGS GANE WALA “dekho bijli dole bin, ya tora man darpan kehlaye” GA SAKTA HAI? YE MANNE KI BAAT NAHI HAI, KHUD PAR YAKIN NAHI HOTA, KI AAP HAMARI AASHA G HAI, JO BHI MOOD HO, AAPKE AWAZ SUN K LAGTA HAI, K AAP YAHI MOOD ME BEST HO, FIR DUSRA MOOD SUNKE BHI YAHI SOCHTE HAI, FIR TISRA……….. AISE KOI AISE HAR TONE ME EKDUM BEST KAISE HO SAKTA HAI, AUR WO BHI IITTTNNNNIIII KHUBSURTI SE, K SUNNE WALE K LIYE MUSHKIL HO JAYE K WO AWAZ SUNE YA MITHAS YA NAZAKAT YA USKE MOOD KO? SACH ME AAP UPAR WALE SE HUMKO DIYA GAYA EK ANMOL UPHAR HO, THANK GOD 4 THAT. MY ONLY WISH IS 2 C NOT ANY GOD OR ANY HERO OR HEROINE , BU ONLY “U”, B4 I DIE, LOVE U, WORSHIP U
June 14th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Most reverred,MY DEAREST SINGER ASHA DIDI, since my very childhood i was always moved by your most energetic songs.and then later by your emotional understanding attitude which i could guess after i saw your interviews in TV.There is so much to learn from your life.You are good as as a sister ,as a wife , as a beloved and above all as an artist. I admire your persistancy, patience and a positive outlook in life.These 3 Ps are your great strength,so please always hold them.I would like to develope these qualities in me too. My asha is my abhilash and my abhilasha is to be like ASHA.I derive strength and inspiration from you.I pray to God for your good health, happiness,popularity and great hights in your profession.amin. with regards from RAMA SHARMA
July 20th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Asha-ji, your entire life, your striving to attain perfection, and achieving such great milestones of success despite tremendous difficulties -through the constant struggle in an environment at odds – has certainly created a role model for many of us. Your melodious sweet voice is beyond any description and certainly beyond my capability to remark on, yet I am especially impressed with your strong will, amazing determination and ability to put in solid hard work to reach the ultimate success. Whenever we think of you, we see the HOPE (the literal English translation of ASHA) that keeps us going upwards and onwards with ambition of meeting our goals. Thank you for creating that divine hope, for every Marathi Manoos (as myself) and every Indian anywhere in the world….like a lighthouse in the sea on a cold and stormy night, you indeed shine for everyone. Keep up the great work. I complete my note of respect with the Urdu Shayari (By Iqbal) that truly matches with your accomplishments. ” Khudi ko kar buland itana ke har taqdeer se pehale, Khuda bande se khud puchhe – Bata theri raza kya hai?”. Kalave lobh asava heech vinanti.
August 18th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Asha didi i really have great respect and love for you as an individual and sometimes i talk to you in my heart.I worship you as THE MOST MELODIOUS, VERSATILE ,FEMALE SINGER OF THE CENTURY. you have always been a source of inspiration for me in music .For me music or singing means ASHABHONSLE.Yes here i would like to say that where as Latajis voice can beautifully lull one to sleep,Ashaji your songs have the magical power to infuse energy and HOPE (required to live) even to a person who is just on the verge of leaving this life.That is the reason that you are not only liked by your audience but also deeply loved by them. WE LOVE YOU AND PRAY THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE FINE HEALTH,HAPPINESS AND EVERLASTING GLORY
RamaSharma NEELDEEPTI