anath Mangeshkar to his son Hridayanath and daughters, including Lata and
Asha. The Mangeshkar’s live music. Hailed as the country’s first singing family, the fivesome eat, breathe and live music. Each in their different areas of performance. The Mangeshkars hail from Goa. And Mangeshi, the famed temple town, is the place
they are associated with. But growing up and living in Mumbai for a major part
of their lives, they seem to have renounced their Goan heritage and call
themselves Maharashtrians.
Of
the sisters, Lata has become an icon, earning the sobriquet — Nightingale of
India. She was lately in the news for lending her voice in protest against the
coming up of a flyover along the road she lives in. In the news today is
Chaitanya Bhonsle, aka Chin 2 Bhonsle, Lata’s grand nephew and Asha
Bhonsle’s grandson, for being part of India’s first boy band — A Band of
Boys.
But
this piece of writing is not about either the father, the brother, the sisters,
or the grandson, but about one who is entwined with them in all these familial
relationships — Asha Bhonsle. From singing film songs, to pop songs, to even
turning composer, she has provided listening pleasure to millions of music
lovers in India and around the globe. On the momentous occasion of her being
awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, ‘g’ met the songstress for a few
glimpses into the mind of a winner.
Asha
Bhonsle lives at Peddar Road. An upmarket area in South Mumbai. The building —
Prabhu Kunj. When we alighted from our taxi and make our way to her apartment,
we make a stopover at the florist. Presenting her with a bouquet would be the
right way of expressing our congrats. But we discovered that the florist had
hiked up his rates. When we protested, he s ..... | 
