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ASHA BHONSLE |
| Asha Bhonsle is music personified. Even at 75 she chatters like a teenager and puts you at ease with her down-to-earth attitude. Our correspondent catches up with the music diva during her visit to Kolkata after 16 long years.
You are back in Kolkata after 16 years for a show...
True. I am here to sing at Panchkanya...it's a show organized by Indo Occidental Symbiosis and Juhu Cultural Association (Mumbai) on the occasion of Rabindrajayanti (birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore). I would have said 'no' to this show too if it had not been for Gurudev. It is against my character to refuse to sing his songs on his birth anniversary. When the organizers contacted me, I said, 'I don't want anything...I just want to pay my respect to Rabindrababu.' And this is not just Asha Bhonsle's, but entire Maharashtra's tribute to Tagore.
You have sung Rabindrasangeet after a long time...
Yes and I was very scared initially. Singing Rabindrasangeet is very difficult on stage. Last time I sang Rabindrasangeet was 19-20 years back. So, I thought I would need a number of rehearsals. But then, thankfully, after one rehearsal only, everything fell into place. I had rehearsed 7 songs, but sang six on stage. I started off with Jagate Anada Jogye.
When was the last time you sang a Bengali song?
Hemantdada (Mukhopadhyay) made me sing quite a number of Bengali songs. He even made me sing...what do you call the first day of Durga Puja?
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" Rabindra Sangeet is difficult..." | Mahalaya?
Yes. He made me sing even Mahalaya once.
How fluent are you in Bengali?
I am a Marathi...but I am half-Bengali too...ami apnader bou (I am your daughter-in-law). I want to speak fluent Bangla, but can't do it now. When Burmansahab (Rahul Dev Burman) was alive, I used to speak a lot of Bangla...but now I have forgotten the language. Next time I come to Kolkata, I will try to speak Bangla fluently...ami bhalo bangla bolte chesta korbo (I will try to speak good Bengali).
You are planning a Bengali album this year?
I will be releasing my new album this Durga Puja. After a long long time I will be doing a full Bengali album. It will be released by Mahua Lahiri's Asha Audio. Mahua has named her company after me but since then I could not sing for her. Now it's a good time for that.
We heard that you have read all Bengali classics?
Not all, but most of them, including Tagore's Gora and Sarat Chandra Chatterjee's Chandalika. I have also read Ashapurna Devi. In my home, I have the entire collection of Rabindranath and Saratchandra. You don't know, but not only me, there are many people in Gujarat and Maharashtra who have read translated writings of Bengali authors.
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ASHA BHONSLE |
| Now-a-days Tagore's songs are being remixed. What's your opinion about that?
Yeh achcha nehin hai (this is not good). A person undertakes so much hardship to make or sing a particular song. To change it and redub...what do you call it?
Remix?
Yes...to remix it, is not right. For example, if every one remixes Lata's (Mangeskar) songs, it will lose its essence. Every Bengali should remember that they should stick by whatever Rabindrababuji had written, or else it won't be Rabindrasangeet, but something else.
Are you singing with Lataji?
Is she doing a playback again? I don't know...we started together, but at the moment there are no plans of singing a duet with her.
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"Rekha perfectly understands my psyche..." | You have sung for almost every genre. Personally, what do you enjoy singing the most?
My personal favourite? I love singing light classical music.
Like Lataji said Vyjantimala best suits her voice on-screen, who is your favourite?
There are quite a few of them. But personally, I like Rekha, not only because she suits my voice, but also because she perfectly understands my psyche while I was singing the song and reacts accordingly.
What is your hobby?
Cooking. When I am not singing I am cooking.
What is the most popular dish that you have cooked till date?
You have to taste and tell that... (Laughs) My family and friends enjoy mere haath ka bana murg masallam.
Is it true that you love toffees and always stuff some into your purse?
(Giggles) I get these toffees from foreign ...they are coffee-flavoured...I pop them into my mouth every now and then... (Pauses, opens her purse and hands over a Thailand-made Kopiko Cappuccino toffee) yeh rakkho aur chaap do Asha Bhonsle ko kya pasand hai (take this and print what Asha Bhonsle likes)
You are 75...still you are bubbly as a teenager. How do you do that?
Suspense! (Laughs) Arre baba, whatever is in your mind reflects on your face...I always believe in enjoying life to the brim and so that enjoyment of heart overflows on my face. Simple!
You are always smiling. What do you do when you get angry?
I laugh louder (laughs) I don't get angry. And even if I do so, I get back to my 'happy' form soon. Tell me, what's the point of getting angry in life...jo hona hai who toh hoga hi (whatever has to happen will happen).
- Sreya Basu, TWF, Bollywood Trade News Network
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