She may be a veteran with decades of experience as a celebrated singer par excellence, but her childlike enthusiasm as she talks about what she loves most — music — will leave you awestruck! Talking to us ahead of her first ever live concert in the city, when she’ll perform for a huge crowd at Hitex Grounds on December 16, Asha Bhosle is quite excited.
“I am surprised that I was never invited to perform in Hyderabad earlier. But it’s good that this is my first — I will be able to sing any song of mine because I know the audience here is listening to me for the first time,” she says, with a laugh.
All of 84, it does come as a surprise that for people her age, she’s been living it up. Often performing at a stretch of several hours at concerts that take her around the world, we ask her how she manages to keep up the spirit. “I have always been a very energetic person! I have no qualms about performing for three hours in one go. I spend a lot of time rehearsing before a show. And you know a secret, I am very nervous too... and a bit tensed! But once the show is done, I feel a sense of happiness and satisfaction. I can’t ask for more,” she gladly shares.
Nonchalant and straightforward, Asha has no hesitation in arraigning today’s music. She reflects, “The purpose of today’s music is just to dance. Unlike earlier times, when songs were made to fit into a situation today, the agenda is only dancing. And I see people of all age groups lot love dancing. So it seems we really have moved according to people’s tastes.” When asked whether music might just become unnecessary in films one day, she replies with a tone of sarcasm. “Item songs are something that people want. I don’t think the dance-based music will go anywhere! It will exist for long,” she comments.
But Asha does miss the good old days. “I am fortunate to have seen the golden era of music, singing the best of songs and collaborating with the best of singers. Of course, no one except Lata didi is here anymore but I often go back and think of how glorious the days were,” she reminisces.
When asked about using the modern-day platforms like YouTube for her music, Asha pauses for a while before saying, “I think I am a very modern woman and have adapted with the times. But with the kind of music that is made today, there’s not much of space for me really. Recording companies exist no more and I don’t think there is scope for me to work in this kind of scenario.”
So, does performing down South bring back any memories? Well, Asha reveals that she had a tough time singing for South Indian films.
“The fact that I am performing here makes me reflect on the various Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam songs I have sung. I should tell you, I have sung in so many languages over the years, but singing in the South was always a challenge. Yes, I managed but it wasn’t an easy task,” she concludes.
