'I have never chased money. Yes, you have to pay me my worth. I am not a free artiste but I don't chase money.'
Nalini Gopalan sings Jete Dao Amay Deko Na... It was originally sung by Asha Bhosle in the album Sera Pujor Gaan, composed by Rahul Dev Burman.
Asha Bhosle has given us eight decades of songs to remember her by. She made many public appearances in India and abroad, taking music forward and showing audiences a side to her that they had never seen before. Here's a look at The Legend through the years from our archives.
Words can barely capture the depth and beauty of Asha Bhosle's voice, at once ethereal and ineffable. Her demise has created a void but the songs she sang will never die.
The voice of one of India's greatest playback singers may have fallen silent, but her music is anything but gone. It lives on in the airwaves, in our memories, in moments we return to without even realising.
From sultry cabaret numbers to soul-stirring ghazals, Asha Bhosle crafted a sonic universe where boldness met beauty and mischief mingled with melancholy. Her voice didn't just soundtrack cinema, it liberated expression, challenged norms and gave generations permission to feel, flirt, ache and celebrate without restraint. Sukanya Verma salutes the legend.
'She was the last of the diggaj kalakaars after Lataji, Kishoreda, Rafi saab and Mannada and with her demise, the golden era of Hindi film music has truly ended.'
'When you reach a good point in your life, you should never forget the struggle that got you there. I haven't. That is why I have not become swollen-headed.'
Much, much, much before Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani fussed over What Jhumka, Asha Bhosle trilled in her alluring voice and teased us with tantalising details about the events leading to her precious Jhumka's loss.
'Somewhere our society's collective morality is lost. There's a kind of moral confusion in our society which reflects in our films.' 'Filmmakers are hiding behind romance, ghost stories, murder mysteries and sex. No film is looking at social issues.'
S D Burman is that unique composer who remained successful right up to his death with his creative engines never running on empty.
Can anyone forget S D Burman's classic songs in Devdas, Sujata and Bandini?
S D Burman enjoyed a productive partnership with Dev Anand's production house Navketan for two decades, but their collaboration reached its apogee with Guide.
'Mr & Mrs 55 was breezy, romantic and so Hollywood.'
'When Aamir Khan was being launched in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Director Mansoor Khan needed a young vibrant youth anthem, a song that described the uncertain adventures of the young, as they stepped into the real world.'
'Everybody was scared, especially with Rajesh Khanna playing a double role and playing my lover and my son.' 'It was quite a risky thing to do. That's why they made me look so old.'
Lataji had once picked her favourites, albeit reluctantly, and told Subhash K Jha just why they were so close to her heart.
None of R D Burman's collaborations was as rewarding and resplendent as with Gulzar, who turns 89 today, August 18, 2023, says Subhash K Jha.
Rememembering the lack of funds when making Meera, Gulzarsaab said, "I asked her to work in the film without taking any money and she said this is a film which she would like to watch with her children and their children."
As India mourns Lata Mangeshkar's passing, Namrata Thakker takes a look at the Legend's life through these amazing pictures.
It's the most romantic day of the year, and the best time to hum romantic songs!
Sukanya Verma remembers some of his greatest solo numbers in our fondly curated playlist.
Ever wondered why Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1973 musical Abhimaan, the story of two singers who happened to be married to one another, has three voices singing for Amitabh Bachchan but only one voice, Lata Mangeshkar, for Jaya Bachchan?
'Pancham told me once, "It's very difficult to be taken seriously when there are stalwarts like Shankar-Jaikishan, S D Burman, Madan Mohan and Naushad... How do I make my mark?"' Amit Kumar salutes R D Burman on his 30th death anniversary on January 4.
Subhash K Jha doffs his hat to the musical genius R D Burman on his 30th death anniversary on January 4.
In these pandemic stricken, music bereft times, what can be more joyous than a playlist of golden melodies?
Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan had brief roles, almost guest appearances, which they did for Director Hrishikesh Mukherjee's sake, reveals Subhash K Jha.
As DP celebrates her 37th birthday on January 5, Sukanya Verma looks at all the times she turned up the heat and how!
Bhupinder's magical legacy lives on in the musical masterpieces he left behind.
As we celebrate singer Mukesh's birth centenary on July 22, it is a nice time to recall his closeness to Lata Mangeshkar, who would call him 'Mukesh bhaiyya'.
She sang the chartbusters Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche in Brahmachari, Tumse Oh Haseena Kabhi Mohabbat Na Maine Karni Thi in Farz and Ajhu Na Aaye Balma in Saanjh Aur Savera.
'When I heard the tune for Abhi Na Jao I was bowled over.' 'Of course, I never knew it would be such a timeless rage.'
I spent almost all my life trying to figure out how anyone could express so many shades of human feeling in her voice, wonders Subhash K Jha.
If Rajesh Khanna was the greatest star of Hindi cinema, the songs played a major part in his superstardom.
Pancham, like his father, was besotted by Lata Mangeshkar's voice and his career's finest songs were reserved only for her.
Sourabhee crooned her way to win the finals defeating Kapil Thapa of Dehradun and Torsha Sarkar of West Bengal to realise the Indian Idol dream of north-eastern India in the land of legendary Sachin Dev Burman and his son Rahul Dev Burman.
'The credit for giving me my first major break goes to Master Ghulam Haider.'
Sukanya Verma makes a playlist of 15 profound Rajesh Khanna ditties.
You know the celebrated Raksha Bandhan songs. Subhash K Jha lists the ones you don't.
