'Now Duets Are Sung Alone'

At 72, Asha Bhosle's popularity in the world of playback singing is unprecedented. She has sung more than 12,000 songs in various languages and is loved by the young and old alike. She has also been bestowed with the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award. Her six-decade-long career shows no signs fading. Pradeep Tiwari spoke to her about the changing world of Hindi film music, the new trends and the old memories:

How has Hindi film music changed?
In our time, all films used to have music but no composer ever copied another. The composers and lyricists were always looking out for challenges. Now when you hear some of the songs it seems as though you've heard them before. There are not as many good composers and lyricists any more. Things have improved technically but the soul of music has shrunk.

What's lacking in today's music?
One doesn't get to hear difficult compositions. In The Burning Train, Pancham (R.D. Burman) made me sing Teri nazar hai mujh pe. It was a difficult song with a mix of both Indian and Western styles. Similarly, Aaja aaja main hoon pyaar tera in Teesri Manzil was tough. Now situations for such songs are not there.

What do you think of remixes?
I'm not totally opposed to remixes. They are bringing some forgotten songs back. But I don't like the tampering with music or the videos with half-clad girls. The core of the song, its music, should be protected.

Your views on the difference technology has made to music...
Because of technology, the music gets ready very early these days. The singers of a duet can come separately and record their lines to the music. They may not even meet each other. Earlier, we used to sit for hours with the composers. The actors were also present at the rehearsals. We used to discuss the picturisation with the heroines. Nowadays, one doesn't even know which heroine the song would be picturised on. But when I get to know the actress, I do sing according to her style; I keep her age, even her smile, in mind.

Tell us about your early days of struggle...
In the beginning I was given songs that others didn't want to sing. But it was essential for me to earn. I never used to say no. I was given "vamp" songs, never the ones meant for the heroine. Then, in 1957, I got a chance to sing for Vyjayantimala in Naya Daur, the songs became hits and I got into the mainstream. The music was O.P. Nayyar's but I am thankful to B.R. Chopra for trusting me and giving a new turn to my career. The same year I had another hit in Tumsa Nahin Dekha.

You're often compared to your sister, Lata. There have been stories about the competition between the two of you...
I've been a fan of Lata didi since childhood. She has been a big influence. We are like any ordinary sisters. I would like to tell the people who compare us that we are like Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru. Gandhi was good, Nehru wasn't bad either.

Why don't the two of you come together for an album?
That will be extremely difficult. I'll have to work very hard to reach her level. I have never tried to ape her. The difference between her style and my own is actually the biggest difference. We have maintained our stature and ruled the industry for so many years.

R.D. Burman has been an integral part of your life and career. How do you look back at your relationship with him?
I remember and miss him everyday. He was five years younger but was my best friend. I met him the first time at Famous Studios at the recording of Armaan. He was studying but restless, wanted to become a composer. He had asked for my autograph then. Later, I worked a lot with him. He was mad about my voice, which is what brought us closer. He proposed marriage. He was very talented and many facets of my voice came alive because of him. He gave me the kind of songs I had never sung before.

What does music mean to you?

Music is like meditation. It connects me to the rest of the world; it makes me aware of my own presence. I am a strong and focused person. Music has made me that.

Any unfulfilled desires?
I want to sing some compositions of my father Dinanath Mangeshkar.