Asha Bhosle is like good wine. she has gotten better with age 
And today on her birthday – here are some of the songs that i would take away with me to a desert island !
The list is in, more or less, alphabetical order. If you are reading this in my FB notes – please note that FB doesn’t (or i haven’t figured how it does) pull embedded videos on blog posts – so to hear the music – you can cut and paste on youtube or come to my site (shameless plug)
Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu - The film is Waqt – the music by O.P.Nayyar Ravi- thanks dhubha – and lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi . The first of the great lost and found sagas – the film had Ae Meri Zohar Zabin as its other great hit
Aao Huzur Tumko
Music, again, by O.P.Nayyar- for whom Ashatai sang some of her most well known songs- lyrics by Noor Devasi . The film is Kismat. The song is picturised on a Babita who is trying to seduce Biswajit under the influence of fermented Rooh Afza . The film had other great songs like kajra mohobat wala (asha & s, lakhon hein yahan dilwale.
two pieces of trivia here – Babita is the mother of Karishma & Kareena Kapoor ; and the director is Manmohan Desai of Amar Akbar Anthony fame !
Aayiye Meherban
Picturised on Madhubala, the film is Howrah Bridge – and the music director is O P Nayyar and lyrics are by Hasrat Jaipuri.
Bhanwara Bada Nadan Haye
The film is Sahib, Biwi aur Ghulam – directed by Abrar Alvi – not by Guru Dutt as popularly assumed – he was the film’s producer and lead actor. The music is by Hemant Kumar and the lyrics are by Shakeel Badayuni. The film that starred Rehman – as the Sahib, Meena Kumari as the Biwi and Guru Dutt as the Ghulam – is a claustrophobic tale of zamindars and their women -And, the quest of the wife for her husband’s attention that has disastrous consequences !
Asha is playback for Waheeda Rehman in this song
Asha has another great song in this film, and that is for Minoo Mumtaz
Saqiya Aaj Mujhe Neend Nahin
Chain se humko kabhie
the film is Pran Jaye Par Vachan na Jaye – music by O.P. Nayyar.
Chhota Sa Baalama
The film is Ragini. The music director is O.P.Nayyar – and the lyricist is Qamar Jalalabadi.
Dum Maro Dum
Yes – let’s all get high to possibly one of the greatest songs ever that celebrates pot culture. this is clapton and marley rolled (pardon the pun) into one. If this song had been composed today – some nutcase unit would have gone on rampage to get it banned. But, this was the swinging 70′s and Hare Krishna Hare Ram was a superduper hit, with no theater getting burnt
Music was by R.D.Burman, and Lyrics were by Anand Bakshi.
the song is picturized on Zeenat Aman (who wasn’t the heroine of this film, Mumtaaz was) and a whole bunch of hippies.
Jaiye Aap Kahan Jayenge
The film was Mere Sanam. Music by O.P.Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh.
The film starred Biswajeet and Asha Parekh and had two great Asha numbers this and the one after this !
Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka
Here is Asha Parekh trying to seduce Biswajeet – who shows all the charisma and sex appeal of a cold idli !
Jahan Mein Aisa Koun Hai
The film is Hum Dono. Music is by Jaidev
The movie has some of the best songs in Hindi films including Abhi Na Jao Chod Kar, Allah tero Naam, and Mein zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya !
Kaali Ghata Chhaye
The film is Sujata. Music is by S.D.Burman and lyrics by Majrooh.
The director is Bimal Roy – the film touches the issue of unapproachability. Sujata is a untouchable girl brought up in a Brahmin home – and falls for Sunil Dutt, who croon jalte hain jiske liye to her on the phone !. It is about the ‘stigma’ and the taunts that Sujata has to face while growing up.
The name Sujata itself is a pun – Su being good, and jata – being caste (fem).
Katra Katra
The film is Ijazat – a very, very grown up love story starring Nasiruddin Shah, Rekha and Anuradha Patel.
Music is by R.D.Burman, and lyrics by Gulzar.
Man Kyon Behka Re
The film is Utsav – based on the life of the courtesan Vasantsena. The song is a duet between Asha and her older sister Lata Mangeshkar.
Music is by Lakshmikant Pyarelal, and lyrics by Vasant Desai.
Trivia – the film is responsible for inflicting Shekar Suman on an unsuspecting world
Mohe Kanha
The film is Sardari Begum – the life of a courtesan that won Kiron Kher her national award. The music is by Vanraj Bhatia
Raat Akeli Hai
Man, can she move across scales without a hitch ! I marvel at her voice control.
The film is Jewel Thief – the actress is Tanuja – mother to Kajol and she is trying to seduce Dev Anand – who is resisting
Music is by S.D.Burman and lyrics are by Majrooh
Tanha Tanha
And, finally – the song that only she could sing. Picturised on Urmilla and Jackie Shroff – the film is Rangeela , music is by A.R.Rehman and lyrics are by Mehboob.
These are some of my favorites. what are yours ?
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Zindagi ke Safar Mein Bichar Jaaate Hai - film is Aap ki Kasaam. Starring Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz and Sanjeev Kumar. A film about love, envy, jealousy and break down. A fabulous sond track. Other gems in this film include Jai Jai Shiv Shankar, Aap Ki Kasam 
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