When Asha Bhosle reminisced her first remuneration, and how she celebrated it

One of the most distinguishing features of Indian cinema is undoubtedly the addition of song and dance, without which our films seem to be incomplete. When there’s a recall of music especially in Hindi films, there’s no way that one could miss mentioning the Mangeshkar family. If veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar is referred to as the nightingale of India, her sister Asha Bhosle is certainly one of the most popular singers across generations in our country. She is renowned for her voice range and often credited for her versatility in a career spanning over seven decades. And it’s not only singing for Bollywood movies, but the magic of her melodious voice is found in over 20 Indian and foreign languages.

The singer has sung over 12000 songs. In fact, she was officially acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recorded artist in music history in year 2011. The veteran singer’s work includes film music, pop, ghazals, bhajans, traditional Indian classical music and folk songs, but recently we stumbled upon an old tweet of hers where she had recalled about her first remuneration after singing in a Hindi film and how she celebrated it along with her husband Ganpatrao Bhosle. (Also Read: Asha Bhosle feels Priyanka Chopra is perfect to play her role in biopic)

Surprisingly, Asha Bhosle had received a mere Rs 100 for her first song ‘Saawan Aaya’ from film ‘Chunariya’ (1948). She once wrote on Twitter, “Always enjoyed watching the city wake up. Mumbai is a late riser but the energy in this city is commendable. I got paid Rs. 100 for my first song. My husband and I celebrated with a roadside batatavada. Mumbai is the city of dreams. Some dreams come true.”

Not many would be aware that back then it was almost after five years that Asha Bhosle got the opportunity to sing a song. Earlier, she had sung ‘Chala Chala Nav Bala’, her first recorded song in Marathi film ‘Majha Bal’ (1943). And this song ‘Saawan Aaya’ from ‘Chunariya’ was even not a solo number. She had sung it along with late singers Geeta Dutt and Zohrabai Ambalewali.

Reportedly, both Asha and her husband Ganpatrao Bhosle were hungry since morning that day when she had recorded this song. So, indeed this celebration of her first remuneration was worthy enough that turned into a blessing for them.

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.