How Asha Bhosle helped take Bhupen Hazarika’s Assam to world

Guwahati, Apr 12: With the passing of Asha Bhosle at the age of 92, India has lost not just a legendary voice, but a musical force whose versatility transcended regions, languages and generations.

Among the many collaborations that defined her extraordinary journey, her association with Bhupen Hazarika remains a remarkable cultural bridge between Assam and the wider world of Indian music.

Hazarika, whose compositions carried the soul of Assam, found in Bhosle a voice that could effortlessly adapt to his deeply rooted yet universally resonant melodies.

Their collaboration in Chik Mik Bijuli (1969) marked a significant moment, bringing together leading voices such as that of Bhosle, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar under Hazarika’s musical vision.

Over the years, Bhosle lent her voice to several Assamese songs composed by Hazarika, enriching the region’s musical heritage.

Songs like Ei Dhuniya Godhuli Lagan and Abhimani Bandhu stand as timeless examples of their creative synergy. Her versatility also shone through in collaborative pieces such as Pakkhiraj Ghora, performed alongside Kishore Kumar and Hazarika himself.

What made her association with Hazarika particularly special was their shared belief in music as a unifying force.

Though rooted in different cultural backgrounds, both artists transcended boundaries through melody.

Interestingly, they also share the same birthday, September 8, a coincidence that continues to delight music lovers who celebrate their legacy each year.

Beyond Hazarika’s compositions, Bhosle continued to explore Assamese music with the same ease and elegance.

Tracks like Dure Dure Thaki and Aji Rati Je from the album Meghali, as well as Kobane Xosake with Kumar Sanu, reflect her deep engagement with the region’s musical landscape.

Born in Sangli, Maharashtra, in 1935, Bhosle was introduced to music by her father, Dinanath Mangeshkar.

In a family where music was second nature, she carved out her own distinct identity, even alongside her illustrious sister Lata Mangeshkar, experimenting across genres, styles and languages with unmatched confidence.

From her first recording at the age of 10 for the Marathi film Majha Bal in 1943 to a career spanning over eight decades and more than 12,000 songs, Bhosle’s journey remains unparalleled.

Her voice retained its freshness even into her later years, a rare feat that cemented her place among the longest-performing singers in global music history.

What set Asha apart was not just her longevity, but her ability to constantly reinvent herself.

From the era of black-and-white cinema to global concert stages, from vinyl records to the age of streaming, she remained relevant by evolving with time.

Generations of actresses, from Meena Kumari and Madhubala to Kajol and Urmila Matondkar, changed, but Asha Bhosle’s voice endured, linking the past seamlessly with the present.

Her achievements are formidable - multiple National Film Awards, numerous Filmfare Awards, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest honour in cinema, and the Padma Vibhushan.

As tributes pour in from across the country, in Assam, Asha Bhosle will be remembered not only as a playback icon but as a voice that once carried the essence of the land through Bhupen Hazarika’s music.

With inputs from PTI