Asha Bhonsle: Ten Duets, Ten Co-Singers: Part 2

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When I posted this list  of ten Asha duets last week, the plan had not been to post a follow-up list as well. But then, blog readers began commenting on the post, and several of them posted songs that I really like, with playback singers I hadn’t mentioned. After all, when you’re doing a list of just ten songs, the tendency—and I admit I succumbed to this temptation—is to include your favourite songs. All the duets with Rafi, Kishore, Mukesh, et al, featured there. And those songs with these singers that didn’t actually get listed, I at least made it a point to mention.

Even when I’d posted that list, I was ruing the fact that I had still not got around to writing about Asha’s songs with, say, her sister Usha Mangeshkar. There were, in addition, a few rare songs with relatively little-known singers, too, that I had had in mind, but hadn’t written about.

So many good songs on the back burner. I decided a Part 2 was in order. So here it is. Ten duets sung by Asha Bhonsle with a fellow singer who wasn’t listed in the earlier post. As always, these songs are all from pre-1970s Hindi films that I’ve seen. These are in no particular order.

1. Assalam aleikum babu kaho kaisa haal hai (Kalpana, 1960): With Sudha Malhotra. Sudha Malhotra sang playback for Hindi cinema primarily in the ten years between 1950 and 1960, among her most famous solos being the poignant Tum mujhe bhool bhi jaao toh yeh haq hai tumko and Salaam-e-hasrat qubool kar lo. However, she also sang some wonderful duets, including one of my favourite bhajans, Na main dhan chaahoon. In Kalpana, an OP Nayyar score, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan wrote the lyrics for this fun ‘performance song’ where Ragini dances, lip-syncing to the voices of Asha and Sudha. It’s interesting to see how many performance songs of this type—with one woman dressed as a man—Asha sang (as other examples: Kajra mohabbat waala, Reshmi salwar kurta jaali ka, and Jawaani jalaa bedardi).

2. Dekho maane nahin roothi haseena (Taxi Driver, 1954): With Jagmohan Bakshi. Jagmohan Bakshi is better known as a composer: along with Sapan Sengupta, he formed the composer duo of Sapan-Jagmohan, who composed music for films such as Begaana and Insaaf ka Mandir. But well before he turned composer, Jagmohan had been a singer, debuting in Hindi cinema with this duet he sang with Asha Bhonsle for the Navketan Films production Taxi Driver. Composed by SD Burman and with lyrics by Sahir, Dekho maane nahin roothi haseena is a sweetly playful song, celebrating the joy of being in love, of knowing that one is loved.

3. Huzoor-e-vaala jo ho ijaazat (Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi, 1966): With Minoo Purushottam. Minoo Purushottam’s debut song, at the age of a mere sixteen years, was a duet: in Roshan’s Taj Mahal, Na na na re na na haath na lagaana, with Suman Kalyanpur. Over a course of the next two decades, she sang for many composers, many films, and was even nominated for a Filmfare Award—but is sadly overlooked. There’s this song, though.

Yeh Raat Phir Na Aayegi featured one of my favourite Asha solos, the ethereal Yehi woh jagah hai; but it also had this song sung by Asha and Minoo Purushottam. Given that the film’s music was composed by OP Nayyar—an expert when it came to Western-style club songs—it’s odd that Huzoor-e-vaala jo ho ijaazat sounds more qawwali than cabaret/club. Not one of my favourite OP Nayyar club/performance songs, but it’s not bad. And Asha and Minoo Purushottam sing well together.

4. Ghir-ghirke aasmaan par chhaane lagi ghataayein (Bawre Nain, 1950): With Rajkumari. Rajkumari had been spotted by Vijay Bhatt when she was just ten years old, acting in theatre. It was because of Bhatt’s influence that Rajkumari quit theatre and joined cinema as a singing actress. While she did work in quite a few Hindi and Gujarati films through the 1930s, she eventually decided to focus only on singing and became (possibly?) the first Indian female playback singer. By the time Asha came into her own, Rajkumari’s star was on the wane. They did, however, sing a few songs together, of which Ghir-ghirke aasmaan par chhaane lagi ghataayein is a favourite of mine. Roshan’s music and Kidar Sharma’s lyrics are excellent, and the way the voices of the two women meld is lovely.

5. Do pal jo teri aankhon se peene ko mile (Bahaaron ke Sapne, 1967): With Usha Mangeshkar. Given old Hindi cinema’s propensity for two-dancer (as in two women dancers) songs, whether Western-style club performances, mujras, or street dances, female duets popped up fairly frequently in these situations. And, given Asha’s reputation as an excellent singer of sensual, uninhibited songs—the type commonly sung by dancers like this—it’s hardly surprising that she sang her fair share of duets of this kind, along with other female playback singers. Like Mubarak Begum in my earlier list, or Minoo Purushottam in Huzoor-e-vaala jo ho ijaazat.

Another song, then, for two women dancers. The dancers are Lakshmi Chhaya and Bela Bose, and Asha sings this with her younger sister Usha Mangeshkar (with whom she sang several lovely songs, including the dance-off classic, Dekho bijli dole). I love the energy, the pep, and the absolutely sizzling synergy of the two singers here: they do total justice to RD Burman’s music and Majrooh Sultanpuri’s lyrics.

6. Naacho ghoom-ghoom-ghoomke (Sarhad, 1960): With Chitalkar Ramachandra. Composer and playback singer Chitalkar Ramachandra was part of the Lata camp: his rapport with Asha’s elder sister was such that when C Ramachandra had to use a female voice, Lata seems to have been invariably his first choice. As AK mentions in this post, it is interesting that despite him (or Naushad) not being great fans of Asha, they still ended up creating some excellent songs for her. Here is one, which C Ramachandra sang along with Asha, in addition to of course composing it. His penchant for fast-paced, Western-influenced music is perhaps not a very appropriate fit for a song supposedly set in a tribal community, but anyhow. It has an infectious beat, and both he and Asha bring a good deal of energy to the song.

7. Dadi amma Dadi amma maan jaao (Gharana, 1961): With Kamal Barot. Born in Tanzania, Kamal Barot had debuted in Hindi cinema in 1957 as a playback singer. She went on to have a fairly successful career over the next decade or so, especially when it came to duets: paired with other singers like Suman Kalyanpur, Asha Bhonsle, Lata Mangeshkar and Mahendra Kapoor, she sang some excellent songs (including one of my favourite ‘monsoon songs’, the lovely Garjat barsat saawan aayo re). In this iconic kiddie song—such a classic that people tend to forget it was a film song—she and Asha sing for two children, trying to butter up their huffy grandmother. Kamal’s voice sounds younger and a bit shrill, which of course fits the idea of a child singing.

8. Hum rang-rangeeli joban van ki titliyaan re (Paigham, 1959): With Suman Kalyanpur. Talented and with a lovely voice, Suman Kalyanpur still got somewhat overlooked because she happened to enter the world of Hindi film playback singing at a time when the Lata-Asha juggernaut was ruling. Despite that, she did get to sing some good songs—ironically enough many of them songs in which most people tend to mistake her for Lata.

Suman Kalyanpur and Asha sang several duets together, including Naache re Radha naache and Hum bachche hain. This song, picturized on Vyjyanthimala and B Saroja Devi as their characters go on a drive with a bunch of their sahelis, is a pleasantly upbeat one. The curious intonation of titt-liyaan is pretty unique.

9. Thumak-thumak chali kaamini (Ek Do Teen, 1953): With GM Durrani. One of the most popular male playback singers of the 40s, GM Durrani was both a singer as well as a composer. As a singer, he sang some songs that may be regarded as landmarks: Mohammad Rafi’s first Hindi song was with GM Durrani; Lata’s first song for Naushad was a duet with him; Geeta Dutt’s breakthrough film, Do Bhai, featured a duet with her and GM Durrani.

By the time Asha Bhonsle was gaining in popularity, GM Durrani was beginning to hang up his boots, so to say (there was speculation that he was advised to give up playback singing after he went on Haj). But Asha did sing several duets along with him, of which I like this one. There’s a certain faintly nasal tone to Asha’s voice in Thumak-thumak chali kaamini that I think fits the song (composed by Vinod, lyrics by Aziz Kashmiri) very well.

10. Anaadi hai shikari dekho dillagi (Shabnam, 1964): With Usha Khanna. Usha Khanna was by no means the first woman music director of Hindi cinema; there had been others (like Saraswati Devi and Jaddan Bai) before her. But she is probably the best-known, and a very talented music director. Unfortunately, after a stellar debut (with Dil Deke Dekho) and an excellent second film (Hum Hindustani), Usha Khanna did not get too many breaks and ended up composing for a number of B-grade films. That she still managed to compose songs that have outlasted the films they were in, says a lot for her work.

Shabnam, a fairly entertaining swashbuckler based on Zorro (with Mehmood playing the role of the masked vigilante-cum-buffoon), is probably best-known for Teri nigaahon pe mar-mar gaye hum, but it also had this good dance-off song, picturized on Helen and L Vijaylakshmi, which was sung by Asha and Usha Khanna. Asha’s voice is markedly different to Usha’s (who is more shrill), but they go well together.

Which songs would you add to this list? Which other singers, which I haven’t covered here or in my earlier list?

42 thoughts on “Asha Bhonsle: Ten Duets, Ten Co-Singers: Part 2”

  1. Hi dusted off,

    I knew you would compile a blog post on Asha’s duets with lesser known / uncommon singers – it must have too good to resist, eh?

    I loved your selections, esp. the rare gems with G.M. Durrani and Rajkumari.

    I am a bit pressed for time this afternoon, but here are a couple of duets that immediately spring to mind.

    Aaj Masti Mein Ga Fikr Kal Hai (with Shaminder Singh, Pensioner, 1954)

    A side note on Shaminder – I really like his voice.

    He had a similar velvety voice as Talat Mahmood, and in fact in a couple of songs (such as yeh shokh ada mast nigah, he sounds eerily like Talat Mahmood to a casual listener.

    Anyway, I digress….

    Here is the other Asha duet, this time with music director Ravi doubling up as a singer:

    Yoon hi chupke chupke banay bahane (Vachaan, 1955)

    Hope you like these.

    -Pratick

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    • Thank you so much for these songs! I can safely say that if I had heard Yeh shokh ada before (I don’t think I have) I would have assumed it was Talat singing. Shaminder Singh indeed sounds uncannily like Talat. Though another person who could sound like Talat was C Ramachandra – in Kitna haseen hai mausam, I had always thought it was Talat until I discovered.

      I had forgotten about Yoon hi chupke chupke, though I’ve seen the film. Thanks for reminding me of it.

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    • How interesting! I had never heard this song before. Actually, I have to admit I hadn’t even heard of Arun Kumar Mukherjee or James Singh, so this is a revelation. Thank you.

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  3. I can only say that this post is also a well-researched excellent post like its predecessor as well as your several posts based on songs. I haven’t heard most of the listed songs but now I will listen to them. Huzoor-e-vaala is a song I like very much. And I have been hearing Daadi Amma since my childhood (I happened to watch the movie Gharana much late). While acknowledging your work and appreciating the post, I assert that what you have said about Suman Kalyanpur is absolutely correct. She was a singer par excellence and the quality of her voice was similar to that of Lata.

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    • Thank you, Jitendraji, I am so glad you enjoyed this post! I think it’s sad that Suman Kalyanpur never really got her due. Far too many people dismiss her as being second rung, but just the mere fact that she is so often mistaken for Lata must mean that she was actually far better than she’s considered…

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  4. Yet another comprehensive list of Asha Bhosle’s duets. Loved it.

    Here’s a duet by Asha Bhosle and S Balbir (Yeh Desh Hai Veer Jawanon Ka fame) from Baarati 1954

    Of course, it’s not a popular song. But interesting picturisation. So many elements put together. A street performance, a bullock cart. Not great, but entertaining.

    There was one of her duets with mostly a Punjabi singer under the baton of Kalyanji Anandji from the early 60s. However I don’t remember the mukhda at all. It wasn’t of course very popular, but was good.

    I’ll be back if I remember it

    Anup

    :-)

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    • Thank you for this song, Anupji. I did think of S Balbir as one of the co-singers Asha might have sung with, and I did find a list of some duets featuring them – but none of the songs rang a bell, so I actually didn’t even explore further. But I’m glad you added this one, it’s an interesting addition to the list. At places, the song sounds a little like Teke main jooth boleya. Bhangra influence, I suppose.

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        • I have no idea! The only Punjabi singers (male) I can think of are Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor, S Balbir and Iqbal Singh – though as far as I know Iqbal Singh only sang that song in Ek Phool Chaar Kaante, nothing as a duet.

          If you remember, please post here.

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  5. I enjoyed reading your post very much, dear Madhu! Thank you. Not only was it enjoyable but I also discovered new facts, that for example, Kamal Barot was born in Tanzania or Jagmohan Bakshi is the Jagmohan of Sapan-Jagmohan, who I see more in the RDB generation. But on the other hand Pancham was also already assisting his dad when Maane Na Roothi Huyi Haseena song got created. The duet with Usha Khanna was new for me.

    I love all songs of Bawre Nain and particularly Ghir Ghir Ke Aasmaan Par, and I had always thought of it as a solo. Such a lovely song and such a lovely picturisation. I love those fluffy clouds in the song.

    From Mahatma Kabir [1954] we have a duet of Asha with Amirbai Karnataki: Kaise Kahoo Apne Man Ki Vipatiya Re.

    Asha has sung a trio with Geeta Dutt, and Zohrabai Ambalewali Tere Milne Ko Jee Dhadke in Chunaria [1948]. I can discern three different voices in it, but I can only guess which voice is whose.

    Interestingly there is also a duet of hers with Kavi Pradeep Badal Pe Madal Baje from Basant Panchami [1956].

    There is also this duet with Surinder Kaur Dheere Dheere Haank Re Gaadi (which sounds like the one from Mother India) from Sabak [1950]. I guess Asha Bhosle opens the song.

    Quite interesting is the duet with the actor Sunil Dutt Jaan-e-Jaan Aao Naa from Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke [1963]. Then there is also this song Main Hoon Chori Naye Fashion Ki from Kashmir [1951], a duet with Devendra Mohan.

    Thanks again for the post and I am looking forward to the next instalment of the Asha Tribute. After all, “Hope springs eternal.”

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  6. Wonderful follow-up, Madhu ji!

    Quite a challenge to find a co-singer that you haven’t listed in your posts, but challenge accepted! Here is my list –

    1. “DUNIYA MEIN LOGON KO DHOKA KABHI HO JATA HAI 4K – Asha Bhosle R.D. Burman – Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz
    2. Na Bole Tum Naa Maine Kuchh Kaha | Amit Kumar, Asha Bhosle | Baton Baton Mein 1979 | Rajesh Roshan
    3. Jaane Do Naa (Lyrical Video) | Asha Bhosle | Shailendra Singh | Saagar
    4. K.J.YESUDAS & ASHA BHOSLE HINDI (Movie Agar – 1977)

    Indeed, an embarrassment of riches!

    BTW, your comments about Asha’s songs where the actors on screen are two women with one of them dressed as a man were interesting. You are right that between Asha and Shamshad, Asha sounds more conventionally feminine, but interestingly in Reshami Salawaar Kurta Jaali Kaa | Naya Daur (1957) | Shamshad Begum, Asha Bhosle – Sahir Ludhianvi – YouTube the roles are reversed.

    Regards,

    Uday

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  7. Lovely compilation, Madhu, and with some songs that were new to me. Re: Rajkumari being the first female playback singer – I think Parul Ghosh sang playback before her. But then, our record keeping is so bad that it’s a toss-up. I have always liked Rajkumari’s voice – like Mubarak Begum, she’s sadly overlooked, and I particularly love the song from Baawre Nain that you mentioned.

    My additions to your list would be:

    SD Batish: Sab kuch karna (Ada/ Madan Mohan/SK Deepak)

    Satyasheel Deshpande: Man anand anand chhaayo (Vijeta/Ajit Varman/Vasant Dev)

    GM Durrani: Udhar chaand nikla (Khushboo/Shankar Lal/Gopal Singh Nepali)

    Sudha Malhotra: Dard-e-dil (CID Girl/Roshan/Anand Bakshi)

    Subir Sen: Gar tum bura na mano (Mahalon ke Khwaab/S Mohinder/Raja Mehdi Ali Khan)

    Parveen Sultana: Piya ki gali laage bhali (Parwaana/Madan Mohan/Kaifi Azmi)

    p.s. I was having a moment of déjà vu when I saw the songs. It took me a moment to realise that this was part II of the duets’ post. I’m really losing it. Especially since you’d mentioned it was part II.

    Also, WordPress wouldn’t allow me to post the links to the songs. The comment just wouldn’t post. So I removed the links. :(

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    • God knows what WordPress keeps doing… :-( But no worries, at least you were able to post the comment. And I have taken the liberty of adding the links. Of these, I was familiar with only the Mahalon ke Khwab song and Piya ki gali – the latter I had forgotten, but as soon as I began listening, it came back to me.

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  10. Came here to add a song to your previous post and found this list. 

    Except for Huzur E Vala and Dadi Amma, all the songs are new to me. 

    Considering Asha’s singing career spanned over the decades, it’s natural that she sang duets with younger lot. 

    ‘Pighlata hua ye samaa’ is one such lovely yet lesser known duet with Udit Narayan, composed by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.

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  11. How could I have missed Asha with my favorite Yesudas in Janeman Janeman from Chhoti Si Baat?

    And among younger lot there is non filmy Kabhi To Nazar Milao with much younger Adnan Sami which was quite popular.

    With Abhijeet, again I had difficulty choosing from Kya Khabar Thi from Khiladi and Zara Sa Jhoom Loon from DDLJ.

    Kambkhat Ishq is not really a duet because Sukhvinder Singh & Sonu Nigam joined Ashaji. It was popular when it was released.

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  12. Madhuji,

    Meena Kapoor also sang with Asha. meena seems to have sung around 180 songs in Hindi films out of which this seems to be her only duet with Asha.

    Main To Dil Aise Ko Dun – Raja Beta (1958) – Roshan – Rajinder Krishan

    It is a fun song steeped in Punjabi folk.

    Anita

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    • This song was new to me. Thank you, a good one – and yes, totally Punjabi folk! This is the sort of song I’d have expected of OP Nayyar, not really Roshan (but I guess that goes to show how versatile Roshan was).

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