Newsgroups: rec.music.indian.misc,alt.fan.jai-maharaj,soc.culture.indian,hawaii.nortle Path: Lehigh.EDU!netnews.upenn.edu!dsinc!newsfeed.pitt.edu!gatech!newsfeed.internetmci.com!newshub.csu.net!csulb.edu!drivel.ics.uci.edu!news.service.uci.edu!unogate!mvb.saic.com!eskimo!jai From: jai@mantra.com (Dr. Jai Maharaj) Subject: Article - Luster of Asha Bhosle's Golden Voice X-Nntp-Posting-Host: eskimo.com Message-ID: Originator: jai@eskimo.com Lines: 158 Sender: news@eskimo.com (News User Id) Reply-To: Dr. Jai Maharaj Organization: Mantra Corporation, USA X-Newsreader: MantraNews Date: Sun, 16 Jun 1996 23:08:13 GMT Xref: Lehigh.EDU rec.music.indian.misc:42001 soc.culture.indian:279285 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- LUSTER OF ASHA BHOSLE'S GOLDEN VOICE UNDIMMED INDIA JOURNAL June 7, 1996 edition LOS ANGELES, California -- Her twinkling light peach colored saree, diamond studs and a dangling pearl and diamond bracelet from her right hand shone from afar. Up close, she was sophisticated, refined, warm and light hearted. And from anywhere, she was melodious and enthralling. Asha, along with Kishore Kumar's son, Amit Kumar, and budding singing sensation Sonu Nigam took the audience of about 4,500 down memory lane, rendering hit after super hit. Asha sang favorites before the intermission including solos such as, Dum Maro Dum and duets such as Piya Piya Piya, Haal Kesa Hai Janaba Ka, and Jaane Ja tum Kaha Maj Waha with Amit Kumar. "Meeeooow" said Asha as she did a monologue of the typical Booth or ghost scene of an Indian movie. Indeed, singing wasn't the only thing that Asha did that made the audience smile. She also told jokes and witty tales about the Indian film industry. The audience was in peals of laughter when Asha asked why it is that Indian film actors and actresses only have "B.A's" and why none of them were doctors or engineers. The most touching moment of the show was undoubtedly Ashaji's rendition of Kucha Na Kaho Kucha Bhi Na Kaho from the hit movie 1942 Love Story. Singing this song in memory of her late husband, R. D. Burman, Asha's emotions overtook her and she had to pause before being able to carry on with the show. She remained spirited as she concluded the night with the ever popular Rangeela Re from the movie Rangeela. Amit Kumar's presentation was a tribute to his late father, the revered and loved Kishore Kumar. Kumar, who passed away in 1987, was seen in some of his best moments on two screens that hung over the right and left ends of the stage. With the inherited enthusiasm of his father, Amit Kumar sang a variety of songs including the first song that he recorded after his father's death, Rama o Rama. Amit Kumar fighting in his father's huge shadow did his best. He seemingly is unable to decide whether he wants to be his own singer or keep singing Kishore Kumar's old hits, and never become a star in his own right. Asha also presented interludes of her fond memories of Kishore Kumar. One sweet story was about a time when Asha began singing a line she wasn't supposed to. Kishore Kumar stopped her by placing his two fingers on her lips. She thought she would have to start over, when Kishore Kumar told her that there was no need for that as he would put two fingers on the lips of the heroine at the same time during the movie. When the movie came out, Asha saw that he did indeed put his two fingers on the heroine’s lips at exactly the same point in the song. The two video screens made the show unique and took the audience back to some of their old favorite screen moments. Pizzazz, spunk, spontaneity made 21 year old Sonu Nigam steal the hearts of the audience at the end of the show. Nigam, who walked on stage wearing a white brocade jacket and a smile, at the end of the show and walked off stage hearing cheers and claps from the impressed audience. Singing hits such as Yun Tho Hum Na Lakha Hasin Dekha Hai, Tum Sa Nahi Dekha and Bade Door a Se Aayee Pyar a Ka Tofa Liya Hai, Nigam showed that he wasn't just an excellent singer, but was a charming and lively performer. Asha and Sonu danced in rhythm to the songs as if they were the hero and heroine of a movie, but Asha was old enough to be his grandmother. Asha was accompanied by a talented nine person orchestra including Bhavani Prasad on tabla, Roshanji on the dhol, Nirmal Mukherjee on the bongo, Arun Banerjee on the drums, Vishwajit Roy and Arvind on the guitar, Shyam Raj on the saxophone and Arjan Vishwas as the band coordinator. "Chun chun ke laye" was the way Asha put it explaining how such a spectacular orchestra had come together. If there was any complaint at the end of a show that started and ended on time, it was a wish that Asha could have been seen even more. The crowd itself was very well behaved, almost too sedate. The entertainers had to try hard to make the crowd more rambunctious. Asha's charm was evident even backstage. Cultivating her voice as any good singer would do, she sipped honey water while sitting with her daughter and daughter-in- law. Singing for 52 years now since the young age of 10, Asha can still enchant the audience with her beautiful voice even at 62 years of age. The entire evening, presented by local promoter Dr. Mishal of Rajdoot Indian Cuisine was well organized and well conducted. Shamim Zaidi of Melody Makers and "Rang hi Rang" radio program was the national promoter. Babubhai Patel of Neema Sari Palace was also recognized with a plaque for selling the most number of tickets for the show. Authorized Reproduction For subscription information, please contact: INDIA JOURNAL 15605 S. Carmenita Road, Suite 107 Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 USA Telephone: 310-802-9720 2460 Anson Drive, Unit 3 Missisauga, Ontario L5S 1G7 CANADA Telephones: 905-405-0420, 905-405-0421 64 South Park Apartments Kalkaji B New Delhi 110019 BHARAT INDIA Telephones: 9111-6432155, 9111-6427076 Jai Maharaj Jyotishi, Vedic Astrologer %:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:%:% *-=Om Shanti=-* %:%:% -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 Comment: ftp://ftp.prairienet.org/pub/providers/pgp/pgpfaq.txt iQCVAwUBMcSaeulp/UA/8L65AQHi4wP/WFCq1SnIGa0jufCNhTC/EY6rITts4wqd yq41Ie8zuLmAbkxYyMwpVz/wdg+sGZPTRlQzRBZmjsCKwO0GB2+1KykiJPTV2uJz wdYd5c9t4SNppGYCnZpR+D7vR7iGoQ2xDoE+qBVBOncHxMNCxfvE5wUNNGfR/sdG 10cDmlqD22Y= =4UHk -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----