ASHA BHOSLE: 75 YEARS OF ASHA

Asha Bhosle: 75 Years of Asha
Friday, April 4, 2008 at 8 PM / Roy Thomson Hall
Tickets $124.50-$39.50 / 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office
www.roythomson.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Toronto, ON. March 7, 2007.

Versatility could well be Asha Bhosle's second name. No type of song has been beyond her vocal range be it a club dance, sad song, bhajan, ghazal or pop. The legendary singer, known as the “Golden Voice of Bollywood”, makes her Roy Thomson Hall debut on April 4, 2008 at 8:00 pm as part of her 75th birthday world tour. One of the most recorded artists in history, she has sung over 20,000 songs in more than a dozen languages in some one thousand films, providing the singing voice for countless actresses in film. Roy Thomson Hall is proud to present her in a very rare appearance.

Asha made her playback debut in 1948 with the film Chunariya. 1957 was her breakthrough year when she sang the heroine's songs in Tumsa Nahin Dekha and Naya Daur. Asha was dynamic, young, inexperienced, yet quick to catch on; she was groomed to continue her career in film. The following year Asha made it right to the top with hit songs in films like Howrah Bridge (1958), Chalti ka Naam Ghadi (1958) and Lajwanti (1958). Initially Asha's voice did sound influenced by the well-known Geeta Dutt's style of singing but post 1957 she came into her own. By the end of the decade she was second only to her older sister, Lata, a well-established singer, and the two sisters have ruled the playback scene well into the 90s.

The 1960s saw Asha at her best as she belted out her best songs particularly under OP Nayyar's baton - Aankhon se Jo Utri hai Dil Mein from Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1964), Jayiye Aap Kahaan Jayenge from Mere Sanam (1965) and Woh Haseen Dard De Do from Humsaaya (1968). She also won the Filmfare Award for Chain se Humko Kabhi. The 1970s also brought her close with RD Burman, who gave her a new sound altogether. Piya Tu Ab To Aajaa (Caravan (1971)), Dum Maro Dum (Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971)), offered fresh and stimulating challenges to her voice. It was Umrao Jaan (1981) which showed further new possibilities in Asha's voice. Khayyam sang the ghazals in the film in a lower register, with magical results. Dil Cheez Kya Hai, In Aankhon ki Masti, Yeh Kaisi Jagah hai Doston, Justaju Jiski Ki represent some of the finest singing Asha has ever done. Ijaazat (1987) saw her in top form winning a National Award for Mera Kuch Samaan, difficult to sing, as the lyrics were more in prose form rather than standard rhythmic verse.

In the 1990s Asha has even further widened her horizon by succesfully coming out with albums in Indipop and beating the Indian pop artists on their own turf. She performs only occasionally now, although she has made stars such as Urmila Matonder and Aishwarya Rai sizzle in Rangeela (1994) or Taal (1999). The biggest feather in Asha's already crowded cap has been the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for her contribution to Indian Cinema.

Sponsored by TD Canada Trust and Co-Presented with Asian Television Network (ATN).

ASHA BHOSLE
Friday, April 4, 2008 at 8 PM / Roy Thomson Hall / 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto
Tickets $124.50 - $39.50 - Call 416-872-4255 or visit the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office
www.roythomson.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Liz Parker, Publicity Manager / Ph: 416 593 4822, Ext. 318 / email: liz.parker@rth-mh.com
THE CORPORATION OF MASSEY HALL AND ROY THOMSON HALL
60 Simcoe Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2H5



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