Asha Bhosle’s voice will never fade, neither will her warmth: Amol Palekar

Pune: Her affection, her warmth, and her generosity in singing for his film ‘Ankahi' without charging a fee, are facets of playback singer Asha Bhosle that veteran actor Amol Palekar will hold close with deep emotion.

"Ashabai's voice will never fade. It will linger in the silence of my mind. To me, she was not merely an icon, but someone who held me with rare affection," he told TOI on Sunday.

Palekar recalled his association with the star singer when she sang for his film ‘Ankahi'. "She not only refused any remuneration, but also arrived with a 102-degree fever. Her range and versatility had always astonished me. She could slip between moods and genres with ease. There was playfulness, pathos, mischief, romance, depth, often all within the same breath. Her voice will endure, but we will miss her presence," he added.


Other Pune artists remembered her as an inspiration. Marathi singer Rahul Deshpande said whether it is ‘natyasangeet', film songs, devotional music or even a cabaret, Asha Bhosle showed how a singer should perform.

"Her voice was versatile and flowed with great ease. The expressions and emotions in her singing are something we may never hear again. I am fortunate to have spent some time with her and to have received an award from her, it felt like her blessings. I also cherish the memory of her coming to my grandfather (Pandit Vasantrao Deshpande) to learn natyageet," Deshpande added.

Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal's working president Srinivas Joshi and son of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, said, "Asha Bhosle shared a long and warm association with my father and our family. She sang with my father at a few places, and they had even planned an album together, which unfortunately did not materialise."

‘Jait Re Jait' has always found appreciation and popularity in Marathi cinema. Veteran actor Mohan Agashe, who played the lead opposite Smita Patil, said, " I am reminded of how Smita's character Chindi carried many shades that echoed Asha Bhosle's. She was a tribal woman, a questioning spirit, a quiet rebel within the family structure, much like Ashabai herself. I have such pleasant, personal memories of Ashabai, her warmth, her intensity, and that rare blend of love and defiance that stayed with you long after you met her."

Eminent Marathi anchor Sudhir Gadgil, who had interviewed Bhosle several times, with the first one in 1984, in Mumbai's Doordarshan studio, said he worked with her for many programmes in Pune, Vile Parle, Indore, Thane, Dombivli, Solapur, and Kolhapur.

"I was honoured to interview her nearly 20 times on stage. During a session at New English School, Ramanbaug in Pune, it began to rain heavily and (actor) Nana Patekar held an umbrella over her while the conversation continued. In 2013, she and veteran politician Sharad Pawar presented me with the ‘Punya Bhushan' award. At that event, she asked me whether I preferred Lata or Asha, and I replied that I had respect for Lata Mangeshkar and a deep, affectionate regard for her."

quotes I A vibrant voice that connected with Puneites

Her voice was versatile and flowed with great ease. The expressions and emotions in her singing are something we may never hear again. I am fortunate to have spent some time with her and to have received an award from her; it felt like her blessings. I also cherish the memory of her coming to my grandfather (Pandit Vasantrao Deshpande) to learn natyageet

Rahul Deshpande I Hindustani classical vocalist

Asha Bhosle shared a long and warm association with my father and our family. She sang with my father (Pandit Bhimsen Joshi) at a few places, and they had even planned an album together, which unfortunately did not materialise

Srinivas Joshi I Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal's working president

She felt like someone from every home, a voice deeply connected to people's hearts. We never imagined a world of music without her. The loss feels like sudden darkness, like a bright light going out. Her energy and presence were truly unique

Salil Kulkarni I Music composer and singer
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