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Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Asha Bhosle recalls backlash to bold songs like Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and Dum Maaro Dum: 'Majrooh Sultanpuri left the studio and told me, ‘Beti, maine ganda gana likha hai'
Asha Bhosle has lent her voice to some of the most iconic songs in Hindi cinema, from the sultry Piya Tu Ab To Aaja to the rebellious Dum Maaro Dum and the dreamy Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera. But in a recent interview, the legendary playback singer revealed that many of her bold tracks didn't just raise eyebrows, they were outright banned on Indian radio. 'Why do I only get the bold songs?' Asha once asked RD Burman Speaking to Republic Bharat, Asha Bhosle recalled confronting her late husband and composer RD Burman, fondly known as Pancham Da, about his song choices. She questioned why she was repeatedly given provocative numbers, while her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar received the softer, more 'respectable' melodies. 'I once told Pancham, why do I only get these bold songs while the nice songs go to Lata Didi?' she said. But RD Burman stood firm. He had faith in Asha's ability to make such songs iconic. Regarding Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, from the 1971 film Caravan, she remembered him confidently telling her that the song would be a huge hit. 'I have written a bad song,' said Majrooh Sultanpuri and walked out Interestingly, Asha also shared an anecdote involving renowned lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, who penned Piya Tu Ab To Aaja. She recalled how embarrassed he was during the recording session. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo 'Majrooh Sultanpuri left the studio and told me, 'Beti, maine ganda gana likha hai. My daughters will grow up and sing this song,'' she said, laughing. Despite his hesitation, Asha went ahead with the song, staying true to her professional commitment. 'I knew the music of the song is good, but I didn't know that the song will be such a massive hit,' she added. Hindi Songs | Asha Bhosle Special Songs | Jukebox Song '3–4 of my songs were banned from Bombay radio' While these songs have since achieved cult status, Asha admitted they weren't always well received. In fact, they were censored. 'My 3–4 songs would get banned from Bombay radio,' she revealed, pointing to the conservative broadcasting environment of the time. Another of Asha's landmark tracks, Dum Maaro Dum from Dev Anand's Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), also stirred controversy. Despite the film's anti-drug message, the song was accused of glamorising smoking and hippie culture. As a result, All India Radio banned it, and Doordarshan edited the song out when the film was aired on television. Over the decades, however, these songs have come to define the bold, experimental era of Hindi film music, with Asha Bhosle at the forefront, unafraid to lend her voice to songs that pushed boundaries.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘I wrote a dirty song': Asha Bhosle recalls lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri leaving the studio out of embarrassment as she recorded ‘Piya tu ab to aaja'
'Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,' 'Dum Maaro Dum,' and 'Yeh Hai Reshmi Zulfon Ka Andhera' — Asha Bhosle has delivered countless iconic songs to the Hindi film industry. But the sensual, bold nature of many of her tracks also sparked controversies. Recently, the legendary singer recalled how some of her songs were even banned on the radio. In a conversation with Republic Bharat, Asha Bhosle revealed that she once confronted RD Burman for consistently giving her bold songs to sing, while all the 'nice' songs would go to her sister and iconic singer Lata Mangeshkar. However, she recalled how Pancham Da had confidently predicted that 'Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,' from the 1971 film Caravan, would be a massive hit with audiences. Asha also remembered how lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri reacted while she was recording the song. He left the studio midway because he was embarrassed by some of the lyrics he had written. She recalled, 'Majrooh Sultanpuri left the studio and told me, 'Beti, maine ganda gana likha hai. (I have written a bad song.) My daughters will grow up and sing this song.'' But Asha said she went ahead with it because she had already made a commitment. 'I knew the music of the song is good, but I didn't know that the song will be such a massive hit,' she shared. ALSO READ | Banned on radio and television, Asha Bhosle's Dum Maro Dum became the identity of an anti-drug movie Speaking about the backlash she faced, Asha revealed that many of her songs were banned from radio. 'My 3–4 songs would get banned from Bombay radio,' she said. Like 'Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,' Asha Bhosle's other hit, 'Dum Maaro Dum' from Dev Anand's film Hare Rama Hare Krishna, also courted controversy. Although the film aimed to critique smoking and hippie culture, many felt that the song glamorised it. As a result, All India Radio banned the track, and Doordarshan edited it out when the film was aired on television.
The Print
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
TV news is always enthusiastic about a ‘war'—India-Pakistan, Putin-Zelenskyy, Kannada-Tamil
'Badla,' said Republic Bharat . 'Badla,' said Zee Bharat . Operation Sindoor once more? No, it was Operation Spider's Web. Take last Monday: you could watch drones rise into the sky—as only drones can—and swoop down on defenseless Russian aircraft with precision. Slam! Bang! Explosion after explosion lit up the TV screen, flames billowed into smoke, and in the distance, we heard the scary sound of sirens. War is the No. 1 entertainer on television news in India. It has washed TV soaps down the tube. Who wants to watch a mother-in-law slap her daughter-in law when we can watch India slap down Pakistan—or Zelenskyy deliver a stinging blow to Putin? This was 'Pearl Harbour 2.0'—the 'Maha Yudh,' 'Full and Final' (Republic Bharat) running on Indian television news channels. It was 'Putin v/s Trump', declared TV9 Bharatvarsh. Why watch a girl named Saru in plaited pigtail confront Ankita in tight skirts (Saru, Zee TV) when you can watch US President Donald Trump, the 'Lord of Lunacy'—as TV9 Bharatvarsh called him—outstare Russian President Vladimir Putin? If it's not actual war, TV news conflicts are more entertaining than the family court-martials on TV soaps. On Wednesday there was a 'Kannada-Tamil War' in the TV newsrooms 'starring' Kamal Hassan as the 'villain' (Times Now). Cut to a visual of the film star, long, stringy strands of hair framing his villainous face, looking exactly like he led a 'Thug Life'—the title of his latest film. The Mani Ratnam film is now caught in the battle of Bengaluru, as Karnataka threatens to boycott Thug Life after Kamal Hassan appeared to offend Kannadiga pride by stating that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil.' Wouldn't you rather watch this case of exploding linguistic identities than Akshara swooning here and there during her pregnancy while trying to withstand the nauseating behaviour of her would-be saas, who is trying to prevent her son from marrying Akshara in the TV soap Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Star Plus)? This family drama has aired since 2012 and has so many internal conflicts, great epics pale in comparison. Still, it can't compare with the drones of war on television news. Also read: Blood, Bengal, and Breaking News—Local TV channels are desensitising us, badly War excites TV news The comparison between war among nations and war within a joint family isn't a false equivalence: both thrive on constant conflict and keep us round-eyed with astonishment at the unfolding events. What's clear is that TV news coverage of modern warfare is more eye-catching: boots on the ground have been replaced by flying machines. This allows TV channels to play video war games. Digital technology and now AI help newsrooms come up with high-quality maps, detailed graphics, and advanced animation to bring action to life. Just look at this one by AiTelly. Hindi news channels have also taken to war enthusiastically. TV9 Bharatvarsh is also known as 'Yudh TV' for waging ceaseless battle on air, 24×7. The conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Bangladesh, and Balochistan regularly show up on the news. How can any mere mortal TV soap actor—who is there to weep, shout, stand, and stare without messing up the make-up—compete with this? The primary purpose of the characters they play is to look soulfully into the eyes of a beloved or narrow their eyes into venomous slits while they spit out poisonous threats like, 'You will not steal Adit from me' (Mangal Lakshmi, Colors). Alternatively, the one happy family has to reinforce the ideals of the patriarchal Hindu value system: In Udne ki Asha (Star Plus), the mother-in-law comes up with a brilliant idea: 'All the wives will cook for their husbands!' Well. TV soaps have not reinvented themselves with the times, perhaps because they're targeting audiences in smaller cities and rural areas. They're still about the Hindu parivaar – loving, fighting, feuding—while urban viewers have moved on to watch OTT shows like the recently released The Royals (Netflix). Even when they attempt change, they fall back on old stereotypes. In Jagruti, Ek Nai Subah (Zee), the lead female character is a policewoman from an imaginary backward community called 'Chitta'. She is up against the mafia king – Thakurji. Thakurji profits from drugs, animal skins, and other illegal trades. He lives a lavish lifestyle, sprawled out on a couch with a glass of Scotch whisky dangling from his fingers as he threatens the police chief. And when he's angry, he shatters the glass with his bare hand. Also, everything moves in slow motion; the camera still does a 360-degree twirl to capture the expressionless faces of the family members. And then there's the music… Also read: Sensational, speculative, insensitive—that's how TV news is covering Kolkata doctor's rape Murder and mayhem There's plenty of music on news channels too—and special effects galore. For shouting matches, we have TV news anchors and their guests—BJP and Congress play the lead roles of warring families. We've even watched people assault each other in the newsroom. And if you are loyal viewers of Crime Patrol or the other popular crime shows C.I.D (Sony) and Savdhaan India (Star Bharat), you'll find enough murder on news channels to slake your blood thirst. Wednesday morning, India Today had news of a 'Ghastly crime in Shillong' where honeymooners were 'hacked to death'. It also had mobile video footage of a 'murder in a bakery'. Let's remember the Shraddha Walkar case that was telecast for weeks across news channels. Lastly, everyone has credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for coming up with the name Operation Sindoor. Did you know there's a TV serial called 'Sindoor ki Keemat' that aired on Dangal between 2021 and 2023? The author tweets @shailajabajpai. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
