Asha vs Lata

“Asha lacks a certain something which Lata, and Lata alone has,” said the legendary music composer Naushad once, when asked to sum up the essential difference between the two. However, he admitted several years later, “May be I said it because I then had a closed ear on Asha.” And the story goes on…

By: Poonam Bisht “Asha lacks a certain something which Lata, and Lata alone has,” said the legendary music composer Naushad once, when asked to sum up the essential difference between the two. However, he admitted several years later, “May be I said it because I then had a closed ear on Asha.” And the story goes on…There is a saying that the potential of every great artist is known by the worth of his closest rival. Is there any answer to the question that of Arjun and Karan (in Mahabharata) who was better? Perhaps no! However the film industry, the media and the music lovers in the past six decades have been trying in vain to find an answer- of Lata and Asha, who’s the best?
A deeper look at Asha’s journey in the film industry clearly proves that she didn’t get her due completely. How she struggled in the industry (which would swear by the name of her elder sister legendary Lata Mangeshkar) in the initial years to create an identity of her own is truly remarkable. Despite their denials, the Lata-Asha music rivalry has provided fodder to the news-hungry media and the gossip-mongers of Bollywood for several years. However, of the two, it was Asha who remained at loss most of the times on account of this rivalry. Nothing went right for Asha since the beginning. At the time when Lata had already made a mark in the industry, Asha was fighting personal battles. On returning to music, she not only faced fierce competition from the then ruling singers but also had to go through the humiliation of being given only the leftovers (songs for vamps or side-heroines). The industry-wallahs would rush to Lata in the parties completely sidelining Asha as a display of their loyalties to the ‘so-called Lata camp’. Carving a niche for herself in the industry smitten by Lata and emerging out of her elder sister’s shadow wasn’t easy for Asha. Though she worked with Lata-patrons like Naushad, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Ravindra Jain, Madan Mohan and Shanker Jaikishen that resulted in numerous hit songs, still she would be reminded on several occasions that she was not Lata. So much so that once Asha asked composer Madan Mohan, why she did not get songs for the lead actresses which Lata Didi got, he replied, “Jab tak Lata hai woh gaane wahi gayegi (As long as Lata is there, only she would sing those songs).” But treasure and talent cannot be hidden for long. Thanks to her versatility that was timely tapped by music directors like O P Nayyar, R D Burman, Khayyam, she got the recognition which she truly deserved. Asha’s diversity in singing and her dedication to music is unfathomable. From Piya Tu….to Mera Kuch Saman…, Asha has come a long way. There is hardly any genre of music, she has not sung. In that scope, it can be said that she is an equal of-if not ahead of all-time great Lata. Unlike Lata, Asha has lent voices to cabaret dancers, tawaifs (dancing girls), disco dancers along with the sari-clad lead actresses. She is equally popular among the old and the current generation thanks to her remixed songs. At 74 years of age, she is still a youth icon, thanks to her ability to feel the pulse of the times and move with it. On the personal front, both the sisters have always denied having any rivalry between them. Barring a few reported differences they had due to Asha’s elopement and subsequent marriage with Ganpat Rao Bhosle and her alleged involvement with O P Nayyar in the years to follow, the two are said to be very close to each other since childhood. They are often seen having long chats together and laughing merrily even in the selective parties or other social dos they attend. On being asked by someone once whether she had any role in the film industry depriving Asha of her dues for several years, Lata felt hurt and replied, “Agar maine Asha ko aage badhne se roka hota to kya kya aaj who wahan hoti jahan aaj pahunchi hai (If I would have tried to deny Asha of her dues then was it possible for her to reach this level)?” If Lata is the bright Sun in the sky of Hindi music, Asha is the Moon. It may not be prominently visible in Sun’s presence but there can be no denying its ethereal beauty and calm glow that is ever radiating.