Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle was presented with the Yash Chopra Memorial Award on 16 February at a star hotel in Mumbai. On being presented with the award, Asha Bhosle also mesmerized the audience with her soothing voice. She crooned her chartbuster, “Aaage bhi jaane na tu” from 1965 film Waqt.
Asha said: “Yashji was like my younger brother. It is unfortunate that he isn’t here anymore. I had a long association of close to 50 years with him, even before he was married. Once I complimented him on his choice of songs and melodies and told him that his ear for music has greatly improved with time.”
The chief guests Rekha along with Maharashtra Governor Vidyasagar Rao, felicitated 84-year-old Asha as the fifth recipient of the award.
The actress said: “I am here because of two people I love very much — and those are Yashji and Asha tai… What should I talk about Asha tai? It’s like showing light to the Sun. She is an integral part of me, that’s what I believe, but I didn’t know that when I was a child.”
“When I came into the industry and when she started singing for me, that’s when I realized this is what it meant to be part of somebody so beautifully… I don’t have any words to express my love and gratitude towards her.” Asha has sung many songs for Rekha in her films.
Sharing their cinematic association, Rekha said, “I remember, Asha tai once met me in Raj Kapoor’s party and literally instructed me to perform better in songs of Umrao Jaan as she sung all my songs in that film. So when I was shooting for Dil cheez kya hai or In aankhon ki masti, that time I was only remembering instructions of Asha tai. So, whatever you have seen of me in that film is all because of her”.
On the life lessons she has taken from Asha, Rekha said: “As a person, I learned one thing from Asha tai that irrespective of tough and good times sail through the phase with a smiling face. I wish she lives till the time this mankind is existing.”
The event also saw Parineeti Chopra, Padmini Kolhapure, Poonam Dhillon, Alka Yagnik, Jackie Shroff and Jaya Prada in attendance.
The Yash Chopra Memorial Award was instituted by MP T Subbarami Reddy in the memory of late filmmaker Yash Chopra who died in 2012. The award also carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.