Asha Bhosle: The Queer Sensibilities of Camp, Feminity and Longing through Music - Part 1

Asha Bhosle is a force to reckon with in the Indian stream of Music, and along with her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, they are undisputedly the two prime musical voices of India. On her 90th birthday, and her 80th anniversary of being in the Indian music and film industry, I talk about her influence on the Queer community and Queerness in India, in various way, through her music.

Asha Bhosle

If you are from India in any way, you have definitely heard the songs of the living legend, Asha Bhosle. She started her career at the young age of 10 in the Bombay film industry way back in 1943, and has been singing ever since, till today, as she turns 90 and celebrates 80 years in the industry as a singer.

She is most known for her Hindi film songs that blend the quinessential Hindi film style with Western music, the "cabaret" or as Ashaji says, "dance songs" of the 70s, 80s and 90s, like Piya Tu Ab Toh Aaja, Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dilko and Dum Maaro Dum (just to name a few).

She has given hit after hit song, working tirelessly for basically all her life, she is very light hearted, humble, friendly. She has pioneered and revolutionalized the role of playback singers in Indian cinema along with Lata didi. She is named in the Guiness Book of World Records as the most recorded artist in the world. She eloped from her house when she was 16, raised three children on her own as a single mother in the 40s and 50s, and has fought to establish herself as a unique and ubiquitous artist in the industry while earning money as an independent woman at the time and throughout her illustrious career. She is truly an inspiration to Indians - to me as a singer, artist and as a person.

Wishing her an very very happy birthday and hope she continues to stay connected with us through music.