Bhosle’s final song: Anshuman recalls her childlike excitement

Anshuman Jha has a fond memory of Asha Bhosle linked to the film ‘Om Ka Hari’, which includes her final playback song, 'Ae Meri Zindagi, Tu Chhipi Hai Kahan'. Recently, Jha shared how happy and excited Bhosle looked after seeing the song's footage, and talked about her constant urge to try new things and keep getting better, even in her old age.

The conversation also included Raghubir Yadav, Soni Razdan and Ayesha Kapur. Bhosle's last playback song was released on September 8, her 93rd birth anniversary. She recorded it at the age of 90, and the song's video shows glimpses from that session.

Asha Bhosle's surprise over Anshuman Jha's action film

One of Jha's most cherished exchanges with Bhosle happened when she came across the trailer of his 2023 film Lakkadbaggha, and he remembered her surprise at seeing him in an action avatar.

Speaking to News18, he said, "What I remember most is that she somehow caught the trailer of Lakkadbaggha. And she said, 'Tune woh maar-dhaad wali film ki hai, ye toh badi alag film hai.' And then I said, 'Haan, aapne dekhi?' So she said, 'Nahi, dekhi toh nahi hai, trailer dekha hai maine,'" he said.

Asha Bhosle's excitement over Om Ka Hari footage

Jha then played the already-shot footage from Om Ka Hari for Bhosle. The track had been recorded across two or three sessions, and though he'd missed the first, he was around for the second.

"So then I showed her the footage that we had shot. This song was actually recorded two or three times. I wasn't there for the first recording, but I was there for the second recording, and by then we had already shot the footage. I showed her the footage, and she was so excited to see it that she said, 'I'll do one today and we'll do one more after next week because I'm getting ideas,'" Jha recalled.That moment, for Jha, spoke volumes about who Bhosle really was.

Even at 90, she still carried the curiosity and determination to refine a song, chase new ideas and challenge herself. "So this hunger, this drive, this want to constantly process and get better, I think is a huge, huge trademark of a great artist whose legacy is going to be timeless," he said. Yet, beyond her iconic stature, Jha said it's the pure, uncomplicated happiness she felt while singing that stays with him the most.

"For me, the biggest memory is this childlike joy she had when she was singing. And if you've seen the video, you know, just…" he added.

About Om Ka Hari and its music

'Ae Meri Zindagi, Tu Chhipi Hai Kahan' was released as part of the music launch for Om Ka Hari, an album that also includes tracks by Amit Kumar, Paresh Pahuja and Raghubir Yadav. Helmed by Harish Vyas, the film stars Raghubir Yadav, Soni Razdan, Anshuman Jha and Ayesha Kapur, and is set to hit theatres on September 18.

Asha Bhosle's passing

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle breathed her last on April 12 at the age of 92, in Mumbai. Her final rites took place a day later at Shivaji Park crematorium.