Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who passed away on Sunday, also left her mark in the Telugu film industry singing in her inimitable style, though her contribution was limited in number with only a handful of songs to her credit.
However, they continue to be cherished by the Telugu music lovers. She made her Telugu debut in 1981 with the song “Idi Maunageetam” under the baton of composer Satyam in the film Paalu Neellu. The song was picturised on Jayaprada.
She later delivered one of her most notable Telugu songs, “Jeevitam Sapta Sagara Geetam”, alongside S. P. Balasubrahmanyam in the 1988 film Chinni Krishnudu, which was shot entirely in the USA. The song, composed by her husband R. D. Burman, remains a melodious classic where lyricist Veturi Sundara Ramamurthy captures the essence of US in few lines. Despite being a non-native speaker, her rendition stood out for its clarity and emotive depth.
Her last song in Telugu was the runaway hit “Naalo oohalaku” in Chandamama, directed by Krishna Vamsi, with music by K. M. Radha Krishnan. This song continues to be the favourite of the present generation for its melodious tune and her melluflous voice.
In 1992, Asha Bhonsle connected with Telugu audiences through the film Aswamedham, featuring Nandamuri Balakrishna and Nagma. She rendered two songs but the “Seetakaalam Premaku Endaakalam” track continues to be an evergreen favourite. Ilayaraja was the composer.
