Asha Bhosle heralds her 83rd, like only she can

"All my life I've yearned for someone to put their hand on my head and say, 'Beta you've done well, you've performed brilliantly for so long, look how tired you are.' But life has gone by and I'm still here," an extremely emotional Asha Bhosle said following her felicitation on turning 83 at a special concert. Reminding the audience how she has always laughed in public, Bhosle said, "I think when you feel like crying it's best to step into the shower. Just like I'm feeling now."

Urmila Matondkar paying a tribute to Asha Bhosle on her 83rd birthday at Zee Classic Timeless Asha concert

The diva compared herself to a mountain brook which began her journey several decades ago. "I have encountered many obstacles, surpassed many a mountain on this journey to the ocean. I had no option I had to keep moving ahead for my children and the challenges that came forth. I have borne many insults and much abuse, been humiliated and made to feel small and obscure but I never let that get to me and kept marching on resolutely. I give you my word that for as long as music lovers stand by me I will continue to sing and regale." She broke into song, "Mera kuchh saman tumhare pas pada hai /savan ke kuchh bhige bhige din rakhe hain/ Aur meri ek khat mai liptee jaan padi hai/ Woh jaan chhuda do, mera woh saman lauta do," addressing the audience, thanking them for their love.

Radhika Apte and Terence Lewis pay a tribute to Asha Bhosle on her 83rd birthday at Zee Classic Timeless Asha concert

The songstress was felicitated at the hands of Mewati maestro Pandit Jasraj who said, "I can't think of anyone who can create so many kinds of magic with her voice." He was joined on stage by several of her leading ladies like Helen, Dimple Khanna, Jaya Prada and Tabu each of whom she serenaded in her signature style by singing a line or two of her iconic songs picturised on them. While Helen and she shook a leg to much applause, Dimple looking ravishing in a Kerala-style off-white and gold sari was left blushing when Bhosle broke into 'Jaane Do Na' from Sagar which marked her comeback.

Dimple Kapadia at Zee Classic Timeless Asha concert

"Pancham composed a special tune for the scene in which Dimple is first seen in Sagar. (Sings it) He said this is for a beautiful girl in swimming costume who is diving into the water."
She went on to add, "I wonder how I got so lucky to sing for so many ravishing beauties considering I was never much in the looks department," eliciting many laughs and protests from the women onstage.

When Tabu tried to keep her speech short by simply wishing her and thanking her for singing the famous 'Rang De' number, Bhosle insisted she sing. Though hesitantly Tabu rendered Bhosle's iconic the opening lines of 'Do Lafzon Ki Hain' from The Great Gambler (1979), perfect in tune and pitch.

Earlier santoor maestro Pt Shivkumar Sharma when asked by the host for the evening Ayushman Khurana about the sensuous aahs and oohs by Asha Bhosle in the beginning of 'Parbat se kaali ghata takrai' from Chandni, he admitted that Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia and he had gone out of their comfort zone for the song. "This was a film and we had to stay with the scene and the character given to us. Thank God we didn't think like classical musicians," he said to much applause and laughter.

(From L-R) Sharad Pawar, Pratibha Pawar, and Asha Bhosle at the Zee Classic Timeless Asha concert

Incidentally when NCP chief and Maratha satrap Sharad Pawar was asked which Asha Bhosle song came to mind when he and his wife Pratibha fought there was a moment of awkward silence. But Pawar sportingly replied: "It is a Marathi song. Tarun aahe raatra ajuni (The night's still young)."

The evening also saw Urmila Matondkar, Bhumi Pednekar, Radhika Apte and choreographer Terence Lewis reprise many of Bhosle's most iconic numbers in her nearly 75-year-old career.