Asha Bhosle’s Malayalam single is a beautiful reminder of her versatility and dedication to music. Although she has sung in many languages, her efforts to master the nuances of Sujatha’s Malayalam demonstrated her respect for all linguistic traditions.
Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who passed away at the age of 92, lent her magical voice that touched multiple languages and generations. Among her voluminous works, she has scored only one Malayalam song – the evergreen ‘Swayamvara Subhadina Mangalangal’ from the 1977 film ‘Sujatha’.The rare song, composed by Ravindra Jain, is a special song and here is the untold story of the gem.
Asha Bhosle’s only Malayalam song
Asha Bhosle sang the song “Swayamvara Subhadina Mangalangal” for the 1977 Malayalam film Sujatha.As mentioned in Manorama, the song came about through a special recommendation from KJ Yesudas. He suggested Ravindra Jain, a visually impaired musical genius, for the project. Jain expressed his desire for Asha Bhosle to sing the song.Producer PV Gangadharan and lyricist Mankombu Gopalakrishnan traveled to RK Studios in Mumbai to meet her and finalize the recording.
Gifted by Asha Bhosle during registration
Asha showed impressive professionalism during the session. She insisted on mastering the correct pronunciation of every Malayalam word.Asha Bhosle found sounds like “zha,” “nja,” and diminutive variations of “ra” and “na” very challenging. I have worked hard to get past these issues.
Mankumbu Gopalakrishnan praises Asha Bhosle
Lyricist Mankumbu Gopalakrishnan later praised Asha’s commitment in an interview. He spoke about how she approached the song with complete dedication by refusing to take shortcuts.
After Asha Bhosle’s death on April 12, many celebrities paid heartfelt tributes.Playback singer Usha Uthup shared a throwback picture and wrote, “Thank you for coming to our studio and leaving your lasting memory here.. Momir Putul.. Nazrul geet was the song you sang. @asha.bhosle ji… With admiration, awe and respect… We all love you.. Thank you for the music…”Malayalam singer KS Chithra also remembered her warmly, saying, “Today we lost a voice that meant so much to so many people. He brought joy, comfort and inspiration over the years, and became a part of our lives in a special way. Even though he is gone, the memories and impact he created will always remain with us. Om Shanthi Asha Bhosle Ji.”
