Asha Bhosle pays a heartfelt tribute to Shamshad Begum

Where the entire Indian Film fraternity was shocked with the tragic demise of legendary singer Shamshad Begum, her closest patron, Asha Bhosle too couldn’t believe that the playback singer has bid goodbye forever.

She sadly states, “I was very close to her. Is she really gone? Now it would be impossible to ever forget her .It’s hard to be believe she is gone. Her vibrant voice filled with that special khanak still rings in my ears. When I became a singer Shamshadji was an established name, a  very famous singer. People said my voice had a similar tonal quality. In fact we both sang  many Punjabi styled songs together including the very popular Kajra mohabbat wala (composed by O.P. Nayyar in the film Kismat). It was very difficult for me to stand with her in front of the microphone and join voices with her.She was so much my senior and at times so intimidating. Wohmujhe pyar bhi karti tthi aur daanti bhi tthi. I used to  take both her love and her scolding as aashirwaad. We were very close at one time. I used to visit her a lot.She took me under her wings, gave me a lot of affection. I used to go to her home , sit and chat with her. I had many meals in her house. Later we lost touch. I was never able to meet her in her final days. I tried very hard to meet her. I asked people to take me to her. But no one did. Now it’s too late.”

Shamshad Begum was the first singer of the Indian Film Industry. She was the voice behind the famous, hit songs like ‘Kajra Mohabbat Wala’ and ‘Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon’. She was 94 and took her last breath on Tuesday night.