00:03The whole world called her Tai, but she gave me the license to call her Ai.
00:09I have spent more than two decades with Asha Ai, and these two decades have been the best time of
00:17my life.
00:18Since my association with her when I recorded her first for my film Page 3 on a song called Huzoor
00:25-e-Ala,
00:25which in itself was such a stellar experience because she had never met me, never heard of me.
00:32I was a debutant. I was not even from the industry.
00:38And she actually recorded the song in San Jose in San Francisco.
00:43She was not here in Bombay and she agreed to do the song.
00:47And there was no technology back then, but yet on Hotmail and stuff we were able to exchange files
00:54and she recorded the song Huzoor-e-Ala.
00:57And then she sent me song from there by singing Huzoor, Huzoor-e-Ala.
01:03Then she sang Huzoor, Huzoor-e-Ala. Huzoor, Huzoor-e-Waala.
01:07She sang all these and sent me.
01:09And then when she got back and I did Sashtang Panam and asked her,
01:13Tai, how is it that you sang for a newcomer like this?
01:16And she said, you know, Pancham and I were like once resting in the day and Pancham told me that,
01:22Asha, if you want to remain relevant, you will need to shape up to whatever the newer music directors will
01:28tell you.
01:29These new boys will come with some technology and they'll ask you to adapt.
01:32And if you say no to them, then you won't be progressive.
01:35So she said, just because Pancham told me, I have sung this in a way where there was no music
01:42director in front of me.
01:44There was no technology, which is the way it is now, like Zoom, etc.
01:50So, Ashaji was a complete package, a very mukambal human being.
01:56And I would like to write a book on her because she told me how, when Lataji was the peak
02:01of her career,
02:02Ashaji made a place for herself and was really shining in her own right
02:07and made her own identity, her own astitwa, her own vajood,
02:11by singing in her impeccable style, bringing in innovations in her vocality.
02:16So these are learnings that, you know, even big corporate giants should take from her
02:22as to how to make a dent in competition.
02:26And she loved her family.
02:28I mean, the way her progressive attitude shows is the way for Zanai,
02:32my little child who was doing independent music.
02:35Ashaji actually always encouraged her to not just be very Bollywood skewed in today's time,
02:41in 2023, 24, 25.
02:43Because in these times, independent music has been overtaking the landscape of music,
02:50vis-a-vis the conventional film, music.
02:53So, I mean, I remember she telling me very clearly that,
02:58till my last breath, I will sing.
03:00And I will sing for young little girls like Alia Bhatt.
03:03So if you have a song for Alia, tell me I will sing for her.
03:06That was Asha Postle for you because she never felt 90 plus.
03:11And every time I would be at her residence,
03:14she would specifically make poha and, you know, chai and coffee for me.
03:20And she would always keep doing her riyas.
03:22Extremely active human being.
03:24Always saying,
03:25chalo abhi hum aapna agla album kaunsa banate hain.
03:27Chalo hum kuch kaam karte hain.
03:30Saath mein.
03:30So, you know, she was like, she was never tired.
03:33And she took a promise from me that we won't cry when she exits,
03:37but we will celebrate her repertoire, her music and her golden voice.
03:43So, you see, she has time.
03:43And I'll be happy now.
03:45I'll see you next time.
03:45In a minute.
03:46I'll see you next time.
03:47You
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