Asha Bhosle records puja song after over two decades
Kolkata, Oct 16: Playback legend Asha Bhosle has recorded a Bengali puja song after over two decades in a milieu when such tracks are on the decline.
The song, "Ebar Pujoy Elaam Phire" (I have returned in this puja) was released earlier this month following the tradition of launching puja numbers before the 4-day Durga puja beginning Tuesday.
Bhosle, who recorded the song a week after her 85th birthday last month, also shot a music video for it, said composers Shiladitya and Raj.
Bhosle had recorded her first puja song 'Amar Khatar Patay' in 1963 which was composed by late Manna Dey. She lent her voice for a puja song for the last time 23 years ago, the two composers said.
In subsequent years she rendered hits like 'Jete Dao Amay Dekho Na', 'Chokhe Chokhe Kotha Bolo', 'Phoole Gondho Nei' and 'Mohuaye Jomechhe Aaj Mou Go'.
"In all, Ashaji had sung 66 Bengali puja songs which were mostly singles and some duets," they said.
Bengali puja songs are the numbers released before the Durga puja targeting the festive mood of the people. Many of these puja numbers - sung among others by Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, R D Burman, Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar from 1960s to 80s - are evergreen hits.
Several veteran singers had expressed anguish on many occasions that those golden days were over and the people were not enthusiastic.
Music composer Jeet Gannguli, however, struck a discordant note saying puja songs were popular these days too.
"I don't subscribe to the view that only puja numbers recorded during the 60s-90s are enjoyed by the present day listeners. Definitely the songs of that period are very popular even now, but the songs recorded afterwards are equally lapped up by the audience," Gannguli said.
"Perhaps the number of new hits is not being noted the way it was done in the era of records or cassettes with the emergence of Internet. There has not been any dearth of new lyrics, tunes and singers and no waning of enthusiasm," he said.
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Gill leads Gujarat Titans to 5-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders
Ahmedabad (PTI): Shubman Gill led from the front with a classy 86 as Gujarat Titans defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets in an Indian Premier League match here on Friday.
Earlier, KKR all-rounder Cameron Green produced a fighting 79 off 55 balls to lift his side to 180 all out. In reply, Gill anchored the chase with a composed 86 off 50 deliveries as GT crossed the line in 19.4 overs.
The win marked GT's third successive victory after opening with two losses, while KKR's search for their first win of the season continues.
Brief scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 180 all out in 20 overs (Cameron Green 79; Kagiso Rabada 3/29, Mohammed Siraj 2/23).
Gujarat Titans: 181 for 5 in 19.4 overs (Shubman Gill 86; Varun Chakravarthy 2/34).
