Magic Bricks

It’s a new age sound with the effervescence of the traditional right-sounding music. The famous singer Asha Bhonsle, has got in tune with some of the best known achievers from various fields who aren’t often heard singing…. to come up with a music album called ‘Asha & Friends’.

Produced by Mauj, the project boasts of names like Sanjay Dutt, Brett Lee, Urmila Matondkar, the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lil’ Champs and some more surprises… Composed and conceptualized by Shamir Tandon, these celebrities have taken singing beyond the cameos. The songs are being distributed by Virgin Records (India) Pvt Ltd.

Arun Gupta, CEO of Mauj says, “Mauj has always been an innovator in the arena of entertainment and digital lifestyle. We are extremely happy to partner with a legend – Asha Bhonsle – to produce an exciting and fun album.”

Bhonsle is very excited about the project. “I thought of Sanjay Dutt after seeing Munnabhai MBBS. I realised there were some portions in the songs which he sang himself. He has a bass voice, which is important for male singers. He has the right sense of tune and melody,” she says.

As for Brett Lee, Asha says that though many people knew that he sang, it was only after Tandon contacted him that he was willing. “He was very excited about singing with me, and couldn’t believe I was more than double his age,” says Bhonsle.

Tandon, the project’s conceptualiser and composer, says: “Asha & Friends is an idea I have been living with for the past three years. It was always my idea to do seven duets of Ashaji with seven other voices. When I approached her, she tweaked the idea a bit and felt that instead of regular singers, we should feature well-known people from all walks of life… people who can sing, but are not known for their singing.”

Tandon says it was a huge challenge to create a balance between a legend like Asha and celebrities who were not regular singers. “But Asha’s choice of singers is fantastic, and the project has turned out very well,” he adds.

Sanjay Dutt, for instance, came on board because he could not refuse Ashaji. But then he has loved singing with his friends and family as well. “She is such a big singer. How could I even say no to her?” was his refrain.

Aussie pace bowler Brett Lee, who was down in India for the Champions Trophy, also loved her singing and agreed to sing with her even though he had earlier refused other offers in India. “She is phenomenal. For her age of 73, she sings like a youngster,” says Lee.

It won’t be long before some of these non-singers too in Asha’s album realise their potential and cut their own albums as well. Till then, let us listen to ‘Asha and Friends’