Zanai Bhosle ”“ an emerging singing and dancing phenomenan of Bollywood
By Manju Mittal
Legendary singer Asha Bhosle has had one of the most respected careers in Bollywood music history. Now Asha Bhosle takes pride in the newest singer in the family, her 14 year old granddaughter Zanai Bhosle, who is already making a name for herself in music Industry. Under the aegis and guidance of her talented grandma Zanai learnt singing and dance at a young age. She is turning into a star singer and a performer that Sydney witnessed in Sydney.
Zanai, on the night, danced Kathak classical solo and took everyone’s breath away when she perfomred at sydney Opera House. struck by her musically, Zanai danced with the absolute clarity and excellent footwork. She also charmed the audience by singing ”˜O mere sona re’ and a recent hit song ”˜Sun raha hai na tu’ from film Ashiqi2. Asha Bhosle hopes her granddaughter Zanai would carry on the family legacy and Zanai happens to show a lot of promise.
I spoke to Zanai Bhosle recently in Sydney as she sat in Stamford hotel lobby with her father Anand Bhosle. Zanai talked about her passion and personal musical journey. Here we share some of this young girls’ thoughts:
How was performing to a packed out Sydney Opera House Concert felt along with your grandmother Asha Bhosle?
I was really nervous to be honest, when I was on the stage my grandmother was looking at me during the performance and made me comfortable, I would like to say that she always encourages me to do well. The atmosphere at the concert was just out of this world. I feel incredibly honoured and this is a great pride for me to perform with my grandmother. It was the most exhilarating evening. Yes there was a large packed audience which was quite overwhelming for me. Though I really enjoyed myself inside the concert hall and felt that the audience were really very encouraging. I treasured the passionate response by the music lovers from Sydney.
Zanai since you come from a musical family, can you tell us when did you start Kathak dance and singing training?
I started at a very young when I was five. I have sat for 4 exams for classical dance, I have learnt from Lucknow gharana and Jaipur gharana. My first song I did at the age of nine, my first debut film as a playback singer was film ”˜Mai’ (2013) for which the music was given by Nitin Shankar. I am still undergoing training in classical music and dance.
Tell us about your new released album 6-Pack Band?
The Brook Bond Red Label 6-Pack Band is probably the single most significant non-film music act to debut in the last one year. Since it’s launch by Yash Raj Films youth wing, ”˜Hum Hai Happy’ a cover of Pharrell William’s 2013 hit number and a second, ”˜Sab Rab De Bande -The Chai Song ”˜ features Sonu Nigam and myself.
”˜Hil Pori Hila’ it’s an old song by my grandmother Usha Mangeshkar, we have come up with its new version. The new version sung in Hindi, English and Marathi is composed by Shameer Tandon, also the curator of the band. ”˜Hil Pori Hila’ also features 15 percussionists who have made the music using only street instruments. It’s unique musically as there are no musical instruments used at all and has been produced using a format popularly called ”˜Stomp’.
I am extremely excited about my 6 Pack Band and I really hope listeners will enjoy it since we all worked very hard on this album. 6 Pack Band gives the heart warming message that in the eyes of the Almighty, we are all equal, that there is no barrier of caste, creed, community or gender.
Asha Bhosle, my grandma, said at the launch of 6 Pack Band Album “I feel proud to have sung songs for Yash Chopraji and his entire family for so long, and today, my granddaughter has sung for Y-Films. I hope the family tradition will be kept alive through her as she sings so well. She listens to my songs as well as Lata Mangeshkar di’s songs. I want to groom her in classical music and I am already in the process of preparing her”.
Zanai, you and your grandmother have recorded a duet together, most recently on album ”˜Bappa Morya’, share your experience.
The Bappa Morya album was launched by Saregama at the occasion of the ongoing Ganesh Utsav in Mumbai. The music is composed by renowned percussionist Nitin Shankar. The song aims to represent the dynamism of all the Ganesh devotees, with foot tapping music, I have crooned a few lines with my grandmother, I had a great time recording the song with her and it was one of the most unforgettable moment for me.
When you are from a famous family, being a granddaughter of legends and having Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar as your grandmothers, how do you feel?
It’s a great pride for me that they are my grandmothers. I look at them as my role models. They both inspire me and keep telling me that-just sing the song and my father motivates me as well. I always wanted to be in the music Industry from as far back as I can remember. I am in a legacy filled family and I am honoured to be part of the gifted family. I have a lot of support coming from every direction from all the members. I would want to be as humble as my grandmothers. Music is really in my blood and my life forever.
Zanai, what are your favourite songs of Asha Bhosle?
My grandmother has sung so many amazing songs and all songs are close to my heart. But, yes ”˜O mere sona re’ is my absolute favourite song.
Zanai Bhosle is an upcoming artist from the Bhosles and Mageshkars clan. The musical landscape for female artists is increasingly competitive these days. With so many new voices constantly emerging, this 14 year old Zanai is wasting no time making herself known with her alluring style of music.
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