How the Iconic Film 'Mai' Starring Asha Tai Was Made

In her childhood, Asha Bhosle may have acted as a child artist in films alongside Lata Didi, mainly to keep the home fires burning. However, after growing up, she stayed away from acting for decades.

But at the age of 79, she finally returned to the screen as the lead in 'Mai'. This is the untold and emotional story of the acting debut of the Queen of Melody.

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About 13 years ago, in 2013, something happened in the history of Indian cinema that surprised everyone. The versatile singer whom the world had worshipped for seven decades as a magical voice was suddenly on the silver screen as an actress. We are talking about the film 'Mai', which was the first and only film of legendary singer Asha Bhosle as a lead actress. At an age when most people think about a quiet, retired life, Asha Tai proved that 'an artist has no expiry date', by playing the challenging role of a mother suffering from Alzheimer's.

A journey that started with a lullaby

The story of how this film was made is no less than a movie script. Director Mahesh Kodiyal had gone to Ashaji only with the intention of recording a single song for his debut film. Mahesh wanted a lullaby that could touch the heart, and who better than Asha ji for this? On that historic day of recording, Mahesh was explaining the situation of the song and about the helplessness of the mother whose children were preparing to abandon her.

Mahesh says that as he was narrating the story, he noticed that all those emotions were appearing on Asha ji's face naturally. She wasn't just listening; she was living that pain. In that moment, Mahesh saw an actress inside his legendary singer. He gathered courage and said to her after the recording, 'Tai, you will play the role of the mother in this film.' Initially, Asha ji laughed and took it as a joke, but the persistence of Mahesh and the depth of the script convinced her. Asha ji kept only one condition-that she would do this for her own mother, whom she also lovingly called 'Mai'.

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The story: Bitter relationships and a mother's helplessness

The story of the film 'Mai' is a bitter truth of today's society that we often hide behind our comforts. It is the story of a 65-year-old widow who is struggling with a serious disease like Alzheimer's. Her son, Munna, whom she raised with all her love, gets a golden opportunity for a job in the USA. But his mother becomes an 'obstacle' for him. He decides to leave his mother in an old-age home.

This is where the conflict of relationships begins. Mai's eldest daughter, Madhu, played by Padmini Kolhapure, stands against this decision. When the other two daughters also refuse to take responsibility, Madhu brings her mother to her own home. But the story becomes even more complicated here. Madhu's husband, Subhash (Ram Kapoor), and their daughter, Charu, do not like the idea of a sick, forgetful elderly woman living in their house at all. The rest of the film shows how a sick mother slowly wins the hearts of the family with her love and simplicity, but by the time the family realizes their mistake, the flame of Mai's life begins to fade.

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Cast and crew: A unique meeting of relationships

The casting was the biggest strength of this film. Padmini Kolhapure, who is Asha Tai's real-life niece, played her daughter on the big screen. Padmini ji had taken a very long break after cult films like 'Insaaf Ka Tarazu' and 'Prem Rog'. Through 'Mai', she not only made a comeback but also fulfilled her years-old dream of working with her aunt. Ram Kapoor played the role of a son-in-law caught between the struggles of middle-class life and the burden of a sick mother-in-law.

On the technical side, Mahesh Kodiyal directed the film and wrote the story along with Manoj Tapadia. The cinematography was by Sachin K. Krishn, who beautifully captured the helplessness of Mai and the crowds of Mumbai. The film was edited by Ashish Amrute.

Music: Where three generations of the Bhosle family met

Even though this was Asha ji's acting debut, music was the soul of the film. Nitin Shankar prepared the score. A song from the film, 'Dhakku Makum', was quite popular at that time. It was a rain song choreographed by Lollypop, known for 'Aati Kya Khandala'. The most special thing about this song was that it used the Marathi folk song 'Yere Yere Pausa', which was sung by Zanai Bhosle, Asha ji's granddaughter. In this way, the third generation of the Bhosle family also made its mark in cinema through this film.

The music album was released on January 22, 2013, by the God of cricket himself, Sachin Tendulkar. The entire Bollywood was present that evening. In the film, Asha ji sang a beautiful lullaby called 'Chanda Ki Bindiya', which is considered the soul of the movie.

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Behind-the-scenes stories that give goosebumps

Stories of Asha ji's simplicity and dedication to work are still on the lips of the crew members. Director Mahesh says that once they had to shoot a scene in heavy rain. At the age of 79, soaking in the rain for hours could be dangerous for any artist, but Asha Tai showed no hesitation. She sat in wet clothes for hours and gave several retakes. When Mahesh finally said the shot was okay, he saw that Ashaji was shivering badly. When Mahesh ran to give her a blanket, Ashaji asked very simply, 'Mahesh, do you need another take? If the shot was not good, I am ready to get wet again.' Hearing this, tears came to Mahesh's eyes, and he touched Asha ji's feet in front of everyone.

Padmini Kolhapure also shared that Asha Aatya (aunt) had asked her to play the role of the daughter. Asha ji had said that she would work in the film only if Padmini agreed to work in it too.

Trivia and unknown facts

Asha ji dedicated the film 'Mai' to her mother. She said that she saw her mother's image in every scene of the film.

Asha ji did not find acting 'difficult', but she made it clear that this would be her 'first and last' acting experiment. She said, 'I have acted with my voice my whole life; now acting with my body in front of the camera was a different experience.'

The film's premiere took place on the night of January 31, 2013, at Cinemax, Versova. Stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Sridevi, Tanuja, and Rekha reached there just to support Ashaji.

Anupam Kher played a small but powerful cameo as a doctor in the film.

The budget of the film was very limited, but the presence of Ashaji made it a big film.

Criticism and legacy

After its release, the film achieved average success at the box office, but critics highly praised Asha Bhosle's acting. Filmfare wrote, 'Asha ji weaves magic even with her silence.' Although some people called the story a bit old and 'cliched', the message of the film-respect for the elderly-reached everyone's heart.

When we watch 'Mai' again today, it reminds us of an era when cinema was not just entertainment but a lesson. Asha Tai proved with her only film as an actress that she is not just a great singer but a complete artist. In the final scene, when Mai dies, it doesn't feel like the death of just a character; it feels like an elder from our own home has left us.

'Mai' will always remain an example for those who believe that talent decreases with age. What Asha Bhosle did at 79 is a challenge even for many young actors of today.

FAQs

1. In which film did Asha Bhosle make her acting debut?

Asha Bhosle started her acting career with the film Mai, released in the year 2013.

2. What is the story of the movie Mai?

The film tells the story of an elderly mother who suffers from Alzheimer's and maintains love and affection despite being neglected by her children.

3. Is Mai Asha Bhosle's only film?

Yes, Mai is Asha Bhosle's first and last film in which she worked as a lead actress.

4. Who were the other actors in the film Mai?

Padmini Kolhapure, Ram Kapoor and other actors were seen in important roles in the film.

5. Why did Asha Bhosle act at such an age?

Impressed by the story and emotional depth of the film, he accepted the challenge and dedicated it to his mother.