Veteran Indian singer Asha Bhosle, whose career spanned over eight decades in Bollywood, died at the age of 92 on April 12. Her son, Anand Bhosle, confirmed that the singer died from a cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure.
The singer lent her voice to iconic songs such as “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja” (Come to me Now, my love), “Abhi Na Jaao Chhod Kar” (Don’t leave Yet, for my Heart is not yet Full), “In Ankhon Ki Masti” (From the Joy of these Eyes) and “Zara Sa Jhoom Loon Main” (Let me dance a little).
According to BBC, Bhosle’s musical sister Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away in 2022, made equally significant contributions to Indian cinema and was instrumental in solidifying the industry’s global presence.
While Mangeshkar’s singing style focused mostly on conventional Bollywood and Indian Classical singing, Bhosle was mostly known for her bold and energetic playback songs. Bhosle’s innovative style toward her craft was complemented by her late husband R.D. Burman’s composition style. One of their albums, “You’ve Stolen My Heart,” was nominated for the “Best Contemporary World Music Album” Grammy Award category in 2006.
According to Filmfare, which honors notable actors and artists in Indian cinema each year, Bhosle won the “Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2001.
In a trip down memory lane, the awards committee reminisced on a speech Bhosle gave reflective of her supportive journey in Bollywood.
“I feel very fortunate that I have been working for 50 years in such a wonderful film industry, where everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, has respected me, given me love, affection and blessings,” Bhosle said in her 2001 speech.
In addition to receiving multiple Filmfare awards, Bhosle also received two of India’s highest civilian awards: The Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan honors. Bhosle was also featured in the 2011 Guiness Book of World Records for having the most studio recorded singles.
At the time, she had already recorded 11,000 songs in over 20 Indian languages. Several Indian musicians expressed their condolences regarding Boshle’s death through their social media accounts.
Singer Shreya Ghoshal praised Bhosle’s impact on music, comparing her voice to an instrument that “defined generations.” “For many of us, she wasn’t just an inspiration…she was a part of our musical soul,” Ghoshal said.
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan also expressed his grief at the death of Bhosle, defining it as a loss for Indian cinema.
Bhosle had sung for two of Shah Rukh Khan’s movies: “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (The Brave-Hearted Will Take the Bride) and “Dil To Pagal Hai” (The Heart is Crazy). “Her voice has been one of the pillars of Indian cinema and will continue to resonate world over for centuries to come,” Khan said.
