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Indian music legend Asha Bhosle dies aged 92
TL;DR
Indian music legend Asha Bhosle has died at the age of 92 in Mumbai after being hospitalized for exhaustion and a chest infection. She recorded over 12,000 songs and was a key figure in Bollywood playback singing.
Key points
- Asha Bhosle died at age 92 in Mumbai
- She recorded over 12,000 songs
- Bhosle was a key figure in Bollywood playback singing
- She was hospitalized for exhaustion and a chest infection
- Tributes came from politicians, artists, and sports stars
Asha BhosleNarendra ModiMumbai
The Indian singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice defined Bollywood cinema and whose career spanned almost eight decades, has died in Mumbai at the age of 92.
Bhosle, who recorded more than 12,000 songs, became her country’s pre-eminent exponent of playback singing – recording tracks that were then lip-synced on film by actors. She also boldly embraced cabaret and western-influenced melodies to forge a distinctive musical identity.
Bhosle’s family said she died on Sunday after being admitted to hospital for extreme exhaustion and a chest infection.
News of her death prompted tributes and fond memories from politicians, artists and sports stars.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, said he was deeply saddened by her death. “Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world,” he said. “She will continue to inspire generations and her songs will forever echo in people’s lives.”
The home minister, Amit Shah, said Bhosle had touched millions with her voice and left “an indelible mark not just in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati and many other languages but also in folk songs”.
The Bollywood actor and politician Hema Malini said she was still coming to terms with the news. “I just can’t believe how someone so full of life, she who lent so much vivacity and character to her songs has left us grieving,” she said, adding that Bhosle’s death was a “huge loss … for the whole of India that can never be compensated or replaced ever.”
The composer and producer AR Rahman said: “She lives forever with her voice and aura … What an artist.”
The cricketer Sachin Tendulkar said Sunday was “a deeply sad day for India and for music lovers across the world” and thanked Bhosle for “filling our lives with warmth, grace, and unforgettable music”.
Bhosle’s most popular songs range from a Bollywood cabaret number titled Piya Tu Ab Toh Aa Ja, which translates roughly as Come to Me, My Love, to more soulful melodies such as In Ankhon Ki Masti (The Mischief in My Eye).
She was born on 8 September 1933 to a musical family, and her four siblings also became accomplished singers and musicians. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, was a singer revered as “India’s nightingale”.
Q&A
What caused Asha Bhosle's death?
Asha Bhosle died after being admitted to the hospital for extreme exhaustion and a chest infection.
How many songs did Asha Bhosle record during her career?
Asha Bhosle recorded more than 12,000 songs throughout her nearly eight-decade career.
What was Asha Bhosle known for in the music industry?
Asha Bhosle was known as India's pre-eminent exponent of playback singing, where her songs were lip-synced by actors in films.
What did Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi say about Asha Bhosle?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness over her death, highlighting her extraordinary musical journey and its impact on cultural heritage.
