MUMBAI: Iconic Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle, whose versatile voice defined the soundtrack of Indian cinema for over seven decades, passed away on Sunday afternoon. She was 92. The veteran singer was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday evening following a heart attack and pulmonary issues. Doctors confirmed that she succumbed to multi-organ failure earlier today.
Born on September 8, 1933, into a musical family in Indore, Asha was the younger sister of the late legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. She began her career in 1943 with the Marathi film Majha Bal and later carved a unique niche for herself in the competitive world of Bollywood, then dominated by singers like Shamshad Begum and Geeta Dutt. Her career eventually spanned over 12,000 songs in 20 different languages.
Known for her extraordinary vocal range and ability to switch effortlessly between genres—from classical and ghazals to pop and cabaret—Bhosle’s collaboration with composer R.D. Burman remains one of the most celebrated chapters in Indian music history. She was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. Tributes have begun pouring in from the film industry and political leaders, marking the departure of the last surviving icon from the golden era of Indian music.
With input from News18 and PTI.
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