Legendary Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle dies at 92
STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
SRINAGAR, APRIL 12 (STC): Legendary singer and voice of Bollywood Asha Bhosle died today in Mumbai. She was 92. Reports said she passed away at Breach Candy Hospital, where she had been admitted following a decline in her health.
Quoting family sources, the report said she was suffering from multiple complications, including a chest infection that led to organ failure. Her son Anand Bhosle confirmed her death, along with Maharashtra Cultural Minister Ashish Shelar.
Her last rites have been scheduled to be held on Monday at 4:00 PM at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
Born in 1933 into the musical Mangeshkar family, Asha began singing professionally at the age of 9. She recorded her first film song in 1943 and by the 50s, had carved a niche for herself in Bollywood. Over the next three decades, she was among the most sought-after performers by most composers.
While initially, she was typecast into singing just cabaret numbers or dances that would today be called item songs, Asha diversified, singing even ghazals sublimely in Umrao Jaan. She was a seven-time winner of the Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award and a two-time winner of the National Film Award- for Dil Cheez Kya Hai from Umrao Jaan and Mera Kuch Saamaan from Ijaazat.
In an interaction with Hindustan Times in 2023, the singer spoke about the contemporary music landscape. She said, “Main sach bolu toh main aaj ke gaane sunti hi nahi hoon. If I have to listen to songs, I hear (late vocalist) Bhimsen Joshi’s songs, classical songs and ghazals as I get to learn and simultaneously, polish and practice my songs better through that. Because of this, my capability of singing gets better, and I improvise and sing better,” she says, adding, “I don’t really find songs with excellent lyrics today, but I listen to them occasionally and sometimes, I come across good songs by (singers) Rahat Fateh Ali (Khan), Sunidhi (Chauhan) so yes, I do find some of them good, but I rarely listen to music. If I have to, then I listen to the old songs.”
At the age of 16, against her family’s wishes, Asha eloped with 31-year-old Ganpatrao Bhosle and married him. Ganpatrao was her personal secretary. However, Asha broke off the marriage when her in-laws reportedly mistreated her. They separated in 1960 after three kids together.
In 1980, she married composer Rahul Dev Barman, six years her junior, after a long romance. This marriage saw opposition from the Burman family, particularly RD’s mother. Rahul was the son of legendary composer Sachin Dev Burman. He died in 1994.
Asha’s granddaughter, Zanai Bhosle, is a singer and was the veteran singer’s constant companion in her final years.
Notably, Asha Bhosle began her career in 1943 and went on to record thousands of songs in more than 20 languages.
She worked across a wide range of musical styles, including classical, ghazals, film songs, and modern genres.
Some of her well-known songs include “Dum Maro Dum,” “Yeh Mera Dil,” and “Chura Liya Hai Tumne,” which remain popular among listeners.
She received several honours during her lifetime, including the Padma Vibhushan. After the death of her sister, Lata Mangeshkar, she was seen as one of the senior-most figures in Indian music.
(Straight Talk Communications)
