Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, voice of Bollywood for decades, dies at 92

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, considered one of the greatest vocalists in modern Indian music, has died at the age of 92.

The singer was admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy hospital on Saturday after she experienced cardiac and respiratory issues. Sources told HT that the singer had not been keeping well for the last few months and was brought to the hospital in a critical state. She was admitted to the ICU on Saturday night.

Bhosle's son, Anand, confirmed the news of her death this afternoon (12 April). The last rites will be conducted tomorrow.

Born on 8 September 1933, Asha Bhosle is one of the most versatile voices in Indian music with a career spanning over seven decades.

Asha Bhosle's stellar career

One of the most successful, popular, and prolific singers of Indian cinema, Asha Bhosle's stature in Hindi film music was rivalled only by her elder sister, the late Lata Mangeshkar. 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."

The younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha carved her own identity with an extraordinary range of songs, effortlessly moving from classical-based melodies to cabaret numbers, pop, ghazals and folk songs. Each of her songs reflects Asha's ability to create a distinct mood and personality in a song

Asha has lent her voice to thousands of songs across Hindi cinema and several in regional languages.

Asha became hugely popular through her collaborations with composers like RD Burman, OP Nayyar, and Khayyam. Some of her most memorable songs include "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" (Caravan), "Dum Maro Dum" (Hare Rama Hare Krishna), "In Aankhon Ki Masti" (Umrao Jaan), "Yeh Mera Dil" (Don), and "Chura Liya Hai Tumne" (Yaadon Ki Baaraat).

Asha started her extraordinary journey as a singer at the age of 10 with a song "Chala Chala Nav Bala' in a Marathi film "Majha Bal" in 1943. Five years later, she made her debut in Hindi cinema with "Sawan Aaya".

Asha's breakthrough came with the Hindi film "Naya Daur" in 1957 in which she sang all the songs for the lead female character played by Vyjayanthimala .    

While Lata Mangeshwar, Shamsad Begum and Geeta Dutta dominated the Hindi cinema song scenario in 1950s, Asha went on to lend her voice in more songs than any other female singer at that time.

A topsy-turvy personal life

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.