Playback singer Asha Bhosle.
Image: IANS
Mumbai is set to host a solemn farewell for the iconic playback singer Asha Bhosle, whose recent passing has left a profound void in the hearts of millions.
The beloved artist, aged 92, succumbed to multi-organ failure at Breach Candy Hospital on Sunday, where she was admitted just a day prior.
The funeral will take place at Shivaji Park, Dadar, in Mumbai on Monday, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in the world of Indian music.
Bhosle, the first Indian singer to be nominated for a Grammy Award, was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday.
Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra's Culture Minister, made the announcement outside the hospital.
On Saturday, her granddaughter, Zanai Bhosle, revealed that her grandmother was admitted to the hospital due to extreme exhaustion and a chest infection. She requested privacy during this time.
One of the most influential singers of her time, Bhosle sang her first playback song for the 1943 Marathi drama ‘Majha Bal’. She is known for lending her voice to some noteworthy numbers such as ‘Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko’, ‘Do Lafzon Ki Hai Dil Ki Kahani’, ‘Kya Ghazab Karte Ho Ji’, ‘O Haseena Zulfonwale Jane Jahan’, and ‘Ye Ladka Hay Allah Kaisa Hai Diwana’.
Along with Hindi, she has sung in around 20 Indian and foreign languages.
In 2006, Bhosle herself disclosed that she had almost 12,000 songs to her credit. During her decades-long tenure as a singer, Bhosle has worked with many acclaimed music composers such as Shankar-Jaikishan, RD Burman, OP Nayyar, Ilaiyaraaja, Bappi Lahiri, and AR Rahman. She has received numerous awards throughout her career for many of her noteworthy songs. The singer received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award back in 2000, followed by a Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, Karan Johar were among the Bollywood celebrities who paid tribute to her.
Kumar took to his official social media handle: "No words can convey the loss I feel at Asha Bhosle ji's demise... Om Shanti."
Tandon wrote: "So today is the irreplaceable loss of what life takes away from us, the deepest loss to the industry, an irreplaceable loss to me and my entire being from childhood to now. Her biggest fan ever. Nobody, nobody like her. Ashaji you leave behind a legacy of music and sound that no one in the world could compare to. The greatest era of music ends here."
Johar revealed that he had always been a fan of Bhosle's voice: "To say we have lost a legend today would be an understatement. Asha ji was unlike any other, a voice that defined not only one generation but across a span of cinematic universe! I was and have been the massive fan of her voice, her art, her personality… Asha ji, your music will live on forever and we are blessed to experience the magic you have left behind forever! Rest in peace and power."
Megastar Chiranjeevi wrote on X: "Asha Bhosle ji’s voice has been a timeless companion to Indian cinema, carrying a spectrum of emotions across generations. I have always admired the effortless grace and versatility she brought to every song. Indian cinema has lost one of its most irreplaceable voices. My heartfelt condolences to her family. Om Shanti."
Malayalam filmmaker and cinematographer Priyadarshan wrote on Instagram: "Losing you feels personal, Asha ji. Because for me, it truly is. Your voice blessed my films, and every time I heard you sing those words, those emotions , I knew something sacred had touched my work. Rest in peace. Asha ji."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Asha Bhosle Ji, one of the most iconic and versatile voices India has ever known."
Praising the singer's journey, he said: "Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world. Be it her soulful melodies or vibrant compositions, her voice carried timeless brilliance. I’ll always cherish the interactions I’ve had with her."
He added: "My condolences to her family, admirers and music lovers. She will continue to inspire generations, and her songs will forever echo in people’s lives."
Foreign diplomats in India have also joined those paying tributes.
Australian High Commissioner to India, Philip Green, said that he was among the non-Indians who cherished the music of the "evergreen" Bhosle.
"I am among the many foreigners who have cherished the music of the evergreen #AshaBhosle. She will live on in our hearts - especially every time I hear ‘Yeh Mera Dil Yaar Ka Deewana’," he posted on X.
European Union's Ambassador to India, Herve Delphin, termed Bhosle's death a "monumental loss", saying that "the melody may have paused, but her legacy remains eternal."
"A monumental loss. Asha Bhosle Ji’s voice transcended every generation and border - a true ambassador of India’s rich lyrical culture. The melody may have paused, but her legacy remains eternal. Om Shanti", he said in a post on X. - IANS