Legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle dies

Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle sang in more than 20 Indian and foreign languages over her storied career. Photo by Firoze Edassery.

One of the most prolific artists in music history has died. According to Guinness, legendary Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle had more than 11,000 recorded solos, duets and chorus-back songs, as of 2011.

Following a cardiac arrest, Bhosle passed away in Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Sunday (April 12) at the age of 92.

She and her now-deceased older sister, Lata Mangeshkar, gained international fame for their songs in countless Hindi movies. Bhosle was known for injecting real emotional flair—and visceral oomph—into her singing, whether it was in film, folk, or traditional Indian classical music.. Over her career, which began in 1948, she sang in more than 20 Indian and foreign languages.

Tributes are pouring in from the biggest names in Bollywood.

“It’s truly sad to learn about Asha Tai’s passing… her voice has been one of the pillars of Indian cinema and will continue to resonate the world over for centuries to come,” legendary actor Shah Rukh Khan stated over X. “A talent that will outlive many, she always showered me with blessings and love and I will miss her. Rest in Peace Asha Tai… love you.”

Songwriter A.R. Rahman simply declared: “Asha Bhosle Ji lives forever with her voice and aura… What an artist.”

A few days before Bhosle’s death, the celebrated female actor Tabu wrote the following message: “Through your songs we felt love and longing..pain and passion..I will hold on to this for life…”

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Charlie Smith

Pancouver editor Charlie Smith has worked as a Vancouver journalist in print, radio, and television for more than three decades.

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The Society of We Are Canadians Too created Pancouver to foster greater appreciation for underrepresented artistic communities. A rising tide of understanding lifts all of us.

We would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. With this acknowledgement, we thank the Indigenous peoples who still live on and care for this land.

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