Legendary singer Asha Bhosle on Sunday died at a Mumbai hospital where she had been admitted for cardiac and respiratory complications, her son Anand Bhosle told ANI. She was 92.
Asha Bhosle died because of multi-organ failure, ANI quoted Dr Pratit Samdani of the Breach Candy Hospital as saying.
She had been taken to the hospital on Saturday because of extreme exhaustion and a chest infection, her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle had said.
Her last rites will be conducted on Monday, her son told reporters.
Born in 1933, Asha Bhosle was among the most prolific playback singers in Indian cinema, with a career spanning several decades. She recorded her first film song in 1943 and went on to become one of the most widely recognised voices in Hindi film music.
Asha Bhosle became among the most-recorded artists in music history. Some of her most iconic Hindi language songs include Dum Maro Dum, Chura Liya Hai Tumne, Piya Tu Ab To Aaja and Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera.
She was known for her versatility across genres, including romantic songs, cabaret numbers, ghazals, and later pop music. She also sang in Marathi and Bangla.
She was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honour in the field of cinema, in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour, in 2008. Asha Bhosle also won the National Film Award for her performances in films such as Umrao Jaan and Ijaazat.
President Droupadi Murmu said that the singer’s death has “created a huge void” in the world of music. “Her legendary career as an iconic singer has defined an era of music in India,” Murmu said on social media.
The president added that Asha Bhosle’s “melodious and timeless voice” had enriched Indian music for decades and described her death “an irreparable loss to music lovers”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was deeply saddened by Asha Bhosle’s death and described her as “one of the most iconic and versatile voices India has ever known”. Her “extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched our cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world”, he said on social media.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said the news of her death was “extremely heartbreaking”, adding that “through her voice, her art will forever remain immortal among us”.
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