Indian music legend Asha Bhosle dies at the age of 92 | Asha Bhosle

Indian singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice defined Bollywood music during the 1970s and 1980s, has died at the age of 92, her family said.

The two-time Grammy nominee was admitted to hospital in Mumbai with complaints of “extreme fatigue” and a chest infection.

“My mother passed away today (Sunday). Her last rites will be performed tomorrow at Shivaji Park in Mumbai,” her son Anand Bhosle told reporters.

Bhosle’s voice has resonated across film-obsessed India for nearly eight decades, during which she has recorded more than 12,000 songs. She boldly embraced cabaret and Western-influenced melodies to create a distinct musical identity.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened” by her death.

“Her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, has enriched our cultural heritage and touched the hearts of countless people around the world,” he said. “She will continue to inspire generations and her songs will resonate in people’s lives forever.”

She was born on September 8, 1933 into a musical family, and her four brothers also became accomplished singers and musicians. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, was a singer revered as the “Nightingale of India”.

But despite often being compared to Mangeshkar, who died in 2022, Bhosle forged her own path, embracing musical genres from pop to folk.

Her early life was marked by struggle, including a turbulent marriage at the age of sixteen.

She became one of the most iconic and versatile voices in Indian cinema, receiving the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and two Grammy Award nominations.

Bhosle continued to collaborate with international artists into her later years, including the final song on the album The Mountain by the British virtual band Gorillaz.

Aside from music, she furthered her passion for food, launching the Asha restaurant chain in Dubai and Britain.

Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to the preparation of his report.