‘I’ll become one of the voices in the beautiful music heard across generations’

One can say without doubt that Asha Bhosle was a singer who truly deserved the title of having an extraordinary range. She proved again and again that every genre-pop, cabaret, rock, disco, classical came to her effortlessly. She entered playback singing after her sister Lata Mangeshkar, but without borrowing her sister’s identity, she carved out her own empire with her unique voice. This was during a time when legends like Shamshad Begum, Geeta Roy, and Lata Mangeshkar dominated the field.

A major turning point in Asha’s career came in 1956 with the film CID, composed by O P Nayyar. This musical partnership gave Indian cinema numerous hits. Asha soon got opportunities to sing in films of leading filmmakers. It was under R D Burman that she evolved into a complete singer. Their collaboration began with Teesri Manzil, after which she became his favorite singer, and their professional relationship eventually turned into marriage.

In the 1990s, Asha gradually stepped away from films, but A R Rahman brought her back to music. It was a grand comeback--songs from the 1995 film Rangeela became massive hits. She continued to sing in several Rahman’s films, all of which were widely successful.

Her last song was The Shadowy of Light” by Gorillaz, released this February. Asha noted that the songs in the album reflect the deeper meanings of life--words that now feel almost prophetic. Weeks after its release, her musical journey came to a close.

About The Shadowy of light, she wrote that it gave her profound insights into life. During a visit to Varanasi, as she observed the sacred Ganges closely, she understood the meaning of life-who she was and what her purpose on earth was.

She described crossing the deep river in the song as a metaphor for her life journey--her birth, relationships, dedication to music, achievements, and her roles as a daughter, mother, sister, wife, and an Indian. The boatman, she said, is her music--guiding her across the river of life. When she reaches the other shore, her journey will be complete, and she will attain liberation. I will then become one among the thousands of voices floating around us. When some of them come together, they turn into a beautiful melody. So, I will become one of the voices in a piece of music that will be heard by generations for thousands of years.’