Anand Mahindra mourns Asha Bhosle, says her death marks ‘fading of a generation’s soundtrack’

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle has died at the age of 92. She was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital on Saturday after experiencing cardiac and respiratory issues.After Asha Bhosle died at 92, Anand Mahindra shared a heartfelt note on X.(Also read: Quote of the day Asha Bhosle: ‘Sangeet ek aisi kala hai jo janam janam tak apne saath chalti hai…’)Tributes poured in from across the country, with industrial Anand Mahindra sharing an emotional note on X, reflecting on her influence across generations.“The passing of Asha Bhosleji feels like the fading of one of the great soundtracks of my generation. She and her ser Lata Mangeshkarji were not just singers, they were the voices of India itself. Lataji will always remain the benchmark of perfection. But to my generation, Ashaji was something equally powerful: she was possibility.”He added, “Often seen as the ‘other’ voice in the same family, she refused to be defined comparison. Instead, she carved out her own space with a style that was bold, experimental. From cabaret to ghazals, from folk to pop, she expanded what was acceptable, not just in music, but in how a woman could live, choose, and express herself.”“In doing so, she didn’t just sing differently. She lived differently. I personally took inspiration from her and learned from her courage to be a non-conform and go ‘off-road.’ No matter where you are now, Ashaji, I know you will be breaking boundaries. Om shanti.”Take a look here at the post:A career that defined generationsOne of the most successful, popular, and prolific singers of Indian cinema, Asha Bhosle’s stature in Hindi film music was rivalled only her elder ser, the late Lata Mangeshkar.Born in 1933 into the illustrious Mangeshkar family, Bhosle began singing professionally at the age of nine. She recorded her first film song in 1943 and the 1950s had carved a dinct identity for herself in Bollywood.Her views on modern musicIn an interaction with Hindustan Times in 2023, Bhosle spoke candidly about contemporary music. She said, “Main sach bolu toh main aaj ke gaane sunti hi nahi hoon. If I have to len to songs, I hear (late vocal) Bhimsen Joshi’s songs, classical songs and ghazals as I get to learn and simultaneously, polish and practice my songs better through that. Because of this, my capability of singing gets better, and I improvise and sing better.”(Also read: Asha Bhosle, legendary singer and voice of Bollywood for decades, dies at 92)She added, “I don’t really find songs with excellent lyrics today, but I len to them occasionally and sometimes, I come across good songs Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Sunidhi Chauhan so yes, I do find some of them good, but I rarely len to music. If I have to, then I len to the old songs.”