The Indian singer Asha Bhosle has been revered among Indian Caribbean people. She has been considered as a legend among Indo-Caribbeans (in the Caribbean and in the diaspora) who have been tuned in to Indian filmi songs and music. Growing up in Guyana, or Trinidad, or Suriname, we were fed a staple of her countless filmi and other songs.
Asha has been seen by Indian youths and older folks as a singing sensation rendering songs considered as timeless and holding nostalgic value for Indo-Caribbean and other Indians. She was one of India’s most renowned and versatile voices. She recorded over 12,000 songs, many being top hits in India and in Guyana. Who can forget “Dum Maro Dum” and “Chura Liya Hai Tumne” major hit songs, among others!
A giant voice of Bollywood, the Indian entertainment or the movie and music industry, she died early Sunday morning in Mumbai; the 92 year old was cremated Monday evening with state honors. Tens of thousands lined the funeral route in Mumbai.
Her passing has been marked by mourning by Indian Caribbean people in New York and elsewhere in the Indian diaspora. They have been speaking about her death and their love and admiration for her at mandirs and elsewhere. Asha is remembered with immense respect, her music a staple among Indian Caribbean people. She is deserving of all the accolades Indo-Caribbean showered on her.
Political leaders from across the political aisle showered accolades on her. Politicians, film personalities and admirers gathered in Mumbai to pay their last respects to the legendary playback singer. PM Modi and many politicians paid tributes to her. Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, among other great actors also issued statements commending her singing
The renowned singer, like her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar, another legend, gave lip-sync voice to hundreds of actresses as a playback singer for over six decades. Their singing provided cultural connection between India and the diaspora, acting as a unifying element, fostering a strong connection with Indian cultural roots.
They have been widely recognized for immense contributions to the Bollywood music industry, which holds significant popularity in Guyana and in the Indian Guyanese and other Indian diaspora.
As news broke Sunday morning that she was no more, sha became the talk among Indians who remembered her as a legend. She has been revered in the Indian-Caribbean community, where her music is deeply nostalgic and widely celebrated. They same is true among Indians in Trinidad and Suriname and in other territories of the greater Caribbean region. Many recalled crowding concert halls in USA, Canada, and UK to watch her perform over the last four decades; ditto elder sister Lata. And at home, they watched movies where Asha and Lata sang for scores of actresses. Their songs are considered as staple among Indians globally, transcending generations.
Their songs were of different genres — melancholy, religious, tender, soothing, aching, wistful, sacred, emotional, grief, mortality, romantic, mourning, fast tempo or of the dance type. She was the artiste for soulful melodies to upbeat numbers. She sang romantic ballads and energetic numbers, and as a critic penned, she became the go-to singer for composers across genres. She brought dynamic energy to her songs. As someone penned in a tribute, she had an infectious quality that kept fans on their feet, singing and dancing. Asha recorded songs for top hit movies like to Teesri Manzil, Caravan, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Ijaazat, among others. She sang for all the top actresses. Her duets with legends such as Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey remain timeless classics.
She also sang songs for the popular Helen, a sexy dancer in countless movies. She also sang Hindu devotional songs and some masterful poetry. But her popularity was a playback singer.
There were glowing tributes. Shah Rukh wrote: “Her voice has been one of the pillars of Indian cinema and will continue to resonate world over for centuries to come”. Hema Malini stated: “She who lent so much vivacity and character to her songs has left us grieving”. Bachchan wrote. “Sorrow and grief .. An entire era .. an incredible .. a phenomenal, astounding, prodigious , presence … lost yesterday .. the iconic, legendary Asha Bhosle ji, has left us. In immense grief,”
Asha is considered irreplaceable, and her contribution to the music industry is celebrated with enduring love. Her contribution to music is celebrated with love, and she, like Lata, are considered as irreplaceable. At many homes, Guyanese played her songs and watched videos in nostalgia, displaying the deep respect and love they have for her and showcasing her immense popularity. She is gone, but her music will remain eternal!
