‘Ab mujhe achhe tarike se chale jana hai’: Asha Bhosle reflects on mortality and peace

Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away on Sunday at the age of 92, marking the end of an era in Indian music.

One of the most celebrated voices in the industry, her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, admirers, and generations of artists she inspired.

A collaborator, a mentor, a mother figure

Music composer Shamir Tandon, who worked closely with Asha, remembered her not just as a legend but as a guiding presence in his life. Speaking to ANI, Tandon recalled their first collaboration on the National Award-winning film Page 3, for which she lent her voice to the memorable track Kitne Ajeeb Rishte.

He described her as forward-thinking and curious, someone who constantly embraced change—an outlook she often credited to her husband, the iconic composer R. D. Burman.

‘I want to leave gracefully’

Tandon also shared a deeply personal memory from one of their final collaborations, a song written by Prasoon Joshi. The lyrics—“Jaane do, jaane do, khud se milna hai”—held special meaning for Asha in her final years.

“She would say, ‘Ab bas bahut ho gaya, ab mujhe bahut achhe tarike se chale jana hai. Khud se milna hai,’” Tandon recalled, reflecting on her quiet acceptance of mortality. It was a sentiment that revealed a sense of peace and completeness after a life devoted to music.

A voice that defined generations

Born in 1933, Asha Bhosle began singing at a young age and rose to prominence in the 1950s. Over a career spanning more than eight decades, she recorded over 11,000 songs across multiple Indian languages, effortlessly traversing genres—from classical and ghazals to cabaret, pop, and folk.

Her extraordinary body of work earned her global recognition, including acknowledgment by the Guinness World Records as one of the most recorded artists in history.

Among her many honours were the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the Padma Vibhushan, and two National Film Awards for Best Playback Singer.

The final goodbye

Doctors at Breach Candy Hospital confirmed that Asha Bhosle had been battling multiple health issues and passed away due to organ failure.

With her passing, Indian music loses not just a singer, but a voice that shaped its very soundscape. Yet, in her own words, she leaves behind not just songs—but a life lived fully, and a farewell embraced with grace.