Guwahati: Legendary singer Asha Bhosle, who passed away in Mumbai on Sunday at the age of 92, shared a special bond with Assam through her melodious renditions of numerous Assamese songs.Her debut Assamese song — ‘Pokhiraj Ghora, Khot Khot Khot Khotkoi Doura’ from the 1969 film ‘Sikmik Bijuli’ — was helmed by another legend of the Indian music fraternity, Bhupen Hazarika, who had written and composed the song himself, beside scripting and directing the film.The song, which also featured the evergreen Kishore Kumar and Hazarika, not only marked Bhosle’s foray into the state’s musical history, but also bridged voices, cultures and eras together.Introduced to Hazarika through her sister, Lata Mangeshkar, in the mid-1950s, Bhosle went on to lend her voice to numerous timeless Assamese melodies, leaving behind a quiet, but enduring imprint on the state’s musical soul.Kamal Kataki, who accompanied Hazarika on the guitar from 1984 until the maestro’s passing in 2011, recalled how Bhosle became a part of Hazarika’s journey.Recollecting Bhosle’s introduction to Hazarika, after Mangeshkar sang her first Assamese song, “Jonakore Rati,” for the film ‘Era Bator Xur’ in 1956, Kataki said, “That association later blossomed into Asha Bhosle’s Assamese debut in Hazarika’s celebrated film, ‘Sikmik Bijuli’, in 1969, where she lent her voice to ‘Pokhiraj Ghora’.
From there, she went on to deliver a string of memorable songs that enriched Assamese cinema and music.
”Kataki added that Bhosle’s rendition of “Ei Dhunia Godhuli Logon” and “O Abhimani Bandhu” from Hazarika’s 1979 release ‘Mon Prajapati’ remains cherished till date for their melody and emotional depth, which were written and composed by Hazarika.“Her loss has created a vacuum and this will be felt forever,” he added.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while mourning Bhosle’s death, wrote on X: “I would have liked to tell Asha Didi… ‘abhi na jao chhod kar…’ But today, her voice falls silent. The passing of Asha Bhosle leaves behind an irreplaceable void. Her songs were not just music, but memories woven into our lives. Some voices never fade. Hers will live on forever.”Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said Bhosle’s unparalleled voice captured the entire spectrum of human emotions and resonated with generations across the globe.“She was a vibrant soul of our nation’s cultural heritage, and her melodies have been a constant part of my life, just as they have for millions of her fans. Asha ji’s monumental legacy will continue to echo through the ages and her immortal voice will live on in our hearts forever. I join the nation in offering my solemn condolences,” Sonowal said.
