Boy George pays tribute to ‘glorious vocals’ of Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle

Boy George has paid tribute to Bollywood singer and Bow Down Mister collaborator Asha Bhosle following her death aged 92.

Bhosle, whose songs helped shape India’s music and cinema, died on Sunday of multiple organ failure at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, a physician at the hospital said.

She had been admitted to the hospital late on Saturday with a chest infection and exhaustion, her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle said in a social media post.

In an Instagram post on Sunday, Culture Club singer Boy George said Bhosle’s vocals on their 1991 track were “glorious”.

“Rest in peace, your voice was like silk.”

Rock band Cornershop earlier said Bhosle’s music had “helped us throughout all our good and difficult times” in a tribute posted on X and Instagram.

The band’s 1997 hit single Brimful Of Asha was inspired by Bhosle, with the lyrics paying homage to Indian film culture and Bollywood soundtracks.

DJ Fatboy Slim’s remix of the song went on to reach number one in the UK’s charts.

Singer Tjinder Singh said: “The world and all India grieve today.

“We don’t know whether a candle has gone out or has been lit, such was the stature of Asha Bhosle.

“They say she liked cricket and in that respect she had a great innings, which equalled exactly that of her equally revered sister Lata Mangeshkar.

“During those years few have reached the ability to be loved in so many languages and dialects, and even fewer have reached so many with the astonishment of heart that her songs gave us.

“We say goodbye, with all grace, to Sadhi Rani, Our Lady that helped us throughout all our good and difficult times.”

Bhosle’s timeless voice resonated across India for nearly eight decades, recorded on about 12,000 songs.

She recently appeared on the album The Mountain by Gorillaz.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said in a social media post he was “deeply saddened” by her death.