2022 hasn’t been the most wonderful of years so far. We have lost absolute legends of the Indian entertainment sector. We have lost legendary singers, musicians, dancers and actors in the 6 months since the turn of the year. We take a look at the 5 supremely talented musicians that our country has lost this year.
Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar (Famous Playback Singer) – Died on 6th February 2022 Due To Covid (Aged 92 Years)
Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar died in Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital on Sunday. She was 92. She was cremated with full state honours at Mumbai's iconic Shivaji Park. Lata Mangeshkar was taken to the intensive care unit on January 8 after testing positive for COVID-19. On Saturday, her condition had deteriorated again and she had to be put on ventilator support. Lata Mangeshkar, a recipient of the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Awards, was an icon of Indian cinema, having sung playback for an extensive list of Hindi films; she also sang in several regional languages including Marathi and Bengali.
Bappi Lahiri (Bollywood Film Musician) – Died on 16th February 2022 Due To Covid Related Problem. (Aged 69 Years)
Veteran singer-composer Bappi Lahiri died in a Mumbai hospital due to multiple health issues. He died on the night of 16th February at Mumbai's CritiCare Hospital in Juhu. He was 69. Fondly referred to as Bappi da, he was best known for his hit numbers as was for his fascination for gold. Bappi Lahiri was known as the true blue 'Disco King' of Bollywood of the 80s and 90s, especially for his widely popular songs for films such as Namak Halaal, Disco Dancer and Dance Dance.
Confident of his Elvis-inspired fondness for jewellery, he turned “Bejewelled Bappida” into his signature style and stepped out laden with gold, several chins and folds on the neck, his smile in place. Goodbye, Bappida. It was a pleasure knowing you.
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma (Santoor Musician) – Died on 10th May 2022 Due To Heart-Related Illness (Aged 84 Years)
Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, veteran santoor maestro, passed away in Mumbai due to cardiac arrest. He was 84. Hailing from Jammu, Pt. Shivkumar, put the multiple-string santoor at the centre stage. He adapted the instrument to play Hindustani music and became its foremost exponent. He was also suffering from renal ailments.
Despite massive success in films, classical music remained Sharma’s focus and he carried the delicate santoor to concerts around the world. “Classical music is not for entertainment. It is to take you on a meditative journey, ye toh mehsoos karne ki cheez hai (This has to be experienced),” he would often say.
For decades, Sharma’s santoor spoke a unique language, one that the world didn’t know before him, one that was sometimes hymnal and on others idyllic, sometimes from a world of deep-rooted classicality and on others allowed one to navigate life’s chaos to be amid transcendental silence — the kind that only his music could generate.
Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu aka. Sidhu Moose Wala (Punjabi Singer, Rapper, And Politician) – Died on 29th May 2022 Due To A Gunshot Wound. (Aged 30 Years.)
Sidhu Moose Wala was an Indian singer, rapper, actor and politician associated with Punjabi music and Punjabi cinema. He started his career as a songwriter for the song "License" by Ninja, and began his singing career on a duet song titled "G Wagon". Following his debut, he collaborated with Brown Boyz for various tracks which were released by Humble Music. Moose Wala admired and was influenced by rapper Tupac Shakur. He started listening to hip-hop music in the 6th grade and learned musical skills from Harvinder Bittu in Ludhiana. According to statements he made while campaigning, he choose "Moose Wala" for his stage name as a tribute to his home village of Moosa.
K.K (Indian playback Singer) – Died on 31st May 2022 due to a heart attack. (Aged 53 Years)
Popular Bollywood singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, passed away on Tuesday after a concert at Gurudas College, in Kolkata. Kunnath was taken to a private hospital in south Kolkata after falling ill during a live concert as he felt chest congestion.
Friendship and the bittersweet weight of nostalgia were recurring themes in KK's songs - this was perhaps best captured in the soulful Pal (Moment) and Yaaron (Friends). The lyrics, along with the velvety youthfulness of his voice, struck a chord with millennials coming of age in the late 1990s and early 2000s, who would hum along to it at parties and perform it at college festivals.
KK was also the voice behind several iconic romantic songs many of which were produced by music composer Pritam and duo Vishal-Shekhar. His biggest hits included Tadap Tadap Ke, Khuda Jaaney, Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai, Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai and Dus Bahane.
June 21, 2022
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Aditya Gokhale
