The song unites a diverse group of artists, such as Gruff Rhys, flautist Ajay Prasanna, and sarod players Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, blending Indian classical music with experimental British alternative pop.

The Mountain, the ninth studio album by Gorillaz, is notable for its strong involvement with Indian music and musicians. Recorded in India, the album also features collaborations with sitar player Anoushka Shankar and vocalist Asha Puthli, exemplifying a rich fusion of cultural sounds.

The album's artwork, created by Jamie Hewlett, presents detailed hand-drawn illustrations of the band's animated members-Murdoc Niccals, Noodle, Russel Hobbs, and 2-D-continuing the band's tradition of combining music with visual storytelling.

For Bhosle, whose career spanned more than eight decades, this collaboration symbolised her enduring capacity to adapt to evolving musical styles. From timeless Hindi classics to global experimental projects, her voice remained consistently relevant.

Formed in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz introduced a virtual band concept that revolutionised the global music scene by merging alternative rock, hip-hop, and electronic music with animated personas. Albarn, the group’s musical lead, is a noted admirer of 1960s and 1970s Bollywood music, especially the work of R.D. Burman, who was both Bhosle’s husband and frequent collaborator. Albarn has repeatedly cited vintage Indian film music as a key influence on the band’s eclectic sound.

In interviews, Albarn praised the “psychedelic” and “experimental” qualities of the tracks Bhosle recorded during the 1970s. The iconic bassline and “dark-pop” rhythm of Gorillaz’s “Feel Good Inc.” complement Bhosle’s celebrated hippie anthem “Dum Maro Dum” from the 1971 film Hare Rama Hare Krishna, with mashups accumulating millions of views on platforms such as YouTube and SoundCloud.

During the early 2000s, sampling Bollywood music became a trend in Western hip-hop and electronic genres. The Black Eyed Peas famously sampled Bhosle’s “Aye Naujawan Hai Sab Kuchh Yahan” for their 2005 hit “Don’t Phunk with My Heart,” which charted alongside tracks from Gorillaz’s Demon Days.

In 1997, British indie rock band Cornershop’s hit “Brimful of Asha” was remixed by Fatboy Slim and reached the top of the charts.

Bhosle also recorded an album with the San Francisco-based Kronos Quartet, titled You’ve Stolen My Heart (2005), featuring avant-garde Western classical interpretations of her Bollywood hits as a tribute to R.D. Burman. The project included tabla player Zakir Hussain. Additionally, in 2002, American singer-songwriter Michael Stipe of R.E.M collaborated with Bhosle on the song “The Way You Dream” for the world music album 1 Giant Leap, which linked Western and Eastern artists.

Asha Bhosle passed away at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on Sunday due to multi-organ failure. She had been admitted the previous day with severe exhaustion and a chest infection. Her death has prompted widespread mourning across India, with fans and fellow artists reflecting on a voice that defined multiple generations.

Born in 1933, Bhosle recorded thousands of songs in several languages and genres, receiving honours such as the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Vibhushan. In 2011, she was recognised by Guinness World Records as the most-recorded artist in music history.

As tributes continue, “The Shadowy Light” stands as a poignant reminder of Bhosle’s extraordinary legacy in global music and serves as a cross-cultural connection beyond its melody.