ZUBEEN GARG is not just a name but the “Emotion of Assamese people, Pride of Assam” and his only touch was blessings and honor to a person in musical world.
Zubeen Garg was born on 18th November 1972 was a renowned singer, music director, composer, lyricist, actor, filmmaker, director, writer and social worker of Assam. His real name is Zubeen Barthakur. He works mainly in Assamese, Bengali and Hindi films and music, but has sung in more than 40 languages and dialects, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Boro, Karbi, Khasi, Nepali, Sanskrit, Sindhi, English, etc. He is a versatile musician and can play 12 instruments, such as dhol, dotra, guitar, harmonium, tabla, mandolin, and keyboard. He is the highest paid most sought singer in Assam.
Childhood and Eduction
Zubeen Garg was born in Tura, Meghalaya, to an Assamese Brahmin family. His father Mohini Mohan Barthakur was a magistrate and is known as a lyricist and poet under the pseudonym “Kapil Thakur”. His mother, Eli Barthakur, was a dancer, actress and singer. Zueen was named after the famous music director Zubeen Mehta and he adopted their clan “Garg” as his surname. Zubeen was educated in Jorhat, Karimganj, Bijni and Tamulpur as a child. He attended Don Bosco School, Guwahati and later JB School, Jorhat. College . He enrolled in B.Baroua College Guwahati for his Bachelor of Science degree. But due to his inclination towards music, he did not complete his bachelor degree and entered the world of music. His first teacher was his mother Eli Barthakur, from whom he learnt basic musical education. He then studied tabla with Pandit Robin Banerjee for 11 years and Assamese folk music with Guru Ramani Roy. He sang from the age of three and composed his first song when he was only 13 years old.
Zubeen and Music
The professional music career of Zubeen Garg began in 1992, when his first album “Anamika” was released. The album was very popular in the North East and ushered in a new genre of Assamese music. He gained the confidence to become a professional singer after winning a gold medal in a western solo performance at the 1992 Youth Festival. In 1995, he moved to Mumbai and entered the Bollywood music industry. His first indipop album “Chandni Raat” was released and he later sang in films like “Fiza” (2000), “Kaante” (2002). His most popular Bollywood song “Yaa Ali” (Movie: Gangster, 2006) won him the Best Male Playback Singer award at the 2006 Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA). Zubin sang more than 38,000 songs in his 33-year career, an unprecedented feat in the Indian music industry. His notable Assamese albums include “Maya” (1994)”, “Asha” (1995), “Ujan Piriti” (1995), “Pakhi”, “Shishu” (in memory of his late sister Junki Barthakur), “Zindagi” (2007), “Rumal” etc. His songs are a blend of Assamese folk music, Bihu, rock, pop and Sufi music. His first acting and directing job was in the Assamese film “Tumi Mor Matho Mor” (2000). His notable films include: – “Mon Jai (2008),This film won the Best Assamese Film Award at the 56th National Film Awards. The film “Mission China” (2017).about terrorism with his direction and starring film topped the history of Assamese cinema with a gross collection of Rs. 6 crore. Then the film“KanchanJungha (2019) set another record in Assamese cinema with a collection of Rs. 7 crore.Other remarkable films are “Dr. Bezbaruah 2 (2023)“, “Dinbandhu (2004)”, “exon nedexa nodir xipare”(Across an Unseen River -2012)” etc. He has composed music for more than 24 Assamese films and won the Best Music Director Award for the Bengali film “Shudhu Tumi” (2004)
SOCIAL ZUBEEN
Zubeen Garg is also well known for his social work.Whenver any adverse situation arises to people of Assam he always stood with the people with his damn care attitude. He worked for children education and health through the “Kalaguru Artist Foundation”. He was involved with various charities to help people with AIDS, brain cancer and mental disabilities. He opened a chain of beauty salons called **Zubeens Veda Parlour** in Guwahati and serves as the President of “Destination”(for autistic children) and “All Assam Cultural Organization”. He took responsibility of 10 poor students of Cotton College for their education.
Awards and Recognition
Zubeen Garg won many awards for his contribution to music and film: – “Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA-2006): Best Male Playback Singer for the song “Ya Ali”. – “National Film Award”.Nomination for Best Assamese Film for “Mon Jai” (2008) and Music Director for “Dinbandhu” (2004). – Assam State Film Awards and “Filmfare Awards East”- “Green-Green Award” (2017): for his poetic works. – *Honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt.) from Meghalaya University of Science and Technology* (May 27, 2024). A 20-foot-high statue (2022) has been erected in his memory in Digboi and a bamboo bridge in the name of Jubin Garg (2020) in Tengapani.
Family Life
On February 4, 2002, Zubeen Garg married to fashion designer Garima Saikia of Golaghat. His younger sister Junki Barthakur was an actress and singer who died in a car accident near Tezpur and He released the album “Shishu”in her memory. His other sister, Palmi Barthakur, is a Bharatanatyam dancer and runs a dance academy in Guwahati.
Controversy
Zubin Garg was very bold for his voce and stand for which he faced brunt of criticism time to time .He made controversial remarks about the Brahmin community in 2019 for which he later on apologized in 2024 He made comments about Lord Krishna at a Bihu function, which led to his being banned by the Satra Mahasabha of Majuli district.
Bengal Connection
Zubeen Garg launched his Bengali singing career in 2003 with the film Mon and achieved significant success in the Bengali film industry, releasing popular songs and albums such as “Mon Mane Na” and “Bhalobashi Bhalobashi” by 2008. His career in Bengali cinema continued through 2017, where he worked as a playback singer and composer, further establishing his versatility and popularity in Bengal In 2004:Served as music director and sang multiple songs for the film “Shudhu Tumi.”
In 2005 he Sang songs like “O Bondhure” and “Lagena Bhalo” in the film “Premi”.
In 2008 he Recorded hit Bengali songs such as “Mon Mane Na” (from Mon Mane Na) and “Piya re Piya re” (from Chirodini Tumi je Amaar).
Zubeen’s romantic Bengali songs composed by others and person like Jeet Gannguli, became chartbusters and made him the most sought after singer in Bengal too.
Zubeen Garg is considered the “heartthrob” of the youth of Assam. His songs and films have played an important role in the promotion and preservation of Assamese culture. His versatility, social work and popularity have made him an iconic figure in the cultural world of Assam. His songs are always popular among all the ages that fit every stage of life among listeners.
Words fall short to narrate with deeply saddened by the untimely demise of our beloved Zubeen Garg.We lost not only a voice but a heartbeat of the region He was the only person to stay deep inside the heart of the region after Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.His passing by leaves behind a void that can never be filled.My heart full condolences to his family friends and countless fans.
(Writer Bodol Singer Khagen Swargiary)
