Who was Zubeen Garg
Full name: Zubeen Borthakur, but he was widely known by his stage name Zubeen Garg.
Born on 18 November 1972 in Tura, Meghalaya, India.
He passed away on 19 September 2025 in Singapore.
Musical and Artistic Career
- He was multi-talented: singer, composer, music director, lyricist, actor, producer, director, poet.
Sang in many languages — besides Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi, he also sang in over 40 languages and dialects including tribal languages (Karbi, Mising, Tiwa etc.).
He was also a multi-instrumentalist; known to perform using instruments such as guitar, mandolin, harmonica, dhol, tabla, harmonium, etc.
Breakthrough / Popular Songs:
His song “Ya Ali” from the 2006 film Gangster gave him national fame in India.
He had many playback singing roles in Hindi, plus strong presence in Assamese and Bengali music.
Awards, Honors & Legacy
Honorary degree: He received a Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) from the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya in 2024.
He won a National Film Award for Best Music Direction (non-feature film) for Echoes of Silence (2009) among other awards.
He was regarded as one of Assam’s top singers — both in terms of popularity and remuneration. His work bridged tradition and modernity, bringing Assamese folk and regional languages into more mainstream platforms.
Social / Cultural Role:
Apart from music, Zubeen Garg was quite outspoken about social, religious, cultural issues. His public image involved activism.
He was involved in cultural politics; for example, during the Anti-CAA protests in Assam, he contributed through music (his song Politics Nokoriba Bandhu) and speeches.
Circumstances of Death & Aftermath:
He died in Singapore, while attending the North East India Festival. The cause of death is recorded as drowning, with reports saying he experienced breathing troubles while swimming.
Due to public demand and to ensure transparency, a second autopsy was ordered by Assam government despite Singapore authorities having conducted one.
His funeral was held with full state honours in Guwahati on 23 September, and a large number of people came to pay their respects.
Lesser-known / Interesting Facts
His name “Zubeen” was chosen in homage to the famous conductor Zubin Mehta.
Although born in Meghalaya, he had ancestral roots in Assam. His parents were Mohini Mohon Borthakur (father) and Ily Borthakur (mother).
His early albums in Assamese such as Anamika (1992) marked the beginning of his career. He released Bihu albums which were commercially successful before moving to Mumbai.
Also Read:
Tom Cruise: A Legendary Journey in Hollywood
Dwayne Johnson Biography: The Rock’s Journey from WWE to Hollywood Stardom
Kiara Advani Give Birth to a Baby Girl
Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu is set to Release on 24th of This month
Sitaare Zameen Par Full Movie Collection
Indian team asked to stay indoors in Birmingham after security alert
