Zubeen Garg(1972-2025)

Zubeen Garg (born Zubeen Borthakur; 18 November 1972) was an Indian singer, music director, composer, lyricist, music producer, actor, film director, film producer, script writer and philanthropist. His contributions were mostly attributed in Assamese, Bengali and Bollywood music and films. He was also an instrumentalist and played 12 instruments including dhol, dotara, drums, guitar, harmonica, harmonium, mandolin, keyboard, tabla and various percussion instruments.

Garg entered into professional music when his debut album "Anamika" was released in 1992 at age 19. He later released albums including Maya, Asha and Pakhi. In 1995, he moved to Mumbai to work in the Bollywood music industry where he recorded few Hindi albums and films like Chandni Raat, Yuhi Kabhi, Fiza, and Kaante. He finally got his biggest break in Bollywood in the film Gangster, whose song "Ya Ali" was one of the most popular hits of 2006. The song brought him the 2006 Best Playback Singer Award at the Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA). He recorded/sang in more than 32,000 songs in almost 40 Indian languages.

Garg's father, Mohini Borthakur, was also a poet and lyricist writing under the name Kapil Thakur. His mother, Ily Borthakur, was a dancer, actress and singer. His younger sister Jonkey Borthakur was an actress and singer who died in a car accident in 2002 near Tezpur while they were to perform stage show along with her co-artists. Garg also made an album, "Xixu", in memory of his late sister.