Zubeen Garg

Education

Garg pursued his primary education at Carmel School, Jorhat, and later attended Karimganj High School and Bijni Bandhab High School. He passed his matriculation exam (class 10th) from Tamulpur Higher Secondary School, Nalbari in 1989. In the same year, he returned to Bongal Pukhuri, Jorhat, for his higher secondary education in science at the Jagannath Barooah College.^[25][26][27] After that, he went to pursue Bachelor of Science degree in B. Borooah College in 1991 after passing his HS Final Exam, but dropped out to concentrate on his singing career.^[28][29]

Introduction to music

Garg started to sing from the age of three.^[30] His first guru was his mother from whom he learnt to sing and he learnt playing the tabla from Pandit Robin Banerjee for 11 years.^[21] Guru Ramani Rai introduced him to Assamese folk music.^[31] Garg had been composing songs since his school days.^{[citation needed]}

Beginning of singing career (1992–1995)

Garg made his debut in 1992 with his Assamese solo album, Anamika under the record label NK Production. In the same year, he had won a gold medal for his western solo performance in a youth festival.^{[32][33][34][20]} His first recorded songs were "Tumi Janu Pariba Hun"^[35] and "Tumi Junaki Hubakh"^[36] for the album Ritu, but it was not released until 1993. He released many other albums such as Xopunor Xur (1992), Junaki Mon (1993), Maya (1994), Asha (1995) and more.^{[37][38][39][40]} Before he moved to Mumbai in 1995, he released his first Bihu album Ujan Piriti which was a commercial success.^[41]

Bollywood singing career (1995–2024)

In mid 1995, Garg moved to Mumbai to work in the Bollywood music industry where he released his first Indipop solo album Chandni Raat.^[42] Later, he recorded Hindi cover and remix albums including Shradhaanjali Vol. 1 (1996), RE-MIX Tere Mere Beechmein (1996), Chanda (1996), Shradhaanjali Vol. 2 (1997), Shradhaanjali Vol. 3 (1998), Jalwa (1998) and others.^[43] In November 1998, he released his second Indipop album Yuhi Kabhi, which showcased newcomer actress Bhumika Chawla, and it was also his first music video to be aired on Channel V music channel in India.^[44]

He sang for films including Gaddaar (1995), Purani Kabar, Joubone Amoni Kore (1998), Dil Se (1998), Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998), Fiza (2000), Kaante (2002) and more.^[45] In 2003, he sang "Sapne Saare" and "Khwabon Ki" from the movie Mudda-The Issue, "Maango Agar Dil Se Toh Khuda" from the movie Chupke Se, "Holi Re" from the movie Mumbai se Aiya Mera Dost and "Jo Pyar Tumne" from the movie Jaal: The Trap.^[46]

Garg got his biggest breakthrough in Bollywood from the movie Gangster where he sang the song "Ya Ali".^[47] The song won him the best playback singer Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA) in 2006.^[48][49]

In February 2007, he collaborated with Ustad Sultan Khan to sing "Jag Lal Lal Lal" for the movie Big Brother.^[50] His next Hindi album Zindagi was released on 29 August 2007.^[51]

Bengali singing career (1997–2025)

Apart from singing in the Bollywood and Assamese film and music industries, he entered in the Bengali music industry in 1997 where he released his first Bengali album Surer Upahar featuring lead co-vocals by Mausumi Saharia and background vocals by Mili Baruah and Sagarika, who is the sister of Shaan.^[52] In 2003, he sang two songs, "O Mon Bolaka" and "Abhilashi Mone" in the film Mon. In the next year, he sang three songs in the film Shudhu Tumi and was the film's music director. In the same year, he sang "O Bondhure" and "Lagena Bhalo" in the film Premi.^[53][54] In 2008, he recorded several Bengali songs like "Mon mane Na" from the movie Mon Mane Na, "Piya re Piya re" from the movie Chirodini Tumi je Amaar, and "Mon Jete Chay Shudhu" from the movie Love story.^{[citation needed]}

Musical styles

Garg's music has been described as soulful, rooted in folk rather than classical traditions. His work spanned genres from folk to pop, often intertwined with Sufi tunes.^[56] His early musical style was marked by a fusion of rock, Indian classical music, and Assamese folk elements that helped broaden the Assamese music, parallelling the Sufi trend that emerged in Bollywood during the early 2000s.^[20][57] Since the release of his breakthrough album Anamika in 1992, he was recognised as a trendsetter in Assam for blending Western and regional influences while also contributing to the revival of traditional Assamese music.^[58] Over the years, he has collaborated with nearly 250 tribal communities across Assam learning and preserving more than five thousand traditional folk songs.^[57] He has often described himself primarily as a folk singer.^[30]

A multilingual vocalist, Garg recorded in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi, and several tribal dialects of Northeast India. His musical versatility was reflected in his ability to perform a wide range of styles from romantic and devotional to Bihu-tuned and modern songs. He has sung many Bihu songs, Borgeet, lukogeets, tribal folk songs like oi ni:toms of the Misings, and Zikir (Sufi devotional songs).^[59]

Several of Garg's albums, such as Xixhu and Mukti, expressed themes of dissent and opposition toward the socio-political elite. Over time, he faced criticism for what some perceive as moral ambiguity, social irresponsibility, and an excessive inclination toward Western musical styles. In response to debates concerning the definition of folk music in Assam, Garg said, "I made my songs in the way in which I feel comfortable. Art is all about freedom."^[20]

Garg gained national recognition in Bollywood with the 2006 song "Ya Ali" from Gangster, composed by Pritam. Despite the song's success, Garg did not fully transition into mainstream Bollywood playback singing. In an interview with PTI, he said:

Bollywood music is changing with a slow pace. No doubt that new genres are coming to play but at the same time we are clinging to the formula of previous hit numbers. Even I was getting typecast after 'Ya Ali' in 2006, so I rejected many offers. I had a bad name in the industry for that. But I don't think about it because I am not in a hurry to take up projects.^[60]

Cinematic styles

Beyond music, Garg explored filmmaking as an extension of his artistic vision. He wrote, directed, and starred many Assamese Films. He preferred realism and political themes over conventional song-and-dance narratives. His cinematic themes often centred on Assamese identity, youth idealism, conflict, and social change, consistent with his musical activism.^[61] When asked about shifting his focus from music to films—particularly while writing and directing his film Chakra—He explained that he viewed the two art forms as interconnected:

I had been in terms with films since long as my mother, Illy Borthakur, was an Assamese actress, so I think I am quite experienced now to move into films or direct one, also I want to create a different personality of mine; neither as a performer nor as a singer but as an all-rounder.^[62]

In another interview, when asked if singers can act, he answered:

Kishore Kumar has shown us that it is possible. I prefer serious roles, though I like to dance in music videos. These days, composers are turning singers. That is a problem for us. None of them can pull it off, except Himesh [Reshammiya].^[61]

Influences

Garg grew up listening to his father's collection of old classics, including country, rock, and blues and said he was a fan of ethnic music.^[63] He has been inspired by many artists from Assam, Bollywood and beyond. He has mentioned Bhupen Hazarika, Bishnu Prasad Rabha and poet Hiren Bhattacharya as major influences from Assam.^[64] He also admired singers like Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Begum Akhtar, and composers S. D. Burman, R. D. Burman, A. R. Rahman and Ilaiyaraaja. Among his western influences, he admired Sting, Pink Floyd, Kenny G and expressed his desire for composing a song for them.^[65][66]

Garg had mentioned Charlie Chaplin as one his favourite icons.^[67] He once had a tattoo of Chaplin with the phrase "I can fall but never fail"^[64]

Controversies and criticism

In 2015, Garg in a live performance at Khanapara of Guwahati, wielded a gun threatening the audience not to leave otherwise he would shoot them. He said "I'll sing with this gun now. It's not fake, it's real. Don't go away or I'll shoot you." Later police arrived and found that it was a toy gun.^[74][75][76]

In 2017, he was sentenced to three months in jail and fined ₹5,000 in connection with a 2013 assault case. The case involved allegations that he had slapped a minor, for smoking in public. The boy was the son of senior advocate Arup Chandra Borbora and grandson of former chief minister of Assam Golap Borbora. Garg was acquitted under Section 341 of the Indian Penal Code but found guilty under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation). His legal team accepted the judgement and announced plans to appeal before the Sessions Judge Court.^[77][78]

In 2018, Garg publicly advised athlete Hima Das to consume beef rather than chicken or pigeon meat, claiming that beef would help her gain greater strength for national and international competitions. He argued that when it comes to sports, factors such as religion, caste, and creed should be put aside in favour of what benefits athletic performance. The statement generated controversy within Assam.^[79][80]

In January 2019, a short audio clip circulated on social media in which Garg appeared to use "unparliamentary" language to criticise the posthumous conferral of the Bharat Ratna on Bhupen Hazarika. An FIR was filed at the Lanka Police Station in Hojai district by Satya Ranjan Borah (of the Assam Kisan Morcha, affiliated with the BJP) alleging that the remarks defamed the Bharat Ratna, insulted Hazarika and hurt public sentiment. Garg acknowledged that the voice in the clip was his and published a social media post stating that his objection was not to Bhupen Hazarika personally, but to what he described as the political appropriation and timing of the award.^[81]

In 2019, the artist faced a controversy when he said, "I am Brahmin, but I have snapped my lagun (a sacred thread worn by Brahmins) in the movie. I had removed the thread earlier, and still don't wear it. These Brahmins should be killed".^[82] But, later he clarified that he did not mean that way. He said- "I told it jokingly, so people have misinterpreted it. I meant that-the system of high caste-low caste should be eliminated. I believe in that concept. In that attempt, the word 'Bamun' was a slip of tongue. Therefore, I apologise in front of Brahmin Society since that was not my intent. I am a brahmin boy too. People have seen-what I have been doing all these years. I have worked for all sections of people." Additionally, Garg said- "I was also exhausted at that time as I was continuously performing for the last 3-4 nights. That might be also a reason. I am sorry. This won't happen in the future.^[83]

In April 2024, during Bihu concert, he said to the crowd that Krishna was not a God but a man.^[84] He was subsequently banned from Majuli District Satra Mahasabha.^[85]

Philanthropy

Garg ran a charity, the Kalaguru Artiste Foundation, which donates money for various causes. He urged people to donate clothes, medicines and contributions when devastating floods hit Assam.^[86] He took on the issue over corruption in APSC recruitment in his movie Kanchanjangha.^[87][88]

He was a football fan and has played matches to collect funds for flood-affected people.^[89]

In May 2021, during a surge in COVID-19 cases, Garg offered his two-storey house in Guwahati to be converted into a COVID Care Centre. This act aimed to address the rising demand for beds for patients at the time.^[90]

Funeral

The cremation ground, spanning 3.3 acres of government-allotted land in Kamarkuchi, Sonapur NC village near Guwahati, was volunteered by local villagers; it accommodates up to 5,000 mourners. Garg's body lay in state at the Arjuna Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, Guwahati, until the morning of 23 September for the public to pay tributes.^{[100][101][102]}

Garg was cremated with full state honours on 23 September with a 21-gun salute.^[103][104]

On 30 September 2025, Garg's ashes were brought to Jorhat for the traditional 13th-day Adyashraddha ceremony on 1 October. It was attended by his family and thousands of fans. The Assam government announced plans to construct a memorial in Jorhat to honour his legacy, in addition to a memorial in Guwahati. The ashes remained at a public venue in Jorhat for a few days, allowing fans and well-wishers to pay their final tributes.^{[105][106][107]}

On 29 October 2025, Garg's ashes were immersed in the Brahmaputra River.^[108]

Tributes

Garg's death prompted widespread tributes across India. Many high-profile individuals, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, and the Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, expressed their condolences.^[109][110] As a tribute, the Government of Assam declared a three-day state mourning from 20 to 22 September and later it was extended to 23 September to cover the day of his funeral and cremation.^[111][112] West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed grief, describing Garg as her "dear brother" and praising his "mellifluous voice and indomitable spirit," adding that his songs will remain "immortal forever."^[113]

In addition to political leaders, numerous figures from the Indian film and music industries expressed grief over Garg's death. Fellow Assamese singer Papon described the loss as comparable to losing a brother, calling Garg "the voice of a generation." Music director Pritam Chakraborty, who had collaborated with him on Gangster (2006), stated that he was "shocked and devastated" and conveyed condolences to Garg's family.^{[citation needed]}

Musician A. R. Rahman, veteran singer Hariharan, composer Jeet Ganguly, lyricist Sameer Anjaan, rapper Badshah, pop band A Band of Boys, Viva, singers Alisha Chinai, Amaal Mallik, Debojit Saha, Kalpana Patowary, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Neha Bhasin, Raageshwari Loomba Swaroop, Sagarika, Shaan, Shilpa Rao, Shreya Ghoshal, Sowmya Raoh, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Sunidhi Chauhan, Tarali Sarma, Vishal Mishra, Vishal Dadlani, and actors Dev, Jatin Bora, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Ravi Sarma also shared tributes on social media, recalling Garg's cross‑genre contributions from Assamese folk to Bollywood.^{[114][115][116][117]} Assamese actor Adil Hussain called the news "shocking and heartbreaking," emphasising Garg's cultural importance in Assamese music and cinema.^[117] On 21 September 2025, at the trailer launch of Raghu Dakat, a 30‑second silence was observed at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata in Garg's memory.^[118]

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan wrote "A true legend, his voice touched millions, and his music shaped generations."^[119][120] Randeep Hooda wrote "Legends never die, they live on through their art."^[121][122] MP Kangana Ranaut who debuted in Bollywood with the movie Gangster: A Love Story, for which Garg sang the song "Ya Ali", paid her heartfelt tribute and wrote "#Zubeenda No one like you!"^[123][124]

Film critic Utpal Borpujari recalled Garg's benevolence saying "There are countless stories of how he helped those who needed medical treatment and children at orphanages."^[125]

Writer and activist Taslima Nasrin posted in social media X saying "Unlike many Bengali artists, he never tried to act like a refined gentleman. He was never arrogant."^[126][127]

Alisha Chinai said "He was not politically correct. He hated Bombay, you know, he hated the Bollywood scene. He said what he felt, and that was something I really admired about him. But when I look back, I feel like I wish I had sat and talked to him a little more. He came and he left. He came like the wind and left like the wind."^[128]

Garg had expressed in a 2019 concert at B. Borooah College, Guwahati, that his song "Mayabini Raatir Bukut" should be played when he died. Following his death, the song was performed not only at his funeral but also widely across Assam, in homes, and public events, becoming a collective anthem of shraddhanjali (tribute).^[129]

Investigation and aftermath

The death certificate issued by the Singapore authorities listed the cause of death as drowning.^[130] Several first information reports were filed against his manager, Siddhartha Sharma, and the festival organiser, Shyamkanu Mahanta, alleging negligence and lack of safety measures, including reports that Garg had declined to wear a life jacket.^[131][132] His wife later appealed for withdrawal of cases against his manager.^[133] Following public demand, the Assam government ordered a second post-mortem at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) with the consent of Garg's family members.^[134] GMCH's official post-mortem report confirmed that Garg's death was "not caused by poisoning."^[135]

In September 2025, following public demand and Assamese artists' pressure, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe the investigation.^{[136][137][138]} Following SIT's assistance, the CID registered a case (no. 18 of 2025) in connection with the suspicious death of Garg.^[139] Raids were carried out at the residences of the festival organiser and Garg's manager, during which electronic records and documents were seized.^[140][141] The SIT also questioned and detained musician Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, who had accompanied Garg during the diving trip in Singapore.^[142] Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma remarked that if the SIT failed to produce conclusive results, the case would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.^[143] In light of public anger, the All Assam Lawyers' Association urged their members not to represent persons accused in the case of the death of Garg.^[144][145]

On 1 October 2025, Singaporean authorities provided a copy of Garg's autopsy report to the High Commission of India upon its request, as well as a report of their preliminary investigations. They announced that investigations would take about three months before Singapore's State Coroner could determine if a coroner's inquiry would be held.^[146] The Indian SIT team separately detained festival organiser Mahanta and Garg's manager Sharma on the same day to have their statements recorded.^[147] SIT also arrested musician Goswami, co-singer Amritprabha Mahanta, Garg's cousin DSP Sandipan Garg, and Garg's personal security officers Nandeswar Bora and Paresh Baishya.^{[148][149][150]}

Later in the same month, Goswami alleged that Garg's manager Sharma and festival organiser Mahanta may have poisoned him. Goswami claimed that Sharma dismissed visible signs such as frothing from Garg's mouth and nose as acid reflux and delayed seeking medical assistance. He also alleged that Sharma had taken control of the yacht from its sailor and was heard saying "Jabo De, Jabo De" (translation: "Let him go, Let him go") as Garg was struggling in the water. Goswami emphasised that Garg was an expert swimmer who had trained both him and Sharma, making accidental drowning highly unlikely.^[151][152]

In November 2025, Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, stated that "Zubeen Garg was murdered" and that the SIT would submit the chargesheet before 17 December.^{[153][154][155]} The SIT submitted 3,500-page charge sheet in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Guwahati on 12 December 2025. SIT issued murder charges against Shyamkanu Mahanta, Siddharth Sharma, Amritprava Mahanta, and Shekhar Jyoti Goswami, while Sandipan Garg, Nandeswar Bora, and Paresh Baishya were included under various charges.^[156][157]

A coroner's inquiry into his death was opened on 14 January 2026 in Singapore.^[158][159] Assistant Superintendent of Police David Linn testified that Garg was intoxicated and refused a life vest before jumping off a yacht. Linn added that as Garg's friends tried to convince him to swim back to the yacht, Garg suddenly became motionless and began floating face down.^[160] Toxicology analysis found a blood alcohol concentration of 333-milligrams per 100-milliliters of blood, which can result in impaired coordination and reflexes.^[b][163]

In March 2026, the Singapore coroner ruled the death as an accidental drowning and found no evidence of foul play.^[164][165]

Honorary statue

On 2 December 2022, a 20-foot statue was unveiled by the singer during the Nazirating Tamuli Tourism Festival in Digboi.^[169] A Bamboo bridge built across the Na Dihing river by villagers of Tengapani and named after Zubeen Garg was inaugurated by the singer at Tengapani-Thepabari on 29 February 2020.^[170][171]

Species

In 2026, a newly discovered plant species, Osbeckia zubeengargiana, a flowering plant in the family Melastomataceae discovered in the grassland ecosystems of Manas National Park in the Indian state of Assam, was named after him.^[172] In the same year, a newly discovered butterfly species, Euthalia zubeengargi, was identified as a member of the family Nymphalidae and subfamily Limenitidinae is named after him. It was discovered in the eastern Himalayan region of Arunachal Pradesh, India, and formally reported in 2026.^[173]

As a music director

Assamese film

Bengali Film

• Shudhu Tumi (2004)
• Mon Niye (2010)
• Kachhe Achho Tumi (2010)
• Samsara (2019)

Hindi film

• Strings – Bound By Faith (2006)
• Dil Toh Deewana Hai (2016)
• Homework (2025)

As an actor

As a director

As a producer and screenwriter

As a judge