Overview
Zubeen Garg is an Indian singer, music composer, lyricist, instrumentalist, film producer, director and actor primarily associated with Assamese cinema and music. Widely regarded as one of the most popular cultural figures of Assam, he has recorded songs in numerous Indian languages and is also known for his work in Hindi film playback singing, most notably the song "Ya Ali" from the 2006 film Gangster.
Key facts
| Full name | Zubeen Garg |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Zubeen Borthakur |
| Born | 18 November 1972, Tura, Meghalaya, India |
| Origin | Jorhat, Assam |
| Occupation | Singer, composer, lyricist, actor, film director, producer |
| Languages of work | Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Bodo, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Nepali, among others |
| Genres | Playback, rock, folk (Bihu, Goalpariya, Borgeet), devotional, pop |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums, keyboards, tabla, harmonium |
| Spouse | Garima Saikia Garg |
Background
Zubeen Garg was born in Tura, Meghalaya, to Mohini Borthakur, a magistrate and lyricist, and Ily Borthakur, a singer. The family later settled in Jorhat, Assam. He was named "Zubeen" after the conductor Zubin Mehta. He received early training in Indian classical music and learned multiple instruments from a young age. The death of his sister Jonkie Borthakur, also a singer, in 2002 had a deep influence on him and is often referenced in his public statements about his work.
Career
Early Assamese career
Zubeen released his debut Assamese album Anamika in 1992, which brought him immediate recognition in Assam. He followed this with a long series of solo albums in Assamese covering modern songs, Bihu, Goalpariya lokgeet, Borgeet and devotional repertoire, becoming one of the highest-selling regional artists of the 1990s and 2000s.
Hindi cinema
He moved to Mumbai in the late 1990s and worked as a playback singer and composer in Hindi films. His song "Ya Ali", composed by Pritam for Anurag Basu's Gangster (2006), became a major commercial success across India and remains his best-known Hindi work. He has also sung for several other Hindi films and contributed as a music director.
Assamese cinema
Zubeen has acted in, directed, produced and composed music for Assamese films. His directorial and production ventures include works such as Mission China (2017), which became one of the highest-grossing Assamese films of its time, and Kanchanjangha. He has provided music for a large number of Assamese films and has been a recurring presence as a lead actor in regional cinema.
Multilingual work
Beyond Assamese and Hindi, Zubeen has recorded songs in Bengali (including playback work in Bengali cinema and Bangladeshi productions), Bodo, Karbi, Mising, Tiwa, Nepali, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and other languages. He is credited with having recorded songs in a very large number of languages and dialects, particularly those of Northeast India.
Stage performances
He is among the most prolific live performers in Assam, regularly headlining Bihu functions, Durga Puja stages and college festivals across the state. His concerts often feature a mix of original Assamese songs, folk material, Hindi hits and rock covers, with Zubeen alternating between vocals, guitar and drums.
Public life and views
Zubeen has been an outspoken public figure on issues affecting Assam, including the protection of the Assamese language, regional identity, and the cultural autonomy of Northeast India. He participated prominently in the public discourse around the Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests in Assam in 2019. He has also been associated with charitable initiatives, particularly around healthcare and disaster relief in the state.
Personal life
He is married to Garima Saikia Garg, a fashion designer and writer. He has spoken publicly about living with epilepsy. The couple has been involved in various social and cultural initiatives in Assam.
Significance
Zubeen Garg is regarded as a defining voice of post-1990s Assamese popular culture, credited with modernising Assamese popular music while sustaining engagement with traditional forms such as Bihu and Goalpariya lokgeet. His pan-Indian recognition through "Ya Ali" placed Assamese-origin artistry within mainstream Bollywood, and his sustained output in regional cinema has shaped the commercial revival of Assamese films in the 2010s.