Zubeen Garg (ZG) in the making.
He has borne all the elements to become a successful musician and a singing maestro. He has the genes carrying the musical talent of his mother, Late Ily borthakur, the poetic flair of his father Sri Mohini Mohan Borthakur a.k.a Kapil Thakur which got nourished by the most convivial musical environment provided by his entire extended family the places he spent time while growing up. Somewhere he had revealed that few of his unique traits are inherited from his grandfather which enriched him with the quirky attitude and restlessness which was inseparable from his personality and which actually makes him the Zubeen Garg known by the world in the last thirty years. Thanks to the transferable job of his father Mohini Mohan Borthakur, Zubeen and his family got to live in many places of Assam and beyond. He was born at Tura, Garopahar(Meghalaya) in 18th Nov, 1972. Zubeen's father was from Tamulisiga, Jhanji, a place that geographically separates Sivasagar and Jorhat. His mother's family bears the surname Adhyapak and resides in Jorhat where a major chunk of his formative years were spent. Zubeenda fondly remembers that he has spent his early school years in Sribhumi district(erstwhile Karimganj) and that is why he learnt Bengali language at a very early age. He also fondly recalls his school days when he was blessed to have access to a huge library. He was a voracious reader and often broke the boundaries of reader's age limit. However, his father always encouraged him to read more.
If we look at the upbringing of a child in a traditional Assamese family of the eighties or even now, it is pleasantly surprising that Zubeen's upbringing was not at conventional at all. His father being a Govt official, never expected that Zubeen would pursue a career in Medical or engineering or any other profession that ensures respect in society and more money. His mother Ily Borthakur was a very good singer and was hands on to teach him the nuances of music and musical instruments. He has learnt Tabla for 12 years from his guru Robin Banerjee. He learnt Folk music from his another Guru Ramoni Roy at Bijni, Assam another place where father was posted there. He could play 12 musical instruments. In his early years as a musician he thought that his career would be of an associate. Anyone who has seen him composing or jamming and switching over from one instrument to another with ease and great playfulness would be enthralled for life.
As a science student of B. Barooah, College Guwahati, he was irregular at his classes or even at studies. So his Principal once intervened with this and smirked at his attitude of keeping studies at the backburner. However, it took him no time to understand Zubeen's musical prowess or potential and take a bow to it. As the destiny would have it, in the final year of his graduation, when the Intercollege Competition was going on, it was noticed that B.Barooah College is at an equal position with Cotton College(now University), while only one more event was left. The event was Western vocal. Till then Zubeen was a master of instruments. He had assisted many noted artistes of the time including Luna Sonowal, Jitul Sonowal etc. However, as the college did not want to loose out on the title of best college, they insisted to represent themselves in the Western vocal. Zubeen being Zubeen, has succumbed to their wishes. And, as the destiny would have it, Zubeen bagged the first position in the event and that is how B. Barroah college could lift the trophy of best college. Zubeen remembers that after that event and even after he has left the college without getting the official degree, was invited to his alma mater and the same Principal had warmly welcomed him and said that he was proud of Zubeen Garg. This gave Zubeen the conviction that he has perhaps achieved something in this one year. His mother still insisted on having the degree but Zubeen did not think it was important.
The musical Journey:
The Durga Puja of the year 1992, the first Cassette album of Assamese songs was produced by Debo Borkotoky, in the banner of NK Production. NK Production happened to be the most prolific production House and it was the monopolist of cassette industry in the upper Assam. Zubeen's maiden Album, Anamika was released as a safe bait alongside the 'Anuradha' by Anuradha Padwal, noted Bollywood singer. Anuradha was publicized hugely while placing the new singer's photo in the corner of the same banner. But as the luck would have it, Anamika started to garner fast popularity as the Durga Puja progressed. And on the day of Bijoya Dashami of the year, the distributors called the producer to inform that all copies of Anamika were sold out and the it is hugely on demand! Anamika contained eight beautiful songs including the greatly popular songs Anamika, Gane Ki Aane, Pritir Xubaxe, Monor Ninajot, Hiya Dohe which have transcended the limit of time. Gane ki Aane was penned by legendary poet Hiren Bhattacharya from his collection Tomar Gaan. Zubeen had no idea that there was something called copyright does exist. But later when he realized and met Hiru Da(Hiren Bhattacharjya, he paid him Rs 300 along with a cassette of Anamika. He admits that as the collection was titled Tomar Gaan(Your song) he took it as his own. Of course Hiru-da must have identified the gem of a singer already and did not raise any copyright issue. He became a dear friend to Zubeen keeping aside the age factor or anything else. Later in life Zubeen said multiple times that whenever he felt some blocks in the flow of creativity he simply reads Hiru-da and he regains his flow of creativity.
Once Anamika was released, there was no looking back. He kept on composing and singing and given his voice to thousands of modern Assamese songs. He never stopped exploring his original interest, the seeds of which was sown by his mother Ily Borthakur. He explored the folk music of the entire region that was bound by the culture of Assam. In one interview to a Journalist from outside the Indian subcontinent, he said that there are 250 tribes in the region and he is working on their folk music. He used their tunes, words and essence in his music. Zubeen has successfully explored the cultural base of Assam which is made with Tokari Geet, Diha nam, Lokageet, Borgeet, Bongeet, Zikir, Jyoti Sangeet, Rabha Sangeet, Parvati Prasadar geet, Shlokas, Prarthana and other types of Assamese folk songs and tunes of all the tribes residing in Assam. Its interesting to observe that he took the plunge into Bihu quite later when he was not quite confident to perform Bihu in a stage in Upper Assam. He learnt Bihu from the undisputed bihu singer Khagen Gogoi who boasts of giving everything he knows to Zubeen. Apart from singing and composing music with these elements, he has embellished and enhanced his music in movies with such folk music.
The uniqueness of Zubeen the singer, the King
The voracious reader in Zubeen could claim rightfully that he would never mistake, mispronounce Assamese words or would make any mistake. The lyrics he composed are the testimony of this. The way played with words, with the emotions and with the call of unknown, the sadness and emptiness in human heart was something which is rarest of rare. He could easily switch onto definition of certain Assamese word. He would unapologetically state that the Asom Sangeet was sung with misplaced words in lyrics all these while. The hell of litterateurs, noted cultural pandits broke loose on him but he made it clear with his logics which later found out to be the truth.
No one would deny perhaps that most of the fans of Zubeen Garg was fan of Zubeen the singer, Zubeen the stage performer, Zubeen the lyricist and composer. Many of them are not great fan of his craft as an actor. But he knew his potentcial as an actor, the value of his screen presence and hence acted in 100s of soaps in the hay-days of daily soaps. He acted in VCD movies, composed and directed music for a good number of movies while successfully continuing with his singing and stage career. He juggled between Mumbai film industry and Assam while performing in parallel film industries of other languages and states. The South, the Bhojpuri, Nepalese, you name it. However, he considered acting and making movies as the extension of his singing journey. He cited example of Kishore Kimar of Bollywood who sand and acted with equal zeal. he also picked his idol Kalaguru Bishnuparasad Rabha for example of multiple talent, who was a master of many crafts like singing, dancing, acting, painting and composing all with equal ease and of Sudhakontho Dr Bhupen Hazarika too.
There is a melancholic touch to his voice which made his songs a rage. The cult song Mayabini Ratir bukut, which he himself describes as abstract is a song that transcends the listeners to another world instantly. Similarly, the Ya Ali song presented the unmistakable plaintive embalmed in his voice to the world which immediately made him stand tall among the crowd. The Nightingale of India, Lata Mongeshkar has termed him unique. But back in Assam, he has composed and sang thousands of such songs which were equally powerful like Ya Ali. Hindi film industry has given him his due of course. And given the busy nature of Mumbai film industry where everybody needs to struggle to get noticed, to keep their feet placed in solid ground Zubeen has made the right choice. He is the quintessential King who has ruled the hearts of people for three decades who knew that people are looking forward to him, often for things/issues which was not actually meant for him. he rightfully said that a king is not a king without his kingdom.
In this article, I wish to write a next part/parts where I want to explore more about Zubeen the singer, composer, and lyricist, Zubeen the human and the humanitarian, the successful brand and the successful movie maker, his choices, the magnet he was in many other aspects. I want to give myself a new prospective of human nature through the anecdotes of the life of Zubeen Garg, as I learn and grow with him personally. It is not easy for me to compose this article as I had to stop in every word I write about Zubeen Garg.
"dhumuhar xote mur bohujugore nachon
Endharu xosa mur bohudinore apun
Nijanor gaan mur xekh hobo mathu tumar bukut"
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