Zubeen Garg (; 18 November 1972 – 19 September 2025) was an Indian musician, composer, singer, songwriter who primarily worked and sang in the Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi-language films and music industries. He also sang in 40 other languages and dialects, including Bishnupriya Manipuri, Adi, Boro, Dimasa, English, Goalpariya, Gujarati, Kannada, Karbi, Malayalam, Marathi, Mising, Rabha, Garo, Nepali, Bhojpuri, Odia, Sadri, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Tiwa and Urdu.
Garg was a multi-instrumentalist and played many instruments including anandalahari, dhol, dotara, drums, guitar, harmonica, harmonium, mandolin, keyboard, tabla, and various percussion instruments. He was regarded as one of the most influential musicians in Assam, and was reportedly the highest-paid singer in Assam. Over a career spanning 33 years, he recorded over 40,000 songs.
Early life and family Zubeen was born on 18 November 1972, into an Assamese Brahmin family in Tura, Meghalaya, to Mohini Mohon Borthakur and Ily Borthakur. His first name was chosen in homage to Zubin Mehta. His given last name was initially "Borthakur" but later instead of continuing with it, he chose "Garg", the title of his Brahmin gotra.
Zubeen's father was a magistrate, and is also known as a lyricist and poet under the pen name Kapil Thakur. As a magistrate, his father was frequently transferred due to which Zubeen spent parts of his childhood moving with the family. His mother, Ily Borthakur, was a singer. His sister Jonkie Borthakur, a singer and actress, died in a car accident in February 2002 in Sonitpur district. She was travelling to perform a stage show along with her co-artists. Their last sibling duo album Sishu which was released on Oct 2002 is dedicated to her. His younger sister Palme Borthakur is an assistant professor of geography at the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya and Royal Global University.
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. 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.
Introduction to music Garg started to sing from the age of three. 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. Guru Ramani Rai introduced him to Assamese folk music. Garg had been composing songs since his school days.
Singing career 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. His first recorded songs were "Tumi Janu Pariba Hun" and "Tumi Junaki Hubakh" 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. Before he moved to Mumbai in 1995, he released his first Bihu album Ujan Piriti which was a commercial success.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
Garg got his biggest breakthrough in Bollywood from the movie Gangster where he sang the song "Ya Ali". The song won him the best playback singer Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA) in 2006.
In February 2007, he collaborated with Ustad Sultan Khan to sing "Jag Lal Lal Lal" for the movie Big Brother. His next Hindi album Zindagi was released on 29 August 2007.
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. 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. 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.
Acting career
Apart from singing, Garg also made his debut as an actor and director for the film Tumi Mor Matho Mor, which was released in early 2000 under NK Production. He acted some films like Prem Aru Prem (2002), Dinabandhu (2004), Mon Jaai (2008), Bhal Pabo Najanilu (2013), Gaane Ki Aane (2016), Mission China (2017), Priyaar Priyo (2017), The Underworld (2018), Kanchanjangha (2019), Rajneeti (2022), Dr. Bezbaruah 2 (2023), Sikaar (2024) and Roi Roi Binale (2025).
Artistry
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. 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. 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. Over the years, he has collaborated with nearly 250 tribal communities across Assam learning and preserving more than five thousand traditional folk songs. He has often described himself primarily as a folk singer.
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).
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."
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.
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. 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.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].
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. 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. 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.
Garg had mentioned Charlie Chaplin as one his favourite icons. He once had a tattoo of Chaplin with the phrase "I can fall but never fail"
Public image Garg was known for his bold and outspoken statements. His remarks on social, religious, and cultural issues drew both support and criticism, often making public remarks on politicians and ministers. On one occasion, he publicly made a humorous statement on chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had been photographed leaping on stage like him, questioning why Sarma was "imitating" him and said "that's my style, and you can't copy my style" He also spoke openly about alcohol use, once saying that some of his songs were made while he was drunk. Despite advice from well-wishers to avoid making controversial statements, Garg said he could not restrain his opinions. He is known for the phrase "Moi ghenta kaku khatir nokoru, you can't dictate me" (translated as: "I don't give a damn to anyone, you can't dictate me").
Garg was one of the non-political figures in the Anti-CAA protests in Assam. His song "Politics Nokoriba Bandhu" (translated as "Don't do politics, my friend") was released as an expression of his disillusionment with the state's corrupt politics. The song was widely adopted as an anthem of dissent during various protests against political corruption.
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.