Zubeen Garg, (born 18 November 1972 in Tura, Meghalaya) is an Indian multi-talented singer-composer-filmmaker who has worked in Assamese, Bengali, Hindi, and more than 40 languages. He is also called the “Bard of the Brahmaputra” and is the best-paid singer in Assam.
Childhood & Learning History
Having been born into a family of artists—mother Ily Borthakur, a classical singer, and father a lyricist—Zubeen started formal music lessons at the age of 5. By the time he was 10 years old, he was well-versed in playing the harmonium and tabla and had composed his first song, “Mou Priya,” at the age of 12. He studied at Jagannath Barooah College and other similar colleges in Assam before dedicating himself to music full-time.
Career in Cinema and Music
His first Assamese album, Anamika (1992), brought about a revolutionary folk-fusion style in Assamese music and was a box office hit with more than 100,000 units sold. Zubeen entered Bollywood in 2006 with “Ya Ali” in Gangster, for which he was nominated at the Filmfare.
He has written 30,000 to 38,000 songs in 40 languages in over 30 years, ranging from all genres such as folk, classical, sufi, pop, and rock, writing hundreds of songs a year.
He acted and directed Assamese films such as Tumi Mur Mathu Mur, Mon Jai, Mission China (2017), and Dr. Bezbarua 2 (2023), as an actor, writer, composer, and director, respectively.
Awards, Recognition & Impact Zubeen has received many awards, such as the Filmfare Award (East) for Bengali playback singing, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, several Assam State Film Awards, and the Assam Ratna. He was posthumously awarded the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Award in 2025 for his contribution to Assamese culture for a long period of time.
Personal Life and Philanthropic Work
They reside in Guwahati with their two married daughters, who are married to fashion designer Garima Saikia Garg. Zubeen practices philanthropy through his Kalaguru Artiste Foundation and charity events, donating to flood relief, youth empowerment, and cultural conservation.
Fortune & Earnings (2025)
As of mid-2025, public estimates put Zubeen Garg’s net worth at around USD 6–8 million, having earned from huge music recordings, concert performances, playback for local and Bollywood movies, film direction, and endorsements. In brief, Zubeen Garg is a critical cultural icon in Northeast India—and the world—possesses an unparalleled musical legacy, consistent body of work, and voice that continues to define Assamese identity in 2025.
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