Zubeen Garg


Zubeen Garg is an Indian playback singer, music director, composer, lyricist, music producer, film director, film producer, and actor. His contributions are mostly attributed in Assamese, Bengali and Bollywood films and music. Besides, his songs in Assamese, Garg has sung many songs in other languages and dialects, including Bishnupriya Manipuri, Bodo, English, Goalparia, Hindi, Kannada, Karbi, Khasi, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Sanskrit, Telugu, Tiwa. He is also an instrumentalist and plays dhol, drums, guitar, harmonium, mandolin, keyboard and various percussion instruments.

Personal life

Garg was born in Tura, Meghalaya to Mohini Borthakur and Ily Borthakur. He was named after the music composer Zubin Mehta. His father Mohini Borthakur is a lyricist and poet under the name Kapil Thakur. Garg pursued a degree in Bachelor of Science but dropped out to concentrate in his singing career.
Garg's younger sister Jonki Borthakur was an actress and singer who died in a car accident in February 2002 in Sonitpur district while they were going to perform stage show along with her co-artists.
Garg married Garima Saikia, a fashion designer from Golaghat, India on 4 February 2002.

Career

Garg entered into the professional music when his debut album Anamika was released in 1992. He later released albums including Maya, Asha and Pakhi. In the late 1990s Garg moved to Mumbai to work in the Bollywood music industry where he recorded few Hindi albums and films songs like Chandni Raat, Yuhi Kabhi, Fiza and Kaante. In 2003 he sung Aane wala pal from the movie Plan, Swapne saare and khwabon ki from the movie Mudda-The Issue, Mango 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.
In 2004 he debuted in Bengali music industry where he sung two songs in the movie Mon. In the same year he sung three songs in the movie Shudhu Tumi and also was the music director in the film.
In 2005 he sung O bondhure and Lagena Bhalo in the film Premi.In 2008 he got a big break in the movies Mon Mane Na, Love story,Chirodini Tumi je Amar and Golmaal.His 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 became very popular.
He got the biggest break in Bollywood in the film Gangster.The song Ya Ali of Gangster movie was one of the most popular hits of 2006. The song brought him the best playback singer Global Indian Film Awards in 2006. His next Hindi album Zindagi was released in 2007 which was highly appreciated. His discography songs in various Indian languages. In October 2019, he released a new Hindi song Ranjhana with Angel Rai and Sami Khan.

Social work

Garg runs a charity which donates money for various causes. He urged people to donate clothes, medicines and contributions when devastating floods hit Assam. He took on the issue over corruption in APSC recruitment in his movie Kanchanjangha.
He is a football fan and has played matches to collect funds for flood affected people.
Garg was the main non-political figure of the Anti-CAA protest in Assam.

As an actor

Garg also has acted in few Assamese films. He played the lead role in Mon Jai, which won the best Assamese Film in the 56th National Film Awards.
YearFilmLanguageRole
2019KanchanjanghaAssameseAnirban
2018The UnderworldAssameseDon
2017Priyar PriyoAssamesePriyobrot Kakoti and Bishnujyoti Bezbaruah
2017 Tumi AhinaneAssameseSpecial appearance
2017Mission ChinaAssamese/BengaliColonel Goswami
2016Xat Nomboror XondhanotAssameseSpecial appearance
2016Gaane Ki AaneAssameseNilabh Jonak Baruah
2015AhetukAssameseSpecial appearance in the song "Ahetuk"
2014Rodor SithiAssameseBaba
2014Suma PorokhoteAssameseSpecial appearance in the song "Suma Porokhote"
2012 Bhal Pabo NajaniluAssameseSpecial appearance
2012Ekhon Nedekha Nodir XhipareAssamese/HindiSpecial appearance
2011RaamdhenuAssameseSpecial appearance in the song "Tupi"
2008Mon JaiAssameseManab
2007Big BrotherHindiSpecial appearance in the song "Jag Lal Lal"
2006Strings - Bound by FaithHindiSpecial appearance in the song "Mantra "
2006GangsterHindiSpecial appearance in the song "Ya Ali"
2004DinabandhooAssameseBipul
2002Prem Aru PremAssameseSpecial appearance in the song "Sokuwe Sokuwe"
2000Tumi Mur Matho MurAssameseHrishi

As a music director

YearMovieLanguage
2019KanchanjanghaAssamese
2019RatnakarAssamese
2018The UnderworldAssamese
2017Priyar PriyoAssamese
2017Mission ChinaAssamese
2017Gangs Of North EastHindi/Khasi
2016Dil Toh Deewana HaiHindi
2016Gaane Ki AaneAssamese
2014Rodor SithiAssamese
2012Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare/As The River FlowsAssamese/Hindi
2010Mon NiyeBengali
2010Kache Acho TumiBengali
2008Mon JaiAssamese
2006Strings- Bound By FaithHindi
2006Aami AsomiyaAssamese
2006AdhinayakAssamese
2004Shudhu TumiBengali
2004DinabandhooAssamese
2004RongAssamese
2004BarudAssamese
2004MayaAssamese
2003Juman-SumanAssamese
2003BidhataAssamese
2003Priya MilonAssamese
2003AgnishakshiAssamese
2002Prem Aru PremAssamese
2002Jibon Nodir Duti ParAssamese
2002KanyadaanAssamese
2001NayakAssamese
2001DaagAssamese
2000Tumi Mur Matho MurAssamese
2000Hiya Diya NiyaAssamese

Discography

Selected filmography

Musician/LyricistMovie/Album
Pritam1) Dum Maaro Dum - 2011 2) Pyaar Ke Side Effects - 2007 3) Raqeeb - 2007 4) Naqaab - 2007 5) Gangster - 2006 6) Agnipankh - 2004 7) Mudda - The Issue - 2003
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy1) London Dreams - 2009 2) Jhoom Barabar Jhoom - 2007
Anand Raj Anand1) Dil Toh Deewana Hai - 2016 2) Nehlle Pe Dehlla - 2007
3) Plan - 2003 4) - 2003 5) Kaante - 2002
Anu Malik1) Mission Istaanbul - 2008 2) Hastey Hastey - 2008 3) Zindaggi Rocks - 2007 4) Garv - 2004 5) - 2004 6) Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost - 2003
Sameer1) Krrish 3 - 2013 2) Mission Istaanbul - 2008 3) Hastey Hastey - 2008 4) Naqaab - 2007 5) Apne - 2007 6) Raqeeb - 2007 7) Good Boy, Bad Boy - 2007 8) Life Mein Kabhie Kabhiee - 2007 9) Nehlle Pe Dehlla - 2007 10) Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost - 2003
Vishal-Shekhar1) I See You - 2006
Himesh Reshammiya1) OMG - Oh My God! - 2012 2) Good Boy, Bad Boy - 2007 3) Namastey London - 2007
Jeet
Gannguli		1) Raaz 3D - 2012 2) Chirodini Tumi Je Amar 2 - 2014 3) Rangbaaz - 2013 4) Paglu 2 - 2012 5) Jaaneman - 2012 6) 100% Love - 2012 7) Paglu - 2011 8) Mon Je Kore Uru Uru - 2011 9) Paran Jai Jaliya Re - 2008 10) Prem Aamar - 2009 11) Krodh - 2009 12) Keno Kichhu Kotha Bolo Na - 2009 13) Dujone - 2009 14) Bolo Na Tumi Aamar - 2009 15) Mon Mane Na - 2008 16) Chirodini Tumi Je Amar - 2008 17) Premi - 2005
Sajid-Wajid1) Hello - 2008
Salim-Sulaiman1) Aashayein - 2010 2) Bombay to Bangkok - 2007
Rajesh Roshan1) Krrish 3 - 2013
A.R. Rahman1) Micromax Unite Cricket Anthem - 2015 2) A.R. Rahman - Signature Collection Its Rocking Dard E Disco - 2012 2) Latto - 2013 3) Hangover - 2010

Awards and honours

Zubeen Garg has received the following recognitions for his successful work in the industry.
YearAwardMovie/SongCategoryResult
200552nd National Film AwardsDinobandhu Best Supporting ActorNominated
2005BFJA Awards Sudhu tumi Best Music Director
2006Global Indian Film AwardsYa Ali

Best Playback Singer - Male
2007Stardust AwardsYa Ali

New Musical Sensation – Male
2007Filmfare AwardsYa Ali

Best Playback Singer - Male
2007IIFA AwardsYa Ali

Best Playback Singer - Male
200955th National Film AwardsEchoes of SilenceNational Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction
201056th National Film AwardsMon Jaai Best ActorNominated
2012Prag Cine AwardsRang Diya MoromBest Playback Singer - MaleNominated
2013Prag Cine AwardsMe and My SisterBest Playback Singer - MaleNominated
2014Prag Cine AwardsShinyorBest Playback Singer - MaleNominated
2015Prag Cine AwardsAhetukBest Playback Singer - Male
2015Prag Cine AwardsRodor SithiBest Music DirectionNominated
2017Prag Cine AwardsGane Ki AaneBest Music DirectionNominated
2017Prag Cine AwardsJanu JanuBest Playback Singer - MaleNominated
2018Prag Cine AwardsMission ChinaBest Actor
2018Prag Cine AwardsMission ChinaBest Film
2018Prag Cine AwardsMission ChinaBest Playback Singer Nominated
2018Prag Cine AwardsPriyaar Priyo Best ActorNominated