HEre is an article on Zubeen published in the Assam Tribune
A voice like Zubeen Garg's The writer in conversation with Zubeen Garg.can be nurtured and guided to maturity, but its source belongs to nature. "I am like a musical prostitute", says Zubeen who enjoys recording at night and relaxing by day. On asking him the prime reason for the same, this is what the sensational artiste had to say, "The environment during the night seems to be more peaceful and I have always been enlightened by the serenity of the night, not to forget the ambience." He added, "The night seems just right – although the darkness of the day (thanks to all the conflicts) seems disturbing. Another sigh of relief is that few people call up at night, giving my mobile phone some respite."
Born into a creative family of the Barthakurs of Janji in Sivasagar, Zubeen's perfect pitch was first noticed by his mother Late Ily Borthakur and then his schoolteacher in Karimganj when, at the age of six, he performed Engelbert Humperdinck's Killing Me Softly in a school function.
Later, the teacher in Robin Banerjee met up with Zubeen and suggested that he take up a musical instrument to encourage his talents. So Zubeen began tabla lessons. It was the beginning of a relationship with music that's been the driving force in his life ever since.
His mother was a good dancer, an actor and singer, although she never turned these talents into a professional career. Instead, she decided to teach little Zubeen all her skills, right at home. In his formative years as a musician, he continued learning Assamese folk music from Guru Romoni Rai and later joined the J.B. College in Jorhat. He moved on to B. Barooah College in Guwahati and took up Bachelor of Science after his family moved permanently to Guwahati. That he did not complete his B.Sc is a different story altogether, which is so very obvious – the busy music scene took over!!!. But the superstar considers his mother to be his first mentor and Muse.
Zubeen and I met up in Digi Studio in Guwahati where, for old time's sake, we sat down to recall old moments and the good times that we all shared. The best part was that our mobile phones were switched off and the conversation went on for quite some time. Commenting on the use of mobile phones, Zubeen said: "It's more of a technical nuisance which we just can't avoid these days." I for one would fully agree with Zubeen.
To carry on further , it may be mentioned here that the turning point in Zubeen's career was when he received the gold medal for his Western solo performance in a youth festival held in 1992. "That was the time I got the first taste of success and confidence as a vocalist," said Zubeen with a gleam in his eyes.
Apart from playing the dhol, dotara, mandolin, percussion, the multi faceted artiste is also an accomplished keys man. He arrived in the professional music scene in the year 1992, when his album Anamika saw the light of day. This unusual album became an instant hit in the entire North East and went on to redefine the Asomiya musical landscape for the coming 21st century. Critics from around the region celebrated Zubeen's music as fans of all ages agreed that an unstoppable new talent had arrived. After that, there was no looking back for Zubeen.
With over 500 albums to his credit and more than 8,000 songs, Zubeen still is sailing with his masts held high. He has already had a lifetime's worth of career highlights, including performances on national television, appearances in films, and sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in the music world in the region and outside. But all of this popular attention has only been a precursor for what is to come.
Presently based in Mumbai, it goes without saying that Zubeen shares a superstar image with the stalwarts of the country in this line of work and has made his presence felt in the national circuit with his latest offering, Ya Ali. But then why forget that he is not a new entrant in Bollywood. What about hits like Jaane Kya Hoga Rama Re from the film Kaante. And now he is shining as the music director in Sanjay Jha's offbeat film Strings. This is what Zubeen had to share about his music used in Strings, "It has a folk based music with modern implementation and westernised orchestration. The songs are from the North East. It's a known fact that, till date, the North East has been a virgin land and nobody knows about it in toto. This is the first time I am using it. The tracks have been released in Asom and Bengal and I am getting good feedback from them." Like they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
With so much happening so quickly, you would expect a precocious young man – the result of eight years of struggle in the national circuit. However, Zubeen is neither arrogant nor falsely demure when he is performing, just a young man with the regular passions of someone his age and an irregular ability to express himself beyond his years.
With volcanic delivery and straight-from-the-gut realism, Zubeen has been singing in all the NE languages, except Mizo and Khasi, and a host of other Indian languages.
"It's important for a vocalist to be able to sing in any language", he says with gusto. "To portray the emotions in a song, you need to have an understanding of what the song is all about", Zubeen adds. "And if the song is in another language, then I try to find a translation for a better feel, if nothing else." He has already released songs in Telegu, Gujarati, Nepali, Punjabi and others. He is also working on a couple of English tracks, especially for the colourful and vibrant Northeastern audience.
Married to Garima, the artiste is presently settled in his Andheri East, Mumbai flat, which incidentally is also a part of his music studio called Sound and Silence.
We went on further to discuss about the present musical taste of the Indian audience, to which he reacted: "In the North East people still have good taste in music but it also calls for attention." He added, "But when it comes to sustaining – that's when the problem crops up – that's what I believe." Zubeen went on to justify the point by saying, "I guess it's the lack of experience and knowledge and if one needs to survive for long in today's competitive field, one needs to utilize one's experience with a clear, focused mindset. I have also observed over the years that if the basic knowledge is missing, the artiste cannot seek variation and I must confess my journey has not been a cakewalk – I have undergone almost eight years of struggle to reach where I am presently in the national circuit." He further added, "I've always been very restless and thirsty when it comes to creation, whatever form it may be, and I believe in no specific religion or superstition. I believe work is God and Nature is the strongest force binding us together." Zubeen loves Nature and that has been one of the strongest reasons for him to come back to the North East every now and then for various experimentations." He opines that North East India is the field for experimentation and yet he wonders why there is the gap when it comes to prominent Gen-Next singers from Asom and the region, for that matter. We discussed at length about the New Generation think tanks and where the roads to creativity were leading. "I want our new generation to stick to their roots and adopt good things from other cultures which makes the global fusion a gift to reconcile with," says Zubeen. He added, "Life in Mumbai is very mechanical and I am there only for work – there no one has time for anyone and it's a to each his own kind of setup."
Our discussions took a spiritual turn where the artiste spoke on his feelings towards Buddhism. "I regard Lord Buddha as the greatest human being on earth and he is my spiritual strength. I love Buddhism because it believes in self creation and work. I keep my mind at work even when I am asleep."
His father MM Borthakur writes poems and stories under the pseudonym of Kapil Thakur and Zubeen did shape up a couple of his songs. Today, when it comes to songwriting, this is what Zubeen had to say, "I'd like to write my own songs in the future, but, for now, I'm looking forward to performing around the world and experiencing singing in front of different audiences. That will be a divine experience, I am sure you will agree, D'com." His favourite album still is Hkhobdo (Sound), which he had released in 1997, since he believes that it has a lot of positive vibrations attached to it. "I feel sound everywhere, even in silence, but, I would be the happiest person on planet Earth the day I find or come in contact with silence in sound and I am still waiting."
His love for films and the craft of direction saw the release of Tumi Mur Mathu Mur and the singer is working on his forthcoming project Chackra. This film would revolve around a full grown man with a child's brain and mindset. The central character witnesses a political murder and ……….and for the moment let's all be patient and wait till the film gets released.
On being asked about his intimate relation with the Production house of NK, this is what the master performer had to say, "I first met Debo Borkakoty in the year 1992 in Bhupen da's (read Bhupen Uzir) studio Auditek. After hearing my album Anamika, he came forward to market the same. Well, that was the beginning and the journey is still on today and I am sure it will go on till the end of time. In a nutshell that's the N.K. Production story and I owe it all to Debo."
"If I could be anyone in the world, I'd actually choose to be me, where I am right now, because I'm so excited about what I'm doing and I love it totally," informs Zubeen. "Well, when you come to think of it, it's incredible; the opportunities I've been blessed with. I really didn't expect all this to happen", Zubeen quips with wide-eyed wonder. "It is amazing how one thing leads to another."
Zubeen agrees that life is fragile --happiness and sorrow are the two sides of the same coin but dreams are unlimited.......... So chase it Brother, till the end of time!!!
n Sattyakee D'Com Bhuyan
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
CID
