Zubeen Garg – Full Biography



Early Life & Family

  • Birth: Zubeen was born Zubeen Borthakur on 18 November 1972 in Tura, Meghalaya, India. (The Economic Times)

  • Parents:

    • Father: Mohini Mohon Borthakur (aka “Kapil Thakur”), a magistrate, lyricist, and poet. (The Economic Times)

    • Mother: Ily Borthakur, a singer. (Wikipedia)

  • Siblings:

    • One sister was Jonkie (also “Jongki”) Borthakur, a singer and actress. She died in a car accident in February 2002 in Sonitpur district. (Wikipedia)

    • Another sister is Dr. Palme Borthakur. (Wikipedia)

  • His last name “Garg” comes from his gotra (a Brahmin lineage marker). He adopted “Garg” instead of continuing with “Borthakur.” (Wikipedia)

Education & Early Years

  • Primary Education: Carmel School, Jorhat. (Wikipedia)

  • Then attended Karimganj High School and Bijoni Bandhov School. (Wikipedia)

  • Matriculation (10th grade): Tamulpur Higher Secondary School, Nalbari (1989). (Wikipedia)

  • Higher Secondary: Studied Science stream at J.B. College, Jorhat. (Wikipedia)

  • Bachelor of Science: Enrolled at B. Borooah College in 1991, but dropped out to pursue music. (Wikipedia)

  • From childhood, he had musical training:

    • Learned singing early, from his mother. (Wikipedia)

    • Trained in tabla under Pandit Robin Banerjee (approx. 11 years). (Wikipedia)

    • Also learned Assamese folk music; had composing experience from school days. (Wikipedia)

Personal Life

  • Marriage: Married Garima Saikia in 2002. She is from Golaghat, Assam. (The Economic Times)

  • Children: The couple had two daughters: Sagarika and Srishti. (The Economic Times)

  • Lifestyle and Influences:

    • Known to sing in many languages and to experiment with musical genres. (Wikipedia)

    • His early name “Zubeen” was chosen in homage to classical/conducting legend Zubin Mehta. (Wikipedia)

Musical & Film Career

  • Debut & Rise:

    • He started performing in Assam regionally and in Assamese music. His first big break came with the album Anamika in 1992. (The Economic Times)

    • Over time, he built reputation in Assamese music, then in Bollywood and other regional film industries. (Wikipedia)

  • Languages & Instruments:

    • He sang in 40+ languages and dialects, including Assamese, Hindi, Bengali, Nepali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, etc. (Wikipedia)

    • Multi-instrumentalist: played about 12 instruments (tabla, guitar, harmonium, keyboard, etc.) (Wikipedia)

  • Bollywood / Notable Songs:

    • The song “Ya Ali” from the film Gangster was a major national breakthrough. (The Economic Times)

    • Other Hindi and regional hits also contributed to his fame. (The Economic Times)

  • Awards & Honors:

    • He received several awards in Assam, regional film awards, and recognition for playback singing. (Wikipedia)

    • In 2009, he got the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for Non-feature film Echoes of Silence. (Wikipedia)

    • In May 2024, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) by the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya. (Wikipedia)

Struggles, Controversies & Challenges

  • Strikes, Cultural Resistance:

    • Being from Assam, Zubeen often spoke up against social issues like corruption, religious or caste-based discrimination. He had a reputation for being outspoken. (The Economic Times)

  • Specific Controversies:

    • In April 2024, at a Bihu concert, he reportedly said that Lord Krishna was “never a God but only a man.” This sparked protests and bans in some regions. (The Economic Times)

    • He was criticized for remarks about the Bharat Ratna award when an audio clip surfaced. (The Economic Times)

    • An FIR was filed in 2015 alleging disrespect to the Indian national flag due to his conduct during Independence Day celebrations (wearing half-pants, singing a different song). (The Economic Times)

    • A case of slapping a minor (or related incidents) has also been mentioned in media. (The Economic Times)

  • Death & Aftermath:

    • Date of Death: 19 September 2025. He died in Singapore. (The Economic Times)

    • Cause: Scuba diving / swimming / an outing activity – he reportedly experienced breathing difficulty in water and drowned. (The Times of India)

    • Following his death, there has been widespread public grief across Assam. The state declared 3 days of mourning. (India Today)

    • A large number of FIRs have been filed (55 FIRs) across Assam and probes by SIT, Assam CID, etc., with some persons arrested (e.g. organizer, his manager, bandmate). (The Times of India)

    • A second autopsy was ordered in Assam. (The Indian Express)

Death & Speculations

  • Where & When: He was attending the North East Festival in Singapore. On 19 September 2025, during a scuba diving / swimming activity, he reportedly had breathing difficulties. He was rescued, taken to Singapore General Hospital but did not survive. (The Times of India)

  • Investigations:

    • Due to public concern, Assam government ordered second autopsy. (The Indian Express)

    • Many FIRs lodged, special investigation team formed. (The Times of India)

    • Some suspects include his manager (Siddharth Sharma), event organizer, and others present during the yacht / sea outing. (The Times of India)

Legacy & Cultural Impact

  • Zubeen was more than just a singer — a symbol of Assamese identity, culture, and pride. (The Economic Times)

  • His songs in Assamese and other regional languages brought people together, especially in Assam. (Wikipedia)

  • He was known to push boundaries, speak his mind, involve himself in social causes. (The Economic Times)

What Is Less Clear / Unconfirmed

  • Exact details about his income sources: while it is known he earned from music, films, performances, albums etc., detailed numbers are not publicly verified in reliable sources.

  • Some reports around controversy or allegations (for example about negligence, or poisoning) are still under investigation.

  • Some anecdotes about personal lifestyle (party habits, etc.) appear in media or social media discussions, but lack strong verified documentation.