Zubeen Garg: Assamese Music Legend Dies at 52 After Tragic Diving Accident in Singapore
Zubeen Garg, Assamese Music Legend, dies at 52 after a woeful Diving Accident in Singapore. India has lost one of its most iconic voices.
Zubeen Garg, the fabulous Assamese songster, musician, and actor, passed away at the age of 52 following a woeful scuba diving accident in Singapore on 19 September 2025.
The unforeseen loss of the protean pantomime has left Assam, and indeed much of India, in mourning. For millions, Zubeen wasn’t just a songster, but an artistic twinkle.
A Born Musician
Zubeen Garg, born Zubeen Borthakur in Tura, Meghalaya, on 18 November 1972, grew up in Jorhat, Assam. Music was in his blood.
His mama, Ily Borthakur, was a trained songster and cotillion, while his father, Mohini Borthakur, was both a justice and a reputed minstrel.
By the age of three, little Zubeen was formally learning classical melodies under his mama’s guidance.
Latterly, he trained for over a decade in tabla under Pandit Robin Banerjee and honed his chops in Assamese folk music with Guru Ramani Rai. That grounding would shape the magic voice the world later came to know.
Assamese Singer Zubeen Garg Dies at 52 in Scuba Accident#ZubeenGarg aka Luitkontho & Goldie, was at Singapore’s North East Festival when a scuba mishap turned fatal
Known for hits like Ya Ali, Mon Jaai &Dilruba, mastered 10+ instruments & genres
Om Shanti #ออมสุชาร์ #assam pic.twitter.com/coEBTnJucF
— Rapid Reveal (@rapid_reveal) September 19, 2025
From Assam to Bollywood
Though he first gained fame in Assam, Zubeen’s career stretched across India and beyond. He sang in further than 40 languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu.
His Bollywood advance arrived in 2006 with the hauntingly soulful “ Ya Ali ” from the film gangbanger.
The song propelled him into the public limelight, earning him awards and an addict following across the globe. But Zubeen was further than a playback songster.
He wrote lyrics, composed music, and indeed acted. His influence extended into Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi cinema, making him a true all-rounder in the trades.
A Voice for the People
Zubeen wasn’t just a musician; he was a humanitarian. He founded the Kalaguru Artiste Foundation, which channelled aid into charitable causes.
During Assam’s devastating floods, he donated time, effort, and resources. In the COVID-19 pandemic, he went further, offering his own home in Guwahati as a care centre.
He was open, too. During the Anti-CAA demurrers, Zubeen raised his voice forcefully, showing he stood with the people, not just on stage but in society.
Awards and Achievements
Zubeen’s career sparkled with accolades, reflecting both his versatility and longevity:
- Best Playback Singer (Male) – “Ya Ali” (Global Indian Film Awards, 2006)
- Best Music Director – Shudhu Tumi (BFJA Awards, 2005)
- Best Indian Pop Album – Chandni Raat (Screen Awards, 1996)
- National Film Award – Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction for Echoes of Silence (2009)
Zubeen Garg leaves behind further than songs. He leaves behind a spirit of liberality, artistic pride, and social activism. His music crossed borders, but his heart always remained confined in Assam.
The singer once said in an interview: “Music is my life, my identity, my way of giving back.”
Moment, Assam has lost a voice, India has lost an icon, and the world has lost an artistic ground. But his warbles will echo on. His heritage is secure.
