Garg and glory as News18 tunes into a tribute for Zubeen’s legacy

MUMBAI: Some voices don’t just fill the air, they fill an entire people. And when Assam remembers Zubeen Garg, it doesn’t hum along, it breathes in rhythm. News18 Assam Northeast is set to celebrate the birth anniversary of one of the region’s most treasured artistes with a special tribute telecast on 18 and 19 November, airing exclusively from 7:50 pm onwards. The two-day programme promises to immerse viewers in the life, music, and unmatched cultural impact of a man whose songs continue to echo across generations.

Zubeen Garg wasn’t merely a chart-topping singer; he was a creative force who shaped the sonic and emotional landscape of Assam for more than three decades. Composer, performer, actor, activist his influence spilled far beyond the stage, evolving into a social conscience that spoke for the Assamese spirit.

To honour his legacy, News18 Assam Northeast hosted a celebratory evening on 14 November in Guwahati, gathering musicians, admirers, and cultural stalwarts. What unfolded was less an event and more a collective exhale, a community remembering the man whose melodies stitched together their festivals, heartbreaks, rebellions, and quiet nights.

The evening saw soul-stirring performances from some of the industry’s most respected voices. Mahalakshmi Iyer and Joi Barua revisited Zubeen Garg’s most beloved tracks with emotional depth, while an ensemble of Assam’s leading artistes including Diganta Bharati, Pranamika Goswami, Bhaswatii Bharati, Rupam Bhuyan, Barnali Kalita, Sajan Nayak, Mousam Gogoi, Arundhati Bhanupriya, Papori Gogoi, Prashanta Rajkhowa, Janam Kashyap, Alangkrita–Rupangkrita, Surekha Chetri, Minakshi Kalita, Nahid Afrin, and Panchuna Rabha delivered heartfelt renditions that celebrated his legacy across genres and generations.

Every performance became a reminder of why Zubeen Garg is not only adored but deeply woven into Assam’s cultural fabric. His songs from anthems that electrified Bihu grounds to ballads that travelled quietly through bedroom radios form a soundtrack that is both personal and collective.

With this special telecast, News18 Assam Northeast pays homage to an artist who transcended celebrity. Zubeen Garg didn’t simply make music; he made meaning. He became an era, an emotion, and a binding force for Assam, one that continues to resonate in every corner of the state.

As viewers tune in to this tribute, they won’t just be watching a programme. They’ll be stepping into a memory, a feeling, a song, one that still belongs to everyone who ever called Zubeen theirs.