Papon bids adieu to his friend, and Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg

September 24, 2025

Mumbai: Renowned playback singer Papon, known for chartbusters like ‘Bulleya’, ‘Jiyein Kyun’ and ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’, has bid an emotional goodbye to fellow Assamese legend Zubeen Garg.

On Wednesday, Papon took to Instagram, sharing a picture of himself alongside the mortal remains of the late singer. In the caption, he wrote: “Goodbye friend…. Be happy wherever you are.”

Zubeen Garg: More Than Just a Singer

Zubeen Garg was not only a celebrated musician but also a cultural icon of Assam and India. Beginning his journey in mainstream music in 1990, he quickly became a household name in Assam before branching out into Hindi film music around the early 2000s.

His Bollywood debut came with ‘Jaane Kya Hoga Rama Re’ from ‘Kaante’, a film inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Reservoir Dogs’.

Rise to National Fame

Zubeen shot to nationwide fame with the song ‘Ya Ali’ from ‘Gangster’. The track went on to become a massive success and is still regarded as an anthem that defined an entire generation, even nearly two decades later.

While he continued producing independent Hindi music, he remained deeply connected to Assam, choosing to base his career and life in his homeland. Beyond music, Zubeen was also admired for his outspoken views on political and cultural matters, particularly his vocal opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

An Extraordinary Career and Legacy

In a career spanning over 30 years, Zubeen Garg recorded nearly 38,000 songs across multiple Indian languages — a feat that places him in a rare league. For perspective, Kishore Kumar, one of India’s most prolific legends, sang around 3,000 songs — just a fraction of Zubeen’s repertoire.

His passing drew an unprecedented outpouring of grief. More than one million people attended his funeral, marking it as the fourth-largest gathering in human history.

Untimely Demise

Zubeen Garg tragically passed away on September 19, 2025, in Singapore due to a swimming mishap. Authorities are treating the case as an accidental drowning. His death has left a void in Indian music that will be impossible to fill.