Bhupen Hazarika Biography 
Bhupen Hazarika was a versatile singer, musician and film maker from Assam. He was a popular poet also. He is known for creating tunes of folk music and Indian traditional. He has received Dada Phalke Award in the year 1992 for his contributions to Indian cinema. He was also awarded Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award, in 2012 posthumously. He was one of the most versatile singer/composer of Indian Music Industry. He has also received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987), Padmashri (1997) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2008), the highest award of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He was the Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi from December 1998 to December 2003.
Hazarika was born on 8 September 1926 to Nilakanta and Shantipriya Hazarika in Sadiya of Assam. He was the eldest of ten children. He was influenced by his mother, who exposed him to lullabies and traditional Music of Assam. He was only 10 years when his talent in singing was noted by Jyotiprasad Agarwala, the noted Assamese lyricist and Bishnu Prasad Rabha, revolutionary poet, when he sang a song taught by his mother in a public function. In 1936, Bhupen Hazarika accompanied them to Kolkata where he recorded his first song at the Aurora Studio for the Selona Company. He wrote his first song, Agnijugor Firingoti Moi at the age of 13 and later is history!
His popular Assameese songs include - Bistirno Parore, Manuhe Manuhor Babey, Snehe Aamar Xoto Shrabonor, Moi Eti Jajabor, Bimurto Mur Nixati Jen, Bimurto Mur Nixati Jen, Gupute Gupute Kimaan Khelim and Ganga Mor Maa. His association with Hindi movies began during 1970’s when he met Kalpana Lajmi. Together they made the movie, Ek pal in the year 1986. Among all the movies they worked together, Rudali (1993) with Dimple Kapadia and Raj Babbar in leading roles comes first. Its music was given by Hazarika and rendered his magical voice for the most popular song, Dil hoom hoom kare.
Bhupen has been a MLA during 1967-72 in the Assam Legislative Assembly from Nauboicha Constituency. He was an independent candidate in the elections. He died of multi-organ failure on 5 November 2011 at the age of 85.
Published: N/A
Updated: September 08, 2013
