Bhupen Hazarika, Singer, Composer
Singer, Composer

Bhupen Hazarika

Born 8 September 1926 · Assam — Died 5 November 2011

Composed and popularized Assamese songs emphasizing humanity and universal brotherhood.

Bhupen Hazarika BR, widely known as Sudha Kantha, was an Indian singer, songwriter, writer, filmmaker and politician from Assam. He wrote songs mainly in the Assamese language, which are marked by humanity and universal brotherhood. His songs have been translated into many languages, most notably in Bengali and Hindi.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

At age 14, Bhupen Hazarika wrote the song "Agnijugar firingathi mai" expressing revolutionary zeal, showcasing his early engagement with social themes in 1940 Assam.

The Story

1
🎤 At age 10 in 1936, Bhupen Hazarika recorded his first song in Kolkata's Aurora Studio, guided by Assamese cultural icons Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha, marking an early start in a career spanning nearly 75 years.
2
In 1939, at just 12, he sang two songs for the Assamese film Indramalati, becoming one of the youngest voices in early Assamese cinema, a rare feat in that era.
3📚 By early 1950s, Hazarika earned a Ph.D. from Columbia University studying cultural tools to spread education, a scholarly achievement that influenced his later artistic and social work.
4🎬 In 1956, he directed Era Bator Sur, an Assamese film focused on preserving the state's musical heritage, a pioneering effort to document regional culture on screen.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1977
Padma Shri
2001
Padma Bhushan
2012
Padma Vibhushan
2019
Bharat Ratna

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1936, at just 10 years old, Hazarika recorded his first song in Kolkata, a rare early recording for a child artist from Assam at that time.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Sadiya, Assam
Bhupen Hazarika was born to Nilakanta and Shantipriya Hazarika in the remote town of Sadiya on the Brahmaputra riverbank.
1926
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Career
First song recording in Kolkata
At age 10, recorded his first song at Aurora Studio after being discovered by Assamese cultural icons.
1936
⚡
Career
Sang in Assamese film Indramalati
At age 12, contributed two songs to one of the earliest Assamese films directed by Jyotiprasad Agarwala.
1939
📚
Education
Ph.D. from Columbia University
Completed doctorate on cultural tools for education, linking academic research with cultural expression.
c.1950
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Career
Directed Era Bator Sur
Made his film directorial debut with a movie capturing Assamese musical heritage.
1956
🏅
Award
National Film Award for Music Direction
Won for integrating Assamese folk music into mainstream Indian cinema.
1975
🏅
Award
Received Dada Saheb Phalke Award
Awarded India's highest cinema honor, recognizing lifetime contribution to film and music.
1992
⚡
Career
Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi
Led India's premier performing arts institution until 2003.
1998
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Death
Passed away at age 85
Died due to multi-organ failure, leaving behind a vast artistic legacy.
2011
🏅
Award
Posthumous Bharat Ratna awarded
Received India's highest civilian award, solidifying his cultural stature.
2019
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He completed a Ph.D. from Columbia University in the early 1950s focusing on how cultural tools spread education, linking academia with his artistic career.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Hazarika was discovered by Assamese cultural icons Jyotiprasad Agarwala and Bishnu Prasad Rabha when he sang a Borgeet at age 10 in Tezpur, a unique blend of classical devotional music and folk culture.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

He received the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1992, becoming one of few from Northeast India to win India's highest cinema honor.

No quote recorded for Bhupen Hazarika yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika sings about the Ganga: Ganga Behti Ho Kyun, Dola re dola from Devdas
More from this archive
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika sings about the Ganga: Ganga Behti Ho Kyun, Dola re dola from Devdas
01
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika sings about the Ganga: Ganga Behti Ho Kyun, Dola re dola from Devdas
In Conversation with Bhupen Hazarika | King of North-East Music
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In Conversation with Bhupen Hazarika | King of North-East Music
গীতেৰে কথাৰে | ডঃ ভূপেন হাজৰিকা | GEETERE KOTHARE | AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. BHUPEN HAZARIKA
03
গীতেৰে কথাৰে | ডঃ ভূপেন হাজৰিকা | GEETERE KOTHARE | AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. BHUPEN HAZARIKA
ভূপেন হাজারিকা: মানুষের জন্য গান গাওয়া এই শিল্পীর যত কথা
04
ভূপেন হাজারিকা: মানুষের জন্য গান গাওয়া এই শিল্পীর যত কথা
Bharat Ratna Dr.Bhupen Hazarika
05
Bharat Ratna Dr.Bhupen Hazarika
Bhupen Hazarika Explains His Legendary Songs | Rare 75th Birthday Event, Sibsagar
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Bhupen Hazarika Explains His Legendary Songs | Rare 75th Birthday Event, Sibsagar
Celebrating 100 Years of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika | The Bard of the Brahmaputra | Full - Documentary
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Celebrating 100 Years of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika | The Bard of the Brahmaputra | Full - Documentary
A mesmerising tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his 100th birth anniversary
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A mesmerising tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on his 100th birth anniversary
Bhupen Hazarika's life on celluloid
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Bhupen Hazarika's life on celluloid
Dr Bhupen Hazarika: I remember the All India Radio chowkidar stopping me, asking where I came from!
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Dr Bhupen Hazarika: I remember the All India Radio chowkidar stopping me, asking where I came from!

🌱 What changed because of them

Bhupen Hazarika introduced Assamese and Northeast Indian folk music to Hindi cinema, influencing national cultural narratives and expanding recognition of regional art forms. His leadership at the Sangeet Natak Akademi helped institutionalize performing arts preservation in India. The posthumous Bharat Ratna award in 2019 cemented his role in shaping India's musical and social fabric.

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