Guwahati: Google honoured Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, a renowned Assamese playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, and director, with a commemorative “Doodle” in honour of his 96th birthday on Thursday.
He has been known to fans as Xudha Kontho and has appeared in hundreds of movies over the course of a six-decade career. Hazarika, who died in 2011, also held the position of MLA in the Assam assembly from 1967 to 1972.
The iconic singer is shown playing the harmonium in the occasion-specific Google Doodle. It was created by Mumbai-based guest artist Rutuja Mali.
Hazarika, who was born on September 8, 1926, in Assam’s Sadiya, grew up in a setting full of songs and legends about life by the Brahmaputra River. he recorded his first song when he was just ten years old.
He came to the United States and spent five years in New York before earning his doctorate (PhD) in mass communication from Columbia University in 1952. He had previously earned his intermediate in arts in 1942 and his MA from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1946.
He began singing at the All India Radio in Guwahati after finishing his education. While there, he also used to transcribe Bengali songs into Hindi and perform them.
He produced many tunes with his knack of telling stories through songs in his final years. The majority of his songs will tell tales of joy and sorrow, of togetherness and bravery, of love and loneliness, as well as of struggle and tenacity.
Hazarika won the hearts of many with his performances in blockbuster movies like “Rudali,” “Mil Gayi Manzil Mujhe,” “Saj,” “Darmiyan,” “Gajgamini,” “Daman,” and “Kyun.”
The undisputed legend has received numerous honours over his illustrious career, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his extraordinary contributions to music and culture.
In 2019, he was also given the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India, posthumously.