Legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika, who had been in a Mumbai hospital ICU for the past four months, succumbed to multiple organ failure on Saturday afternoon. He was 85.
Legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika, who had been in a Mumbai hospital ICU for the past four months, succumbed to multiple organ failure on Saturday afternoon. He was 85. The maestro’s passing away has cast a pall of gloom in the world of music, and left millions of his fans in shock.
Hazarika, who had been on the ventilator for four months, and been in and out of hospital, passed away at 4.37 pm at Kokilaben Hospital. His long time companion, filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi, his nephews, and some well wishers from his home state of Assam were at his side when he died.
Most photographs show him wearing the traditional Nepali cap. But Hazarika was equally at ease donning other hats as balladeer, singer, composer, lyricist, filmmaker, politician and interlocutor.
It will be recalled how DNA had reported on Lata Mangeshkar’s calling up a semi-conscious Hazarika on July 31st. “This is a big blow. We were expecting his speedy recovery and eagerly waiting to have him back among us,” she said today. Mangeshkar had sung for Hazarika in the films Rudaali and Ek Pal. Known for his unique style of blending Assamese folk melody into his tunes, he managed to touch the listener’s heart so much that they were willing to take that leap of imagination and appreciate a song which evoked the flora and fauna of Assam even if the visuals were of Rajasthan, as was the case in Rudaali.
In fact, Hazarika produced, directed, composed and sang for Assamese films like Era Batar Sur (1956), Shakuntala (1960), Pratidhwani (1964) and Lotighoti (1967). “His music will remain in the hearts and minds of people,” said music director, Shantanu Moitra, who composed a music video, ‘Our Northeast, Our Star’, featuring the legend.
Singer Devki Pandit, who has sung for him in Saaz said he she was anguished at his passing away. She remembers her first uncertain meeting with him. “I had heard of him and had listened to his recordings but he hadn’t heard my singing and asked me to sing a few lines. I sang a ghazal and he then began teaching me the song by singing it himself,” she remembers.
“Since mobiles were not around then I got him to record on a cassette and heard it thousands of times to get the inflections right. When he met me after two days, he was very happy. ‘Badhiya toh gaati ho,’ he said.”
According to her, like in the case of SD Burman or Madan Mohan, it is very easy to tell a Hazarika song. “He would compose with his mind, without the harmonium. Just like that. It is very rare to come by that kind of talent these days.”
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