The music of Assam consists various genres of folk and modern music, drawing its artistic basis from the history of Assam, from Assamese culture and its ancient traditions. In recent times, starting from the late eighties, popular artistes have modernized the music catering to local popular demand.
Bhupen Hazarika was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, artist, editor, filmmaker, professor and politician from Assam, widely known as Sudha Kontho. His songs were written and sung mainly in the Assamese language by himself, are marked by humanity and universal brotherhood and have been translated and sung in many languages, most notably in Bengali and Hindi.
Prof Bhabananda Deka was a pioneer Assam economist and author who conducted novel research on the economy of the far eastern part of India. He was also a leading Indian-Assamese litterateur of the famed 'Awahon-Ramdhenu Era' of Assamese literature during the mid-20th century. He was the author of a total of 115 English and Assamese books including textbooks on a range of fifteen subjects including economics, ancient Assamese literature, philosophy, education, religion, mythology, archaeology, tribal study, poetry, drama, memoirs, civics, political science, biographies; he also edited books and journals. He also authored a variety of research papers and articles about the state of Assam, a state in the north-eastern part of India. He pioneered the writing of books on Economics in Assamese. His Assamese book Axomor Arthaneeti was the first ever research-based comprehensive book on Assam Economics, which was published for the first time in 1963. He was conferred with the honorary title of 'Asom Ratna' -- 'Jewel of Assam' by the intellectuals of Assam on 19 August 2007 at a public meet held under the presidency of Prof. (Dr) Satyendra Narayan Goswami.
Pabitra Kumar Deka was a progressive writer, columnist, publisher and editor of monthly magazine, film critic and screenwriter of the State of Assam in India. He is the winner of the Best Film Critic Award in 1988 from the Eastern India Motion Picture Association. The Government of Assam has instituted the State Best Film Critic Award in the name of Pabitra Kumar Deka Award from 2010 after his death.
Angaraag Mahanta, known by his stagename Papon, is an Indian playback singer and composer from Assam. Papon has also sung in many languages apart from Assamese like Hindi, Bengali, Tamil and Marathi. He is the lead vocalist and founder of the folk-fusion band Papon and The East India Company. He is the son of the noted Assamese singer Khagen Mahanta and Archana Mahanta.
Jim Ankan Deka is an Indian musician, documentary film maker, photographer and director of Bangalore based organisation and music school Eastern Fare Music Foundation. He is the first person from Assam to open a music institute and a production house in Bangalore, India. He won multiple awards for his song Aawaz - speak up against sexual violence based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape incident.
Timeless is a multilingual album by Assamese musician Jim Ankan Deka. The album was recorded in 2012. The CD contains seven tracks while the digital version has only five tracks. The album is a tribute to Indian music maestros Dr. Bhupen Hazarika and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, writer Bhabananda Deka and the National anthem of India.
Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare is a 2012 Assamese language socio-political thriller film, with some dialogue in Hindi, starring Sanjay Suri and Bidita Bag in the lead roles. It was directed by Bidyut Kotoky and produced by National Film Development Corporation of India. The film was simultaneously made in Hindi as As the river flows.
"Aawaz – speak up against sexual violence" is a song written by Jim Ankan Deka, an Indian musician and documentary film maker. The lyrics are penned together by Jim and singer Ritwika Bhattacharya. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs (2009) finalist Antara Nandy has rendered her vocals along with Ritwika and Queen Hazarika.
Dr Nomal Chandra Borah is an Indian Social entrepreneur and neurologist who founded GNRC Affordable Health Mission in India. He founded the GNRC Hospitals, the first Tertiary care Super-Specialty Hospital in North-east India. The hospital was initially set up in Maligaon, Guwahati with the name Guwahati Neurological Research Centre (GNRC) in the year 1984 with the active participation and supervision of Late Dr K V Mathai, the legendary Neurosurgeon from Vellore. Later, GNRC was converted into a limited company in the year 1985 and since then it has been involved in many pioneering healthcare delivery initiatives in North-east India. GNRC Ltd was officially formed in the year 1987.
Nalini Prava Deka was an author, poet, storyteller, actress and playwright from Assam, a state in India encompassing the Brahmaputra Valley. She was honoured at a 2012 gathering in Ledo by the Assam Sahitya Sabha. Deka promoted Assamese heritage, traditional customs, weaving and fabric art, cooking and folk music with her husband, Bhabananda Deka. They researched traditional Assamese lifestyle, art, literature and culture. Deka was the first female editor and publisher of a children's magazine, Phul (Flower), and wrote 30 critically praised books. All India Radio broadcast Deka's radio plays on issues related to women and children.
Mayukh Hazarika is an Indian playback singer and music director from Assam. He is the frontman of Delhi based band Mayukh Hazarika and the Brahmaputra Balladeers. He is the son of legendary Assamese musician duo Jayanta Hazarika and Manisha Hazarika and nephew of Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
Queen Hazarika is an Indian playback singer and actress from Assam. She has sung for Assamese films like Hiya Diya NiyaGaram Botaah, Mon, Suren Suror Putek and Sneh Bandhan. She is the recipient of Rotary Young Achiever Award in 2013. In the same year she was nominated for Prag Cine Awards in the Best Female Playback category.
Prodyut Kumar Deka is an Indian film & stage director, screenwriter and author residing in Assam, India. His films include Dhunia Tirutabur, Samiran Barua Ahi Ase, Surjasta, Borosi, Chiyahir Rong, Ji Golpor Ses Nai and The Government Servant. He turned to writing english fiction gradually from 2016-17 with the anthropological Ambari Series based on the Ambari Archeological site in Guwahati.
Voodoo Child is a rock and roll band from Guwahati, Assam, India. The band is primarily made up of Rittique Phukan (guitar/vocals/drums/songwriter), Jim Ankan Deka (keys/guitar), Rajib Hazarika ,Priyanku Bordoloi ( Guitars) and Bobo Bardoloi (bass), although they frequently team up with session musicians when on tour.Pankaj Rajkhowa who is a Bangalore bassed musician does plays as a session Bassist during tour in South India.Pankaj Rajkhowa was a full time Bassist with The band from 2002 to 2006. The band has released 3 full length albums: We Own the Night, 20 Years on the Road, and Underneath the Stars, and 7 singles so far.
Karabi Deka Hazarika is an Indian writer from the state of Assam in Northeastern India.
The Assamese Language Movement refers to a series of political activities demanding the recognition of the Assamese language as the only sole official language and medium of instruction in the educational institutions of Assam, India.
Guwahati Theatre Festival is an annual theatre festival held in Guwahati city of Assam state, India. The festival is organized by G Plus, an English-language weekly tabloid newspaper in Guwahati. The festival aims to provide a platform to performing groups to showcase their productions before a new audience in the Guwahati city and North East region.
Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF) is a festival conducted in Guwahati, Assam. The festival director is Utpal Datta, a National Film Award-winning film critic and film maker.
