In an exclusive interview with Northeast Now at Tangla town in Udalguri district, Assamese Pop icon Zubeen Garg talks about his new album Maa, the current state of Assamese film industry and touches upon the topic of the season – ‘Politics’.
The Assam heartthrob also exhorts the youths of the state to refrain from engaging in ‘nasty politics’.
The ‘Politics Nokoriba Bondhu’ singer who was in the town to shoot the video for a song of his new album Maa insists that the youths must involve themselves in productive works and chase their goals.
Excerpts:
Northeast Now: What are your recent and current undergoing projects?
Zubeen Garg: I recently released the songs of my album Maa which is a complete album featuring 8 songs after a long gap of 4 years. The album includes ‘Nisukoni Geet’, ‘Politics Nokoriba Bondhu’, ‘Aakhore’ among others. The post-production works of ‘Mor Monore Kalpanat’ are also going on in Mumbai.
Northeast Now: You are currently in Tangla town for which project?
Zubeen Garg: I am shooting for my 4th title song ‘Mor Maa’ from the same album, here at Jalah village on the outskirts of Tangla town where NSD graduate and actor Pabitra Rabha has set up his thematical village ‘Amar Gaon’.
Northeast Now: What is the theme and which are the faces we will see in the video project?
Zubeen Garg: The core concept as the name suggests surrounds around mother. Some of the noted names from the Assamese Film Industry Manjula Baruah, Runu Devi, Chetana Das among others are associated.
Northeast Now: As Assam along with the rest of the nation is gearing up for forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and people are gripped in poll fever, what are your thoughts as to whom will people vote or what criteria are people looking for in the candidates?
Zubeen Garg: I will not comment anything on ‘politics’. I am neither associated with any kind of politics and I abhor politics to the core. Even I have dedicated the song ‘Politics Nokoriba Bondhu’ on the same theme. People are wise and will vote whom they love and we also expect the Parliamentarians to work for the betterment and welfare of the state.
Northeast Now: What is your message to today’s youth?
Zubeen Garg: The only thing I would like to exhort to the young generation is that ‘refrain from engaging in nasty politics’. They should keep themselves engaged in productive works and pursue their hobbies; chase their goals.
Northeast Now: Do you think that the dying Assamese film industry has witnessed a renaissance post the release of your film Mission China?
Zubeen Garg: Yes, Indeed. There has been a sea of change in the scenario of the industry. There have been lots of (ongoing) new projects and release of movies. Even a couple of new cinema halls have come up and it is a good sign for the state.
Northeast Now: What are the challenges for the producer, director or actor associated with the industry?
Zubeen Garg: There are lots of opportunities. Only challenge is making of good movies. I have released the movie Kanchanjangha on a whole different concept. Jatin Bora starter upcoming movie Ratnakar is a good project in which I have lent my voice. We are giving our level best for all out-of-the-box ideas and themes breaking the conventional and classical ideas which suite the taste of people today. I also appeal that new faces must come up in the music and film industry to fill the void of creative brains in the sector.
Northeast Now: It is learnt that many proprietors of the newly built cinema halls have not received the financial assistance by the state government as promised?
Zubeen Garg: Yes,I too have come across the fact that the aid is pending and I am unaware as to which stage it is in. If the government grants it, it would be a welcome step. The businessmen who are interested in opening new cinema halls should be encouraged. The Assamese film industry should reach new heights and everyone from government to common public should join hands for the goal.