• Remembering the Legendary Assamese Singer, Jayanta Hazarika, on his 79th Birth Anniversary

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    Remembering the Legendary Assamese Singer, Jayanta Hazarika, on his 79th Birth Anniversary

    Floral tributes were paid to the musical icon’s statue at Chandmari in Guwahati. Various programmes have also been lined up for the day to mark the occasion. color:#252525">

    color:#252525">Digital Desk: Indian musician and composer Jayanta Hazarika is known for his work on Assamese music. He composed the music for various movies
    and wrote the lyrics for a few songs.



    color:#252525">Jayanta Hazarika, often known as Rana-da, was the younger
    brother of the late Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. He began his musical career by playing
    with his brother but eventually established himself as a solo performer and
    songwriter. The first Assamese musician to combine Western classical, jazz, and
    rock & roll with traditional Assamese tunes to create a new sound was
    Jayanta. In his compositions, he was a trailblazer in using a number of western
    instruments.



    color:#252525">Jayanta Hazarika was born into a well-known Assamese musical
    family. He was the ninth of Nilakanta Hazarika's and Shantipriya Hazarika's ten
    children. His oldest brother was Bhupen Hazarika, who was 17 years older than
    he was. At Mangaldai, Jayanta was born on September 20, 1943. He spent his
    early years in a musically rich atmosphere. All of his siblings have a strong
    musical background. Jayanta Hazarika, who is nine years old, wrote the music
    for a song that his older brother, Nripen Hazarika, had written. Jayanta
    Hazarika attended Sonaram High School in Guwahati for his high school
    education. In 1962, he failed his matriculation test. After moving to Calcutta,
    he recorded two songs with HMV.



    color:#252525">Jayanta Hazarika's musical career began with him performing and
    recording with his brother Bhupen Hazarika. ‘Aagoli Botahe Kopale Kolore Paat’
    and ‘Krishnachura Krishnachura’ were the first two songs he recorded with HMV.
    Both songs were immediate hits and launched his professional musical career. In
    1963, Jayanta performed his first playback vocal performance for the song Sonar
    Baran Pakhire Tor for the film "Maniram Dewan" alongside Shyamal
    Mitra. The film's music was directed by Bhupen Hazarika. For this film, Jayanta
    and Himangshu Biswas served as assistant music directors.



    color:#252525">Thereafter, Jayanta began full-time singing and music
    composition. Jayanta Hazarika worked as Assistant Music Director for Bhupen
    Hazarika
    's movies Loti-Ghoti' and 'Chikmik Bijuli'. He played small
    roles in two Assamese movies 'Loti-Ghoti' and 'Chikmik Bijuli'.



    color:#252525">On the humanitarian front, the contribution of Jayanta Hazarika
    is prominent. In 1977, he formed an institution named Xur Bahini. This was
    created with the help of people from Golaghat
    to help the flood victims of Assam. This group used to sing in the streets and
    collect remunerations, which were later donated.



    color:#252525">Floral tributes were paid to the musical icon’s statue at Chandmari
    in Guwahati. Various programmes have also been lined up for the day to mark the
    occasion.



    color:#252525">Meanwhile, taking to Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa
    Sarma has penned down a heartfelt note in Assamese as a mark of respect to the
    music maestro.



    color:#252525">CM Sarma wrote, "Today is the birthday of one of the greatest
    people who have enriched Assamese music, our much-respected composer and
    singer, Jayanta Hazarika. Rana Da's magical voice and unique melody style have given Assamese music a new identity throughout the ages. I fondly
    remember our beloved artist on his birthday.



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