GUWAHATI: Legendary singer and composer Jayanta Hazarika was fondly remembered by the people of Assam on his 79th birth anniversary on Tuesday.
Following the lead of wife Monisha Hazarika, people lined up to pay floral tributes at the musical icon's statue at Chandmari in Guwahati. Various programs have also been lined up throughout the day to mark the occasion.
Popularly known as 'Rana Da', Jayanta Hazarika was the younger brother of legendary Assam's musician and filmmaker Bhupen Hazarika, known as the Bard of the Brahmaputra.
Jayanta started his career by accompanying and collaborating with Bhupen Hazarika and later made his name as singer and composer on his own right.
Rana Da passed away at an early age of 34, but his evergreen tunes live on. He was credited for introducing a new wave of music in Assam by blending western music genres such as Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll and Western Classical with Assamese melodies.
He played over six musical instruments- guitar, domra, mandolin, accordion, tabla, and harmonica, and was also known to have collected traditional instruments from around the globe.
Jayanta recorded two songs with HMV 'Aagoli botahe kopale kolore paat' and 'Krishnachura Krishnachura' which kick- started his career, following which in 1963, he did his first playback singing with the song 'Sonar baran pakhire tor' for the movie 'Maniram Dewan'.
Taking to twitter on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma penned down a heartfelt note in Assamese as a mark of respect to the music maestro.
CM Sarma wrote, "Today is the birthday of one of the greatest person who has enriched Assamese music, our much respected composer and singer Jayanta Hazarika. Rana Da's magical voice and unique style of melody has given a new identity to Assamese music throughout the ages. I fondly remember our beloved artist on his birthday."
Jayanta Hazarika continues to live in the hearts and minds of people in Assam and elsewhere.
Also watch: