Babul Supriyo Mayabini has brought one of Zubeen Garg’s best-known songs into the Bengali language, marking a musical tribute to the late Assamese singer on the eve of his first death anniversary.
Babul Supriyo has rendered “Mayabini Ratir Bukut” in Bengali as part of a special tribute to Zubeen Garg. The song has been released as “Mayabini (Bangla) [A Tribute to Zubeen Garg]”, giving Bengali-speaking audiences a new version of a song deeply associated with Zubeen’s musical legacy.
Babul Supriyo Mayabini rendition crosses a language barrier
Supriyo performed the Bengali version during a special interview with Aaj Tak Bangla ahead of Zubeen Garg’s first death anniversary. The rendition reflects his personal connection with Zubeen and his belief that music can carry an artist’s memory beyond language and geography.
The Bengali release also gives the song a new cultural setting while retaining its connection with the original. Zubeen’s “Mayabini Ratir Bukut”, from the Assamese film Daag, remains one of his recognised songs and has acquired additional emotional significance since his death.
Zubeen died in Singapore on September 19, 2025. As Assam marked his first death anniversary, tributes continued to emerge through music, public events and other initiatives celebrating his contribution to Assamese culture.
Why Babul Supriyo chose ‘Mayabini’
The decision to record the song came from a spontaneous moment, according to Supriyo. He previously said that he heard Zubeen’s song on Instagram and later sat at his harmonium around 4am, singing the melody.
That moment eventually led him to record his own rendition. Supriyo said he considered music the most sincere way for him to express his respect and affection for Zubeen. He also stressed that the recording was made as an emotional tribute rather than for commercial purposes.
For Babul Supriyo Mayabini, the choice of song was significant because of its place in Zubeen’s repertoire and its association with the public mourning that followed his death. The song was among those sung by mourners during Zubeen’s final journey, giving it a particularly strong emotional connection with his fans in Assam.
A softer interpretation of Zubeen’s song
Supriyo has also spoken about the musical challenge of recording one of Zubeen’s major hits. Zubeen was known for performing the song with a powerful vocal style, while Supriyo chose a softer and more melancholic approach.
Rather than attempting to reproduce the original performance, Supriyo brought his own vocal character to the composition. His Bengali interpretation therefore works as a separate rendition while remaining explicitly connected to Zubeen’s original.
The release also comes against the backdrop of continuing public remembrance of Zubeen across Assam. In recent months, his name has remained part of several cultural and public initiatives. A pavilion was named after him in August, while his recorded voice also featured in the Census 2027 theme song launched in Assam.
Zubeen Garg’s music reaches Bengali audiences
The Babul Supriyo Mayabini release highlights the reach of Zubeen Garg’s music beyond Assamese-language audiences. Supriyo, a singer with a long association with Bengali and Hindi music, has introduced the song to listeners through a language that is familiar to a large audience in West Bengal and elsewhere.
The release is also consistent with Supriyo’s broader approach to revisiting established songs. In an April 2026 interview, he described reworking older songs as a way of paying tribute to their original singers, composers and lyricists while introducing them to newer listeners.
In this case, however, the tribute carries a more personal context because of Supriyo’s memories of Zubeen. He recalled meeting the Assamese singer on a flight from Mumbai a few months before Zubeen’s death and described him as an individual with a distinctive personality and ability to connect with people.
As Zubeen Garg’s first death anniversary brings renewed attention to his music, the Bengali rendition of “Mayabini” adds another chapter to the continuing remembrance of the singer. For Supriyo, the recording offers a way to honour an artist he admired, while for listeners, it presents a familiar Zubeen composition through a different linguistic and musical lens.
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