Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: In 1999, RK Productions released Xopun. It remains the only album where Assamese musical legends Zubeen Garg and Bhupen Hazarika performed together. The project blended blues, pop, and classical elements across eight distinct tracks. It carries heavy emotional weight.
Most lyrics on the album were written by Amarjyoti Chaudhury, a talented poet who died at a young age. He and Bhupen Hazarika shared a deep bond after studying together at Cotton College. Bhupen Hazarika sang the words of his late friend as a final tribute. The late Tapan Choudhury co-produced the album to honor his brother, Amarjyoti.
Shekharjyoti Neog recovered the lost lyrics to the song Mur Nai Ekuwe Nai and gave them to Hazarika. Hazarika sang four tracks on the record, while Zubeen Garg sang three. Madhumita Goswami performed the eighth song, Ojanite. Confusion often arises regarding the track list. Zubeen Garg wrote and composed the opening track, Xomoyu Jen, himself. It is the only song on the album not written by Amarjyoti Chaudhury.
The album stays significant today. It serves as a document of love and remembrance. Twenty-seven years later, it stands alone in the region's history. It is a rare work. As the record notes, "Bhupen Hazarika was not merely lending his voice to songs. He was singing the words of a friend who could no longer speak for himself."
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