Poonam Nath

Assam fans emotions flared after removal of Zubeen Garg's iconic 'Mayabini' from streaming platforms

Digital Desk: After Zubeen Garg's famous Assamese song Mayabini was abruptly taken down from major audio streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, JioSaavn, and Gaana, fans of the late Assamese music icon have been outraged.

The abrupt loss of one of the singer's most beloved songs is especially upsetting because the controversy occurs at a time when millions of mourning fans have been listening to his body of work in remembrance.

Official documents state that Zubeen Garg Music LLP (LLPIN - AAZ 5718), which has two designated directors—Zubeen Garg and his longtime manager Siddharth Sharma (DIN 09409035)—is in charge of managing the rights to Garg's musical catalog.

However, Sharma is currently facing intense public criticism for allegedly being careless in the singer's last moments, which has increased anger over his continued involvement with the LLP and the potential financial gains it could bring.

Well-known Assamese scholar and cultural leader  and the head of the Assamese department at Bholanath College (A), Dhubri, and a former chief secretary of the Asom Sahitya Sabha, Dr. Upendrajit Sharma, has publicly voiced his concerns about the matter. In light of the possible mishandling of Garg's legacy, he has called on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to step in right away.

The removal of the song Mayabini has been seen as a betrayal of the artist's legacy and cultural damage rather than just a technical error owing to the song's strong emotional connection to the Assamese community.