In cinemas across Assam, a single seat remains empty at every screening of “Roi Roi Binale” – adorned only with a garlanded photograph of Zubeen Garg. The gesture speaks volumes: this final performance belongs to him, even in death.
The much-anticipated last film of the legendary singer-composer opened today, drawing unprecedented crowds who gathered before dawn to witness their beloved artist come alive on screen one final time. Garg passed away in Singapore last month, making this release both celebration and funeral.
Such was the devotion that Guwahati’s first screening began at 4:25 a.m. – before sunrise. Fans queued in darkness, clutching flowers and posters, determined to secure their place for this emotional farewell. Across the state, theaters opened early and scheduled up to seven daily screenings, with tickets for the entire first week selling out within minutes.
Trade analysts say Assamese cinema has never witnessed such overwhelming response. The film is expected to shatter regional box office records.
The title “Roi Roi Binale” translates to “Tears Still Flow” in Bengali and Assamese – a fitting epitaph for a man who touched millions through his music. Garg plays a blind musician battling life’s hardships, creating eleven original songs for the soundtrack.
One trailer scene shows his character unconscious beside the sea as someone attempts to wake him. The imagery struck fans as eerily prophetic, given that Garg’s real story ended by Singapore’s waters. Yet here he lives again – singing, smiling, making audiences weep.
Director Rajesh Bhuyan, who collaborated with Garg and his wife Garima Garg on the production alongside Shyamantak Gautam, struggled with emotion while discussing the release. “This was Zubeen’s dream,” he said. “Assam gave him love, and now this film belongs to all of Assam. His dreams don’t end here – we will continue them.”
Bhuyan revealed plans for a second film featuring unreleased Garg material.
The Assam government announced its own tribute: the state’s GST share from the film’s earnings will fund Garg’s Kalaguru Artiste Foundation, supporting the causes he championed throughout his career.
For devoted fans, the experience transcends mere entertainment. They’re witnessing the final curtain call of an artist who defined Assamese popular culture for decades. His music videos, playback singing, and live performances made him a household name far beyond the state’s borders.
As audiences file out of theaters wiping away tears, one truth remains: Zubeen Garg may never again walk into a cinema, but his voice, his music, and now “Roi Roi Binale” will play forever.
And in that reserved front-row seat – draped with flowers and bearing his photograph – he takes his final bow, night after night, show after show.
