At the Ziro Festival in Arunachal Pradesh, playback singer Shilpa Rao recently paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Zubeen Garg. Rao, who recently won the National Award, performed a moving rendition of "Ya Ali" from the movie Gangster.
The Ziro Festival of Music, which is being held from September 25th to 28th, is known as India's "greatest eco-friendly outdoor festival". The festival is set against the scenic Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh and is known for promoting sustainability, community, and cultural diversity. Stages are constructed from bamboo, and plastic is prohibited, emphasizing the festival's environmentally friendly ethos.
Rao's performance of "Ya Ali" was delivered in a "downtempo style, and with more ethereal expression". The performance served as a tribute to Zubeen Garg, a prominent figure recognized for his humanitarian work throughout Northeast India and Assam. Garg, who passed away on September 19, 2025, in Singapore due to an accidental drowning, was more than just a singer; he was a cultural icon.
Zubeen Garg's career spanned over three decades, during which he recorded approximately 38,000 songs in various Indian languages. His Hindi music debut occurred with "Jaane Kya Hoga Rama Re" from Kaante, and he gained widespread fame with "Ya Ali" from Gangster. Garg was also known for his political and cultural opinions and was a vocal opponent of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Assam.
The Ziro Festival, founded in 2012 by Bobby Hano and Anup Kutty, is held annually in the Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. This year marks the festival's 12th edition. The festival promotes independent and alternative music by showcasing emerging and established musicians and bands from various genres, including rock, folk, indie, blues, and electronic. Besides music, the festival also offers attendees the chance to experience the local culture and nature. Skills training programs empower community members to actively participate in the festival's production, and local artisans are employed to build the bamboo infrastructure.
