Oct 24, 2026 7:00pm IST
Usha Mangeshkar on Being the First Recipient of the Bhupen Hazarika National Award: ‘What More Could I Ask For?’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Usha Mangeshkar is the first recipient of the newly instituted Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika National Award. The announcement was made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 23, following a state cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will present the award on November 29, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The ceremony will mark the culmination of Bhupen Hazarika’s year-long birth centenary celebrations.
The Assam government will confer the award every three years on nationally or internationally acclaimed personalities who have made outstanding contributions to music, cinema, or the arts, particularly in fields connected to Hazarika’s illustrious legacy.
The award honors Usha Mangeshkar for her contributions to Indian playback music and her association with Hazarika’s musical compositions. The centenary celebrations will also feature musical tributes to the legendary maestro by artistes including Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal and Kavita Krishnamurthy.
Related Stories
Speaking exclusively to Variety India, Usha Mangeshkar says, “To be given such an honor, and that too named after a musician as great as Bhupenda, is a blessing. And to receive the honor from the Prime Minister himself — what more could I ask for?”
Usha recalls her long association with Hazarika, who shared a close bond with the Mangeshkar family. “He was very close to all of us Mangeshkars, especially Lata didi (Lata Mangeshkar) and Asha didi (Asha Bhosle). They collaborated on many masterpieces. Their songs together are sung and hummed across the world to this day,” she says.
She adds, “Even I had the privilege of working with the legendary maestro, frequently performing his compositions on stage in both Assamese and Bengali. One of my most celebrated Assamese songs composed by Bhupenda is ‘Luitate Mor Ghar,’ which captures the quintessential spirit of Assam. ‘Padmar Dhumuhai’ is another timeless classic duet that I had the privilege of singing with him. Then there is Bhupenda Singh’s ‘Sangram Jibanar Jodi Eti Naam,’ a revolutionary song focused on human struggles and social justice, which I sang. There are also ‘Palashaer Rang’ and ‘Barsar Ei Rimjhim’ — so many beautiful compositions. As this honor comes to me, I remember all the music and laughter we Mangeshkars shared with Bhupenda.”
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.