Roi Roi Binale: Zubeen Garg’s final musical magnum opus

When Roi Roi Binale opens in theatres on 31 October 2025, it will mark more than just a film release – it will stand as the final artistic statement of one of Assam’s most beloved cultural icons, Zubeen Garg.

The seeds of Roi Roi Binale were sown as early as 2007, a time when the Assamese film industry was grappling with financial and logistical challenges. Director Rajesh Bhuyan and Zubeen Garg initially shelved the idea, largely due to Garg’s demanding schedule and the industry’s constraints.

After the success of Mission China and improvements in regional cinema infrastructure, the pair revived the project about three years ago.

Over the course of production, Roi Roi Binale evolved into what many are calling Assam’s first true musical: more than 15 songs, extensive musical sequences, and sections filmed abroad (notably in Sri Lanka) to enhance its visual and emotional scope.

Yet the path was not without tragedy. Just days before Zubeen’s untimely passing, the final scenes were completed – sequences he himself directed and supervised.

Roi Roi Binale is framed as a musical love story, with Zubeen in a markedly challenging role: he plays a blind artist – a character both symbolic and resonant, given how much of the film’s emotional core is carried by sound, voice, and inner vision.

However, one element remains incomplete: Zubeen was not able to finish dubbing (voice recording) for his character. His wife, Garima Saikia Garg, has expressed profound sorrow over this absence, calling it a “void” in what was otherwise a carefully crafted musical piece.

Despite this, the rest of the musical and technical components – background score, harmonies, orchestration – were largely completed.

One of the film’s more haunting facts: the last scene Zubeen shot opens the film – his final performance now serving as its prologue.

Rajesh Bhuyan, the director, has confirmed that alongside the film’s release, a personal letter written by Zubeen will be shared publicly. The letter intertwines his professional journey and personal reflections, offering fans an intimate look at his inner world.

For many, watching Roi Roi Binale will not just be an event – it will be a collective farewell, a chance to experience Zubeen’s final creative heartbeat.

Producing a film posthumously carries unique challenges – both artistic and emotional. For Bhuyan and the production team, every editing decision, sound mix, and final cut carries the weight of loss. As Bhuyan remarks, “His face is in every frame. It’s unbearable – editing a film when its soul is gone.”

Garima’s commitment to honouring Zubeen’s creative vision is clear: “She has pledged to uphold the original release plan and ensure that the film sees the light of day exactly on the date Zubeen chose.”

Roi Roi Binale stands as both a tribute and a swan song. It is Zubeen Garg’s final artistic message to his audience – a film suffused with his voice, his vision, and the melodic soul he dedicated his life to. As 31 October approaches, Assam (and beyond) waits not just for a movie, but for an echo – the echo of a voice that shaped a generation.

On 1 September, Zubeen Garg took to social media to share the poster of Roi Roi Binale, announcing its release date.

Also read | Shekhar Jyoti Goswami held for questioning in Zubeen Garg death case

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