Pune's music, film fraternity fondly remember Bhupen Hazarika

The music and film fraternity of Pune remembered noted music director and singer Bhupen Hazarika (86) who died in Mumbai on Saturday. The Dadasaheb Phalke award winner was undergoing treatment in a Mumbai hospital since June 29.

“It is disheartening to learn about the passing away of Bhupen Hazarika. We had great affinity towards each other. I remember once our picture was printed in a national magazine as twin brothers because we adorned the same type of Nepali cap. His baritone voice and crisp diction are unforgettable,’’ said actor Mohan Agashe.

Film-maker Sunil Sukthankar remembered meeting Hazarika in 1993. “When I first met Hazarikaji at the International children’s film festival in Udaipur, he appreciated our short-film Chakori which was based on a girl in rural Maharashtra. He admired grass root reality. We have lost an eminent personality.’’

According to Dhrupad singer Uday Bhavalkar, Hazarika’s voice represented the essence of the North-East. “He had immense depth in his voice. I had a brief meeting with him once in Bhopal. He was a multifaceted personality and his demise is a great loss to the world of music,’’ Bhavalkar said.