Folk music doyen of Assam Padmashri Pratima Barua Pandey

Folk music doyen of Assam Padmashri Pratima Barua Pandey

Pratima Barua Pandey was a popular folk singer from Assam. Barua is a national awardee. She is credited for reviving the folk form in Assam. The songs of Barua were part of a cultural community, largely the Rajbongshis. The Goalparia geet of Pratima Barua became extremely popular with the masses. The turning point in Barua’s life came when Bhupen Hazarika visited Gauripur once and heard her Goalparia geet at a local function. He was highly impressed by her songs.

Pratima Barua Pandey was awarded the Padma Shree and the Sangeet Natak Akademi for popularizing the Goalparia geet.“Hastir Kanya”, a documentary film, was made on the life and works of Barua by filmmaker Prabin Hazarika. It won the National Award for Best Biographical Film in 1997. It also created waves at the South Asia Film Festival in 1998.

'Queen of Goalparia Lokgeet’, Pratima Barua Pandey's beautiful compositions carry the rustic soul of Assam and have popularised our culture and traditions across the globe.

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