Historic day as Zubeen Garg’s final film 'Roi Roi Binale' hits theatres across Assam and beyond

An emotional wave swept across Assam on Friday as fans gathered in large numbers to witness the release of Zubeen Garg’s final cinematic creation, Roi Roi Binale. 

The film’s premiere turned into a day of both mourning and celebration, as theatres across the state overflowed with admirers eager to relive the voice, music, and charisma of the late icon who continues to reign in the hearts of millions.

In Guwahati, theatres witnessed footfall as early as 5 a.m., with long queues forming outside venues such as Anuradha Cine Complex, PVR, and Apsara Cinema. The air was charged with anticipation and sorrow as fans gathered to pay tribute to the singer-actor who ruled Assamese hearts for over three decades.

One of Zubeen’s ardent fans in Guwahati, who came for the second show, shared his overwhelming emotions: “Yaar! I am sitting outside the hall, I can hear the song Mur Mon... Mujhe rona aa raha hai. Eyes wet, hands shaking while I sit in the media room in Anuradha Cine Complex here in Guwahati as Zubeen Garg’s last film premieres. Tears are coming tearing from the sky as well. Zubeen da might not be here with us, but he promised to give a teary farewell. This situation is complex; he is here with me yet so far.”

A wave of excitement also swept through Kokrajhar on Friday morning as fans of the beloved Assamese singer flocked to Delight Gold Cinema Hall to witness the first screening of the much-anticipated film Roi Roi Binale. Crowds began gathering as early as 8:00 a.m., eager to catch a glimpse of their favourite star on the big screen. The overwhelming enthusiasm among moviegoers reflected the deep admiration and emotional connection that fans share with Zubeen Garg, fondly called Zubeen Da.

According to the cinema hall management, all tickets for the six scheduled shows have already been sold out. To meet the soaring demand, the theatre has also arranged five additional screenings for the day. The release of Roi Roi Binale has clearly struck a chord with audiences across Assam, marking yet another milestone in Zubeen Garg’s illustrious career as one of the state’s most loved entertainers.

In Tinsukia, crowds began gathering outside theatres from 5 a.m., with the first show starting at 7 a.m. Fans were seen lighting lamps and offering prayers before Garg’s portraits, turning the release into a deeply emotional event. Similar scenes were reported from Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Silchar, where the atmosphere resembled a mass tribute rather than a film premiere.

Also Read: Fans restore 'Roi Roi Binale' posters after vandalism in Assam's Kokrajhar

The emotional surge surrounding the release prompted theatre owners to increase show frequency. Some halls are screening up to seven shows a day — the first at 4:45 a.m. and the last ending around 2:30 a.m. The unprecedented demand has led distributors to add new screens daily, marking an unmatched moment in Assamese film history.

In Roi Roi Binale, Zubeen Garg plays the role of a blind musician struggling through life’s hardships. The 146-minute film, directed by Rajesh Bhuyan and produced by Garg along with his wife Garima and Shyamantak Gautam, features 11 songs composed by the artist himself. The trailer — showing a musician lying motionless on a beach — drew emotional reactions online for its uncanny resemblance to Garg’s real-life death in Singapore on September 19, where he reportedly drowned while swimming.

The film’s title comes from one of Garg’s popular songs from the 1990s, which he once described as the “darkest” piece he ever wrote. Since the trailer and title track were released three weeks ago, the promotional content has garnered over one crore views on YouTube, reflecting the intensity of public sentiment.

According to UFO Moviez India’s General Manager (Sales and Distribution) Sourav Dutta, Roi Roi Binale marks the biggest release in Assamese cinema history. “So far, 91 screens across the Northeast and nearly 90 more in the rest of India will screen the film,” Dutta told PTI. “Almost all shows for the next week are sold out or filling fast. The emotional connection to Zubeen Garg is immense, and the demand is extraordinary.”
He added that 14 additional screens will be introduced to meet growing demand, with new projectors being installed daily. “I have never seen such demand for any film in this region in my entire career,” Dutta said, adding that the film is being projected by major content providers like UFO, Cube, and KSS.

In a milestone for Assamese cinema, Roi Roi Binale is also reaching audiences in cities such as Lucknow, Indore, Patna, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Dehradun, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kochi, Jaipur, Surat, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Coimbatore, and Goa — places that have never screened an Assamese film before. There are even requests for screenings from Nepal, though not yet confirmed.

Distributor Siddharth Goenka of Goenka Enterprises said the film is expected to run uninterrupted for at least two months in Assam and the Northeast. “From tomorrow, there will be no other film in any theatre in Assam — Roi Roi Binale has taken over every hall,” Goenka told PTI. “We are expecting around 600 shows daily, a record number for any Assamese film.”

For millions of fans, the day is bittersweet — a final farewell to the artist whose music defined generations. As lights dimmed and the opening frame of Roi Roi Binale appeared on screen, audiences across Assam rose in silence, celebrating not just a film, but a legend whose melodies will forever echo in the heart of the state.


(With Inputs from PTI)