Assam govt to give GST share of Zubeen Garg’s upcoming movie to his foundation

Zubeen Garg’s last movie, ‘Roi Roi Binale’, in which he portrays the lead role of a blind singer, is set to be released on October 31

Published on: Oct 29, 2025, 20:58:47 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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GUWAHATI: The Assam cabinet on Wednesday decided to hand over the state’s share of Goods and Services Tax (GST) to be collected from cultural icon Zubeen Garg’s upcoming movie to a foundation started by him.

Fifty-two-year-old Garg died in Singapore last month while swimming in the sea and two separate probes are underway to unearth the mystery surrounding his death. His last movie, Roi Roi Binale, in which he portrays the lead role of a blind singer, is set to be released on October 31.

“The central government collects GST of 18% on movie tickets costing more than ₹100 and 5% on tickets which cost less than that,” chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

“Of that amount collected by the Centre, half of it i.e. 9% and 2.5% respectively are returned to the state government after a month. Today the cabinet decided in consultation with Garg’s wife, Garrima, that the amount which Assam gets from Centre would be given to Kalaguru Artiste Foundation,” he added.

The foundation was started by Garg in order to help artists during healthcare emergencies, conduct flood relief measures and to provide financial help to students to fund their education.

“This move will help carry forward the foundation’s work and also the ideals with which Garg had started it,” Sarma said.

Roi Roi Binale is slated to be released simultaneously across over 90 screens in Assam and in around 70 screens outside the state in cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Most single screen movie theatres and multiplexes in Assam won’t be screening any other movies during the first week of the film’s release and some theatres will start screening the first show at 6 am and the last one at 12 am.

Some theatres in small towns which have remained shut for years due to lack of business have also spruced up and are set to screen the much-awaited last movie of the singer, composer, poet, filmmaker and actor.

Trends available with BookmyShow, where tickets for the movie can be procured in advance show that almost all shows for the first 3-4 days are fully booked assuring the movie a record-breaking opening in Assamese movies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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