Beauty Sharma Barua (born 18 June 1951) is a singer from
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. She is one of the best-known and most respected
Assamese folk music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
,
Indian classical music
Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...
,
ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
and
bhajan
Bhajan refers to any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Indian religions, in any language. The term bhajanam (Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root word ''bhaj'' ...
singers of Assam. More popularly known as The Melody Queen of Assam and Beauty Baideu, she has recorded over a thousand songs for All India Radio, Doordarshan, albums and others. She has sung songs in over six regional Indian languages, though primarily in
Assamese and
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
. Beauty Barua married renowned writer and lyricist
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma (1948–2006), called th
Man with Melody in His Penby ''
The Daily Telegraph
''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally.
It was fo ...
'', in 1976.
Early life
Sangeet Prabhakar Beauty Sharma Barua was born in Dafalating Tea Estate,
Golaghat
Golaghat ( ''Gʊlaɡʱat'' ) one of the largest subdivisions of the Indian state of Assam, later elevated to the position of a full–fledged district headquarter on 5 October 1987, is a city and a municipality and the seat of administrative ...
,
Upper Assam
Upper Assam is an administrative division of the state of Assam comprising the undivided Lakhimpur and Sivasagar (previously, Sibsagar) districts, of the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra valley. The other divisions are: Lower Assam, North Assam a ...
. She was the youngest daughter of Bhubaneshwar Barua and Nirmala Barua, granddaughter of Assamese literary legend,
Lakshminath Bezbaroa
'
Lakshminath Bezbarua (, 14 October 1864), was an Assamese poet, novelist and playwright of modern Assamese literature. He was one of the literary stalwarts of the Jonaki Era, the age of romanticism in Assamese literature when through his e ...
.
Since the age of 3, Beauty Sharma Barua started learning
Sanskrit Shlokas and Assamese devotional songs like
Borgeet
Borgeets ( as, বৰগীত, lit=songs celestial, translit=Borgeet) are a collection of lyrical songs that are set to specific ragas but not necessarily to any tala. These songs, composed by Srimanta Sankardeva and Madhavdeva in the 15th- ...
, Aai Naam and
Prarthana geet from her parents. Since the age of 4, she took her first lessons in
Indian classical music
Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...
and light folk music from different gurus from
Jorhat
Jorhat ( ) is one of the important cities and a growing urban centre in the state of Assam in India.
Etymology
Jorhat ("jor" means twin and "hat" means market) means two hats or mandis - "Masorhaat" and "Sowkihat" which existed on the opposite ...
. Since the age of 5, she started teaching folk songs to children of tea estate workers at the Dafalating Tea Estate and emerged as a child folk singer at the age of 6. In 1958, when she was 7, she was facilitated by the first Prime Minister of independent
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, Pt.
Jawaharlal Nehru
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (; ; ; 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat—
*
*
*
* and author who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20t ...
for her singing capabilities. Since the age of 9, she was trained in
Indian Classical Music
Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...
by maestros like Rajmohan Das, Tulsi Chakraborty, Anil Dutta, Lakshi Saikia and Pandit Motilal Sharma from the
Kirana Gharana
Kirana gharana is one of the Indian classical khyal gharanas, and is concerned foremost with perfect intonation of notes (swara).
Singing style
The central concern of the Kirana style is swara, or individual notes, in particular precise tunin ...
, later
Indore Gharana Indore gharana is one of the vocal gharanas of Indian classical music. It was founded by Amir Khan, who studied the styles of Abdul Wahid Khan, Aman Ali Khan, Rajab Ali Khan and Abdul Karim Khan and amalgamated their style.
Amir Khan grew up ...
. She was also trained in other light classical forms of music like
Dadra
Dadra is associated with the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent.
Dadra tala
This is a Hindustani classical '' tala'' (rhythmic cycle), consisting of six beats in two equal divisions of three. The most commonly accepted theka ...
,
Thumri
Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dra ...
and
Kajri
Kajari is a folk song and dance genre of India. It is a Hindustani classical music genre, performed during the rainy season usually late June to September when lush greenery reappears and agricultural labor begins again.
It is often used to de ...
by
Begum Akhtar
Akhtari Bai Faizabadi (7 October 1914 – 30 October 1974), also known as Begum Akhtar, was an Indian singer and actress. Dubbed "Mallika-e-Ghazal" (Queen of Ghazals), she is regarded as one of the greatest singers of ghazal, dadra, and thumr ...
and
Ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
by Bal Gautam.
Singing career
Early career in the 1960s
Since the late 1960s, Beauty Sharma Barua started gaining popularity through her songs aired by
All India Radio
All or ALL may refer to:
Language
* All, an indefinite pronoun in English
* All, one of the English determiners
* Allar language (ISO 639-3 code)
* Allative case (abbreviated ALL)
Music
* All (band), an American punk rock band
* ''All'' (All a ...
Guwahati
Guwahati (, ; formerly rendered Gauhati, ) is the biggest city of the Indian state of Assam and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the ...
,
Shillong
Shillong () is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya, a Indian state, state in northeastern India, which means "The Abode of Clouds". It is the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. Shillong is the list of most populous cities in ...
,
Jorhat
Jorhat ( ) is one of the important cities and a growing urban centre in the state of Assam in India.
Etymology
Jorhat ("jor" means twin and "hat" means market) means two hats or mandis - "Masorhaat" and "Sowkihat" which existed on the opposite ...
and
Dibrugarh
Dibrugarh (pron: ˌdɪbru:ˈgɑ:) is an industrial city in Upper Assam with sprawling tea gardens. It is located 435 kms East from the state capital of Dispur. It serves as the headquarters of Dibrugarh district in the state of Assam in ...
including special shows on her hosted by
All India Radio
All or ALL may refer to:
Language
* All, an indefinite pronoun in English
* All, one of the English determiners
* Allar language (ISO 639-3 code)
* Allative case (abbreviated ALL)
Music
* All (band), an American punk rock band
* ''All'' (All a ...
,
Imphal
Imphal ( Meitei pronunciation: /im.pʰal/; English pronunciation: ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Manipur. The metropolitan centre of the city contains the ruins of Kangla Palace (also known as Kangla Fort), the royal seat of the fo ...
. She soon became a frequent guest in shows and features hosted by various
All India Radio
All or ALL may refer to:
Language
* All, an indefinite pronoun in English
* All, one of the English determiners
* Allar language (ISO 639-3 code)
* Allative case (abbreviated ALL)
Music
* All (band), an American punk rock band
* ''All'' (All a ...
stations. Back then, she was more known for her
Ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
,
Bhajan
Bhajan refers to any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Indian religions, in any language. The term bhajanam (Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root word ''bhaj'' ...
and
Indian Classical Music
Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...
. Her first song recorded by
All India Radio
All or ALL may refer to:
Language
* All, an indefinite pronoun in English
* All, one of the English determiners
* Allar language (ISO 639-3 code)
* Allative case (abbreviated ALL)
Music
* All (band), an American punk rock band
* ''All'' (All a ...
,
Guwahati
Guwahati (, ; formerly rendered Gauhati, ) is the biggest city of the Indian state of Assam and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the ...
was Tumaloi Monot Pore, written by Nurul Haque and Music by Jitu Tapan in 1968. This song was later recorded as a duet with
Bhupen Hazarika
Bhupen Hazarika () (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, filmmaker and politician from Assam, widely known as ''Sudha Kontho'' (meaning cuckoo, literally "nectar-throated"). His ...
in 1972. Her second ever recorded song by
All India Radio
All or ALL may refer to:
Language
* All, an indefinite pronoun in English
* All, one of the English determiners
* Allar language (ISO 639-3 code)
* Allative case (abbreviated ALL)
Music
* All (band), an American punk rock band
* ''All'' (All a ...
was O Rojonigondha in 1968. This song was written
Lila Gogoi
Dr. Lila Gogoi was a writer, educationist and historian. He was the H. O. D. of Assamese department, Dibrugarh University and Honorary Director, Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies in Assam. He was also the President of Assam Sahi ...
and composed by Lakhi Saikia. She gained much respect for being one of the few singers who could sing
raga
A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...
based songs in Assam. Some of her most popular songs recorded in the late 1960s included Xouwa Neel Neel (1969) and Mon Dilu Tomak (1969).
1970s
![Beauty Sharma Barua 1972](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Beauty_Sharma_Barua_1972.jpg)
Since the 1970s, Beauty Sharma Barua sang songs for various Music Directors of the time including
Bhupen Hazarika
Bhupen Hazarika () (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, filmmaker and politician from Assam, widely known as ''Sudha Kontho'' (meaning cuckoo, literally "nectar-throated"). His ...
,
Jayanta Hazarika
Jayanta Hazarika (20 September 1943 – 15 October 1977) was an Indian singer and composer associated with Assamese music. He wrote lyrics for a few songs and composed music for several movies. He was the younger brother of Bhupen Hazarika.
Pop ...
,
Khagen Mahanta
Khagen Mahanta was a singer and composer of folk and traditional music of Assam. Khagen Mahanta was a notable person in Assamese folk music and known as the "King of Bihu". His Bihu songs, Borgeet and other folk songs remain popular in Assam. T ...
, Indreshwar Sarma, Subir Mukherjee, Lakshi Saikia, Jitu Tapan,
Dr. Birendra Nath Datta, Mukul Barua, Jiten Deb, Hemen Hazarika, Amiadhar Barua, Anil Barua, Birendra Nath Phukan,
Dilip Sarma, Mohammad Hussain, Jagadish Barua, Deben Sarma,
Prabhat Sarma, J.P Das, Bipul Barua, Utpal Sarma, Atul Dev Sarma, Ramen Choudhury, Anupam Choudhury,
Hiren Gohain
Hiren Gohain (born 1939) is a scholar, writer, literary critic, and social scientist from the Indian state of Assam.
Academic life
Gohain studied in Cotton College, and did his graduation from Presidency College, Calcutta and then moved to ...
and Jyotish Bhattacharya. Her voice was rendered to some of the legendary song writers of Assam, including,
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (2 July 1903 – 17 January 1951) was a noted Indian playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and film maker from Assam. He was considered as Assamese cultural icon, deeply revered for his creative vision and output and is pop ...
,
Bishnu Prasad Rabha
Bishnu Prasad Rabha was an cultural figure from Assam, known for his contributions in the fields of music, dance, painting, literature as well as political activism. As an advocate of people's cultural movement, he drew heavily from different ...
,
Laxminath Bezbarua
'
Lakshminath Bezbarua (, 14 October 1864), was an Assamese poet, novelist and playwright of modern Assamese literature. He was one of the literary stalwarts of the Jonaki Era, the age of romanticism in Assamese literature when through his ess ...
,
Parvati Prasad Baruwa
Parvati Prasad Baruva (1904–1964) was a noted poet, lyricist, and dramatist: an icon of Assamese literature and the culture of Assam. Known for his simple and sensitive use of the Assamese language, he is popularly known as the ''Geetikavi''; ...
,
Mitradev Mahanta,
Bhupen Hazarika
Bhupen Hazarika () (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, filmmaker and politician from Assam, widely known as ''Sudha Kontho'' (meaning cuckoo, literally "nectar-throated"). His ...
,
Nabakanta Barua, Darpanath Sarma, Lila Gogoi, Lakhyahira Das,
Keshav Mahanta, Tafajul Ali, Usuf Hazarika, Nurul Haque, Sandhya Devi, Idris Ali,
Hiren Bhattacharyya
Hiren Bhattacharyya (28 July 1932 – 4 July 2012), popularly known as Hiruda, was an Indian poet and lyricist best for his works in the Assamese literature. He had innumerable works published in Assamese and achieved many prizes and accolade ...
, Amit Sarkar, Anuradha Das, Hemanta Goshwami, Kirti Kamal Bhuyan, Nagen Bora and Mukul Barua. Her gramophone record album with
Bhupen Hazarika
Bhupen Hazarika () (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, filmmaker and politician from Assam, widely known as ''Sudha Kontho'' (meaning cuckoo, literally "nectar-throated"). His ...
released by
HMV Records
His Master's Voice (HMV) was the name of a major British record label created in 1901 by The Gramophone Co. Ltd. The phrase was coined in the late 1890s from the title of a painting by English artist Francis Barraud, which depicted a Jack Russ ...
in 1972 was a best seller. Duets like Tumaloi Monot Pore and Tumi Joon Ne Xoon with
Bhupen Hazarika
Bhupen Hazarika () (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, filmmaker and politician from Assam, widely known as ''Sudha Kontho'' (meaning cuckoo, literally "nectar-throated"). His ...
introduced a new trend of modern folk music in
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
.
Some of her famous songs during the 1970s included Proja Poti Jhilmil Pakhi (1970), Etiya Polom Hol (1970), Chandrawoli Nixa (1971), Un Mona Hoi Mone (1971), Tumi Joon Ne Xoon (1972), Tumaloi Monot Pore (1972), Tumi Xudha (1973), Xorot Ahile Henu (1973), Prothom Torati (1974), Maya Mrigo (1974), Akash Neela (1975), Tumar Kotha Jetiya Bhabu (Later sung by
Jayanta Hazarika
Jayanta Hazarika (20 September 1943 – 15 October 1977) was an Indian singer and composer associated with Assamese music. He wrote lyrics for a few songs and composed music for several movies. He was the younger brother of Bhupen Hazarika.
Pop ...
)(1975), Monore Xima Rekha (1975), He Maya Bini (1975), Gharmua Pokhi (1976), Ei Xapoon Mur (1976), Mah Halodhi (1977), Kokalot Gagori (1977), Xipare Jamuar (1978), Devi Buli Matisilu (1978), Moi Nodit (1979) and Moi Sondo Hara (1979).
After her marriage to Poet and
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment.
Royalties
A lyricist's income ...
,
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma in 1976,
Assam
Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
saw another new trend in melody blended between
Assamese Folk Music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
and light Classical. The birth of evergreen compositions like Mah Halodhi, Ghar Mua Pokhi, Xipare Jamunar, Devi Buli Matisilu, Dighal Koi Uroni, Habiye Habiye, Ujoni Mua Rail Gari, Tup Tup Robha Toli and Kokalot Gagori written by
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma and sung by Beauty Sharma Barua, are still amongst the most melodious songs loved by people of Assam. Beauty Sharma Barua has sung over 300 songs written by
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma since the 1970s till now.
1980s
![With Dwijendra Mohan Sharma](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/With_Dwijendra_Mohan_Sharma.jpg)
The 1980s saw the rise of one of the most respected music schools of Assam, the Alakananda Sangeet Vidyalaya, started by Beauty Sharma Barua. This music school has seen multiple singers emerge into the global scenario through the training imparted by Beauty Sharma Barua. Her disciples were known to be some of the most classically trained singers in the state, especially in genres like
Ghazal
The ''ghazal'' ( ar, غَزَل, bn, গজল, Hindi-Urdu: /, fa, غزل, az, qəzəl, tr, gazel, tm, gazal, uz, gʻazal, gu, ગઝલ) is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry. A ghazal may be understood as a ...
,
Bhajan
Bhajan refers to any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Indian religions, in any language. The term bhajanam (Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root word ''bhaj'' ...
and
Assamese Folk Music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...
. Her students started demonstrating expertise in practically any form of music through the strong base created by the legendary singer.
In 1988, the children learning music at the Alakananda Sangeet Vidyalaya won multiple awards for their songs sung in the album, Umola Ghoror Geet, which was directed by Beauty Sharma Barua and composed by
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma. The song Seuji Sopot from the album is still used as a theme for the Green Revolution in Assam.
During the 1980s, she sang some of the best light classical based melodious songs of her time which are still amongst her greatest hits today. Her most famous Indian classical based songs include Bonei Bone (1980), Shyam O Shyam (1980), Megh Nathakile (1980), Kiyo Jaanu Mur (1981), Xao Nao Borosaat (1982), Nibe Nimati Rati (1984), Kaar Xure Xure (1986) and Buku Apun Aai (1987) . Some of her most melodious songs of the period are Joon Tora Raati (1981), Dighol Koi Uroni (1981), Tup Tup Robha Toli (1981), Aha Naa Kua Naa (1981), Rati Xaare Ase (1982), Sandhiya Hole(1982), Dori Kona Maas (1983), Besi Din Logot Nathaku (1984), Akajoli Xur (1985), Mon Kiyo Aji (1985), Xorot Xitol (1986), Duronire Pora (1986), Kaali Ratir Xapun (1987), Agoli Kolore Paate (1987), Najau Aji Ghoroloi (1988), Habiye Habiye (1989).
1990s
From the 1990s onwards, Beauty Sharma Barua worked with multiple music directors and brought in some of the most popular songs in Assam including Eman Apun Hoiyu (1991), Bota Sorai (1991), Maya Bhora Raati (1991), Dubori Buku (1991), Kun Ropohi Tai (1992), Suruj Mukhiye Kole (1992), Lorajon Xodiye (1993), Ulai Saalu Dekha Paalu (1993), Kauri Kaa Kaa (1994), Misingor Sangote (1994), Nas Bandor Nas (1995), Ja Ja Jiya (1995), Xi Jhune Buto (1996), Ujoni Mua (1996), Bhor Duporia (1997), Deu Di Nasili (1997), Ratite Phuli Utha (1997), Eijora Band Party (1998), Lorajon Sadiye (1998), Dhuliya Bihu Wa Dhulotu (1999), Gaor Manuhe Koi Bhute Dhorise (1999), Ei Je Abile Bela (1999) among others.
In 1999, her album Nao Koina brought in a new dimension to marriage songs and was the common background music in Assamese Weddings. Apart her songs in albums like Xorotor Xondiya, Parinita, Upasana, Joan, Atitak Xuori and Shri Shri Durga topped the charts in the state.
2000s
After the success of Noa Koina, another marriage album listing her most popular songs, Daponmoti, was released in 2005. During the 2000s she recorded multiple popular songs including Xunali Xunaru Phoolise (2000), Kun Rupohir Gohona Jeelikay (2001), Dug Dug Madolore Maat (2001), Xun Ne Rup Ne (2001), Pooja Pooja Botorote (2002), Jetuka Patere (2002), Jobonor Noi (2003), Sandhya Nami Bokul Bonot (2003), Botahote Haale Jaale (2003), Ajiye Godhuli Bela (2003), Akasot Junakor (2004), Eti Proshno Mur (2004), Klanto Ratir Tora (2004), Rupore Agoni (2004), Xopunor Maya Bhora (2004) and others.
After the death of
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma in 2006, which came in as a huge shock to the people of Assam, she was inspired by all eminent musicians in Assam to continue her singing and keep the legend,
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma alive.
In 2007, she published a book on children’s songs, Umola Ghoror Geet, which contained 56 songs written by
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma along with staff notations for the tunes. These songs were sung by children and a popular Assamese children’s album with the same name was released in 2007. The death of
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma inspired her to write her first composition as a dedication to the legend released in an album, My Ornate Life With The Legend, in 2008. One of her most popular albums, Moonlight Melodies, was also released in the same year. The Music Director for the songs in the albums was Ramen Choudhury and Bhupen Uzir.
2010s
The 2010s find her travelling across India taking Assamese music across different states. She has sung multiple songs in different Indian languages including
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
,
Marathi
Marathi may refer to:
*Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India
*Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people
*Palaiosouda, also known as Marathi, a small island in Greece
See also
*
* ...
,
Punjabi and
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
apart from translating Assamese songs into those languages.
In 2012, her album, Mah Halodhi, has been one of her bestsellers with millions of fans enjoying her most popular numbers.
In 2016, two music albums, Dapunmoti and Jugomiya Geet were released in a function organised in memory of the Assam’s eminent lyricist Nurul Haque at the Rabindra Bhawan, held under the aegis of
Assam Sahitya Sabha
The Asam Sahitya Sabha (; Literary Society of Assam) is a non Government, non profit, literary organisation of Assam. It was founded in December 1917 in Assam, India to promote the culture of Assam and Assamese literature. A branch of the organi ...
and the state government’
Directorate of Cultural Affairs
In 2017, she released Alakananda, an album of 162 songs written by
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma, rendered by 75 prominent singers including herself. In the same year, she also released a book in the same name
Alakananda that includes hundreds of songs, poems and compositions by
Dwijendra Mohan Sharma.
In 2018, Beauty Sharma Barua released her first spiritual album, Shakti - Stotras & Vandanas for Peace and Inner Strength, which include multiple vedic semi-classical renderations including
Shiva Stotra,
Durga Stotra,
Kamakhya Stotra,
Dirgheshwari Mantra,
Kali Mantra,
Saraswati Vandana and
Durga Stuti among others. 2018 also saw the release of her semi-classical album, Thumri - Kajri - Dadra - Beauty Sharma Barua, which included Najariya Laage Nahi (
Thumri
Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dra ...
), Saiyan Rooth Gaye (
Kajri
Kajari is a folk song and dance genre of India. It is a Hindustani classical music genre, performed during the rainy season usually late June to September when lush greenery reappears and agricultural labor begins again.
It is often used to de ...
), Mor Balamwa Pardesiya (
Dadra
Dadra is associated with the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent.
Dadra tala
This is a Hindustani classical '' tala'' (rhythmic cycle), consisting of six beats in two equal divisions of three. The most commonly accepted theka ...
), Nahi Aaye More Shyaam (
Thumri
Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dra ...
), Sawariya Ne Haye Ram (
Dadra
Dadra is associated with the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent.
Dadra tala
This is a Hindustani classical '' tala'' (rhythmic cycle), consisting of six beats in two equal divisions of three. The most commonly accepted theka ...
) and Sawan Ki Ritu (
Kajri
Kajari is a folk song and dance genre of India. It is a Hindustani classical music genre, performed during the rainy season usually late June to September when lush greenery reappears and agricultural labor begins again.
It is often used to de ...
).
2020s
In 2021, she was awarded the Shilpi Sanman by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam under the aegis of the Chief Minister of Assam,
Himanta Biswa Sarma
Himanta Biswa Sarma (born 1 February 1969) is an Indian politician serving as the 15th and incumbent Chief Minister of Assam. A former member of the Indian National Congress political party. Sarma joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on 23 August ...
.
In September, 2022, the Jeewan Ram Mungi Devi Goenka Public Charitable Trust (JRMDGPCT) honoured their Lifetime Achievement Award to Beauty Sharma Barua along with sound designer Jatin Sarma, Mumbai-based choreographer Kamal Nath, and the National Award winner was
Padma Shri
Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi
Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi ( as, য়েছে দৰজে ঠংচি) (born 13 June 1952) is an Indian writer. He was formerly deputy commissioner. His first literary creation is a poem named Junbai'(জোনবাই).
He is the recipient of ...
from
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh (, ) is a state in Northeastern India. It was formed from the erstwhile North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) region, and became a state on 20 February 1987. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south. It shares int ...
.
In 2023, she has recorded a new string of Hindi songs inspired by her old Assamese melodies that include songs like Tum Yaad Aaye Mujhe and Dil Diya Hai Tumhe.
As per the official state portal of the
Government of Assam
The Government of Assam is the subnational government of Assam, a state of India. It consists of the Governor appointed by the President of India as the head of the state, currently Jagdish Mukhi. The head of government is the Chief Minister, ...
, Beauty Sharma Barua is one of the artists who has laid the foundation of the Assamese music industry with a confluence of indigenous folk music along with other legends like
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala
Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (2 July 1903 – 17 January 1951) was a noted Indian playwright, songwriter, poet, writer and film maker from Assam. He was considered as Assamese cultural icon, deeply revered for his creative vision and output and is pop ...
,
Bishnuprasad Rabha
Bishnu Prasad Rabha was an cultural figure from Assam, known for his contributions in the fields of music, dance, painting, literature as well as political activism. As an advocate of people's cultural movement, he drew heavily from different ...
,
Parvati Prasad Baruva
Parvati Prasad Baruva (1904–1964) was a noted poet, lyricist, and dramatist: an icon of Assamese literature and the culture of Assam. Known for his simple and sensitive use of the Assamese language, he is popularly known as the ''Geetikavi''; ...
,
Bhupen Hazarika
Bhupen Hazarika () (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, actor, filmmaker and politician from Assam, widely known as ''Sudha Kontho'' (meaning cuckoo, literally "nectar-throated"). His ...
,
Nirmalendu Choudhury,
Pratima Barua Pandey
Pratima Barua Pandey (3 October 1934 – 27 December 2002) was an Indian folk singer from the royal family of Gauripur in Western Assam's Dhubri district. Barua Pandey, a national awardee, best known for her Goalpariya (Koch Rajbongsh ...
,
Luit Konwar Rudra Baruah,
Parvati Prasad Baruva
Parvati Prasad Baruva (1904–1964) was a noted poet, lyricist, and dramatist: an icon of Assamese literature and the culture of Assam. Known for his simple and sensitive use of the Assamese language, he is popularly known as the ''Geetikavi''; ...
,
Jayanta Hazarika
Jayanta Hazarika (20 September 1943 – 15 October 1977) was an Indian singer and composer associated with Assamese music. He wrote lyrics for a few songs and composed music for several movies. He was the younger brother of Bhupen Hazarika.
Pop ...
and
Khagen Mahanta
Khagen Mahanta was a singer and composer of folk and traditional music of Assam. Khagen Mahanta was a notable person in Assamese folk music and known as the "King of Bihu". His Bihu songs, Borgeet and other folk songs remain popular in Assam. T ...
.
Non-singing career
Apart from her singing, she directed multiple musical shows on
Doordarshan
Doordarshan (abbreviated as DD; Hindi: , ) is an Indian public service broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. One of India's largest bro ...
and
All India Radio
All or ALL may refer to:
Language
* All, an indefinite pronoun in English
* All, one of the English determiners
* Allar language (ISO 639-3 code)
* Allative case (abbreviated ALL)
Music
* All (band), an American punk rock band
* ''All'' (All a ...
on various themes and various eminent singers from Assam took part in those television shows. She also had a few acting stints in Protichobi, Dapon and Pratighat, and rendering her voice in Atma Mariyada, a popular Assamese soap.
References
See also
*
Music of Assam
The music of Assam consists various genres of folk and modern music, drawing its artistic basis from the history of Assam, from Assamese culture and its ancient traditions. In recent times, starting from the late eighties, popular artistes hav ...
*
Barua
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barua, Beauty Sharma
1951 births
Living people
Assamese singers
Assamese playback singers
20th-century Indian women singers
20th-century Indian singers
People from Golaghat
Singers from Assam
Women musicians from Assam
21st-century Indian women singers
21st-century Indian singers