Ramen Barua (b. 1938)

One of Assamese cinema’s main music composers. Started as playback singer to his brother Brojen Barua’s music in his other brother Nip Barua’s Smritir Parash (1955). Turned composer in partnership with Brojen Barua, his own songs in Amar Ghar became major hits. Despite his popular and commercially successful work, he prefers the folk-derived music he composed for Mukuta and the classical compositions of Sonmai, extending his work as composer in the theatre and his experience with the IPTA. Also set some of Jyotiprasad Agarwala’s lyrics to music and re-released a series of Brojen Barua’s old hits.