Guwahati, March 29: Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan today said legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika had achieved practically everything an Indian citizen could aspire to be.

'In his fairly long and extremely fruitful life, Hazarika had achieved practically everything an Indian citizen could aspire to,' the filmmaker from Kerala said, while receiving the Biswaratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award, 2015.

The award was formally handed over by Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi at a function here.

Gopalakrishnan said he still recalled how he had first talked to Hazarika. 'This is the second time I am visiting Assam to receive an award. The first time it was for the Kamal Kumari National Award in 2000. I recall the time I spent talking to Hazarika, a real icon of Assamese cinema and culture, at the function and thereafter,' said Gopalakrishnan. 'Even as a child Hazarika had a prodigious mind. His ability to sing impressed Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, the father of Assamese cinema, at the early age of 11. In two years he was to go to Calcutta and record a song. His pursuit of arts did not in any way hinder his studies. As a brilliant university graduate, he travelled to the US and took his doctorate,' he said.

'When he returned, he was already exposed to an expansive and modern world outside and the venues were to be opened before him to explore and conquer the heights of achievement. He was fast growing into an accomplished poet, lyricist, singer, writer and filmmaker. There was hardly a sphere of cultural activity he was not involved in,' said Gopalakrishnan.

'I am no stranger to Assam or Assamese culture. Years ago when I travelled to interior villages in Assam bordering Guwahati city, I was struck by the similarity in the lifestyle as well as outlook of the people of Assam and Kerala. Both are geographically far apart but emotionally and attitudinally close to each other,' he said.

Asam Sahitya Sabha, the biggest literary body in Assam, in association with Numaligarh Refinery Ltd, gives the biennial award. The award was earlier given to researcher-scholar and dance exponent Lubna Marium of Bangladesh.

The recipient of the award is selected by a committee with the Sabha's president as its chairman and its general secretary as convener.

Before presenting the award a documentary - Lights on Adoor Gopalakrishnan - was screened, revealing how the filmmaker paid attention to the smallest details.

Gopalakrishnan has won the National Film Awards 16 times, Kerala State Film Awards 17 times and also won several international film awards.

Gogoi announced that Dispur will institute another award - Bhupen Hazarika Universal Brotherhood Award - to honour the singer.