By Syed Zarir Hussain

Guwahati, Feb 22 (IANS) Cities and villages in Assam are painted red with posters and billboards seeking votes for singing sensation Zubeen Garg of "Ya Ali" ("Gangster") fame who has been nominated for the prestigious Filmfare Awards in the best playback singer category.

Across the length and breadth of Assam, hoardings and posters with Zubeen's photograph have sprung up with his fan club going all out to seek votes through e-mail to help the local singing icon win the best Filmfare playback singer award to be announced Sunday in Mumbai.

"We have been mobilising support for Zubeen through various means like street corner meetings, poster campaigns, besides playing his songs in crowded areas with an appeal asking people to vote him through e-mail," said Arnab Sharma, a young Zubeen fan in Guwahati.

The classically trained singer shot into the limelight with the song of the year "Ya Ali" that catapulted him to the big league of Bollywood playback singing. Last week, Zubeen won the Kenstar Setmax Stardust film awards as the best playback singer outshining other stars like Himesh Reshammiya.

Voting through internet for the 52nd Fair One Filmfare Awards 2006 for the best playback singer (male) is open till midnight Saturday with the other nominees being Himesh, Sonu Nigam, Shaan and Kailesh Khar, and Atif Aslam.

"I am hoping for the best," Zubeen said over the phone from Mumbai.

People in Assam are a little peeved with the awards being decided through internet voting and not SMS. "It would have been easier for us to SMS our vote instead of internet as not too many people have access to computers in villages. Zubeen for us is a craze, a phenomenon here," said Anushmita Bora, a college student.