Papon (singer)

Angaraag Mahanta[1] (born 24 November 1975), known by his stagename Papon, is an Indian playback singer from Assam. Papon has also sang in many languages apart from Assamese like Hindi, Bengali, Tamil and Marathi.[2] He is the lead singer and founder of the folk-fusion band Papon and The East India Company.[3]

Papon
Mahanta at the launch of single Chu Liya in Mumbai June, 2016
Background information
Birth nameAngaraag Mahanta
Also known asPapon
Born (1975-11-24) 24 November 1975
Guwahati, Assam, India
Genres
  • Electro fusion
  • Indian classical
  • pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1998–present
LabelsMDR Records, Times Music, T-Series, Sony Music

Career

Papon's initial training was in Indian Classical and folk music. He learnt vocals primarily but also plays the guitar and harmonium. His music covers genres such as ambient electronic, acoustic folk and Indian classical music and it has been identified as having traces of ghazals.[4]

Papon started his musical career in 1988 with the Assamese song 'Gaantu Je Gaai Asila' from the album 'Aamiu Gao Gaan'. In 2004 he released his first album, Junaki Raati in 2004.[5]

The second album he produced was Sinaaki Osinaaki, which was released in 2009. His first folk music album was Rangphul a Bihu album, after which he produced Gomseng and subsequently, Phagunor Gaan an album representing the typical holi songs of Barpeta in West Assam. He sang on a devotional Borgeet album called Chandamukhi and is working on a traditional folk album of Tokari songs.Papon made his debut in Bollywood with the song Sajna Bawre from the film Let's Enjoy.[6][7] In 2011, his song was "Jiyein kyun" from the movie Dum Maro Dum which was his first big hit.

In 2014, he sang "Lakeerein", which is a poem by Gulzar, for the film Kya Dilli Kya Lahore and "Sun ri Bavli" for Nagesh Kukunoor's film Lakshmi. In 2015, he sang "Moh moh ke dhage" for the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha and "Humnava" in Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015). In 2016, he sang "Bulleya" for the film Sultan. In August 2016, Red Bull released "Hometown Heroes," a seven-part documentary web series that revisits the story of Papon's youth and rising career.[8][9] Papon's 2018 song "Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya", from the movie Sanju, comments on differences between the real Sanju and the "reel" Sanju.[10][11]

Television

In 2013, Coke Studio @ MTV and for his episode on this season of the show, Papon produced 6 songs – 3 brand new compositions and 3 cross-border folk songs. In the first season of Coke Studio @ MTV, Papon sang the upbeat song "Pak Pak (Bihu Naam)", produced by Lesle Lewis, and in its second season, he produced his own track, the Assamese folk song "Tokari" and also featured as a vocalist on celebrated musician composer Nitin Sawhney's episode singing the beautiful, folk song "Sahil Tak".

Papon's work on this season of Coke Studio @ MTV has been critically lauded of the 3 new compositions, "Tauba", with Benny Dayal, while the Papon solo "Khumaar", "Benaam Khwahishein" has received good response from the people . Papon also reinvented 3 folk songs for his episode of Coke Studio @ MTV. "Baisara Beera", "Dinae Dinae" and "Jhumor".

In 2013, Papon was also responsible for the theme song for MTV Roadies X: Battle for Glory – "Jajabor" (Jajabor being an Assemese word for yayavar - "traveler").[12]

In 2017, he was one of the judge in The Voice India Kids.

Film
Year Film Role Note
2014 Rodor Sithi

Band
Papon performing in Incandescence in NIT Silchar, 10 February 2014

In 2007, Papon formed an electronic folk-fusion band called Papon and The East India Company. The band consists of Papon on vocals, Brin Desai and Hameem Kader on live electronics, Jinti on lead guitars, Kirti on percussion and Dipu on bass and Tanmay on Drums[13][14] The six members came from backgrounds varying from Assamese folk to metal and blues to trip hop.

The band has performed twice at the SAARC Music Band Festival in New Delhi, the Eastwind Festival and the Kovalam Literary Festival and has performed overseas with Sutasi in Singapore. The band took a two-year break in the wait for a solo album which released internationally at the end of 2011.[15] The band is back in action in November with 4 big festivals in the same month. They also played at the October Fest in Bangalore, NH7 Weekender fest in Pune and the Rock for Rights concert in New Delhi.[16]

Earlier their track "OMO" was taken on by Saregama HMV for release on the compilation album, The Underground along with a song called "Jiya Baittho Jai" in an album called Sahibol. In 2008, their track called "Khuda Hota" was released by Dada Music an extension of Music Today.

In 2015, Papon and The East India Company performed at Oasis in BITS Pilani Pilani Campus, Dhaka International Folk Fest and in 2016, he performed at Spree in BITS Pilani Goa Campus.

Personal life and education

Papon was born in Guwahati, Assam to the Assamese folk singers Khagen Mahanta and Archana Mahanta. He has spent most of his childhood in Assam.[17] His father, Khagen Mahanta, died on 12 June 2014.[18]

He now lives in Mumbai with his wife Shweta Mishra Mahanta. They have two children.

He initially went there for Architecture but late enrolled himself to a degree in English Literature in Delhi University. His spent some time in Ramjas College before he shifted to Moti Lal Nehru College. He eventually dropped out on the 3rd year of college.[19]

Controversies

Papon, who was a mentor and judge on The Voice India Kids, on Facebook live-streaming from his own page was seen putting Holi colours on an 11-year-old girl, and[20][21] was alleged on media and social media to have kissed her. On 24 Feb 2018, The police lodged a case against him after a complaint from the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Along with the other contestants present on the video streaming and their respective guardians, the parents of the minor also denied allegations against Papon stating that it was fatherly love shown by Papon and there was no kiss.[22][23][24] He left the reality TV show as judge due to the allegations.[25]

A court of law later found insufficient reason to charge Papon based on the police investigation reports and closed the case and stated that the case arose due to a mistake of fact.[26]

Collaborations

Papon has performed with the MIDIval Punditz and Karsh Kale at various festivals around the world including the Paléo Music Festival in Switzerland, Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, Mosaic Music Festival in Singapore and Oslo World Music Festival in Norway. Aside from performing with them, Papon has co-written a couple of songs with the MIDIval Punditz that featured on their third album Hello Hello which ranked among the top three songs on Amazon, worldwide. He collaborated with the Welling Jazz Band, in Wellington, New Zealand, for a project playing some of his music during Crossings festival held in Wellington, New Zealand in 2007. Also in the project was Rhian Sheehan, a popular electronic artist and producer from Wellington. He also wrote a song with Karsh Kale for his new album Cinema. He is working on two international collaborations which were to be released in 2012.

Papon has featured in albums which carry the labels of MDR Records, in a collaboration with Times Music, and has also featured in the soundtrack of Bollywood films Dum Maaro Dum, I Am Kalam, Soundtrack, Patang, and most recently Barfi!. He also featured on the Indian leg of the show Coke Studio @ MTV. He performed on the show Global Indian Film Awards with MIDIval Punditz, Kailash Kher and Shubha Mudgal. He also appeared on Star world India, Episode six of The Dewarists with Rabbi Shergill and recorded a song "Khule Da Rabb". Papon has also worked with Shantanu Moitra in the 4th season of The Dewarists for 'O Megh' which is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's poem of same name.[15][27][28][29]

Discography
Main article: List of songs recorded by Angaraag Mahanta

Awards
Papon From The 'Soundtrack' music success celebration
Year Ceremony Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2012 Prag Cine Awards Best Playback Singer Male Title Track - Raamdhenu Won [30]
2013 Prag Cine Awards Best Playback Singer Male Rowd Nominated
2014 Prag Cine Awards Best Playback Singer Male Bhal Pabo Najanilu Nominated [31]
2015 Prag Cine Awards Best Supporting Actor Male Rodor Sithi Nominated
Best Playback Singer Male "Protidine" – Rodor Sithi Nominated
2016 22nd Screen Awards Best Male Playback "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" – Dum Laga Ke Haisha Won [32]
61st Filmfare Awards Best Male Playback Singer "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" – Dum Laga Ke Haisha Nominated [33][34]
Zee Cine Awards 2016 Best Playback Singer - Male "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" – Dum Laga Ke Haisha Nominated [35][36]
8th Mirchi Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" – Dum Laga Ke Haisha Won [37]
GiMA Awards 2016 Best-Playback Singer - Male "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" – Dum Laga Ke Haisha Won [38][39][40]
17th IIFA Awards Best Male Playback Singer "Moh Moh Ke Dhage" – Dum Laga Ke Haisha Won [41][42]

See also

References
  1. "Papon". IMDb. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  2. Sarmah, Chandan (29 January 2010). "Tunes with a rare freshness". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  3. "Papon - Profile". Papon. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. "Biography". Last.fm. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  5. "Papon recalls the first song he recorded - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. "13 facts about Papon you didn't know". www.radioandmusic.com. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  7. "A season of breakthroughs". Hindustan Times. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  8. http://m.firstpost.com/living/papons-hometown-heroes-story-of-singer-who-revived-folk-music-is-now-a-web-series-2937312.html
  9. http://www.redbull.com/in/en/music/video-series/1331797758110/hometownheroes
  10. "'Sanju' new song: 'Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya' is a funny take on how celebs feel about gossip - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  11. "Sanju Song Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya: A Treat To Ranbir Kapoor And Sanjay Dutt Fans". NDTV.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  12. "Roadies X: Papon composes new theme song– Jajabor". The Hindustan Times. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  13. "Papon & The East India Company". nh7. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  14. "Almost Famous". NDTV Good Times. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  15. Sinha, Dipanjan (18 November 2011). "Papon goes national on musical movement". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  16. "Jamming for Rights". Hindustan Times. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  17. "Watch out for Papon on Coke Studio". afaqs! (Press release). Avian Media. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  18. Staff (13 June 2014). "Legendary Assamese Singer Khagen Mahanta dies at 72". Times of Assam. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  19. "Papon: In Motilal Nehru, I would sit with a guitar and girls would flock around me". Hindustan Times. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV2Xa95YJ8E
  21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIdVzjc7lhk
  22. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/singer-papon-opens-up-about-the-allegations-made-against-him/articleshow/63045394.cms
  23. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/caught-kissing-minor-on-facebook-live-papon-quits-as-reality-show-judge-1816744
  24. http://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/bollywood-news/article/papon-the-voice-india-kids-papon-kiss-contestant-minor-defends-singer-papon-lawyer-minor-pocso-act-molestation/202198
  25. http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-papon-sexual-assault-case-singer-barred-forever-from-essel-group-says-rajya-sabha-mp-subhash-chanda-2588175
  26. "In the Court of the Sessions Judge Kamrup (M), Guwahati – Dispur P.S. Case No. 502/2019". 21 December 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  27. "O Megh - Music Video ft. Shantanu Moitra & Angaraag Papon Mahanta [Ep4 S04] : The Dewarists". YouTube. Dewar's India.
  28. "Season 04 : O Megh". Dewar's.
  29. "The Dewarists – Khule Da Rabb". nh7. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  30. Singh, Jasmine (30 March 2013). "Vocal charm". The Tribune. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  31. "Nominations for Prag Cine Award, 2014". The Assam Tribune. Guwahati. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  32. Sudhakaran, Sreeju (8 January 2016). "Star Screen Awards 2016 winners list". BollywoodLife.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  33. "Nominations for the 61st Britannia Filmfare Awards". The Times of India. TNN. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  34. Kaur, Kiran (16 January 2016). "61st Britannia Filmfare Awards: The complete list of winners". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  35. "Zee Cine Awards 2016 Nominations List Out!". Koimoi. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  36. Prashar, Chandni (21 February 2016). "Zee Cine Awards: Complete List of Winners". NDTV. New Delhi. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  37. "8th Mirchi Music Awards: Complete list of winners". The Times of India. TNN. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  38. "GIMA 2016 Nominations". Retrieved 20 March 2016.
  39. "'Bajirao Mastani' leads GiMA Awards nominations". The Times of India. Mumbai. IANS. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  40. Sen, Sushmita (7 April 2016). "GiMA Awards 2016: 'Bajirao Mastani' bags maximum awards; Yo Yo Honey Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Arijit Singh perform live". International Business Times. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  41. "Check out the IIFA 2016 nominations full list here". DNA. Press Trust of India. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  42. "IIFA Awards 2016: The Complete List of Winners". News18. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.