Angaraag Mahanta

Angaraag "Papon" Mahanta

Papon performing in Coke Studio Minicert in Mumbai August, 2011
Background information
Native name অংগৰাগ "পাপন" মহন্ত
Also known as Papon
Born 24 November 1975
Guwahati, Assam, India
Genres Electronic fusion, Indian/ Assamese classical , Indian/ Assamese folk, acoustic folk, playback singing, jazz and ghazals.
Occupation(s) Singer, musician, record producer, composer
Instruments Vocals, tabla, acoustic guitar, piano, harmonium and khol.
Years active 2004–present
Labels MDR Records, Times Music
Associated acts Karsh Kale, Midival Punditz, Rabbi Shergill, Rihan Sheehan, Rachel Sermanni, Bikram Ghosh, State of Bengal, Djuma Sound System, Susmit Sen, Shantanu Moitra
Website www.papon.in

Angarag Mahanta, known by his nickname Papon, is an Indian singer, composer and record producer from Assam.[1]

Angaraag once stated in his interview with NDTV Good Times that he wishes to travel worldwide and perform in various music festivals. At the same time, he also wants to meet different musicians, be exposed to different forms of music and collaborate with various talented musicians to create amazing and beautiful music. Some of his initial stuffs was widely considered a novelty in the Assamese musical scenario. It was a blend of East-Indian folk music and Western electronic musical arrangement, enhanced by atmospheric sounds effects. In most of these endeavors, he collaborated with the East India Company, of which he is a founding member.

Early life

He was born to the Assamese folk singer couple Khagen Mahanta and Archana Mahanta. He spent most of his childhood in Assam and he was introduced to music early on in his childhood.[2]

Career

Papon's initial training was in Indian Classical, devotional (Borgeet) and folk music. He learnt vocals primarily but also plays the khol, tabla, guitar, and harmonium. His music covers genres such as ambient electronic, acoustic folk and new age Indian classical music and it has been identified as having traces of pentatonic Mongoloid notes, local river song influences and ghazals.[3] Although his first language is Assamese he has also sung in Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, Marathi, Mishing and Bengali.

His latest addition to Bollywood songs is 'Tu' a duet with Shreya Ghoshal in film Bobby Jasoos. Just before this was a song called "Lakeerein" which is a poem by Gulzar from the film Kya Dilli Kya Lahore. Before that he sung "Sun ri Bavli" from Laxmi (2014) by Nagesh Kukunoor. In 2014 only he also had sung two songs "Sun le re" and "Khudse" from the movie Madras Cafe (2013). He recorded a hit song "Kyon" for the movie Barfi!. He has also sang title song from Inkaar (2013). His first big song in Bollywood was "Jiyein kyun" from the movie Dum Maro Dum. Papon released his first album, Junaki Raati in Assamese at the end of 2004, marking a new kind of regional sound. The second album he produced was Sinaaki Osinaaki, which was released in November, 2009. Papon has also sung on a few other albums produced by various artists in Assam. 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. On the first edition of Coke Studio @ MTV, he performed on the popular bihu song "Pak Pak".

Papon returned to Coke Studio @ MTV in 2013, and this time around, he produced his very own episode for the popular show. This makes Papon the only musician to have grown with Coke Studio @ MTV, having now been involved in all three seasons of the show. 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 Leslie Lewis, and in its second season, he produced his own track, the high-spirited Assamese folk song "Tokari" and also featured as a vocalist on celebrated musician composer Nitin Sawhney's episode singing the beautiful, almost melancholic folk song "Sahil Tak".

Papon's work on this season of Coke Studio @ MTV has been critically lauded and videos of his tracks have received thousands of views on YouTube within a week. Of the 3 new compositions, "Tauba", with Benny Dayal, has received close to 700,000 views, while the Papon solo "Khumaar" has received over 500,000 views. "Benaam Khwahishein" has received over 300,000 views. Papon also reinvented 3 folk songs for his episode of Coke Studio @ MTV. "Baisara Beera", is a Rajasthani folk song Papon learned from his father; "Dinae Dinae", with Harshdeep Kaur, is a beautiful Bhatiali river song from Goalpara in Assam, in the Sufi tradition, and has received over 450,000 views; and "Jhumor ( ঝুমুৰ )", a rousing song of the tea tribes in Assam.

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Papon performing in Incandescence in NIT Silchar, 10 Feb,2014

Band

In 2007, Papon formed an electronic folk-fusion band called Papon and The East India Company.

Their music and their songs have evolved from eastern India, from the lush green fields of Assam to be precise. And their music is awash with the native notes of their soil. Set-up in the backdrop of Assamese folk-lore and culture, Angaraag Mahanta and his band have been applauded by the masses. Their music has been said to possess the unique ability to impart peace to the soul, in a way that the soul echoes with the melody of timeless folk- tunes of Assam. Angaraag Mahanta and his band have been credited for creating an amazing blend of contemporary music and folk.

The band consists of Papon on vocals, Brin Desai on live electronics, Jinti on lead guitars, Kirti on percussion and Dipu on bass and Tanmay on Drums [4][5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.

Personal life

He lives in Mumbai with his wife Shweta Mishra Mahanta and they have two children, a son Puhor and daughter Parijaat. His father, noted Assamese folk singer, Khagen Mahanta, died on 12 June 2014.

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 Rihan 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.[8][9][6][10]

Albums

Name Release Language Note
Jonaki Rati 2005 Assamese First Solo Album
Niyoror Gadhuli 2011 Assamese Co-Artists: Diganta Bharati, Dikshu, Chayanika
Dhulir Akash Assamese Co-Artists: Manjit
Rongphul Assamese Assamese Folk Song (লোক-সংগীত) Album
Chinaki Osinaki 2010 Assamese Second Solo Album
Gomseng 2011 Assamese Bihu Song Album; Co-Artist: Rashmirekha Saikia
Phagunor Gaan 2011 Assamese Holi Song Album
Gaan 2011 Assamese Co-Artists: Zubeen Garg, Jublee Baruah
Hengul 2011-12 2011 Assamese Hengul Mobile Theater's Album (One Song)
Phulcheng[11] 2011 Assamese Bihu Song Album; Co-Artist: Rashmirekha Saikia
The Story So Far[12] 2012 Hindi First Hindi Album, Winner of GIMA 2012 for Best Pop Album
Kirili 2014 Assamese Bihu Song Album
Meaning of Colours Assamese Album Hindi Album Mobile Theater Album

As Playback Singer in Films

List of Bollywood and other language film songs recorded by Papon

Year Film Language Song name(s) Co-singer(s) Music Director(s)
2015 Bombay Velvet Hindi Darbaan Solo Amit Trivedi
2015 KHEL - the Game Assamese Tomake kaxorote pale Bornali Kalita Poran Borkatoky (Jojo)
2015 Dum Laga Ke Haisha Hindi Moh Moh Ke Dhaage (Male),
Prem's Theme 		Solo Anu Malik
2015 Hawaizaada Hindi Turram Khan Ayushmann Khurana, Monali Thakur Rochak Kohli,. Mangesh Dhadke, Ayushmann Khurana
2015 Valiyavan Tamil Hello Hello Solo D. Imman
2015 Baby Hindi Main Tujhse Pyaar Nahin Karta Solo M. M. Kreem, Meet Bros Anjjan
2014 Lorai Bengali Jonaki Solo Indraadip Das Gupta
2014 Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain English/Hindi Sun Zara Solo
2014 Kokhon Tomar Asbe Telephone Bengali Ek Dui Teen Solo Dabbu, Dev Sen
2014 Vitti Dandu Marathi Pahuni Gha Re Saare Solo Santosh Mulekar
2014 Happy Ending Hindi Khamma Ghani Smita, Vidhi Sachin-Jigar
2014 Mumbai Delhi Mumbai Hindi Thham Sa Gaya Solo Sawan Dutta, Rohan Rohan
2014 Buno Haansh Bengali Esheche Raat Shreya Ghoshal Shantanu Moitra
2014 Bobby Jasoos Hindi Tu,
Tu (Reprise) 		Shreya Ghoshal Shantanu Moitra
2014 Parapaar Bengali Mukhomukhi Solo Sourendra and Soumyojit
2014 Manjunath Hindi Gol Solo Sonam "NITIN" Subir (Parikrama (band))
2014 Kya Dilli Kya Lahore Hindi Lakeerein hai toh rehne do Solo Sandesh Shandilya
2014 Anuradha Assamese Boi Jua Solo Geet Priyam
2014 Obhishopto Nighty Bengali Roddur Antara Mitra Indradeep Dasgupta
2014 Rodor Sithi Assamese Endhare,
Protidine 		Solo Zubeen Garg
2014 Lakshmi Hindi Sun Ri Baavli Solo Tapas Kelia
2013 Satyagraha – Democracy Under Fire Hindi Janta Rocks Meet Bros Anjjan, Keerthi Sagathia, Shibani Kashyap, Shalmali Kholgade Meet Bros Anjjan
2013 Madras Cafe Hindi Maula Sun Le Re,
Khud Se 		Solo Shantanu Moitra, E.I.C.
2013 Vanakkam Chennai Tamil Hey Kaatril Yetho Maria Roe Vincent Anirudh Ravichander
2013 Chor Chor Super Chor Hindi Na Ishq Kariyo Jhalle Solo Mangesh Dhadke
2013 Issaq Hindi Enne Unne Keerthi Sagathia, Mamta Sharma, Tarun Sagar Sachin Jigar, Sachinn Gupta, Krsna
2013 Inkaar Hindi Inkaar (Theme) Hindi Version Shahid Mallya Shantanu Moitra
2013 Special 26 Hindi Kaun Mera Solo M. M. Kreem, Himesh Reshammiya
2013 Patang Hindi Maaru Amdavad Solo
2012 Barfi! Hindi Kyon Sunidhi Chauhan Pritam
2012 Mumbai Cutting Hindi Solo
2012 Rowd Assamese Pokhi Pokhi Rupjyoti Devi [13] Jatin Sharma
2011 Soundtrack Hindi 1) Banao
2) Naina Laagey 		Solo Midival Punditz, Karsh Kale
2011 I Am Kalam Hindi Zindagi Aisi Waisi Solo Abishek Ray, Madhuparna, Papon, Susmit Bose, Shivji Dholi
2011 Dum Maaro Dum Hindi Jiyein Kyun Solo Pritam
2011 System Bangla Hente Chenashona Rastay Solo
2011 Raamdhenu Assamese Ujai A Jaa Noi Solo Jatin Sharma
2006 Strings - Bound By Faith Hindi Mantra - Om Zubeen Garg, Souran Ray Chaudhuri Zubeen Garg
2004 Let's Enjoy Hindi Sajna Bawre Mere solo Midival Punditz, Papon

Nomination

Angaraag was nominated twice under the Best Folk Album category for his two Assamese folk albums Gomseng (Bihu) with Rashmi and Phagunar Gaan (Holi Songs) at the GIMA awards 2011.[6][14][15]

Awards

Papon was bestowed with the best male singer award in the 'Prag Cine Awards' 2012, for the title song Ramdhenu in the Assamese movie Raamdhenu. He was also honored with The Bhupen Hazarika Award in the best male singer category on 27 April 2012. In 2012, he won the GIMA Awards for Best Pop Album of the Year for his debut Hindi Album, The Story So Far. In 2012 only he won the JD Annual Rock Awards for Two categories, The Best Male Voice of the year and for the Best Song of the year ( Boitha Maro ).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sarmah, Chandan (29 January 2010). "Tunes with a rare freshness". The Telegraph (Calcutta, India). Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  2. ↑ "Watch out for Papon on Coke Studio". afaqs! (Press release). Avian Media. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  3. ↑ "Biography". Last.fm. 25 February 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "Papon & The East India Company". nh7. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "Almost Famous". NDTV Good Times. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sinha, Dipanjan (18 November 2011). "Papon goes national on musical movement". The Telegraph (Calcutta, India). Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  7. ↑ "Jamming for Rights". Hindustan Times. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "O Megh - Music Video ft. Shantanu Moitra & Angaraag Papon Mahanta [Ep4 S04] : The Dewarists". YouTube. Dewar's India.
  9. ↑ "Season 04 : O Megh". Dewar's.
  10. ↑ "The Dewarists – Khule Da Rabb". nh7. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  11. ↑ Mahanta, Jutika (21 December 2011). "Angarag 'Papon' Mahanta to launch new bihu album". Assam Times. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  12. ↑ Fernandes, Shawn (6 January 2012). "Papon to Launch Debut Hindi Pop Album The Story So Far". Gibson Guitar India. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  13. ↑ "পখী পখী মন মোৰ... অসমীয়া ছবিত পাপনৰ প্ৰথম ডুৱেট, ৰচনা ৰাজদ্বীপৰ". দৈনিক অসম. 4 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "Assamese Singer Angaraang Papon Mahanta Nominated For GIMA". manipurhub. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "2011 GIMA Awards Non Film Nominees". Global Indian Music Awards (GIMA). Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2011.

External links