‘Chaav Laaga’—A Masterpiece in true sense(papon)

Have you ever wondered as to why slow and soothing music appeals to a majority of us far more than the extremely loud or metallic one? In the past few decades, a lot of researches have found that slow music is generally greatly beneficial to one’s health and wellbeing. Listening to calming music on a regular basis not only enhances cognitive functions such as concentration, memory and reasoning but also boost the immune system, relax tension in the muscles and elevate a person’s mood considerably. Classical music and slow romantic songs were found to deliver the most health benefits.

The past year saw the release of a number of beautiful songs but none could match ‘Chaav laaga’ from the Varun Dhawan- Anushka Sharma starrer ‘Sui Dhaaga’. The song captures the emotion of love and simplicity in its true sense. It is a sweet and melodious romantic number displaying the beautiful bond between Anushka and Varun. It conveys the idea of marriage as a journey in which the two individuals are equal. It won people’s heart and was on every other person’s tongue within no time after its release.

‘Chaav laaga’ is sung by Papon and Ronkini Gupta. This has been like a come-back song for Papon after he’d been away from Bollywood for quite some time and we could only wonder how much we’d missed that soothing yet maddening voice of his. The song is more like poetry in motion. Not only is Papon’s voice in the song heart touching, but the language too is pretty much colloquial. Just like ‘Moh moh ke dhaage’ from ‘Dum Lagake Haisha’ that got Papon noticed and in the public eye for the sense of calm his work possesses, ‘Chaav laaga’ has also managed to work well in his favor, the proof of which is his ever-soaring popularity.

Time and again, Papon’s songs have proved that he not only understands music deeply but treats it as a part of his own. His classical background and the education that he went down to acquire in music are both justified in his work and he is one among those rare singers today who can hit the lowest notes with the utmost ease. His voice is full of variations and his work highly versatile. Singers like Papon are truly a blessing to the music industry today, especially in a time when people are more driven towards rock and heavy music and seem to have forgotten the beauty of folk and classical music- both of which take us back to our roots.

The response received by ‘Chaav laaga’ has been overwhelming with people even going to the extent of saying that a song like this deserves nothing less than a national award. The song easily manages to keep you smiling throughout and the chemistry between the lead pair has been portrayed beautifully through the lyrics.

Looks like Papon has managed to weave magic again, simply doing what he does the best. Now that surely defines a true artist, doesn’t it?

Papon Live in Concert- Nainital

In today’s times, the accessibility of recorded music has made it difficult for many to find incentive to go to live concerts. Now, audiophiles could and definitely would provide lengthy arguments if one was to challenge the significance of recorded music. However, the immersive energy and intensity between a performer and its masses outdoes everything else. To share a musical adventure with like-minded listeners creates a great sense of togetherness.

Artists who interact with their audience destroy the barrier that separates the two, creating a sense of unity. This leads us to the most subjective point; the imperfections of live shows are what makes them so perfect. This is the reason why attending live shows is imperative. They cannot be recreated. One artist of our generation who is known to engage live audiences like no other is none other than our very own Assamese folk sensation- Papon.

In May 2019, Papon performed live at Charkhet which happens to be a prominent area in the city of Nainital, Uttarakhand. Not only did he perform some of his most renowned Bollywood numbers but also interacted with the young crowd at large. The audiences raved along to his mesmerizing tunes and incomparable energy. According to a number of onlookers and media present at the venue, Papon has a certain vibe of his own and his music easily transports you to a different zone altogether.

Papon is a complete nature- lover and has held Uttaranchal very close to his heart for the similarities it has with Assam and its people. In an interview later, he said how the audience in Uttaranchal always remind him of his hometown and how their languages have a lot of similarities as well. He also told the journalist how he has many friends in the state and he always makes sure that he visits them whenever he is in Uttaranchal. He has also said that Uttaranchal gives him a very homely feeling. He also told the journalist how he is planning to create a fusion song by combining the two languages and how it has been on his mind for a very long time now.

People absolutely love Papon for his humble nature and down-to-earth personality. It becomes a lot easier for them to connect with him since he always spreads a lot of warmth and they feel his music. His strong knowledge of classical and folk music has made him a favourite among different generations and people of all age groups. Although a lot of people don’t understand Assamese, he always makes it a point to explain the meaning of each sentence while singing for a live audience. He also makes sure that his music is unique and experiments a lot with different genres.

This being said, Papon surely managed to sway the audience of Nainital off their feet with his amazing performance. The next time he is in town, we surely wouldn’t want to miss out on his concert, would you?

papon- A Musical Journey (Chapter-II)

Going ahead and starting something regardless of whether you succeed or not, will still put you on the right path as long as doing that thing is all you want to do. You’ll realise really quickly if it is right, leave that realisation for later. Because by then you will know for certain whether or not it’s right for you. If you don’t start, you never will.

All you really need to do is focus on what you know for certain, and you’ll be inadvertently writing a story on how you eventually figured out what you wanted. An amazing story to tell at that, twists and turns, great times and times of trial. One dragon short of a real-world fantasy!

Papon’s story had just begun once he decided that music was all he ever wanted. After approximately six years of working on small assignments such as jingles and other commercial stuff to figure things out and also make some pocket money in the process of doing so, he finally released his first Assamese album ‘Jonaaki Raati’ in 2004. A couple of years later, somewhere around 2006, he began doing live shows following the huge success of the album in Assam. People now wanted to see the voice behind ‘Jonaaki Raati’ perform right in front of them. This was the beginning of Angaraag Mahanta and this name only got bigger with time.

Around the same time, Papon had started singing with the band called ‘MIDIval Punditz’ in Delhi. This was when people started calling him ‘Papon’- which was the name given to him by his college friends in Delhi. He was addressed to by this new name everywhere but Assam- there people wanted to call him by his formal name but the pet name was getting more popular. Hence, ‘Papon’ and ‘Angaraag Mahanta’ were both getting famous at the same time, more like two different personalities merged into one- Papon was doing Hindi, electronic music stuff and Angaraag, on the other hand, was doing stuff in Assam. But this was then, now both Angaraag and Papon are merging into one, with every passing day.

In a recent interview, a reporter asked Papon as to how and when he plans on releasing his next album, to which he said that he doesn’t really plan his albums. He makes songs on the move and when he has collected enough, he then combines them into an album and plans on releasing it. He makes a lot of songs on his personal experiences in life and what he learns from it every single day. On being asked about his album ‘The Story So Far’, he said that it’s got all those eight-ten years of his evolution as an artist, his different moods and styles put together.

People have grown to love and appreciate Papon even more for his albums as they get to know an artist closely through their individual work and Papon’s work has always spoken for him way more than his words. He told the reporter that he has played at so many different events such as the NH7 Fest in Pune, the Oktoberfest in Bangalore, the Sula-fest in Nasik and every single time so many people have come to him and said that they usually don’t go around and buy music but they have bought his album. In an age where downloading a song is just a matter of a few clicks, this comes along as one big achievement in itself, doesn’t it?

In recent times, Papon has worked on a number of different music genres but he has also managed to remain closely knit to his roots. Even today, almost 30% of the songs that he performs at his live shows are Assamese. He has made folk music popular in Assam too since he strongly believes that folk music is very interesting itself, just that times are changing and we need to readjust ourselves accordingly, keeping its essence alive. There are a lot of young people who are getting back to folk since Papon has designed it in a certain way to match the younger generation’s interests. At each of his concerts, he takes the time out to sing Assamese songs and explain what it is about. He always says that music, after all, is music and we are all talking about the same human stories in different languages.

We can only wonder at how deeply he understands music and if each artist starts thinking like him, our values, ethics and culture will go on to live in our music legacy forever, even when times drastically change. Papon surely is a man of his beliefs and he truly touches people’s hearts with utmost simplicity every single time.

A Responsible Citizen- Papon

Most of us have grown up in an age where the use of plastic shaped our environment to such an extent that today it really is the only thing all around us. Cosmetic and toiletry containers, food and beverage containers, car interiors, stationery, toys, bags, laptops, packaging and even as a replacement of certain materials that don’t even look like plastic in the first place- plastic is all we see!

Plastic comes in a number of forms but there is a general consensus that even though it is a useful material, there are many serious concerns related to the harmful effects of plastic use on human health. Many of the substances present in plastic are not bound to its chemical chain, which means that they can migrate under certain circumstances as small as a change in light or temperature. Toxic ingredients can then evaporate in the air and be breathed in or can readily be absorbed into the skin or surface of plants, animals as well as humans. A lot of animals also end up ingesting tonnes of plastic each year which often results in choking and death. Hence, it is very important to spread awareness regarding the harmful effects of plastic and take the necessary measures to tackle this problem at the earliest.

Over the years, a number of celebrities and prominent public figures have been supporting various initiatives related to banning or limiting the use of plastic and spreading awareness related to its reuse. One such celeb who is widely known for his undying love towards nature and being vocal towards the ill-effects of plastic is our very own ‘Papon’. He has always been greatly concerned with various causes related to the conservation of our natural habitat and the harmful effects of plastic on the environment have been on his mind for a really long time now. He recently tweeted, ”If we don’t realize how we are killing nature by plastic abuse it’s going to be too late before it kills our next generation and us too! Please take a little pain if required to go around a bit to avoid plastic use where we can! Please work towards proper Recycling & Reuse!”

Many believe that his love for nature and concern towards it comes from the fact that he was born and brought up in the north-eastern part of India- where nature happens to be in abundance hence, people respect it and live with it in harmony. Papon believes that it is the duty of every individual of our country, as a responsible citizen, to protect our natural habitat since the world is getting converted into a concrete jungle and one day, if things keep happening at the same pace, we will have nothing but regret left within us. In a recent interview, he also told the journalist that we need to think about the future generations and act wisely right now. The sooner we start, the better it is.

Furthermore, Papon has also been involved with a lot of other social causes in the past such as ‘The Assam River Dolphin Conservation Project’, ‘Clean the Brahmaputra Mission’ and ‘Assam Flood Relief’.

All these things prove that he definitely is a responsible citizen of the country and is doing everything he can to raise awareness among today’s youth to do the same. We wish there were more people like Papon in the country!

Papon at the Prag Cine Awards 2019

In today’s times, award ceremonies hold great importance, be it any sector- right from corporate offices and mass media to the film industry. An awards ceremony makes people feel that their work is valued. It symbolizes deep gratitude and respect for each person’s good job and it also makes people aware that good work will always be rewarded. At the same time, people also get a chance to just relax and celebrate. Simply gathering, sharing experiences or even performing at such events is a very powerful means of encouragement.

One of the most prominent award ceremonies held every year in the north-eastern part of India is the ‘Prag Cine Awards’. It is presented annually by Prag News and Rengoni, which happens to be a satellite television channel from Assam. The main goal of the award function is to provide recognition, inspiration and support to the Assamese film industry and honour some of the eminent personalities who have actively contributed to the cause of Assamese cinema. The award was first instituted in 2003 and films produced in other north-eastern states started getting honoured in this ceremony since 2015.

In 2019, the Prag Cine Awards were held on 1^st and 2^nd June. With the theme of the ‘Mighty Brahmaputra’ river, this year the award function was held in Nagaon, a prominent city in the state of Assam. Since its inception, the magnificent award show presents 31 awards in different categories from the Assamese Film Industry. Around 48 regional movies across the northeast, which were released in 2018, were nominated this year in various categories. Many prominent artists from the northeast also attended the star-studded event and performed there. One such artist was none other than our very own Assamese folk sensation- Papon.

Papon has been known as the pioneer of Bihu among the younger generations ever since he stepped into Bollywood with the aim of getting something different and unique to the table. Over the years, he kept proving his versatility and people absolutely loved his fresh experiments with music every single time. Both his parents- Archana Mahanta and the Late. Khagen Mahanta, are renowned Assamese folk and classical singers and his father was also known as ‘Bihu Samrat’ by the people of Assam for his notable contributions to the genre. Hence, their family happens to be one of the most renowned ones in Assam and it can be rightly said that music runs in their blood.

Now, coming back to the Prag Music Awards, the theme song this year has been sung by Papon, Zubeen Garg and Pompi Gogoi. The song displays the rich Assamese culture and traditions. Not only does the song have a beautiful tune but it also portrays the different colours of the state with beauty as well as simplicity. Papon has been a regular face at the award show and he makes it a point that he attends it every year so as to encourage new talent and Assamese music in general.

We absolutely love Papon Da and it makes us extremely happy that there still are people in the industry who are so deeply connected to their roots and the place that made them who they are today.

Papon- A Musical Journey (Chapter-I)

“Do what you love.”- easier said than done, isn’t it? In life, we often come across two sets of people- the ones who move along as stereotypes- camouflaging themselves among the crowd, and the ones who pursue what their heart really wants to- moving in the direction opposite to that of the stereotypes.

Many of us don’t often end up doing what we’ve always wanted to, solely because we’re scared- of failure, of going against the odds, of not bagging a decent ‘corporate job’, and a seemingly long list of never-ending reasons. We convince ourselves that it is better to not try at all than to try and fail because then we can easily pretend that we weren’t doing it by choice.

And then there are those who have the courage to step up and choose what they love. Whenever we start something new there’s no guarantee about where it will lead us, and that can be a scary thing. But then again, it can work positively in our favour and take us to new heights altogether. One such example before us today is that of a singer loved and cherished by many- our very own ‘Papon’.

Though deeply rooted in the classical and folk traditions of Assam, Papon is a rock-star in his own right. The singer aspired to be an Architect before realizing that life had something else in store for him- music was his calling. He belongs to a musical heritage by birth since both his parents are doyens of Assamese music. But he always wanted to be a self-made man.

In a recent interview, Papon said that during his early youth, he always knew that he could sing better than many around him and that people always compared him to his parents, which wasn’t really exciting then. He said that he knew he could sing because he is from a singing family, but that was about it and he really wasn’t focused on singing. He further added that he did his training in traditional and folk music because that was a part of their home institution. But he hadn’t planned on pursuing music until very late when he actually discovered on his own that he was also born a musician and that music really was his calling.

On being asked by the journalist further as to what was the one incident that made him think that singing was his destiny, Papon excitedly said,” There wasn’t one incident, in particular, it was rather an entire phase. When I went to Delhi to pursue Architecture, a brother of mine, who himself was an Architect, convinced me that it will take a long while for me to establish myself if I do Architecture and that I won’t be able to do two things at a time. So, he rather asked me to do something extra where I would get more time to devote to music because he truly believed in me and my understanding of music. This was when I actually started getting convinced.”

Delhi being Delhi, you get the chance to interact and get exposed to a whole lot of people. While Papon began to perform at different places as he started getting work, bands which had established names such as ‘Indian Ocean’ would enjoy his company. That slowly gave him the confidence or the push he needed and he figured out that he could move emotions in people simply by singing the way he did- there was something refreshing about his voice or the way he sang folk. Papon’s life has slowly started taking a turn and things had finally started falling in place for him. That whole moment made him realize that people liked him even without having any knowledge about his background and how big his parents were back in his hometown.Papon’s journey- right from finding his passion to rising to fame and becoming the singer that he is- has proved to be an excellent example of how people can move mountains once they realize what their true worth is.

Papon at the Udaipur World Music Festival

The arts and culture- just as the sciences- are among the most rapidly changing fields in society today. For the very simple reason that they are driven by artists who observe the status of societal developments and present their reflections to the public which leads to new as well as renewed knowledge. Artists, through their artistic creations, and intellectuals, through their elaborations, have always been raising their voices on the cultural front such as folk and classical music as well as values leading to freedom, justice, peace and democracy. Hence, it is equally important to celebrate their existence and contributions to society as a whole.

Music festivals not only encourage new and upcoming artists but also celebrate the established names in the industry who are known to get something new to the table every single time. The very ambience of a music festival sparks a light within anyone attending. The immense energy pulsating through the crowd is an absolutely addicting rush that unites every single person present there with the artist.

The Udaipur World Music festival is one such cultural event that brings prominent artists across the world under one roof. It is held every year during the month of February at the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan, India. The festival features a number of live performances by international as well as Indian artists and attracts a huge crowd. The first edition of this festival, which also happens to be India’s first World Music Festival, was held on 13^th February 2016 and included global artists and ensembles from more than 12 countries including Ghana, Spain, Venezuela, France, Italy as well as India itself.

In 2016, among the many well-known public figures and incredibly talented artists present at the event, was none other than our Assamese folk sensation and the man who made Bihu music popular at an international level himself- Papon. While the evening session Jazz Fusion and Family Atlantica performing Afro Beat Venezuelan Cumbia, the crowd eagerly awaited Papon’s much talked about performance. Extremely popular among the youngsters, Papon not only sang his popular Bollywood songs- ‘Kyun’ and ‘Jeena’ but also used some extremely interesting tricks in order to bridge the gap between him and the audience.

Keeping in mind the entire gist of the Udaipur World Music Festival in mind, the singer, who has a huge fan following in his home state of Assam, belted out some of his well-known Assamese compositions. While the crowd happily swayed and danced to his peppy folk songs, they further urged him to perform his Bollywood numbers too. His gig that started with his famous Assamese song ‘Dinae Dinae’, was followed by Punjabi song ‘Suraj Nu Mildi Saver’, ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’ and many other melodious tracks.

Papon has always been known as a performer and not just a singer. This was just another event where he proved that music does not need any language to be appreciated, it is rather a feeling that crosses all boundaries and unites people. If we have more artists like Papon in our country, India will surely receive even more recognition for its rich culture and incredible music.

The Naropa Shrine Festival in Ladakh (2018)-Papon

In India, come September, and you will be able to take a cultural dive in Ladakh’s rich Buddhist legacy that has been preserved over the ages. The Naropa festival commences in Ladakh every year around this time and it is also known as the ‘Kumbha of Ladakh’ owing to the mammoth crowd that it attracts. This festival brings together people not only from India but from the entire world. The colourful celebrations and elaborate rituals continue for days at a stretch. The Naropa has got a different vibe to it altogether.

In September 2018, the Naropa festival was concluded with a spectacular display of cultural events ranging right from cultural dance performances to pop concerts by prominent artists. The program included a wide range of events that were together responsible for setting the tone of the festival. Attendees of this formal affair included the chief executive councillor LAHDC Dorjey Motup who was also the chief guest, as well as His Eminences Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, Gyalwa Dokhampa, Khamdrak Rinpoche, and a procession of venerable masters, nuns and monks from across the Himalayas and beyond. There were many other attendees too, including international ambassadors. Headlining the event was the famous Bollywood singer and composer- Papon, who performed before a huge gathering in one of the highest attitude concert venues in the world.

Papon has been a lover of art and culture since his early childhood. Hence, he was extremely happy when the formal invitation from the festival appeared before him and he readily agreed to participate in the same. He comes from a family of singers/ composers and therefore, holds music close to his heart more than anything else. It can be rightly said that his love for music is also reflected in a number of his compositions and this, in turn, makes his performances even more soulful.

Papon sang a number of songs at the festival ranging over genres which made people both- jump out of their seats in excitement while wanting to shake a leg and also, remain glued to their seats while listening to his soothing magical voice. Some of the songs that he performed at the event include- ‘Moh moh ke dhaage’ from Dum laga ke haisha, ‘Tu jo mila’ from Bajrangi Bhaijaan, ‘Banao banao’ from Soundtrack, etc. all of which happen to be his original compositions.

Not only is he a great singer and composer, but he also happens to be an equally good performer. He kept the audience engaged too by asking them to sing along and wave their hands to his beats. Interacting with the audience further, he said that he loved them all and held the rich culture of Ladakh with deep respect. He further added that he is looking forward to attending the festival again sometime soon since he personally got to learn a lot of things there.

The five-day long festival concluded with a new Guinness World Record for Ladakh earning the title of the ‘Largest Ladakhi Dance’ wherein around 299 Ladakhi women gracefully performed the famous dance of Shondol. Being able to witness all of this had a great impact on Papon since he got to learn a lot about Buddhism and its preaching there. He is someone who truly believes that India is a storehouse of diversity and young talent, which if focused in the right direction, can take us to great heights. According to various onlookers at the event, Papon engaged the crowd like no other. Such is his persona and this gives us all the more reasons to look up to him now, doesn’t it?

Mothers are the Best Doctors- Papon

The most divine mission assigned to a woman still remains to be the pivotal role of being a mother. In a classic poem written by the famous author- William Ross Wallace entitled ‘What Rules the World’, he said that the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. What else could illustrate the influence a mother plays to the child better than this? As a mother strives to teach and nurture her child, she also explicitly makes the world a much better place.

A Jewish proverb rightly affirms what a majority of us might have experienced at some point in our lives: “A mother understands what a child does not say”. There indeed exists a dynamic bond between a mother and her children. They can easily hear sentences in the silence of their children. God has bestowed mothers with the special gift of intuition because it gives them a strong sense of what is right for their children, what they are good at, how they may excel in the future and what abilities, as well as gifts they need to make sure, are developed in their children’s lives.

One such strong mother who has moulded her son in a way that he has become one of the most renowned singers today is none other than our beloved Angaraag Mahanta aka Papon’s mother- Archana Mahanta. Papon’s parents, both Archana Mahanta and the Late. Khagen Mahanta, are singers and composers of traditional and folk music in Assam. The Mahantas along with their son represents one of the most influential families in Assamese music.

Papon recently tweeted on his official Twitter handle,” When your stomach goes for a toss due to mad travels and your mother works on some magic herbs to cure it! #MossundoriMix #AssameseHerbs” and posted a video along with it where his mother is seen preparing some recipe with various ingredients. He has been extremely close to his mother since his early childhood days and has, on various occasions, stated that his mother is his biggest idol. According to various close friends and relatives of the singer, Papon is a complete ‘Muma’s boy’ and he absolutely doesn’t mind that tag.

Papon believes that whatever he is today is due to the hard work his mother put in him and the values she inculcated within him. She is the reason he is such a grounded person today and intends to remain the same always. Papon recently even visited an old-age home in Assam where he spent some quality time with the old ladies, talking, laughing and learning a lot of things from them that he will cherish throughout life. Looking at Papon today, we can surely say that he has had a wonderful mother and we are going to be indebted to her forever since she gave us our favourite singer!

Papon- Most Versatile Singer in Bollywood (2018)

Why do most of us work? For success, money, fame, honour, self- realization or the good life? Each one of us is driven by an entirely different set of compulsions and that is exactly what makes us the kind of individuals we are. But one thing is pretty certain- some professions are meant for those who wish to explore themselves. Even when you succeed in identifying your calling, rewards can differ greatly.

Ambition always begins with a purpose, a dream, and even though money might be an important aspect of it, some people truly strive to excel or achieve for reasons beyond money. It is their desire to prove themselves, to contribute in a responsible way towards society and mould the youth in a certain way. One such person who strongly believes in this principle and strives harder each day to achieve his goal is our beloved Angarag Mahanta, more commonly known by his stage-name ‘Papon’.

Papon’s early training has been in Indian classical, folk and devotional music. He had primarily learnt vocals but also plays the table, guitar, khol, and harmonium. His music covers a wide range of genres such as acoustic folk, ambient electronic and new- age Indian classical music and has been identified as having traces of pentatonic Mongoloid notes, ghazals and local river song influences. Although his first language is Assamese, he has also sung in Punjabi, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Bengali and Mishing. He has given Bollywood some of the best hits. He can be safely counted among one of those singers who manage to touch our hearts with his soulful voice, even if its sung in a different language.

One such recent achievement for Papon has been winning the Cinematic Artistic Music Appreciation (CAMA) award for ‘The Most Versatile singer of Bollywood’ category in 2018 at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. CAMA is the pioneer and the only platform in Gujarat which appreciates and felicitates Bollywood superstars for their achievements in the industry. They also take immense honour and pride in promoting Cinematic Tourism in the state of Gujarat.

Some of the most popular songs sung and composed by Papon during 2017-2018 include- ‘Chaav laga’ and ‘Khatar patar’ from Sui Dhaaga, ‘Jhuk na paunga’ from Raid, ‘Baba bolta hai bas ho gaya’ from Sanju, ‘Heartquake’ from Karwaan, ‘Kuchh nahi’ from Tubelight, ‘Labon ka Krobaar’ from Befikre, ‘Bulleya’ from Sultan, etc. According to a number of well-known singers and songwriters from Bollywood, Papon’s voice has great bass, texture and he can also hit extremely low notes effortlessly, maintaining the feel of the song at the same time. He also comes from a family of highly respected composers/ singers and his education in music has further enabled him to add his personal touch to every song he sings. To put it all together, Papon’s voice has still managed to retain its simplicity.Due to all these reasons and many more, Papon has gone down to become one of the people’s most favourite singers in the recent years and has won a number of awards and has been honoured at a number of platforms across the country. Hence, he rightly deserves to be called ‘The Most Versatile Singer’ in Bollywood now, doesn’t he?