World Environment Day with Papon

Human beings are both creatures as well as moulders of their environment, which gives them physical sustenance and bestows upon them the opportunity for moral, social, intellectual and spiritual growth. In the extremely long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet, a certain stage has been reached when, through the rapid acceleration of technology and science, they have acquired the power to transform their environment in a number of ways on an unprecedented scale and undo all the harm caused to it over the years.

Today, the protection and improvement of the human environment is one of the major issues of concern which affects the well-being of people and economic development throughout the world. Hence, the United Nations came up with a collective effort of observing 5^th June as the World Environment Day across the globe. The celebration of this day provides each one of us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for a responsible conduct by individuals, communities and enterprises, and an enlightened opinion in preserving and enhancing the environment we live in. Since its inception in 1974, this day has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in more than 100 countries.

In India, a lot of public figures and famous personalities from different fields come together to spread awareness regarding the significance of this day. One such renowned celebrity singer who holds environment and the problems related to it extremely close to his heart is our very own- Angaraag Mahanta aka Papon of ‘Jiyein Kyun’ fame. Papon has always urged people to care for nature and preserve it for generations to come. He has always maintained that it is our first and foremost aim as responsible citizens of the country that we protect the natural resources we use without even keeping in mind their scarcity and the rate at which they are getting extinct.

Papon is also against the unmonitored use of plastic and strongly urges people to reuse as well as recycle it. In a recent tweet from his official twitter handle, the singer wrote,” 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!”

A group of fans in Assam who follow Papon and absolutely love him go by the name ‘Paponists’ and have created official fan pages to show their appreciation towards the singer. The group has organized a ‘Tree Plantation’ drive at Morigaon town area in the state of Assam this year on the occasion of World Environment Day. This initiative aims at spreading awareness regarding the depletion of the green cover on our planet and measures to prevent the situation further. According to a number of Paponists, the singer’s love towards nature has inspired each of them in more than one way and they wish to follow his footsteps further. Papon surely has inspired many around him to care for the environment and act responsibly towards it. We hope more and more people try to become like him and strive to make our planet a better place to live in.

Papon- Mission Smile

In a country like India, where there are approximately 1 million cleft deformity patients who have never really received any form of treatment, Mission Smile has taken an active step towards helping the situation with over 35,000 surgeries and 45,000 medical examinations in a mere span of 16 years. Bringing smiles is the sole motto of Mission Smile. The organization, led by a team of dynamic trustees facilitates free life-changing surgeries for patients suffering from deformities of the cleft. Due to its remarkable efforts in the field, the organization was honoured with the ‘Social Impact Award’ by the Government of Assam for their social service in the field.

In 2016, Mission Smile approached popular singer and musician- Papon (Angaraag Mahanta) to become its brand ambassador with a view to creating greater awareness regarding cleft lip/ palate and its treatment across the state of Assam and the country as a whole. Papon not only has an overwhelming voice, but also a disarming and amicable personality. He is a comparatively simple down-to-earth person and hence, it is only natural that listeners connect better with him since they feel that he is someone they know well. Papon personally believes that each one of us needs to contribute in some way or the other to make this world a better place to live in. Hence, he readily accepted the opportunity offered by Mission Smile and also attended the concluding day of the 13^th Guwahati International Mission soon after to interact with the patients and surgeons in attendance.

During the six-day mission that year alone, more than 144 surgeries were conducted and around 216 patients were screened at the Guwahati Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre. According to various onlookers and authorities present at the event, Papon was extremely happy to be associated with the mission and even spoke about the importance of cleft care and its treatment with regards to both- children as well as adults. He not only appreciated the efforts of the organization on-stage but also spent time with the team and beneficiaries later. He said that it was a wonderful event and that the centre was quite organized. He also added that it was a great learning experience for him as well and he would like to attend more such events often.

In 2018, on completing two successful years of being the brand ambassador of Mission Smile, Papon was quoted saying,” In the last 2 years with you guys, I got to witness so many smiles you brought back to this world! Thank you for making me a part of this supreme service! I salute all the volunteers across the globe who bring so many smiles to life every single day.” Mission Smile further acknowledged Papon’s kind words and thanked him for being there for them throughout their journey of a ‘Cleft-free India’. Such is the personality of our beloved Papon and this is the exact reason why he is appreciated and loved by masses not only nationally, but at an international level too. He believes that with every helping hand and a compassionate heart, we are paving ways to improve our society as a whole.

Moh Moh ke Dhaage- The Most Valuable Achievement for Papon

One of the prime reasons as to why people enjoy music is because, like other creative arts, it forges connections with our emotions, more than often the ones we can’t describe in words. There is a huge difference between music and noise. Good music is something that can teleport you to a different world altogether. It can change your mood within minutes and act as a complete stress-buster. Music isn’t just a sound, its an emotion.

Now, although every individual has a different taste in music, there are a few songs that appeal to a majority and leave an impression on your mind every time you listen to them. The reasons might be endless- right from the song appealing to you because you feel the emotion expressed in it to you loving the music in the background playing in the background- it can be anything at all but this song simply sounds beautiful. This is the reason why good songs touch both our heart and soul.

In 2016, one such song that proved to be a complete game-changer in a world where people like to listen to fast music way more than the one which is slow and peaceful, was ‘Moh moh ke dhaage’ from the Ayushman Khurrana- Bhoomi Pednekar starrer ‘Dum laga ke haisha’. The song beautifully describes how the lead actress, now married to the lead actor, is falling in love with her husband with every passing day and how she is thankful that she found him. The story revolves around a typical Indian arranged marriage setting with the female lead being overweight. It talks about the struggles of this newly-wed couple and how the male lead slowly falls in love with his wife over time. The song beautifully portrays the essence of the movie.

Papon, who happens to be the singer in the male lead for this song, surely knows how to hit the right note since he warms the very cockles of our heart with his mellifluous voice. The humongous positive response that this song received tells us how good songs always find their way into the hearts of the audience. Soon after the song began to lead every popularity chart, in an interview Papon said,” It is a pleasant surprise that this track has managed to come so far. In today’s fast-paced world where music is created in a rush, Moh moh ke dhaage bears testament to the fact that good songs always create a place for themselves in the heart of the audiences, no matter what the genre.”

Later that year, the song managed to bag a number of awards- IIFA Award, GIMA Award, Zee Cine Award, Mirchi Music Award, National Film Award, Guild Award, etc. to name a few. On being asked if this was expected when the song was in its production stage, Papon said that he was completely amazed when the song was nominated at almost each and every award function- a majority of which it won. He further added,” I never knew that the song was on top of the charts. Wherever I went after the film released, I heard only good things about it. Any composition is a confluence of different elements- from singing to music to lyrics- everything has to be spot on for any track to work.”

We truly believe that Papon is one of the most grounded artists we have today and his simplicity and dedication towards his work are unmatched for. Our strings definitely get attached to this incredible singer’s every time we listen to this incredible song. What about you?

Mujhe Kaise, Pata Na Chala- A Song Made of Love, & Love alone

Love is an emotion that we all have felt at some point during our life. Each one of us has got a cherished love song, the one we might have slow- danced to, in the arms of our crush, the first dance at the wedding, the one for unrequired love- the one who got away or simply a breakup song.

Why are we so attached to love songs, letting them colour our memories and feelings of both happiness as well as heartbreak? The answer to this is- because they are extremely relatable and you can often convey your true feelings in the form of songs when words can’t seem to find their way through emotions. All of us have a brief idea of what love is, what it could be, and it is comforting to experience a certain sense of ourselves in today’s popular culture. Therefore, it can be rightly said that music is an important way of relating to others, to express our feelings and emotions when we can’t find the right words for ourselves.

One such musician who delivers extremely relatable music and is loved by many for the slow and meaningful songs he delivers amidst the extremely fast-paced music-oriented world today is our beloved- Angaraag Mahanta, commonly known as ‘Papon’. In February 2019, Papon came up with a slow love song titled ‘Tujhe kaise, pata na chala’ in collaboration with the Meet Brothers. The song has managed to cross 100 million views on YouTube in a mere span of 3 months. The song video features TikTok app sensation, Manjul Khattar and LIKE app star, Ritika Badiani. As the song name suggests, it’s a story about young innocent love and the inevitable heartache, where the guy fails to realise the girl’s love for him.

In a recent interview, Papon said,” I have been really excited about this song since the day it came to me. The song audio got a fantastic reaction and I’m glad that people are loving the music video as well”. On being asked, Manmeet Singh said, “The best feeling is when you compose something and a singer comes along, takes the song to a different level, that’s what Papon did with his singing.” The lyrics of the song too are very relatable and touching. All these factors together worked really well for the song, which is why the video has gone viral. In today’s times, it’s uncommon for a romantic song to hit 4 Million in about 2 days.

Papon has been known by many to produce meaningful soulful music and with every new song, he only gets better at it. His strong knowledge of classical music and a background in folk greatly contribute in making his voice versatile and appealing. One surely cannot deny the fact that he manages to touch a person’s heart and transport them to a different dimension altogether with the magic of his voice.We hope that Papon keeps giving us hits like this for many more years to come and his legacy lives on for a really long time, inspiring others in the industry to do the same.

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?

III Smoking Barrels- Papon’s Contribution-Papon

Cinema is one of the most powerful and complex art forms in today’s world. Not only can it help us to understand our own lives better, but the lives of the people around us and how our culture, as well as the society, operate. It can shed light on spiritual and political matters too which in turn, can open our eyes to new ways of feeling, thinking and pursuing the things we want in life. Cinema also happens to be the seventh most sought after art form along with photography, literature, architecture, play, music and painting.

India has a very rich tradition of cinema which dates back to almost a century. A movie is not only a visual treat to its audience but is also an account of societal, political and economic set up in which a person is living. Bollywood or the Indian film industry has emerged as its own distinct identity across the globe today. As per a research conducted by the Bryant University, out of 50 international students, 35 liked watching Bollywood movies and listen to their songs. Due to all these and many other factors, it can be rightly said that Indian artists influence and dominate the global market and are in much demand.

One such globally recognized artist who has won people’s hearts across countries with his soothing voice, unique compositions and incredible variations is our beloved Papon. He is known for his voice range since he sings folk, classical as well as new-age modern songs with equal excellence. He is also the founder and lead singer of the folk-fusion band called Papon and The East India Company.

Papon was born in Assam and has spent most of his childhood days there. He has worked in several Assamese movies as a music director and singer-songwriter during the beginning of his career. His parents happen to be the Assamese folk couple Khagen Mahanta and Archana Mahanta. Hence, he comes from a very strong musical background and has received his education in music as well.

A major achievement in Papon’s singing career has been that of turning composer and singer for a song from a multilingual film ‘III Smoking Barrels’. The song was titled ‘Yeh Tishnagi’ and belonged to the operatic pop-rock genre. Later, the song was released in an Assamese version titled ‘Uttorbihin’ meaning ‘without answer’. He was overjoyed by the fact that he could take his native language to the crowds and make people fall in love with Assam through means of his little contribution. Later, in an interview, he was quoted saying,” It was an enriching experience singing the same song in Assamese and Hindi. It is my earnest hope that stories from the Northeast are enjoyed by the rest of the country by means of songs and films”.

III Smoking Barrels is a film that has been set in and shot across the North Eastern regions of India. It tells the story of three different characters- a young drug peddler, a child caught up in armed conflict and an elephant poacher. It also talks about the necessity of wildlife conservation and highlights animal poaching. The film has an excellent rating over IMDb (8.6) and has been acknowledged at many film festivals and award functions on international platforms too. It also won the Silver Palm Award at the Mexico International Film Festival in 2018 for the ‘Best Narrative’ category.

Speaking about Papon’s song in the movie, writer-director Sanjib Dey said that it indeed is a very special song and that Papon is an extremely talented singer who connects with the country as much as the north-east. He further added that Papon has brought about a certain rustic touch and range to the song and has rendered his vocals beautifully for it. He was extremely happy about having collaborated with the singer.

Hence, it can be rightly said that Papon puts all his heart and soul into his work and although he doesn’t like to give himself much credit, being the extremely grounded person that he is, the results definitely speak for him. We definitely need more people like him!

‘Jiyein Kyun’- The Song that got Papon Recognition-papon

Somewhere near the second half of the 20^th century, the distinction between music and noise changed dramatically from a listener’s point of view. Music became ubiquitous, whether in public places, inside the house, or simply in blurring the distinction between private and public use of it. ‘Rock’ is that genre of music which has directly addressed these new conditions and kept faith in the belief that music is a form of human conversation, even as it is mediated by radio, television, film-makers and advertisers.

Over time, as the original generations of rock and roll fans matured, the music became an accepted and deeply interwoven thread in popular culture. When people talk about rock music, they have a vision in their head of a four- or five-piece band, smoking cigarettes, with leather jackets and tattoos- a band that comes from nowhere and takes over the culture. However, long gone are those days now! Modern day rock music primarily focuses on peace and love. One such example is that of ‘Jiyein kyun’, sung by none other than our very own- Papon.

In 2011, Papon was still unknown to Bollywood when this song came out in the movie ‘Dum maaro Dum’. A lot of people loved his voice though and the song is said to be his entry to Bollywood, after which his soaring popularity has only been unstoppable. According to a famous blog published soon after the song came out- ‘Papon absolutely ROCKS in Jiyein Kyun and reminds one of some wonderful old singing personalities. The song is extremely enjoyable and there’s no doubting its potential to connect with your pulse giving you hours of listening pleasure.’ The blog also further stated that although the lyrics are on a romantic side, Papon quite easily manages to take the song at an emotional high with his uber cool and heavy vocals.

As per another blog, “Angaraag Mahanta AKA Papon’s song ‘Jiyein Kyun’ is greatly sung and it the fact that it keeps playing throughout the movie is splendid. It has got such addictive beats that it keeps playing in your head even if you listen to it only once.” Another famous blogger who reviews music said that if there is something in the entire album that he was able to hear on a loop from the very first time itself, its ‘Jiyein Kyun’. He further adds that not only is the song good on singing and music, but the lyrics are so lovely that he could connect with the song pretty soon. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Papon’s voice captures people right in the heart, flooding with emotions- so much so that it leaves them short of words. Such is his magic and we only hope that we always remain under this extremely talented singer’s spell forever!

Kaagaz Ki Kashti- A Tribute to Jagjit Singh Ji-Papon

Ghazal is one of the most popular and common forms of music in the countries of India and Pakistan today. Strictly speaking, it isn’t musical form at all but a poetic recitation. In the case of Ghazals, utmost importance is given to the lyrics. It traces its roots back in classical Arabic poetry. Over time, with the developments in recording and the soaring popularity of music, Ghazal became more popular as it went out and about the masses.

Jagjit Singh Ji (8^th February 1941 – 10^th October 2011) was one of the most famous Ghazal singers of modern times. In an era where the current generation is headed more towards music genres such as rock, metallic and hip-hop, it is refreshing to see that some people still respect ethnicity and are driven by Jagjit Singh Ji’s ghazals. Jagjit Singh Ji was also referred to as the ‘Ghazal King’ or the ‘King of Ghazals’ due to his ever-increasing popularity and unique contributions to the field.

In 2017, a biopic documentary by the name of ‘Kaagaz Ki Kashti’ has been made on the life journey of Jagjit Singh Ji, who not only broke through the norms but also revolutionised the Ghazal scenario. The film traces the struggle and stardom in his musical career, the love & loss in his personal life and the scope and limitations in the music scenario of the times. Later, at the DVD launch of this biopic, a number of notable artists and big names in the music industry were in attendance.

One among the many celebs present at the event was Angaraag Mahanta, commonly knows as ‘Papon’. Papon has adored Jagjit Singh Ji and his music right since his early days when he was still getting introduced to music. His parents, who were both Assamese folk singers, would often listen to the maestro’s Ghazals. Hence, Papon grew up to love and respect this form of art too. He holds classical music very close to his heart and strongly believes that it is the very essence of every other form of music. Papon was overjoyed when he received the official invitation of the DVD launch and readily accepted to be a part of it.

At the event, according to a number of onlookers and press reporters, Papon expressed deep gratitude, respect and appreciation towards the Late. Jagjit Singh Ji. He holds him quite close to his heart and cherishes his music to this very day. Papon said that the DVD launch of ‘Kaagaz Ki Kashti’ has given him a chance to know Jagjit Ji even more closely and that he aspires to touch people’s hearts as deeply as the former did during the entire span of his life.

It won’t be wrong if we said that Papon has already managed to touch a million hearts all over the world with his unique personality and magical voice. Hence, we surely don’t think we will have to wait much longer to see his aspirations met with!

Khumaar- A Song Beyond Excellence- Papon

Musically, things are changing in India. It’s not all about Bollywood anymore. Independent music has created a space for alternative voices. All of us have heard of Coke Studio India- know of its popularity, the benchmarks it set for singers and the new talent it discovered. The best part about Coke Studio is that it is all about free flow and the sound just happens as the artist is jamming.

When it comes to favourite tracks and artists on Coke Studio India, people undoubtedly have many but Papon’s song ‘Khumaar’ happens to be on each of the top charts. With this song especially, Papon shows that he is a force to be reckoned both- on stage in the Bollywood music industry and behind-the-scenes on platforms such as Coke Studio where only true talent can survive. He brings all of his multifarious talents to fruition in this seemingly mellow but powerful as well as explosive song about intoxicating love. His vocals truly need to be heard to be believed in and, you can also follow the narrative of the lyrics, which is beautiful in its own right if you listen closely.

The song talks about how a guy is passionately in love with a girl but has to spend a difficult day waiting for the night to come when he can see her. It portrays the longing of a person who is madly in love. Not only has Papon sung the song but the of this song has also been produced and composed by him. According to many popular reviews, the song beautifully captures the essence of love and within no time, went down to become one of people’s all-time favourite by Papon.

Soon after the song was first performed by Papon on Coke Studio in 2013, he performed at the renowned Hindu College’s Rock Night along with his band ‘East India Company’ on the first day of their annual fest- Mecca in 2014. A large crowd turned up cheering as Papon stepped on the stage and took a hold of his mike. ‘Khumaar’ was, undoubtedly, his opening song.

He also sang many of his more famous songs including ‘Dinae’, ‘Kaun mera’ from the movie ‘Special 26’, ‘Kyon’ from ‘Barfi’ and ‘Jiyein kyun’ from ‘Dum Maaro Dum’. However, what really got the crowd going were Papon’s little quirks and jokes as he explained the meaning behind his songs and how in life everything figures out in the end and you find what you are supposed to be like he did despite being a college dropout. He also introduced his bandmate Jinti who is professionally an automobile engineer but now runs cars through his guitar followed by a demonstration by Jinti on the same.

We can only wonder at how Papon manages to steal so many hearts with utmost simplicity and grace. ‘Khumaar’ has only added an extra feather to his hat of achievements, hasn’t it?

Folk Music is Coming back into our Lives and How!

India is a land of rich cultural diversity. Folk music has been an important part of our traditional practices since the very beginning of our civilization. Folk songs don’t just tell stories of the past but they also give us a snapshot of life either completely forgotten or on the verge of disappearing. They also tend to highlight facets of living which all cultures share, shedding light on the similarities people have as opposed to their differences. Almost every individual in society can relate to folksongs. Hence, folk music and its preservation are of utmost importance today, no matter from where or with whom the song originates.

One such region in India where folk music is still loved and in demand is the north-east- Assam in particular. The north-east has not only given us legendary artists such as Bhupen Hazarika, it is also a storehouse of many individuals who are making efforts towards modifying folk music and getting it back to the limelight, especially among the youth of the nation. One of the most prominent artists who has been contributing continually towards the upliftment of folk music all over India is none other than- Papon.

When you are born to parents who have largely come to personify traditional Assamese folk music, and are heir to the ‘King of Bihu’, it must take both- the love for challenges and great courage to venture into the unexplored territory of music, especially when unexplored almost always means fusing with western music and is often frowned upon. However, Papon’s music which comes under the ‘electro-folk’ genre, has always been able to maintain the balance between sounding rooted as well as fresh.

In a recent interview, Papon said that according to him contemporary acts have started looking at folk a lot more now, knowing that it has been so popular for thousands of years and that folk music is coming back into our lives. He further added that it is all about the same old stories, told in a new, vibrant and fresh manner since right now is an interesting time to do such experimentations with regards to new sounds. Papon truly believes that electronica is quite ‘now’ and with a mixture of electric and folk, you’re able to take the tried and tested tales and melodies, adapting them to what is happening right now since people easily connect with that.

When questioned by the reporter as to if Bollywood is his top priority at the moment, Papon readily said,” For me, everything is at the same priority level- my band, music festivals as well as films. On an average, we perform in Assam about once a month and we make it a point that we definitely do so. We really love playing there, there is a real Rockstar vibe to our concerts. It is something for which we keep wanting to go back there, the response, the warmth of the people and the vibe.”

Papon’s love for his hometown and folk music has been reflected time and again in his music and he only wishes to keep it intact. He has spent a lot of time understanding folk music and has then worked on making it his own. People hugely appreciate and love his music. Hence, the result has always been in his favour.

All we can say is that we need more such singers who appreciate their traditional background and find ways to enhance it rather than accept something that is already trending and has no originality to it. We absolutely love Papon, do you?