Papon’s Understanding of Music Goes far beyond Singing

In today’s times, when hit music in Bollywood has become synonymous with pop and rap, there are only a handful of artists who truly believe in the power of melody. Papon, who rose to fame with the heart-rending ‘Jiyein Kyun’ a few years ago, is one such singer.

In a recent interview, on being asked by the journalist as to what is the criteria on the basis of which Papon chooses songs, he said,” The melody, the tune, the lyrics- everything has to be in perfect balance. A song’s success depends on the right mix of every element that goes into its making. Be it the production or the composition itself, everything plays a major role in how it shapes up. People often have a great melody but don’t know how to use it well. However, the most essential element for me is the lyrics. If the words don’t make a meaningful story than nothing really can save the song.”

Papon says that making it to Bollywood hasn’t been easier for him since even though people in the industry want to try fresh talent, sometimes, they think twice when it comes to an outsider. He further says that it isn’t just about this industry where people usually get sceptic about those they do not know, it happens almost everywhere. Likewise, there are some who don’t lap up known people easily, however, someone from the fraternity is bound to get easier access, according to him.

The journalist further asked Papon in what particular genre does his forte lie, to which he readily said,” I think my song Moh moh ke dhaage is a semi-classical ghazal whereas my song Jiyein kyun is pure rock. So, I would say, love songs irrespective of any particular genre are my forte. I have been told a lot of times by different people that my voice doesn’t fit into the mould of quintessential playback singing but is more on the seductive side. I feel blessed with it but mostly, it is the approach towards music that defines a singer. My focus is always on the song and I never pre-plan but happen to lose myself in the melody. With experience, I have learned how to play with my voice and get variations to it in order to strengthen the song.”

Papon further added,” Now more than ever before, there is greater involvement of my voice and its texture in enhancing each song that I sing. A single element can never really make a good song, a good mix of melody, lyrics and music make songs that touch your heart. Eventually, it is only those compositions that live on and therefore, singing from the heart is my only goal. I close my eyes, paint a mental picture and the track is my narrative. It all starts taking shape. I live in that moment.”

We can only wonder at how well this man understands music as if it were a part of his very soul. His understanding of music undoubtedly goes way beyond singing alone!

Papon’s Contribution to Assam Flood Relief

Every year during the monsoon season, floods wreak havoc in Assam, which happens to be the biggest State in the north-eastern part of India. These floods caused as a result of very heavy and long spells of rain result in severe loss of life and property, shambling the economy of the state further. Floods are mainly caused by two river systems- the Brahmaputra and the Barak. The geographical setting of the region, easily erodible land formations and high-intensity rainfall aggravate the flood situation greatly.

The loss of human and animal lives in the state have been in thousands in the past 5 years alone as the area is a biodiversity hot spot with around 5 National parks and many species of unique animals. Similarly, loss of property is unprecedented, and it is more significant in the region since most sufferers of Assam flood are the poor who lose their bare-minimum assets like cattle, stock of grains, and huts. The aftermath of deluge brings along with it the threat of diarrhoea, malnutrition, water-borne diseases such as dysentery and cholera, and psychological stress.

A lot of renowned artists from Assam as well as other states have greatly contributed towards the Assam Flood Relief Project. One such singer who has been out and about in this time of crisis is popular singer and songwriter, Papon. He has expressed great unhappiness with the administration over Assam floods and in a recent statement, said that loss of human, as well as animal life, do not make headlines unless it is dramatic. In July 2017, he took to Twitter to write,” People are dying like its nobody’s business in Assam floods every year! This year is even worse! It is so sad that the government can’t plan better! Kids becoming orphans, parents watching their kids die, wild animals helplessly dying, 13 lakh people affected! We just wait here praying!”

The artist also said that floods have caused over 40 deaths and affected 16 lakh people so far as the gushing waters of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries had brought around 23 districts under water in a span of a few days in 2017 alone. It was later reported that nearly 50,000 people from approximately 2,498 villages had left their homes and taken shelter in temporary relief camps set up in government buildings, schools and on embankments in 16 of the worst-hit districts.

Earlier, in 2014, Papon had contributed Rs. 17 lakhs as a donation to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood-affected people of the State, according to the official press release. He had raised the fund for the flood-affected people through a musical concert held in New Delhi on 19th October that year. The concert, conceptualised by Vishal Dadlani and Papon himself with support from popular artistes like Arijit Singh, Vishal Shekhar, Neeti Mohan, Harshdeep Kaur and Shilpa Rao from the Bollywood music industry to raise funds for the flood-affected people of Assam, evoked tremendous response from the audience. The then Chief Minister- Tarun Gogoi, too had appreciated the endeavour of Papon and others towards the noble cause. Papon has, time and again, proved why he isn’t just loved and appreciated as a singer but as a responsible citizen who cares about his motherland too. Our deepest gratitude and respect lie with him.

Papon’s Contribution Towards the Upliftment of the Society

Charity begins at home but should not end there. It has been rightly said that “We make a living by what we get, and we make a life by what we give.” India is surely on a path of progression and development, however, the country’s meteoric GDP growth rate of about 9% does not reflect the actual status of poverty in India. Poverty in India is still rampant, especially in rural areas. According to a recent study by United Nation’s Millennium Development Goal (MGD), 21.9% people – which amounts to 27 million people- out of the 1.2 billion of Indians lived below the poverty line as of the 2011-2012 consensus.

It is indeed unfortunate that even though India is gaining momentum as a growing economy, wealth is concentrated in specific pockets and not redistributed across the population. However, there are a few philanthropists in India who are trying to bring about a change for the better through charities, donations, raising funds for social causes and most importantly- putting in more effort than what is needed. One such renowned celebrity who believes in Mahatma Gandhi’s words which say “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”, is none other than- Papon.

Papon’s close friends and relatives have always said that he has been extremely sensitive towards the wrong happening in the world today right since his early days as a kid. He has only proved this to be true time and again since he is actively involved with a number of social causes. A few years ago, he supported the Assam River Dolphin Conservation Project and also helped it get a lot of attention among masses. He has also been involved in raising awareness about ‘Clean the Brahmaputra’ Mission in Assam. Apart from these, he had also raised funds for Assam Flood Relief through means of a concert.

Papon is also the brand ambassador for ‘Mission Smile’ which is a Government registered Medical Charitable Trust authorized by FCRA to provide comprehensive free cleft lip & cleft palate surgery in India to children and adults born with cleft lip and palate deformities. Not only is Papon the brand ambassador for this noble cause, but he is also responsible for spreading greater awareness about the disorder and its treatment across the country. The singer also makes it a point to visit old-age homes whenever time permits since he strongly believes that people out there need all the support and love one can give them. Papon’s love and affection towards kids have also been quite evident on a number of platforms such as reality shows where he has often been seen mentoring them and appreciating their efforts.

Due to all these reasons and many more, it can be rightly said that Papon is someone who does charity without allowing the limelight to fall on him and be praised for it. He believes that each one of us needs to contribute towards the society in a responsible way and give it something back in whatever little way possible.

This man’s ethics and contributions are most definitely ‘goals’ for us! How about you?

Papon’s Notable Contribution in Making Folk Popular

Singer, songwriter and composer Angaraag Mahanta, popularly known as ‘Papon’, faced a major challenge while growing up in his hometown, Guwahati- emerging from the shadow of his renowned Assamese folk singer parents: Khagen and Archana Mahanta. His father is also known as ‘Bihu Samrat’ or the ‘King of Bihu’ which is a genre of folk music native to Upper Assam.

Throughout his days in Assam growing up, Papon faced two extreme reactions- some people would say,” Of course he is going to be a singer. Look at the kind of backing he has” while others would say,” He has no choice but to live up to his parents’ standards.” But these pressures only seem to have helped Papon rise and reach the level he is at today.

Papon is a modern folk singer with a soulfully rich voice who could do complete justice to the depth of old songs and yet make them contemporary enough for a Bollywood crazy concert crowd. He is a singer who has gotten traditional folk music the recognition it deserves again as well as the English-speaking urbane people sing along to Bihu folk.

In 2004, he first took the northeast by storm with his Assamese album Junaki Raati. A few years down the line, he started gaining wider popularity in India’s independent music scene, when he began playing with his band- The East India Company. Meanwhile, between 2004 and 2011, he released five Assamese albums, all of which received huge commercial success and glowing reviews across different platforms.

Today, Papon plays all over India and abroad but his core base still lies in the northeast, where he manages to attract exceptionally huge crowds, something that very few of his indie counterparts can do. But as an English honours student at Delhi University, he was just another long-haired boy from the northeast. In a recent interview he said to the journalist laughingly,” I’d be floating around with my guitar and riding my Yamaha RX-100”. By the time he was 22, he’d started learning how to program and produce his own music. He spent the next 13 years in Delhi, making music and touring before finally shifting base to Mumbai in 2011.

Papon’s well-wishers back home urged him to follow in his father’s footsteps and take Bihu music further, but by then he had forged his own identity and sound: an intriguing blend of northeast folk music, rock and electronic and blues in which Assamese instruments such as the khol, a percussive instrument, and the dutora, a two-stringed instrument, male frequent appearances.

He has given Assam and India many popular songs and though it gets difficult for artists to manage two things at a time, Papon has managed to balance things out pretty well. He has made folk a popular genre amongst the youth today and will continue doing so for many more years to come.

Papon’s MTV Unplugged Venture

In 2015, the show that had left the nation spellbound over its last three seasons- Royal Stag MTV Unplugged- was back with a bang. The fourth season of the show geared up for an enthralling musical experience with some of India’s most talented artists performing the biggest ever chartbusters live on stage. Over the years this event has become one of the most soulful music shows in the country, where artists get to showcase their raw talent and express the pure magic of music.

Kickstarted in Goa in December 2014, followed by sensational performances in other parts of the country, the show has left audiences asking for more. After a rocking performance across key cities in India, one of the most promising artists of Coke Studio, singer, composer and record producer Angaraag Mahanta, aka Papon, set the stage on fire with his fresh and youthful voice at Season 4 at Kolkata’s Saturday Club recently, his first pitstop of the venture.

With his DNA oozing music, Papon has become one of the most powerful new voices of India. From the traditional folk songs of Eastern India to new-age electronica, he has scored a number of successful soundtracks for Bollywood cinema. Also, credited with compositions in various music genres, he has performed with the band ‘Midival Punditz’ and Karsh Kale at various festivals around the world.

In an interview with Papon, when the journalist asked him as to what are his expectations from his first venture with Unplugged like, he exclaimed,” It is a good, interesting space and I have done unplugged before, but not fully ‘Unplugged’, which was a show in Guwahati, my native place. They saw me there performing something different, that way it was very interesting and I felt good. My next pitstop is going to be Orissa and, yes, I am looking forward to performing at different places and it’s going to travel and share your music – that’s what you live for!”

As per various onlookers, Papon completely rocked the show with his surreal music and unmatchable energy. People raved to his numbers and he was among one of the biggest hitmakers of the night. We all are well aware of the fact that by now, he has developed a niche audience for folk. But Papon, who shot to fame with Jiyein Kyon (Dum Maaro Dum, 2011), is equally satisfied churning out songs for B-town and MTV Unplugged celebrates Bollywood music, though served differently. “The arrangement is changed. It is a good experience for listeners”, he said.   The moment we heard Papon on Coke Studio back in the day, we definitely knew that this man is here to change stereotypical music and is going to give us hits like never before. And now he is here, doing what he does the best!

Papon–The Album of Unreleased Songs- A Tribute to Khagen Mahanta

Music is that art in the world which never really gets old. Usually, when people need some peace of mind, they prefer listening to old soothing music more than the new-age songs because they provide you with a certain peace of mind and transport you to a different zone altogether. Music is something that should have life, meaningful words and beautiful melodies in it. The true mark of originality lies in a song when the beat, voice, the entire song, in general, is less edited and as a result, has a certain rawness to it.

On 6th April 2019, one of the most popular singers in India today- Papon, released an old album featuring few recordings of songs sung by himself and his singer mother Archana Mahanta, that his father, renowned composer and a folk singer in Assam, Khagen Mahanta, had produced. Papon mentioned that he had recovered the songs and digitized them for everyone to listen, further calling them ‘something very precious’ to him and to be the ‘first step’ in his singing career.

The singer had earlier mentioned through one of his tweets that his voice had not really matured during the recording of the songs and that due to certain unfortunate reasons, the project that featured the songs couldn’t be completed back then. Papon further stated that he happened to find the old songs on a tape in his old trunk.

Papon’s primary aim behind releasing the album was that of paying a tribute to the efforts that his father had put and the dream he had dreamt. Sharing his feelings during an interview, Papon said,” Something that actually was my first step to my singing career! Few songs my father Shri Khagen Mahanta produced even before I launched my first ever album Jonaki Raati”. He himself shared his father’s feeling of joy after the release of the album and in an interview, getting emotional said,” My father is no more but I’m sure he’s watching.” Papon’s mother too shared her proud moment of happiness when her son released this album.

This album is something Papon holds really close to his heart since he was very close to his father. His father, Khagen Mahanta, was a notable singer and composer of traditional and folk music in Assam and was also known as the ‘King of Bihu’ by the locals there. Papon, along with his parents, represents one of the most influential families in Assamese music. In an unfortunate incident, his father passed away on 12th June 2014 in Guwahati, sending shockwaves across the state. The State Government also declared a half-holiday across Assam on 13th June 2014 observing the sad demise of their beloved singer.

Papon misses his beloved father to this day and gives him the credit of all that he is today. He strongly believes that his parents were his first teachers and had they not invested time in teaching him music or inculcating strong cultural values within him, he wouldn’t have been the person he is today. Due to this very reason, Papon also holds elderly people very close to his heart and does everything he can to keep the smiles on their faces from fading away.

Such is the personality of our beloved Papon and although not many know the person that he truly is, he continues to do his bit to make a difference in the society in his own little way.

Papon on How Assam Has Inspired his Musical Leanings

The north-eastern part of India is one of the most eco- friendly and treasured area in the country with vast natural resources and a cauldron of different cultures as well as people. This side of the country is not only rich in terms of its natural beauty, landscape, flora and fauna, but also in music and dance. Northeast India not only offers a completely different world of folk dance and traditional folk music but it has also emerged as one of the prime industries of rock music over the years. It has given India some prominent singers such as the legendary Bhupen Hazarika, Zubin Garg, and of course our very own- Papon.

Papon’s musical imprint is as diverse as the northeast itself. The multi-talented singer from Assam, who redefined Bihu folk music on MTV Coke Studio a few years ago, says that a certain love for nature is inherent among inhabitants of his motherland. And while music is part of his genes, the milieu he is part of, enhanced his poetic side.

In a recent interview, Papon said that the folk sound of his motherland inspires one to pick up musical instruments. He further said that the place is so rhythmic and melodic that one simply can’t help but hum a tune when sitting by a river or even doing some other chore. “The music I write has lots of similarities and metaphors from the environment there,” he said. According to Papon, the musical events that are held in Assam throughout the year are like a sheer ‘drug’ for the populace and there are so many of them happening that one can’t help but become a part of one or the other. He added,” People there can listen to music and sing for twelve months at a stretch.”

On being asked if he always knew Assamese music would work in his favour, Papon said,” I didn’t expect to be this successful singing in my mother-tongue. But I knew I would be able to make it. Coke Studio was an open platform where one could experiment. It was my chance to enter the mainstream.” Papon’s band ‘East India Company’, which was formed in 2007 has been quite successful and he says that the popularity of his band gave him a rough idea about the future since they were doing a lot of shows and the response was huge every single time.

Today, apart from Assamese, Papon is singing in a variety of other languages right from- English, Hindi, Punjabi to even Bengali. Bengal’s rich folk culture, especially Baul, has been on Papon’s to-do list for a long time now and he has expressed his desire to sing in the rich cultural genre a number of times over the years. Papon’s biggest dream is to visit different countries in the world, collaborate with artists from different musical backgrounds and take his music to every part of the world.

We don’t see any reason as to why Papon won’t be achieving his dream at the earliest, his versatility and voice is to die for. All we can do at the moment is support his music and love him and we are absolutely up for it, are you?

Papon- An Artist by the People, for the People

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in those years that does”, said Abraham Lincoln once. Isn’t that true? All we really want in life is happiness and love, especially when we’re old.

In recent years, the family system seems to be embracing and critiquing western living and one such change in family life is that a large number of older adults are joining old age homes. Though there are no concrete figures for old age homes in India, their number is estimated to be more than 1000. Considering the rate at which the old-age home culture is growing, it is about time we start visiting these old-age homes with a sense of responsibility and love towards the old since affection is all they really crave.

Recently, one of the most popular singers of our time, Angaraag Mahanta commonly known as Papon, visited an old-age home in his hometown Assam. The old women at Mother Old Age Home in Guwahati are extremely fond of the singer and wanted to meet him since a really long time. They expressed their desire to meet him and Papon readily agreed. According to a lot of people close to the singer, he holds the old really close to his heart and will do anything to make them happy.

Papon not only spent quality time there with the old ladies, distributing sweets and other things as a token of his appreciation and respect towards them but he also briefly spoke to them and sang a few songs for them. The elder ladies too enjoyed his company and some of them even had tears in their eyes since they really couldn’t believe that he actually took time out to meet them and inquired if they were facing any problems or if he could do something to help them. Papon also had an interactive session at the old age home where the ladies also sang a few songs and shared a few words with him.

On being asked in an interview later, Papon said that it is a matter of common grace and manners to treat our elders with respect and dignity but sadly, in today’s world, either people are too busy to do so or simply dismiss them and their contributions to their community as well as families. He further added that seniors always have a thing or two to teach us about enduring change and handling life’s adversity, even if their hearing or memory isn’t the same as it used to be in the past, they always have great wisdom to impart.

Papon is of the opinion that people these days have a tendency to regard older people as debilitated or unworthy of attention. Unfortunately, this sentiment is rampant but we should always remember that seniors are highly knowledgeable people. He said that we owe them much more than respect- it’s about really taking the time to listen to our grandparents and parents, and making them feel loved and cared for. He said that visiting the old age home was one of the best decisions that he has ever made since he got to learn so much from them.

We strongly believe that if we have more morally-conscious celebrities like Papon in our society, our world would definitely become a better place to live in.

Papon at the MTV Coke Studio Musical Night in Pune

With the advancements happening in the digital age, we may listen to music differently, but that doesn’t mean we need to forget about the things that made music special in the first place.  Today, we can send music files at the speed of light.  Paid for, not paid for, to one person, to thousands, the making and recording of a song is no longer profitable or scarce. But people love scarce, the knowledge that they are the one of few getting this, or listening to that.  And that is why it is important to have concerts. 

Concerts aren’t only about performing live. They are also about- seeing your audience and feeling the passion that is put into the music. None of these things is attainable through listening to an mp3. Music allows us to connect with people; concerts allow us to connect with people intimately. And that is exactly what is so special about them: the human connection.

One such artist who believes in the connection that he shares with the audience and is known to spread the magical spell of his voice on people every single time that he performs live in concert is none other than the ‘Jiyein Kyun’ hitmaker- Papon.  

In December 2014, MTV Coke Studio- which happens to be one of the biggest platforms for singing, found its way down to Pune and landed at FLAME University. All those who witnessed the magical night were mesmerized by the vibe set free by Papon who brought down his Assamese folk music flavours to Pune. Papon, along with his band- The East India Company- performed a few singles later in the night. Everyone single person present at the event just melted and flew away with the charming singer. And who can forget ‘Jiyein Kyun’ from ‘Dum Maro Dum’. The young crowd of Pune gave an amazing response by singing along with Papon. Got to give it up to the crowd in Pune as well. The atmosphere was totally electric!

Papon’s vibe is known to spread among the audiences like a wildfire spreads in a forest. He not only sings flawlessly but also engages with the crowd in a way like no other. He is one of the best singers we have today when it comes to a live audience since he directly connects with people’s heart more than anything else.

“This is Love! This is what we live for…”

These were the words uttered out of the artist’s mouth soon after the performance was over.

We truly believe that Papon is a complete Rockstar and he is only going to make it bigger in the industry with the pace at which he is winning people’s hearts’ all over the country. Our ‘Moh ke dhaage’ are surely attached to him, how about you?

Papon’s Performance at the 11th Teacher’s Achievement Awards

In the entertainment industry, there’s a reason why award functions are so important. For all forms of media, awards serve an important role, both in discovery for watchers, listeners, and readers, and to push creators and companies to create and finance more prestige content. This helps to promote a better quality of media and ultimately make our world a much more interesting one to live in. Because without good and accessible stories — what do we really have?

In February 2012, all roads in Delhi led to the ITC Maurya as Beam Inc celebrated the spirit of achievement with the 11th Teacher’s Achievement Awards (TAA). The evening commemorated the start of the second decade of the one of the most prestigious, respected and admired Teacher’s Achievement Awards by welcoming into its fold the finest achievers from the fields of Business, Entertainment, Sports and Communication.

The main highlight of the evening, however, was the grand finale wherein one of the most popular singers of today’s times- Angaraag Mahanta aka Papon– performed a ‘jugalbandi’ alongside other renowned singers such as Anoushka Shankar, Medieval Punditz, and Karsh Kale. The performance also saw past winners, jury members and key stakeholders of the Teacher’s Achievement Awards join the celebrations. Over the years, Papon has been known for his soulful voice that touches every single person’s soul deeply. At this event too, his 10-minute long performance managed to sway one and all with its magic.

According to various onlookers present at the event, the semi-classical performance had them engaged throughout and people got so lost in Papon jamming to the tunes and beautiful combination of the various musical instruments, that they didn’t want it to end at all. Papon’s knowledge of classical music and his strong folk background is easily reflected in each of his performances and people absolutely love the fact that he experiments with his voice to produce fresh music. His folk electronica songs have been a hit among the younger generations ever since he stepped in the industry and he has, what can be called, ‘redefined’ folk music.

Papon has always been known as a risk-taker. He is someone who has never really feared the outcome but tried to experiment and bring out the best he can offer. He has been extremely versatile with his choice of songs too- be it ‘jiyein kyun’ which falls under the ‘soft rock’ category, or ‘moh ke dhaage’ which is a classical number- he has managed to bring something new to the table, every single time.

We adore Papon not only for his out-of-the-box sense in music but also for his subtle personality. He is one of those rare people today that spread happiness everywhere they go. We are definitely fallen head-over-heels for him, how about you?

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