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Papon
Mahanta at the Coke Studio Season 3 launch
Background information
Birth name	Angaraag Mahanta
Also known as	Papon
Born	(1975-11-24) 24 November 1975 (age 49) Nagaon, Assam, India
Genres	Electro fusion Indian classical music Pop Indian folk music
Occupation(s)	Singer, composer
Instrument	Guitar
Years active	1998–present
Labels	MDR Records, Times Music, T-Series, Sony Music

Angaraag Mahanta (born 24 November 1975), known by his stagename Papon, is an Indian playback singer and composer from Assam. Papon has also sung in many languages apart from Assamese like Hindi, Bengali, Tamil and Marathi. He is the lead vocalist and founder of the folk-fusion band Papon and The East India Company. He is the son of the noted Assamese singer Khagen Mahanta and Archana Mahanta.

Career

Papon started his musical journey in the year 1998 with the Assamese song "Nasaba Sokule" from the album Snigdha Junak. In 2004 he released his first album, Junaki Raati.

Papon made his debut in Bollywood with the song "Om mantra" from the film Strings - bound by faith in 2006. In 2011, his song was "Jiyein Kyun" from the movie Dum Maro Dum which was his first big hit. In 2014, he sang "Lakeerein", which is a poem by Gulzar, for the film Kya Dilli Kya Lahore and "Sun RI Bavli" for Nagesh Kukunoor's film Lakshmi. In 2015, he sang "Moh moh ke dhage" for the film Dum Laga Ke Haisha and "Humnava" in Hamari Adhuri Kahani (2015). In 2016, he sang "Bulleya" for the film Sultan. In August 2016, Red Bull released "Hometown Heroes," a seven-part documentary web series that revisits the story of Papon's youth and rising career. Papon's 2018 song "Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya", from the movie Sanju, comments on differences between the real Sanju and the "reel" Sanju.

Television

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

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

Film

Band

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

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

Personal life and education

His father, Khagen Mahanta, died on 12 June 2014.

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

He initially went there for Architecture but later enrolled himself to a degree in English Literature in Delhi University. He spent some time in Ramjas College before he shifted to Motilal Nehru.

Controversies

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

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

Collaborations

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

Discography

Awards

See also

• List of Indian playback singerback singers

References

1. Sarmah, Chandan (29 January 2010). "Tunes with a rare freshness". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
2. Desk, Sentinel Digital (24 November 2020). "Popular Assam singer Angarag 'Papon' Mahanta turned 45 today - Sentinelassam". www.sentinelassam.com. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
3. Boruah, Pallab Saikia, Kulendra Bora, Tinkumoni. "Assamese Songs with Lyrics : Collection of Old and New Assamese Songs". geetsankalan.com. Retrieved 23 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
4. NASABA SOKULE | ZUBEEN GARG | ANGARAG MAHANTA | ASSAMESE LYRICAL VIDEO SONG | SNIGDHA JUNAK, retrieved 23 September 2021
5. "Papon - Movies, Biography, News, Age & Photos". BookMyShow. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
6. Chakrabarty, Shreoshree (24 December 2020). "Papon voices the latest single of Saregama featuring Erica and Rohman". Media Infoline. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
7. "[EXCLUSIVE] Papon on recreation of old classic songs: You want to have your own version as a cover". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
8. "Bhopal: Language no bar in music, says Papon". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
9. "Papon's Hometown Heroes: Story of singer who revived folk music is now a web series". Firstpost. 13 August 2016.
10. Papon : Red Bull Hometown Heroes : Episode 1 - Where It All Began (YouTube video). 31 October 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
11. "'Sanju' new song: 'Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya' is a funny take on how celebs feel about gossip - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
12. "Sanju Song Baba Bolta Hain Bas Ho Gaya: A Treat To Ranbir Kapoor And Sanjay Dutt Fans". NDTV.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
13. "Roadies X: Papon composes new theme song– Jajabor". The Hindustan Times. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
14. "THE VOICE INDIA KIDS: Papon steps down as judge on show". ABP News. IANS. 24 February 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
15. "Papon & The East India Company". nh7. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
16. "Almost Famous". NDTV Good Times. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
17. ^ Sinha, Dipanjan (18 November 2011). "Papon goes national on musical movement". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
18. "Jamming for Rights". Hindustan Times. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
19. Staff (13 June 2014). "Legendary Assamese Singer Khagen Mahanta dies at 72". Times of Assam. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
20. Hungama, Bollywood (5 June 2021). "Papon's Earthful Foundation leads a unique initiative to curb coronavirus in Assam : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
21. Sen, Debarati S (5 June 2021). "Singer-composer Papon leads an initiative to curb coronavirus in rural Assam". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
22. "Papon: In Motilal Nehru, I would sit with a guitar and girls would flock around me". Hindustan Times. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
23. YouTube, a Google company. YouTube.
24. papon didnt kiss her.. watch!! slow motion. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
25. "Singer Papon opens up about the allegations made against him - Times of India ►". The Times of India.
26. "Caught Kissing Minor On Facebook Live, Papon Quits As Reality Show Judge". NDTV.com.
27. "Papon sir didn't do anything wrong: Minor girl defends singer accused of molesting her". www.timesnownews.com.
28. Team, DNA Web (24 February 2018). "Papon sexual assault case: Singer barred forever from Essel Group, says Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Chandra". DNA India.
29. "In the Court of the Sessions Judge Kamrup (M), Guwahati – Dispur P.S. Case No. 502/2019". 21 December 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
30. "O Megh - Music Video ft. Shantanu Moitra & Angaraag Papon Mahanta [Ep4 S04] : The Dewarists". YouTube. Dewar's India.
31. "Season 04 : O Megh". Dewar's.
32. "The Dewarists – Khule Da Rabb". nh7. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
33. Singh, Jasmine (30 March 2013). "Vocal charm". The Tribune. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
34. "Nominations for Prag Cine Award, 2014". The Assam Tribune. Guwahati. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
35. Sudhakaran, Sreeju (8 January 2016). "Star Screen Awards 2016 winners list". BollywoodLife.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
36. "Nominations for the 61st Britannia Filmfare Awards". The Times of India. TNN. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
37. Kaur, Kiran (16 January 2016). "61st Britannia Filmfare Awards: The complete list of winners". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
38. "Zee Cine Awards 2016 Nominations List Out!". Koimoi. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
39. Prashar, Chandni (21 February 2016). "Zee Cine Awards: Complete List of Winners". NDTV. New Delhi. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
40. "8th Mirchi Music Awards: Complete list of winners". The Times of India. TNN. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
41. "GIMA 2016 Nominations". Retrieved 20 March 2016.
42. "'Bajirao Mastani' leads GiMA Awards nominations". The Times of India. Mumbai. IANS. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
43. Sen, Sushmita (7 April 2016). "GiMA Awards 2016: 'Bajirao Mastani' bags maximum awards; Yo Yo Honey Singh, Sonakshi Sinha, Arijit Singh perform live". International Business Times. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
44. "Check out the IIFA 2016 nominations full list here". DNA. Press Trust of India. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
45. "IIFA Awards 2016: The Complete List of Winners". News18. 26 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

External links

• Papon at IMDb

• Living people
• Indian male singer-songwriters
• Indian singer-songwriters
• Bollywood playback singers
• Assamese playback singers
• Musicians from Guwahati
• People from Nagaon district
• People from Guwahati
• Indian male pop singers
• Screen Awards winners
• International Indian Film Academy Awards winners
• Indian male playback singers
• Singers from Assam
• Singers from Guwahati
• Indian folk-pop singers
• 1975 births
• Ramjas College alumni