Fingers crossed for Barfi's Oscar

My musical journey began before I was born! My mother was pregnant when she was teaching and learning Indian classical music. So I started listening to music right then!”says Angarang Mahanta, more popularly known as Papon. Talk about music being in the genes. The singer shared his musical journey with Metrolife when he was in the City recently to perform during Bacardi NH7 Weekender. 

“My birth into a musical family, also began my journey in music. My father is a folk legend in Assam. He’s been performing folk music and popularising it for years, and is a very well-respected figure in Assamese folk music. But I didn’t immediately take to music as a profession until later in my life. It took me a while to realise I am good at it myself and not because my parents are musicians.”

Since then, he has performed with a number of bands but feels that it was most challenging to work with Nitin Sawhney. “I had been listening to his music for a very long time so it was a tremendous honour to work with him but at the same time, a bit intimidating. We are also very different personalities. He is very serious and I am the complete opposite. All in all, the song turned out great and I'm really happy with it.”
But he confesses, “The most fun I have had while jamming is with Coke Studio’s Karsh Kale. We're great friends, very comfortable with each other and understand each other's vibes, which I think shows in our music.”

Papon, as his fans know is the male playback for Barfi!’s Kyun and is a number topping the charts now. “Pritam and I have been in touch since I sang Jiyein Kyun and it was nice of him to remember me when Barfi! came up. Anurag Basu also likes a deep low baritone voice so maybe that helped with me being chosen for the film,” he shares and adds his views about the song, “Kyun is a nice old Hindi melody and I really enjoyed singing it. Sunidhi is super- talented and a really versatile vocalist. She brings life into any kind of song and it was great working with her.”

He says so as he keeps hopes alive for the Oscar, “I was happily surprised when I heard the news. I am really happy to have been a part of the film, and now I am keeping my fingers crossed!”

Meanwhile, the singer is composing for other Bollywood projects and enjoying live performances. “Every gig for me is a fresh, new experience. It's always a new setting, a new audience you are playing to and a new energy. That is what really keeps me going. It also has a lot to do a lot with enjoying what you do for a living, which I do - a lot!” he smiles.