After the soft number—Jiye Kyun in Dum Maro Dum, and the foot-tapping number Zindagi aisi waisi in I am Kalam, singer, composer and musician Papon is ready for Soundtrack and his long pending Hindi album. In the city to perform live at Coke Studio MTV Minicerts, Anagaraag Papon Mahanta's visit to Hyderabad turned out to be a long one. But all Papon needed to get in tune was the stage and the impatient crowd.
Why isn't he known as Angaraag and is marketing himself as Papon?
“People twisted my nice name beyond one's imagination. Papon is my nickname and is different and no one can go wrong with the spelling, I am okay with it as long as it isn't changed and twisted to something new,” he laughs.
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“I was surprised to see the crowd and the cheers. It was surprising to know the crowd knew me,” laughs Papon. Hailing from Guwahati, Assam Papon wasn't sure of his popularity down south and was pleased to see the fan following.
Music in genes
Born to reigning folk singers of the region — Archana and Khagen Mahanta, Papon definitely believes music is in his genes and “also the position of stars in which I was born.”
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Heard and treated as a singer with a lot of depth in his songs, music and presentation style, Papon says that's how he would like to be known. “Music is the very essence of my existence. I just want to make nice music and while doing so I tend to put my soul into it. Every singer has a style and I try to balance my music with meaningful lyrics and soulful stirring music. I want my music to touch the listeners' soul irrespective of the language.”
Does he sometimes feel the pressure of living upto his parents' expectations? “Most of the time. People do expect me to follow my parents' footsteps but I have to ride with the times. I love doing my kind of music with my band — East India Company, that's what I named it when I started the band. And then my work kept me away from it. I have renamed the band now and will soon launch my long pending Hindi album.”
The singer is also making an attempt to resurrect the music video scene of the region. His albums and songs are becoming popular with the youtube generation and he feels it is because “he is able to feel their pulse.”
About his future projects? “Works are on but nothing can be declared as of now. I am happy at the pace and looking forward to doing some more recordings,” says Papon.