MUMBAI: As we gear up for the fourth season of MTV Unplugged, Angaraag Mahanta, popularly known as Papon, is set to open the first episode with his group Papon and the East India Company. The musician, originally from Assam, has made his footing in the music industry in the country – both in Bollywood as well as independent music scene. He primarily composes folk music with electronic and rock influences. The artiste has performed at many festivals in the country, toured internationally and collaborated with brilliant musicians during his journey of around ten years. Apart from his popular Hindi numbers, Papon constantly also composes Assamese tracks which he has performed live at various shows and tries to share Assam’s culture with the audience, through his music.

The opening episode of MTV Unplugged is scheduled to air in the second week of November 2014. Papon and The East India Company will belt out their original numbers like ‘Baarish ke Boondein’, ‘Boitha Maro Re’; Papon’s Bollywood tracks like ‘Jiyein Kyun’ from ‘Dum Maaro Dum’, ‘Kyon’ from ‘Barfi’; and covers of old ghazals. This season will also host some of the biggest names in the industry like Salim-Sulaiman, Amit Trivedi, Arijit Singh, Vishal Dadlani, Sunidhi Chauhan, Mika, Mohammad Irfan, Mithoon, Ankit Tiwari, Mikey McCleary and others.

Papon talked to Radioandmusic.com’s Patricia Hou about his upcoming projects and his journey so far.

How did you step into the field of music and what got you to start composing music?

I started making music kind of late in my life even though my parents are both musically inclined, and are trained classical musicians. I knew I would always get into singing and performing, and after I gave up architecture, I found my true calling in this field. It was also through a lot of encouragement that I found from other people; they all kept pushing me to try it out. So, initially, I would compose jingles and that is when it started. We would also have random jam sessions with different musicians, putting on the plate their various skills. After a while, I knew this is something I have to do, which I also enjoy immensely.

Why are you called Papon when your real name is Angaraag Mahanta?

In the north east, we all have two names – a registered official name and a nick name. Papon is shorter and easier to remember. Even when I shifted to Delhi, everybody would remember me by my nick name. Many people do not even know my real name which is a little long and since, Papon is easier, it stuck.
How has your journey been, both in Bollywood and independent music scene?

It has been incredible and I am still learning new things. I have experienced a lot by travelling and made good friends along the way. The recent US tour was also great and many have invited us again. We will be touring Europe including places like Berlin, Belgium, Portugal and Netherlands in October-November.
I have been happy throughout all these years because I did what I really wanted to do. It has all come along just the way I had imagined it would.

Why did you decide to be part of MTV Unplugged this time; what is the episode going to be like?

MTV has always given me a platform to perform my music. I have been featured on ‘Coke Studio’, right in the beginning, during its first season. I love to perform music and through unplugged, I will get to play it without electronic instruments even though I like electronic. So, the episode is going to be a little different from the usual ones where it is more about doing various renditions of Bollywood songs. I will be playing folk, ghazals and a few Bollywood numbers. I believe everything is in the end, inspired by folk music in the film industry. I want to give the genre due credit with my folk touch to the tracks.

You have been singing Assamese and Bengali songs at your shows as well, which seem to go well with the audience. Do you think folk music from different states is promoting different cultures?

I want to believe that we are promoting different languages and trying to bridge the language barrier in the country. There are so many languages in India and they are all beautiful. It is great that we get requests for Assamese or Bengali songs. I think, as musicians, it is our responsibility to spread culture to our audiences. I have been able to do it in my own small way and there are other artistes who are doing it as well. People are opening up and accepting varied forms of culture through music; so, it is our job to present it to them.

Who have been your major influences?

I believe that my parents have been the biggest inspirations in my life. When it comes to music, I love all genres and the kind of musicians I look up to, are spanned across ages and genres. Some of the musicians/bands I am a huge fan of, are Jagjit Singh, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Frank Sinatra and many more.

Which are the other projects that you have been a part of recently and which are the forthcoming ones?

I recently composed the track for North East United football team, called ‘We are the 8’ (for eight north eastern states). The track brought together 16 artistes from the different states to sing the song. This is the first time that musicians from all the eight states of the north east of India have worked together on one song.

I also acted for an Assamese film called ‘Rodor Sithi’ (to release on November 7) and the movie deals with philosophy and nature.

(The musician is also one of the artistes who are contributing to be part of a relief concert for the people in Assam who have been affected by the recent floods.)

I want to work with all kinds of people who understand my space as a musician, and also respect it. I am a traveller and music is the medium through which I express myself; and I am going with the flow. So, although there are a few Bollywood projects that I am working on, I will also be doing shows and touring places. There are also a couple of collaborations in the pipeline with a few international artistes but, nothing is concrete yet.

(Papon has rendered his vocals for Bollywood films like ‘Mumbai Delhi Mumbai’, ‘Bobby Jasoos’ and ‘Kya Dilli Kya Lahore’. He will be performing at ‘One World Many Musics’ event at NCPA on 18 October.)