Shaan (singer)

Shantanu Mukherjee (born 30 September 1972), known as Shaan, is an Indian playback singer, actor and television presenter active in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati, Marathi and Urdu language films and a television host. He hosted the shows "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa", "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs", "Star Voice of India" and "STAR Voice of India 2". In "Music Ka Maha Muqabla", his team, "Shaan's Strikers", finished as the runners up to Shankar Mahadevan's team. He appeared as a judge in "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs" 2014–2015 and "The Voice India Kids 2016". In 2015 and 2016, Shaan was the winning coach in each of the first two seasons of "The Voice". In 2016, in "The Voice India Kids", he was the coach of the runner-up contestant.
Early life.
Shaan was born on 30 September 1972 in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh in a Bengali family. His grandfather was Jahar Mukherjee, a well known lyricist, his father late Manas Mukherjee, was a music director and his sister Sagarika is a singer as well.
Early years and music albums.
Shaan began his career singing jingles for advertisements. After giving it up for a brief period, he returned and, along with jingles, began to sing remixes and cover versions. Shaan and his sister's career began when they signed up with Magnasound recording company and recorded a few successful albums, including the hit album "Naujawan" followed by "Q – Funk", which sold a million copies. He entered the pop scene with sister "Sagarika", singing Biddu's melodies and doing re-mixes. Then came "Roop Tera Mastana", a remix album of R.D. Burman's songs, that brought them further into the limelight. Shaan launched "Loveology" after this, which was well received. He wrote the lyrics of the ballad "Bhool Ja" on his second album "Tanha Dil", which appeared in the charts within days of its release and was popular on radio.
In 2000 he won the MTV Asia Award for Favorite Artist India for best solo album for his album "Tanha Dil". Three years later, Shaan launched his album "Aksar", which was successful and contained songs featuring international stars such as Blue, Mel C and Samira Said. For both the albums "Tanha Dil" and "Aksar", Shaan sang, composed and wrote the lyrics of all the songs, except the title track "Tanha Dil", which was composed by Ram Sampath.
He released "Tomar Aakash" in 2004, a Bengali album, along with his sister and featuring his father's unreleased songs. He also plans to release an album remaking his father's compositions with his sister in Hindi. He recently sang one of his father's compositions on sets of STAR Plus's "Music Ka Maha Muqqabla" .
In 2006, he released a song with MLTR, "Take me to your heart". The song appears on his album "Tishnagi", which is produced by Ranjit Barot and engineered by Ashish Manchanda. The song "Shuruaat" on his album "Tishnagi" was made into a music video to promote the film, "".
Playback singing.
Apart from singing on his own albums, Shaan has provided the voice for many of Bollywood's leading actors. He established himself as one of the leading playback singers in Bollywood.
Shaan sang, composed the music and wrote the lyrics of his songs on his hit albums "Loveology", "Tanha Dil", "Aksar" and "Tishnagi", and has also composed music for many TV serials, winning the "Best TV music director award". Shaan also gives advice on music and lyrics to the music directors for whom he sings.
Shaan has sung playback vocals for several hit Bollywood films, including "Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi", "Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai", "Jhankaar Beats", "Lakshya","Kaante", "Dil Chahta Hai", "Kal Ho Na Ho", "Hum Tum", "Dhoom", "Dus", "Salaam Namaste", "Fight Club - Members Only","Koi Mil Gaya","Munna Bhai M.B.B.S", "Don - The Chase Begins Again", "Fanaa", "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna", "Masti", "Om Shanti Om", "Ta Ra Rum Pum", "Partner", "Welcome", "Saawariya", "Jab We Met", "3 Idiots", "Taare Zameen Par", "PK" and "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo". Shaan sang "Hakka Bakka" in "Ankhon Dekhi".
Shaan has provided the vocals for many hit Bengali, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Assamese, Malayalam, Odia and Sindhi film songs. Popular songs by Shaan include hits such as "Musu Musu" (influenced by a hit Nepali song); "Wo Pehli Baar" from "Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi"; "Tune Mujhe Pehchaana Nahin" from "Raju Chacha"; "Apni Yaadon Ko" from "Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat"; "Nikamma Kiya Is Dil Ne" from "Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa"; "O Re Kanchi" from "Asoka"; "Yeh Hawein" from "Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai"; "Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe" and "Woh Ladki Hai Kahan" from "Dil Chahta Hai"; "Subha Ho Gayi Mamu" from "Munna Bhai M.B.B.S"; "Suno Na" and "Tera Muskurana" from "Jhankaar Beats"; "It's The Time To Disco" and "Kuch To Hua Hai" from "Kal Ho Na Ho"; "En Panchhiyon" from "Koi Mil Gaya""Prem Hoy je keno" from "Teen Patti";"Dus Bahane" from "Dus"; "Shikdum" from "Dhoom"; "Main Aisa Kyun Hoon" from "Lakshya"; "Ladki Kyun" from "Hum Tum"; "My Dil Goes Mmmm" from "Salaam Namaste"; "Where's The Party Tonight" and "Rock And Roll Soniye" from "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna"; "Chori Chori Chhora Chhori" from "Masti"; "Main Hoon Don" from "Don - The Chase Begins Again"; "Hey Shona" from "Ta Ra Rum Pum"; "Do U Wanna Partner" and "You're My Love" from "Partner"; "Insha Allah" and "Welcome" from "Welcome"; "Bum Bum Bole" from "Taare Zameen Par"; "Aao milo chalo" from "Jab We Met", "Kuch Kam" from "Dostana"; "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" from "3 Idiots"; the popular songs "Chand Sifarish" from the movie "Fanaa"; "Dastaan-e-Om Shanti Om" from the movie "Om Shanti Om"; "Jab Se Tere Naina" from the movie "Saawariya", "Do You Know" from "Housefull 2", "Cinema Dekhe Mamma" from "Singh is Bling", "Tere Naina" from "Jai Ho", "Chaar Kadam" from "PK", and "Aj Unse Milna Hai" from "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo". He has sung a few Nepali songs in Nepali films and albums, among which the song "Adha Jindagi" has become popular.
He has many hit songs in Kannada films. He has lent his voice to Kannada superstars such as Puneet Rajkumar, Darshan, Shivrajkumar, Ganesh and Duniya Vijay. A few songs to mention are; "Eno Onthara" from "Hudugata"; "Thara Thara Onthara" from "Bindaas"; "Amma Amma I Love You" from "Maurya"; "Shuruvaagide" from "Maleyali Jotheyali"; "Kudinotave Manamohaka" from "Parichaya"; "Jotheyalli Nee Baaro" from "Jothegara"; "O Jeevave" from "Shyloo"; the title track from the film "Honganasu"; "Savi Savi" from "Chanda"; "Nannaane Naa" from "Thamassu"; "Anthu Inthu" from "Munjaane"; "Kalli Neenu" from "Dandam Dashagunam"; "Warrenta" from "Challidaru Sampigeya"; "Miruguthide" from "Parie"; "Olave Neenillade" from "Kalaakaar"; "Bahumaanavade" from "Ninagagey Kaadiruve"; "Khushiyalli" from "Prince"; "Yeh Jambhada" from "Love"; "Ellindalo Ondu" from "Prema Chandrama"; "Yamma Yamma" from "Rowdy Aliya"; the title track from "Dhan Dhan Dhana"; "Gaaliyalli Kavanava" from "Baaji"; "Hottotho Munchene" from "Preethi Nee Shashvathana"; "Hudugi Hudugi" from "Meshtru"; "Naa Haadoke" from "Bisile"; "Nee Thandiruve" from "Karthik"; "Neeli Neeli" from "Machcha"; "Neenu Ninthare" from "Kool"; "Ninna Nenedare" from "Sihigaali"; the title track from the film "Ale"; and "Usire Usire" from "Hebbuli".
He has recently recorded a playback for an upcoming Bengali feature film "Network" which is composed by Dabbu
Musical show hosting.
Shaan hosted the television show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa" on Zee TV between the years 2000–2006, which won the Music Programme of the Year award at the Indian Telly Awards in 2003. In 2007, he left and was replaced by 21-year-old Aditya Narayan. At the same awards, Shaan won Best TV Music Director, for creating the music of the Zee TV show, "Lipstick", for his friend Goldie Behl. He also appeared as the guest in the first episode of the new show "Antakshari: The Great Challenge" which aired on 9 February 2007 on Star One.
Shaan is now the host of a music show called "Star Voice of India" (SVOI) which airs on Star Plus. He was offered the role of host for "Star Voice of India Chote Ustaad", but opted out to spend time with his family. However, he returned to host the next season of "Star Voice of India".
In June 2015, Shaan was introduced as a coach in the first season of the singing-based reality TV show "The Voice", appearing with a swollen face caused by an exercising accident. He was the coach of Pawandeep Rajan, the eventual winner. In 2016, in season 2, he again was the winning coach, of contestant Farhan Sabir. In 2016, in "The Voice India Kids", he was the coach of the runner-up contestant.
International acclaim and other projects.
Shaan is one of the few Indian singers who have collaborated with international singers. After working with "blue" for the song "One Love" and singing the theme song ("Shuruaat") for the movie "", Shaan collaborated with "Michael Learns to Rock" for his album "Tishnagi". Shaan also composed six of the album's nine tracks and penned most of the songs, excluding the number "Take Me To Your Heart" with "Michael Learns to Rock". The video of this number has been popular too.
Shaan has sung the title songs for many TV shows, including the title song for the comedy show "Khichdi", which airs on Star Plus. He also sang the title song for "Shakuntala", which airs on Star One.
Along with singing, Shaan has acted in the movie "Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence", also starring Raveena Tandon. His songs have appeared in the movies, "Zameen" and "Hungama".
Shaan often performs for Pro Shows which are conducted as a part of the cultural festivals of various colleges. Among the prominent cult festivals where he has performed live recently are Moksha at NSIT (New Delhi), PULSE at AIIMS (New Delhi), Recstacy at NIT Durgapur, Spring Fest at IIT Kharagpur, REBECA at IIEST Shibpur, Mood Indigo at IIT Bombay, Ragam at NIT Calicut, Anakronos at Techno India, Alcheringa at IIT Guwahati, Riviera (festival) at VIT University and Crossroads at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) (New Delhi). Recently he has performed live in Fun@Work Oracle Event at Bangalore. Previously he had performed in an IBM event "Imprint 2008, Hyderabad" for IBM GBS exclusively.
He said in an interview that music directors are avoiding established singers to bring some novelty into the playback singing, while compromising on the quality. Auto tuning software ensures that even a rough voice can sound good during the final recording and release of the song.
Shaan has been a judge on many talent shows. Shaan is a team captain, judge and mentor on STAR Plus's "Music Ka Maha Muqqabla" for the team Shaan's Strikers. His team won the Runner-up prize, amounting to Rs. 2.5 million (Rs. 2.5 million) in this game show on 20 March 2010, losing to Shanker Mahadevan and his team, with 43.1 points to 46.3 points.
Shaan performed live alongside Atif Aslam, Malaika Arora Khan and Bipasha Basu for the first time in a series of concerts in Birmingham and London in the summer of 2012.
Shaan has also been one of the 4 finalists of the dance show "Jhalak Dikhla Jaa" 2013.
Awards.
Shaan's song "Chand Sifarish" (from the movie "Fanaa") and "Jab Se Tere Naina" (from "Saawariya") won the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award and the Zee Cine Award Best Playback Singer - Male, in addition to receiving several other nominations. In 2000 he won the MTV Asia Music Award for best solo album for his album "Tanha Dil". Following are the list of awards and nominations in different categories.
See also.
List of songs recorded by Shaan