Shaan (singer)

Early life

Shaan was born on 30 September 1972. His grandfather was the lyricist Jahar Mukherjee, his father was the late music director Manas Mukherjee, and his sister is the singer Sagarika. His father died when Shaan was 13, after which his mother found work as a singer and took care of the whole family.

Early years and music albums

As a child, 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. In the 1989 movie Parinda, aged only 17, Shaan sang a single line in the song, "Kitni Hai Pyari Pyari Dosti Hamari". 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 Music Award 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 "Shuruat" on his album Tishnagi was made into a music video to promote the film, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Playback singing, music composition and lyrics writing

Apart from singing on his own albums, Shaan has provided the voice for many of Bollywood's leading men including Ajay Devgn, Arjun Rampal, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Suri, Shayan Munshi, Akshay Kumar, Shahid Kapoor, Sunil Shetty, Dino Morea, Vivek Oberoi, Ritesh Deshmukh, Tusshar Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Anil Kapoor, Aftab Shivdasani, Sharman Joshi, Ranbir Kapoor and R. Madhavan. He has established himself as one of the leading playback singers in Bollywood today. He recently recorded a wonderful romantic song for upcoming Bollywood movie Meeradha under the banner of SPJ Entertainment.

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 (2004 film), Om Shanti Om, 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 Kannada, Bengali, Telugu and Tamil film songs. Popular songs by Shaan include hits like "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; "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 (2004 film); "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 Puneet Rajkumar, Darshan, Shivrajkumar, Ganesh, Duniya Vijay and others. A few songs to mention are, "Eno Onthara" from Hudugata; "Thara Thara 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.

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 ("Shuruat") for the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 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 BESU (Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur), Mood Indigo at IIT Bombay, Ragam at NIT Calicut, Anakronos at Techno India, Alcheringa at IIT Guwahati, Riviera'10 at VIT University, and Crossroads at Sri 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 in 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 finalist of the dance show Jhalak Dikhlaja 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. Shaan won "Best TV Music Director Award" for creating the music of the Zee TV show Lipstick. Following are the list of awards and nominations in different categories.

Tours