Shaan

Biography

Shantanu Mukherjee (Bengali pronunciation: [ʃantonu mukʰardʒi]; born 30 September 1972), professionally known as Shaan, is an Indian playback singer, composer, actor, and television host. He records songs primarily in Hindi, Bengali, Kannada and Telugu language. Known as the "Golden Voice of India", A notable playback singer of India, he is also noted for his songs in the romantic genre, mainly during the 2000s. Shaan is a recipient of two Filmfare Awards and three International Indian Film Academy Awards.
His most popular songs include — "Musu Musu Haasi Deu" from Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999), "Woh Ladki Hai Kahan" and "Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe" from Dil Chahta Hai (2001), "Ghanan Ghanan" from Lagaan (2001), "Mere Samnewali Khidki Mein" from Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002), "O Humdum Suniyo Re" from Saathiya (2002), "Jaadu Hai Nasha Hai" from Jism (2003), "Kuch To Hua Hai" from Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003), "O Jaana" from Tere Naam (2003), "Ladki Kyun" from Hum Tum (2004), "Main Aisa Kyun Hoon" from Lakshya (2004), "Dus Bahane" from Dus (2005), "My Dil Goes Mmmm" from Salaam Namaste (2005), "Main Hoon Don" from Don - The Chase Begins Again (2006), "Chaand Sifarish" from Fanaa (2006), "Rock And Roll Soniye" and "Where's The Party Tonight" from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), "Let's Rock Soniye" from Bhool Bhulaiya (2007), "Aao Milo Chale" from Jab We Met (2007), "You're My Love" from Partner (2007), "Deewangi Deewangi" from Om Shanti Om (2007), "Jab Se Tere Naina" from Saawariya (2007), "Hey Shona" from Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007) and "Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh" from 3 Idiots (2009).

Early life and family

Shaan was born on 30 September 1972 in Bombay in a Bengali family. His grandfather was Jahar Mukherjee, a well known lyricist, his father Manas Mukherjee, was a music director and his sister Sagarika is a singer as well. He grew up in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Shaan is married to Radhika Mukherjee, with whom he has two sons, Maahi and Soham. Both of his sons have ventured into the music industry.

Early years in musical career

Shaan began his career singing jingles for advertisements. Along with jingles, began to sing remixes and cover versions. His first recorded song was "A Te Apple Kheye", which was released in 1977.
Shaan released his first album It's Time To Dance×It's Time to Dance12 December 1987 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1TransportA2Kuriye DiyeA3Munde Pinde DeA4Jatiye Majaj Diye PativeA5Kuriye Haan Diye (Instrumental)B1Tak Mukhda GulabiB2Lutia GayaB3Pehlon Haske BulaveB4Chhal MarkeB5Transport (Instrumental) in 1987. Later in 1990, he first collaborated with Bally Sagoo to record the track titled "Mele Wich Aaye" and featured in Bally Sagoo's debut album Wham Bam. The following year, they recorded another track titled "Nakhro De Nakhre" that appeared in Sagoo's second album Star Crazy.
Shaan and his sister signed up with Magnasound recording company and recorded a few successful albums, including the hit album Naujawan×Naujawan18 March 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracksA1Aisa Hota Hai3:46A2Disco Deewane5:27A3Meri Wafa4:35A4Naujawan5:23B1Aap Jaisa Koi4:23B2Joomo Jaani5:14B3Armaan4:03B4Dekh4:47 (1996) followed by Q-Funk. Before that, he recorded his first English song "Heads Over Heels" in the album Stylebhai in 1994 and his first Hindi song "Silsile", featuring Shweta Shetty was recorded in 1995 as a part of the album Shweta - The New Album×The New Album18 January 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Bekaraar4:262Kaisi Hai Zindagi4:173Jhoothe4:534Dil Ki Ghadi4:035Silsile4:496Jalne Mein Hai Mazaa5:057Aa Chori Chori3:398Le Lo Dil3:23. Later in 1997, Shaan released Love-Ology after this, which was his first independent solo album. In 2000, he sang a superhit song "Tanha Dil" (transl. Lonely heart) from his second independent solo album Tanha Dil. In the same year, he also sang his first Assamese song "Hatore Aanguli" that appears on the album Mann.
In 2002, he won the MTV Asia Award for Favorite Artist India for best solo album for his album Tanha Dil. One year later, Shaan released his third independent solo album Aksar×Aksar1 December 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Aksar4:132Kaisa Jadoo4:323Na Kehna Nahi Aata4:344Tum Jo Mile4:165Haan Kabhi Tum6:056Har Taraf4:047Kya Maine Socha....One Love3:308Chaand Akela Hai5:289Tanha Dil3:23, which was successful and contained songs featuring international stars such as Blue, Melanie C and Samira Said. For both the albums Tanha Dil and Aksar, all the songs were sung by Shaan, composed by Ram Sampath and written by both Shaan and Ram Sampath.
He released Tomar Aakash in 2004, a Bengali album, along with his sister and featuring his father's unreleased songs. In 2006, he released a song with MLTR, "Take me to your heart". The song appears on his fourth independent solo album Tishnagi×TishnagiJanuary 2006 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Tishnagi4:202Badal Gaya4:193Chipe Chipe4:024Dono Jahan4:015Jhoom Le4:006Pyaar Ka Safar3:247Koi To Hoga4:248Take Me To Your Heart4:079Shuruaat7:51, which is produced by Ranjit Barot and engineered by Ashish Manchanda.

Career in playback singing

Shaan made his playback singing debut in 1999 in the movie Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi where he sung two songs in the film. The song "Musu Musu Hasi" instantly struck a chord among the viewers and was very relatable to the youth.
In 2023, Shan performed at a musical concert in Boston, organised by the Jay-Ho! The concert highlighted how music can bring people together, creating a joyful and entertaining atmosphere. It also demonstrated the strong affection and loyalty that Boston residents have for Shaan and his music.
He recorded a song for the Bengali feature film Network which is composed by Dabbu.
In 2023, Shaan recorded a romantic song composed by Pritam for Shah Rukh Khan in Dunki.

Work as host and judge

Shaan first appeared the television show Channel V Music Awards as a guest host with his sister in 1996. Later, he mainly hosted the television show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV between the years 2002 to 2006.
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. Shaan appeared as a judge in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'l Champs 2014 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. He appeared as a judge in the second and fourth season of the Bengali reality show Super Singer.

Films

Along with singing, Shaan made his debut as an actor where he acted in the film Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence, also starring Raveena Tandon. His songs have appeared in the films, Zameen and Hungama.

Popularity and public image

Shaan is described in the media as one of the most popular singers of Indian cinema. Shaan is also among the highest-paid singers in India. India TV placed him in its "Top 10 Bollywood Singers" of all time list. A total of six songs of his were placed in BBC's "Top 40 Bollywood Soundtracks of all time" list. Shaan is a member of the Board of Advisors of I.I.M.U.N., since 2021.