Introduction

From Pop to Hip Hop to Ballads, Shaan is a singer in many genres. With an ability to sing in Bengali, Kannada, Telugu and Tamil, he has done numerous hit songs for movies. Shaan has provided the vocals for many hit Kannada, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil and Urdu film songs. He is also a talented music composer, lyricist, music director and television presenter. He also helps the music directors on music and lyrics for whom he sings.

Early Life

Shaan was born in a family of musicians. His grandfather was lyricist Jahar Mukherjee, while his father was late music director Manas Muhkerjee. Shaan’s father expired when Shaan was 13 years of age. His mother started working as a singer to support the family. In his early age, Shaan sang jingles for advertisements. Shaan began his musical career in 1989, when he was 17 years of age. His first song was a line for the song Kitni Hai Pyari Pyari Dosti Hamari for the movie Parinda. Soon, he and his sister signed up with Magnasound Recording Company and released a few hit albums like Naujawan, followed by Q- Funk, which sold over a million copies. His pop albums, which were mostly Biddu’s melodies and remixes, which he sang with his sister, also did well. Later on, he released an album entitled Roop Tera Mastana comprised of RD Burman’s songs remixed which exposed him to the limelight. Next up, came his album Loveology, which got a good reception.

His Rise to Fame

The year 2000 saw Shaan rise to fame after he wrote the lyrics of the ballad Bhool Ja for the album Tanha Dil. The song made it to the charts within days of its release and was very popular on radio too. In the same year, Tanha Dil won him the MTV Asia Music Award for the best solo album. By 2003, he launched another album called Aksar, which featured international stars like Blue, Mel C and Samira Said. He wrote, composed and sang all numbers in these albums, except for the title track of Tanha Dil, which was composed by Ram Sampath. Soon, he earned himself many titles like Voice of Paradise, Golden Voice of India and Magician of Melody due to his perfect voice.

In 2004, he along with his sister released the Bengali Album Tomar Aakash, which featured some of his father’s unreleased songs. He further went on to sing his father’s compositions on the sets of Music Ka Maha Muqqabla on Star Plus. By 2006, he released a song with MTLR called Take me to your heart in the album Tishnagi, produced by Ranjit Barot and engineered by Ashish Manchanda. The album featured Shuruat, which was used to promote the film Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, after being made into an album.

Some of leading actors that Shaan provides voice for include Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal, Dino Morea, Fardeen Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Jackie Shroff, Ranbir Kapoor, R Madhavan, Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, and Shahrukh Khan. Today, Shaan has established himself as a leading playback singer in Bollywood.

Bollywood Hits

Some of Shaan’s Bollywood hit songs include Musu Musu (from a Nepali song) and Wo Pehli Baar from the film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999). The song, Tune Mujhe Pehchaana Nahin from the film Raju Chacha in 2000, followed this. He won Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song Koi Kahe Kehta Rahe from the 2001 film Dil Chahta Hai. After this, came hit songs like Apni Yaadon Ko from Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat in 2001 and Subha Ho Gayi Mamu from the 2003 film Munna Bhai MBBS. The year 2003, also saw him sing such hit numbers like Suno Na and Tera Muskurana from Jhaankar Beats. Soon, came his other hi songs like Kuch to Hua Hai from Kal Ho Na Ho (2003) and In Panchhiyon from the film Koi Mil Gaya (2003). In 2004, he sang the song Shikdum in the film Dhoom and Main Aisa Kyun Hoon from Lakshya. In the same year, he sang Ladki Kyon Na Jane Kyon from Hum Tum, My Dil Goes Mmmm for Salaam Namaste and Chori Chori Chhora Chhori for Masti.

By 2005, his songs included Dus Bahane from the film Dus, followed by Where’s The Party Tonight and Rock N Roll Soniye from Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna (2006). The year 2006 also saw him singing Main Hoon Don from Don - The Chase Begins Again and Chand Sifarish from Fanaa. In 2007, Shaan’s songs included Hey Shona from Tara Rum Pum and Do You Wanna Partner from the movie Partner and Insha Allah and Welcome from the film Welcome. The Year 2007 also saw Shaan singing numbers like Bum Bum Bole from Tare Zameen Par and Dastaan-e- Om Shanti Om from the film Om Shanti Om. Songs like Aao Milo Chalo from Jab We Met (2007), and Kuch Kam from Dostana (2008) and O Re Kanchi from the 2008 film Asoka followed this up.

The year 2009 had hit songs from Shaan like Behti Hawa SaTha Woh from the film 3 Idiots. His recent hits include Shaam Ki Gulaabi Vaadiyo Me from the film Chase (2010), Meri Jaaniye from I Me Aur Main (2013) and Tere Naina Maar Hi Dalenge from Jai Ho (2014).

In late 2014, he along with his wife Radhika is producing a live concert called Live Love Laugh Shaan Se.

TV Shows

• Hosted Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee TV (2000-2006), which won Music Programme of the Year Award 2003

• He won Best TV Music Director for the Zee TV show Lipstick

• He made Guest Appearance for Antakshari: The Great Challenge (2007) on Star One

• He is captain, judge and mentor on Star Plus’s Music Ka Maha Muqqabla for Team Shaan’s Strikers

• He is host to music show Star Voice of India on Star Plus Channel

• He has been among the finalists for the dance show Jhalak Dikhaja(2013).

Awards

1. Filmfare Best Male Playback Award

• Jab Se Tere Naina from Saawariya (2008)

• Chand Sifarish from Fanaa (2007)

2. Zee Cine Best Playback Singer Male Award

• Jab Se Tere Naina from Saawariya (2008)

• Chand Sifarish from Fanaa (2007)

• Suno Na from Jhankaar Beats (2004)

3. IIFA Best Male Playback Award

• Behti Hawa Sa Tha Woh from 3 Idiots (2010)

• Jab Se Tere Naina from Saawariya (2008)

• Chand Sifarish from Fanaa (2007)

Acting Career

Shaan has acted in the film Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001).