Shaan

Since the mid-’90s, Shaan has been lending his warm, evocative vocals to Indian pop and filmi smashes while simultaneously pursuing a successful career as TV host for popular music shows. • Shaan’s full name is Shantanu Mukherjee, and he hails from a musical family. His father, the late composer Manas Mukherjee, was an influential figure in his artistic development. • Shaan put himself on the map with 1996’s Naujawan, a joint release with his sister Sagarika. The eclectic album featured music by Indian pop trailblazer Biddu, who incorporated various influences drawn from rock and dance. • The artist soon found success as a playback singer in Bollywood. “Woh Pehli Baar” and “Musu Musu Haasi Deu” from Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi (1999) were the first in a long line of filmi favourites. • Meanwhile, Shaan honed his Indian pop chops on intriguing solo releases. Aksar... (2004) includes a remix of his turn-of-the-century hit “Tanha Dil” with vocals by the Spice Girls’ Mel C. • Shaan won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer twice: in 2007 for “Chand Sifarish” from Fanaa, alongside Kailash Kher, and in 2008 for “Jab Se Tere Naina” from Saawariya. • Over the years, Shaan has branched out into Bengali, Telugu and Kannada soundtracks, among other languages, as well as into devotional albums. • His parallel career as TV host and judge kicked off in the ’00s with lasting favourite Sa Re Ga Ma Pa and continued with the likes of The Voice India. • As singer, lyricist or composer, Shaan never stands still—in 2021 he released a raft of singles spanning Punjabi, indie pop and Indian classical.