Shaan brings melody in the age of remixes

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><img align="left" src="/photo/620092.cms" alt="/photo/620092.cms" border="0" />KOLKATA: The chubby, effervescent and vivacious face of music teleserial <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Sa re ga ma pa</span> has more to him than just that disarming smile. Shaan, rated by critics as the most promising singer of generation next, is a lone crusader of melody and sublime nuances among the current lot of music makers.<br /><br />Far from jarring notes, inconceivable lyrics and vulgar videos, Shaan has made a distinct but welcome aberration — that brings back the soulful, pure and fresh genre of music back in style.<br /><br />His new album <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Aksar</span>, which like all his earlier albums is not for the party-goer but for that serious listener who would rather sway to the lyrics all alone or in the company of like-minded friends on a rainy evening, reflects his commitment to stick to this genre.<br /><br />"I know many people would not see my music videos since this is not what they want to see in videos anymore.But despite that I will never give in to market pressures. My albums will tell stories that might not be sellable, yet they are stories from my life and yours," Shaan says, the dimpled smile in place.<br /><br />With <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Aksar</span>, Shaan collaborates with three international groups — Blue, Mel C and Moroccan star singer Samira Said. The album with six original songs penned and composed by Shaan retains his original flavour.<br /><br />Despite umpteen film tracks, stage shows and laurels, success does not seem to have affected him like most other glamour-struck young performers in Bollywood. The youngster still oozes that boy-next-door demeanour.<br /><br />"Everything for me happens just by chance, like my first album, my rechristening as ''Shaan'' from Shantanu Mukherjee and my first acting project...they have all virtually fallen on my lap," he says.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal">While movie numbers like <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Musu Musu Hasi</span>,<span style="" font-style:="" italic=""> Kuch to Hua Hai</span> and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Yeh Hawaayein</span> have earned him rave reviews, rhythmic beats like those in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Koi</span> <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Kahe</span>, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">O Re</span> <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Kanchi</span> and <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">It''s the Time to Disco</span> have got the young hooked to his music.<br /><br />Jingles, title tracks for television serials, children''s songs for feature films and backing vocals for other artists was a way of life for Shaan and sister Sagarika from a very young age until he signed a contract for his own pop album <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Love-ology</span> in 1997.<br /><br />Indi-pop number <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Tanha Dil</span> skyrocketed and it stayed on the MTV charts for a record number of weeks, and that ultimately fetched him the ‘Favourite Indian Artiste - Pop category’ in 2002.<br /><br />Currently on his 10-city stage show tour to promote <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Aksar</span>, Shaan says he is averse to getting branded.<br /><br />"I agree this is the age of branding. But I have never planned anything beyond what I am currently doing. Ask me about my next album or next television project and I would go blank for, I have none at hand!" he says.<br /><br />Mostly in casuals when not facing the arclights, Shaan could well pass off for any college-goer until he engages you in a serious talk on music piracy or the need for inculcating moral values among those who treat music as just a business proposition.<br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section3"><div class="Normal">And then he tells you about his dream project - pairing up with Sagarika to sing his late father Manab Mukherjee''s songs.<br /><br />"We waited till we were sure about what we were doing. And this time during Durga Puja when Bengalis look forward to the best in regional music, me and my sister would cut an album of songs written by us and some composed by my father," he says.<br /><br />Ask him if he would ever consider films as a career after his critically acclaimed performance in Kalpana Lajmi''s award winning Raveena Tandon-starrer <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Daman</span>, and he tells you what exactly is stopping him from doing so.<br /><br />"I did enjoy acting. But shooting means a lot of hard work and takes away precious time from my schedule. After all, I am a singer first. Though I have been approached by a few directors, none of the roles seem to be what I can actually do justice to," he says.<br /><br />But for the right kind of role, which reflects his ethics in life, Shaan is still open. "I could take a break from music for something which seems to be close to my heart", he says. <br /><br /><formid=367815></formid=367815></div> </div>