Popular singer Papon known for songs such as Bulleya (Sultan), Kyun (Barfi!) and Tera Chaav (Sui Dhaaga: Made In India) among others talks about how no live shows have become a problem. The singer is in Assam and is busy in doing Covid-relief work.
“We couldn’t step out for a long time. Initially, we started a helpline with an NGO, but a lot of people aren’t tech savvy, so there was much confusion . Many don’t know who to call, so we formed a small team, and asked them to verify all numbers we could get, for say, providing food at home, medicines, if they need Covid care,” says the singer.
“They didn’t even know how to use the oximeter. So we took some health officers to the village, who spoke to the people there,” Papon further added.
Papon is worried that artists can no longer sustain without work. He himself has not done a live show for a year and a half now.
Papon explains, “There’s a monthly cash outflow for anyone to sustain. One has to pay constant rent and EMIs. You can curtail your expenses by not going out, but there are some fixed things. For musicians, our only source of bread and butter is live shows. I haven’t done one for almost one for a year and a half now. It’s tough, very tough. I don’t know how many artistes can stay like this for long.”
The singer said that the artists understand that it’ll take time for this to get normal given the current situation of the pandemic, “We don’t know what to do about it, so, there’s no point stressing. I can’t do much about the situation, so I’m just trying to make music. Good times will come back, it’s only a matter of time though I’m not sure when.”
