Singer Shaan and his sons Soham and Maahi cause a sensation in Cannes

India had several shining moments at Cannes 2024. Filmmaker Payal Kapadia garnered much attention and recognition for her film, Everything we imagine as lightAlso at the Bharat Parv event, playback singer Shaan proudly introduced the audience to three aspiring pop stars, including his 18-year-old son Maahi.

The talented teenager, who debuted with his video single ‘Sorry’ earlier this year, has now released his second single ‘Jaadugari’, produced by his elder brother Soham. Undeterred by the size of the forum, the teenager impressed the audience with his performance and the family enjoyed every moment.

After returning to Mumbai, Shaan, Maahi and Soham joined via video call to share their Cannes experience, catch up on music and reflect on their travels. Their conversation was filled with laughter, memories and a deep appreciation for the time spent together as a family.

Shaan, sandwiched between his sons to fit into the frame, says, “Soham graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, which was a proud moment for us as parents. We first had the joy of attending his graduation ceremony and were thrilled to see Maahi’s first international performance. It has been a wonderful and unforgettable year for our family.”

Maahi describes his Cannes experience as “incredible”. “The opportunity was overwhelming. I must admit that I was a little nervous at first. But the support of my family helped me calm those nerves. Cannes is a very special place full of people who appreciate art in all its forms. It was an incredible experience to be there.”

For Soham, the production of Jadugari was special because his brother Mahi was involved in it. He says, “Usually, I work pretty much alone in my production work, following the instructions of the artists and creating music accordingly. However, this project was different. Mahi’s involvement gave the whole process a personal touch that elevated it. His input and our shared creativity made the production, along with composer Sudan Bhosle, feel incredibly organic and effortless,” adding, “It’s a project that holds special meaning for both of us, not just as artists but also as brothers creating something meaningful together.”

Shaan’s stay

Shaan’s Album Thank you, Released in the late 1990s, it was a significant milestone in his career and marked his rise to become a prominent pop star in the Indian music scene. Could the song “Sorry” be considered a breakthrough song for Maahi? He is hesitant to make such a comparison. Although Maahi admits that “Sorry” could be a step towards such success, he does not currently see “Sorry” as being on par with “Tanha Dil”. “My priority is to continuously release more music and connect with my audience through quality.”

Mahi acknowledges the similarity in his voice to his father’s, but stresses that he strives to maintain his individual musical identity. “I appreciate my father’s advice to seek inspiration from different artists. I want to integrate all influences and discover my unique style and expression.”

The Science of Music

Soham’s approach to his education and eventual career in the music industry is strategic and forward-thinking. He chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry at USC, emphasizing law, business and technology over a traditional music education, leveraging his existing musical foundation. “I want to deal with contracts, production agreements and copyright issues. This will allow me to combine artistic expression with business acumen,” says Soham.

Shaan supports his sons but has not encouraged their musical talents since childhood. He says he gradually noticed their inclination towards music, though they initially focused on school and sports. “Both of them did very well in school, sports and other activities. Soham has completed his graduation, but Maahi is not pushed to do so. I did not force formal education on them, but allowed them to explore music alongside their other interests. Over time, as their passion for music grew stronger, I accepted their choice and encouraged them to pursue it wholeheartedly.”

Soham says that while her parents don’t pressure her to pursue music, there is an inherent external pressure due to her family background. “This pressure is not direct, but exists in the environment and privileges we grew up in. We are proud of our family’s achievements and want to live up to our parents’ legacy.”

Mahi agrees with Soham and sees pressure as a positive force that motivates her and makes her strive for improvement.

Since his two songs, ‘Sorry’ and ‘Jadugari’, are pop love songs, Maahi is ready to embrace this image. He says he doesn’t want to take himself too seriously yet; his focus is on continuing to make music in this genre.

Shaan thinks it would be a good idea for all three to collaborate on a project and thinks it could happen at some point. He says, “There are still some legal and contractual issues that need to be resolved, but I’m optimistic that we can overcome these challenges to make music together in the future.”