When Jiyein Kyun from Dum Maaro Dum released in 2011, it didn’t just serve as a melancholic interlude in a crime thriller — it marked a turning point in Papon’s career. The track, which turns 14 this year, composed by Pritam and penned by Jaideep Sahni, introduced Bollywood to a new kind of voice: introspective, earthy and unmistakably real.

“Jiyein Kyun was my first big break in Bollywood,” the Assamese singer recalls. “Technically, I sang Sajana for Let’s Enjoy back in 2004, but this song changed everything for me.” At the time, Bollywood wasn’t even on Papon’s radar. “I had no plans from childhood to be in Bollywood,” he says.

“I was performing in Mumbai when Rohan Sippy heard me and asked if I’d like to sing for a film. Soon after, Pritam Da called me — he had heard my Assamese album Jonaki Raati and liked it. That’s how Jiyein Kyun happened.”

But it wasn’t just the opportunity — it was the sound that set the song apart. In an industry where soaring, high-pitched vocals were the norm, Papon’s grounded tone made listeners pause and feel.

“Back then, everyone was singing high,” he shares. “I was the only newcomer who sang that low. I actually recorded the song seven semitones below the original composition. That became my strength — but also a challenge. It wasn’t easy to place a voice like mine against the typical Bollywood hero.”

Yet, that very depth made Jiyein Kyun unforgettable. “I think people connected with the rawness of it. Over the years, it’s become something of an anthem — for quiet heartbreaks, for reflection,” says the 49-year-old.