imported>Ezhil OV at 10:45, 21 May 2021

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{{short description|Indian singer and film actor}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Prashant Tamang
| image = Prashant Tamang 03.jpg
| imagesize =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1983|1|4}}
| birth_place = [[Darjeeling]], West Bengal, India
| origin = India
| instrument = Vocals, guitar, drums
| genre = Pop
| occupation = Singer, actor
| years_active = 2007—present
| website =
}}

'''Prashant Tamang''' (born 4 January 1983) is an Indian singer and film actor based in [[Kathmandu]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nepalboard.de/nepal/fua/31971.html|title=Re: Who is Nepali/Nepalese?|website=www.nepalboard.de|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> He was the winner of ''[[Indian Idol#Season 3|Indian Idol Season 3]]'' in 2007.<ref name="indianidol">[http://indianidol.sify.com/contestants/prashant/ Indian Idol 3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604163908/http://indianidol.sify.com/contestants/prashant/ |date=4 June 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://biography.lumbinimedia.com/2017/02/prashant-tamang.html,%20http://biography.lumbinimedia.com/2017/02/prashant-tamang.html|title=Prashant Tamang Biography|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Prashant Tamang was born in [[Darjeeling]], West Bengal, India to Rupa Tamang and Madan Tamang and studied at St Robert School. After the demise of his father in an accident, Tamang left school and joined [[Kolkata Police]] as a constable in his father's place.<ref name="indianidol3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.southasiabiz.com/2007/06/prashant_tamang_in_indian_idol.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901222655/http://www.southasiabiz.com/2007/06/prashant_tamang_in_indian_idol.html|url-status=dead|title=Prashant Tamang in Indian Idol 3|archive-date=1 September 2007|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="ibnlive">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/cop-prashant-tamang-is-the-new-indian-idol/49224-19-p0.html|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://story.nepalnational.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/7399985502eaed63/id/255180/cs/1/ Nepal Nation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009082456/http://story.nepalnational.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/7399985502eaed63/id/255180/cs/1/ |date=9 October 2007 }}</ref> In Kolkata Police, he sang for the police orchestra. His family includes his grandmother, mother and his sister, Archana. He married Geeta Thapa (Martha Alley), who is a flight attendant, on 16 February 2011 in [[Nagaland]], India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://moviesnepal.com/prashant-tamang-got-married-secretly/ |title=Prashant Tamang Got Married Secretly |access-date=7 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310030021/http://moviesnepal.com/prashant-tamang-got-married-secretly/ |archive-date=10 March 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Indian Idol==
According to the Indian Idol programme commentary, Tamang auditioned for Indian Idol 3 (2007) because his friends and his seniors, especially Mr. Zulfiqar Hasan, Special Additional Commissioner of Police<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tv/news/hindi/I-enjoyed-all-the-attentionPrashant/articleshow/2402499.cms|title=I enjoyed all the attention:Prashant - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> (who incidentally also got Tamang's leave sanctioned for the competition) told him that his voice was very good. He auditioned for Indian Idol in [[Kolkata]] and was subsequently chosen for the next rounds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dhukdhuki.com/mano/?p=46|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701120318/http://www.dhukdhuki.com/mano/?p=46|url-status=dead|title=Dhukdhuki|archive-date=1 July 2007|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> He received mixed comments from judges for his performances. He is the only contestant to have never been in the bottom three or four of the gala round. Tamang made it to the top two of Indian Idol 3 along with [[Amit Paul]]. Tamang got about 10 times more votes (70 million votes)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Columns/Our-Insulted-Countrymen.html|title=Our Insulted Countrymen|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> than Amit in the final and went on to win the Indian Idol contest. He won 10 million Indian rupees cash prize & a [[Maruti Suzuki SX4]] as the winner of Indian Idol.

===Voting for Indian Idol===
After entering the Indian Idol contest, Tamang became a celebrity in West Bengal, [[Sikkim]] and particularly in the Darjeeling hills. People from [[Kolkata]], Sikkim and [[Indian Nepalese|Nepalese]] population living all around the world voted overwhelmingly for Tamang in the contest.<ref name="VotePrashant">{{Cite web|url=http://www.southasiabiz.com/2007/06/indian_idol_vote_for_prashant.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716180518/http://www.southasiabiz.com/2007/06/indian_idol_vote_for_prashant.html|url-status=dead|title=Vote for Prashant Tamang|archive-date=16 July 2007|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> The mayor of [[Mirik]] vowed to spend Rs. 10,000 and his staff vowed to spend a month's salary in SMS voting for Prashant Tamang.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=gossipbollywood&e=com|title=HugeDomains.com - GossipBollywood.com is for sale (Gossip Bollywood)|website=www.hugedomains.com|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> People of Nepalese origin working in Brunei, UK, Hong Kong, UAE and other countries sent money to vote for him in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnepalinews.php?&nid=114240|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092650/http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnepalinews.php?&nid=114240|url-status=dead|title=Kantipur Online|archive-date=29 September 2007|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>

Travel was organised in Howrah, [[Kolkata]] in his support, some of which were attended by his sister, mother, and grandmother. In [[Pokhara]], [[Nepal]], Radio Annapurna (93.4 MHz) campaigned for collecting donation and the collected sum of NRs. Seventy-thousand donations were sent to Darjeeling through its representative to vote for Tamang. A signature campaign for his support was organised by Himalaya Darpan (a Nepali newspaper) in Kolkata. Schools, clubs and other organisations asked people to support and vote for Tamang, who was named "पहाडको गौरव" (Pahad Ko Gaurav) meaning "Pride of the Hills".<ref name="southasiabiz">{{Cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2007/09/05/chamling-appeals-to-people-to-vote-for-prashant-tamang-1189001110.html|title=Chamling appeals to people to vote for Prashant Tamang|date=5 September 2007|website=One India|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> Two cabinet ministers from Sikkim, G.M. Gurung and S.B. Subedi, planted tree saplings at [[Singtam]] to pledge the Sikkimese support for Tamang and to show the unity of the Nepalese community in Sikkim and Kolkata.<ref name="VotePrashant"/> The Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs of Sikkim, P.S. Golay, also supported the statewide voting for Tamang.

===Support from Kolkata Police===
Tamang, a constable in [[Kolkata Police]], was supported by the officials of his department. Zulfiqar Hasan (Special ACP), visibly ecstatic with Tamang's triumph, in his interview after the announcement of the result, told that he was confident that Tamang would win and he and his team supported Tamang at every stage of the competition. According to reports, a couple of policemen even stayed awake through the nights to vote for Tamang.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/idols-and-the-sms/article2253756.ece|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125102906/http://hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2007/10/03/stories/2007100350200500.htm|archive-date=25 January 2013|url-status=dead|title=Idols and the sms|date=3 October 2007|access-date=9 January 2020|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Hasan said, "Given the hard worker he is, Tamang deserved this title. He has no formal training in music, but he has been chosen the new Indian Idol. This proves how dedicated he is towards whatever he does."

===Bimal Gurung and Gorkhaland movement===
[[Bimal Gurung]], a former councillor of the [[Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council]], led a successful campaign for voting for Tamang in Indian Idol 3. His campaign gained huge support and popularity from the people of Darjeeling. Riding on the wave of this mass support, Bimal was able to move the campaign to a political angle and overthrow [[Subhash Ghisingh]], the [[GNLF]] leader and caretaker of DGHC, from power. Bimal Gurung went on to found a new party called [[Gorkha Janmukti Morcha]] that renewed the demand for a state of [[Gorkhaland]] in India.<ref>[http://www.livemint.com/2008/03/19224412/Indian-Idol-reignites-demand-f.html Indian Idol reignites demand]</ref>

===Red FM controversy===
A radio jockey Jonathan Brady (also known as Nitin) of [[Red FM 93.5|Red FM]], an FM radio channel in Delhi, commented in a live broadcast in his show that "shopkeepers will now have to make their own security arrangements as Gorkhas have taken to singing" when referring to Tamang, who is a [[Indian Gorkha|Gorkhali]], singing in the Indian Idol 3 contest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rjs-comment-on-gorkhas-sparks-debate/49564-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016033646/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rjs-comment-on-gorkhas-sparks-debate/49564-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2012|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> This led to massive protests from Gorkhas all over and especially in Darjeeling district, where violent clashes erupted between supporters of Tamang and local residents of [[Siliguri]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Prashant-Tamangrsquos-fans-Siliguri-residents-clash/article14844126.ece|title=Prashant Tamang's fans, Siliguri residents clash|date=29 September 2007|access-date=9 January 2020|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> The Gorkhas demanded that the RJ be taken off the FM channel. The Government of India issued a show-cause notice to Red FM for the racial slur.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ib-showcause-notice-on-red-fm-for-racist-slut-on-gorkhas/49607-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016033728/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ib-showcause-notice-on-red-fm-for-racist-slut-on-gorkhas/49607-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2012|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> Red FM issued a clarification stating that "We have not intentionally caused hurt to the sentiments of any person or any particular community, caste or creed. However in the event an inadvertent slight or offence has been caused to the sentiments of any person or community we tender our apology for the same".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/prashant-tamang-furore-red-fms-clarification/49593-3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016033751/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/prashant-tamang-furore-red-fms-clarification/49593-3.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 October 2012|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref><ref>[http://news.indiainfo.com/2007/09/29/0709291047_radio_jockey_prashant.html Red FM RJ apologises to Prashant Tamang]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==After Indian Idol==
After winning Indian Idol 3, Tamang launched his maiden album ''Dhanyavad'' (meaning "Thank You"), consisting of Nepali and Hindi songs, with [[Sony BMG Music Entertainment|Sony BMG]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/prashant-tamangs-debut-album-unveiled--his-journey/51836-19.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403005210/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/prashant-tamangs-debut-album-unveiled--his-journey/51836-19.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 April 2012|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> Prashant toured all over the world, including the USA,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/53825/indian-idol-prashant-charms-america.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403005335/http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/53825/indian-idol-prashant-charms-america.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 April 2012|title=News18.com: CNN-News18 Breaking News India, Latest News Headlines, Live News Updates|website=News18|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> performing in concerts. He also sang for a few Nepali films such as ''Himmat 2'' (along with fellow Indian Idol contestant Charu Semwal).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mumbaihotel.net/en/indiaenews.html|title=Latest news from India - India eNews|website=www.mumbaihotel.net|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>

==Films==
In 2009, Tamang started his acting career in [[Cinema of Nepal|Nepali films]]. His first film ''Gorkha Paltan'' was released in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/|title=Business News Live, Share Market News - Read Latest Finance News, IPO, Mutual Funds News|website=The Economic Times|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> ''Gorkha Paltan'' did very well at the box office.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.xnepali.com/success-story-of-gorkha-paltan/ |title=Success Story of Gorkha Paltan |access-date=7 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218025443/http://blog.xnepali.com/success-story-of-gorkha-paltan/ |archive-date=18 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His second film ''Angalo Yo Maya Ko'', produced in [[Sikkim]], was released on 31 March 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=29958|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204214/http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=29958|url-status=dead|title='Angalo yo Mayako' Premiered|archive-date=3 March 2016|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> ''Kina Maya Ma'', Prashant's third film, was released in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/main-news/entertainment/45-music-and-movies/2698-prashant-tamangs-kina-maya-ma.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526031201/http://darjeelingtimes.com/main-news/entertainment/45-music-and-movies/2698-prashant-tamangs-kina-maya-ma.html|url-status=dead|title=Prashant Tamang's Kina Maya Ma|archive-date=26 May 2011|access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref> His fourth Nepali film ''Nishani'', based on the bravery of the [[Gorkha regiments (India)|Gorkhas]] in the [[Kargil War]], was released in 2014.

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Other notes
|-
| 2010 || ''Gorkha Paltan'' || || Also did playback singing in the film
|-
| 2011 || ''Angalo Yo Maya Ko'' || || Also did playback singing in the film
|-
| 2011 || ''Kina Maya Ma'' || ||
|-
| 2014 || ''Nishani'' || ||Hit
|-
| 2015 || ''Pardesi'' || ||Blockbuster
|-
| 2016 || ''Ye Maya Hanaima'' || ||
|-
|}

==See also==
*[[Indian Idol]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071009082456/http://story.nepalnational.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/7399985502eaed63/id/255180/cs/1/ Story at Nepal Nation]

{{Indian Idol}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamang, Prashant}}
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian male singers]]
[[Category:Singers from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Nepali-language singers]]
[[Category:Indian Idol winners]]
[[Category:Idols (TV series) winners]]
[[Category:People from Darjeeling]]

Prashant Tamang - Revision history

imported>Ezhil OV at 10:45, 21 May 2021