Singer-actor Prashant Tamang passes away
Singer and actor Prashant Tamang, who became a household name after winning the third season of Indian Idol 3 and was praised for his turn as a cold-blooded assassin in “Paatal Lok 2”, died on Sunday at his New Delhi residence. He was 43 and died after suffering a stroke.
Tamang’s close friend, singer Mahesh Sewa, said that the singer-actor died at his residence in Janak Puri. “He (Tamang) passed away this morning, around 9 am, due to cardiac arrest at his residence in Delhi. He was taken to the hospital by his family, but the doctors declared him dead on arrival. I’m shocked by his untimely demise. I spoke to him a few days ago, and he was hale and hearty,” he said.
“His body is still at the hospital. The family is yet to decide whether to perform the funeral in Delhi or Darjeeling,” he added.
The news of Tamang’s death was first shared by another friend, Rajesh Ghatani, on social media. “My heart is heavy while writing this very sad news!! May you live in Baikuntha!! Heartfelt tribute, Prashant brother,” Ghatani wrote on Facebook.
Raju Bista, Member of Parliament from Darjeeling and National Spokesperson of BJP, said, “The untimely demise of Prashant Tamang, the popular singer and actor, has left the Gorkha community, along with the entire world of arts and music, stunned and heartbroken.” He added that by winning Indian Idol in 2007, Prashant made the Gorkhas of India proud and brought widespread recognition for the community. He also brought Nepali music and songs to the limelight.
Tamang was born on January 4, 1983, in Darjeeling into a Nepali-speaking Gorkha family. His father served with the West Bengal Police and died while in service, after which Tamang left school to take up his father’s post.
Encouraged by friends, he auditioned for the reality singing show “Indian Idol” in 2007, where he went on to win the competition. Tamang’s victory triggered unprecedented celebrations across the Darjeeling hills, Sikkim and parts of Nepal.
He then came out with his first album, “Dhanyavaad” in 2010 and regularly performed at concerts in India and overseas.
Tamang transitioned to acting with the Nepali hit “Gorkha Paltan” the same year and went on to feature in movies such as “Angalo Yo Maya Ko”, “Kina Maya Ma”, “Nishani”, “Pardesi” and “Kina Mayama”.He was most recently seen in the second season of the critically-acclaimed “Paatal Lok” where he essayed the role of Daniel Lecho, an assassin. The actor will be posthumously seen in the upcoming Salman Khan-starrer “Battle of Galwan”, which is set to be released in theatres on April 17.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also condoled Tamang’s demise in a post on X.
