Daler Mehndi

Daler Mehndi

Daler Mehndi in live performance at Madrid, Spain
Background information
Birth name Daler Singh
Born (1967-08-18) 18 August 1967
Patna, Bihar, India
Origin New Delhi, India
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer
Years active 1995–present
Labels
  • D Records
Associated acts Mika Singh, Hans Raj Hans
Website www.dalermehndi.com

Daler Singh, known by his stage name, "Daler Mehndi" (Punjabi: ਦਲੇਰ ਮਹਿੰਦੀ, dalēr mahindī), born 18 August 1967, is an Indian recording artist, musician, song writer, author, record producer, performer and environmentalist. He is credited with making Bhangra popular worldwide, and setting up a parallel non-film music industry to the pre-Daler era’s then existent Bollywood music. An Indian pop icon known for his energetic dance songs, his distinctive voice,[1] turban and long flowing robes.[2]

Early life

Daler Singh was born in Patna, Bihar on 18 August 1967.[2] He was born into a Majhabi Sikh family of musicians who had been singing for seven generations. His early influences on music are his parents, who taught him the ragas and Shabad's from the guru Granth Sahib Ji. At age 11 inspired by the Patiala gharana style of Indian classical music, he ran away from home in search of Raahat Ali Khan Sahib of Gorakhpur for lessons. Gave his first stage performance in front of an audience of 20,000 at the age of 13 in Jaunpur. In 1991, he formed his own group composed of his brothers, cousins and musician friends. A.J Jaspal of IPCA gave Daler a professional set up and promoted him. In 1994, Jaspal sent Daler to compete at the annual Voice of Asia International Ethnic and Pop Music Contest at Azia Dynasys in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He represented India and was judged second amongst other two hundred contestants.[3]

Music career

Song recording for the 2012 Bollywood film Chaalis Chauraasi

Magnasound signed Daler Mehndi for a three album contract for three years. Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Mehndi's debut album, sold over 20 million copies.[4] The album established Daler as a pop star,[5] which also won him the Channel V's Best Indian Male Pop Artist Award. A year later, his second album under Magnasound, Dardi Rab Rab, was launched. This album surpassed the sales of Bolo Ta Ra Ra. He was nominated in three categories at Channel V Music awards and won the Channel V Best Indian Male Artist Award.[6] In 1997 he released his third album Balle Balle. This album got him Channel V Awards in six categories.[7] Mehndi composed the popular track "Na Na Na Re" for the Bollywood film Mrityudata where he featured on the big screen with Amitabh Bachchan.

In 2000, Daler released his album Ek Dana with music label TIPS Music. The album had a mix of genres ranging from Folk, Rock and Pop.[8] One of the more popular songs of the album Sajan Mere Satrangiya featured the Indian actress Priyanka Chopra in the video.[9] This video was released in the year that Priyanka Chopra won the Miss World title. Subsequently, Daler signed up with Universal Music in 2001 and released a new track "Kala Kauwa Kaat Khayega". In 2003 Daler forayed into playback singing for films. He started with the song "Ru-Ba-Ru" for the film Maqbool. The same year Daler and A.R Rahman came together to give another track "Nach Le" for Lakeer – Forbidden Lines. He fused Rock with Bhangra with his next album titled Mojaan Laen Do and in 2004 he self produced Shaa Ra Ra.[10]

In March 2014 International EDM sensation Deadmau5 created a frenzy on Twitter expressing his eagerness to have Daler Mehndi perform on his forthcoming show in India at the Sunburn Festival. And the outcome of bonding over social media and on the Coffee Run was an electrifying remix of Mehndi's '98 hit Tunak Tunak Tun performed by the duo.[11][12]

On Navratri 2014, Daler Mehndi composed and recorded his rendition of the 'Hanuman Chalisa' overnight while working at his studio in Delhi.[13] Daler Mehndi, feeling inspired during the festival of Navratri, composed and record his rendition of the 'Hanuman Chalisa' in the DM Folk Studio.[14]

In September,2014 Daler Mehndi released his new song Aaja Mere Twitter Te to encourage users to visit his Twitter account and Facebook page.[15]

On 6 November 2014 Daler Mehndi released his album Best of Gurbani on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti.[16]

Tours

In 1998, Mehndi was signed by Coca-Cola for product endorsement and was featured in 30 concerts across India.[17] He has performed worldwide including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, UAE, South Africa, East Africa, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, West Indies, Belgium, and the Netherlands.[18]

On 29 September 2013, Daler performed at the YouFest festival in Spain.[19][20] He has had an advent with Canadian Electronic Dance Music (EDM) artist Deadmau5 in a Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce, Daler featured on his tour in India and together they produced an EDM remixed version of "Tunak Tunak Tun".[21]

In August 2014, Daler Mehndi was invited as the guest of honour along with U.S Congressman Pete Sessions for the closing bell ceremony at NASDAQ Stock Exchange at New York, after which he performed at the National Indian American Public Policy Institute Azadi Diwas (NIAPPI)celebrations on the occasion of the 65th Independence Day.[22]

Daler Mehndi delivered his first ever performance in Kuwait on 5 September. Welcomed by a packed audience at the Al Daiya Indoor Stadium, he broke his own record for the longest live performance without a break by performing for four and a half hours non-stop.[23]

The concert organised by the Indian Cultural Society (ICS) has been named 'Bolo Ta Ra Ra Ra' in honour of Daler Mehndi's globally popular track by the same name.[24][25][26]

On the eve of Guru Nanak Jayanti Daler Mehndi was invited to Ulhas Nagar to perform at the world's largest Prabhat Pheri.[27]

In November 2014 the singer visited Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh for a performance.[28]

In November 2014 Daler Mehndi was invited to Nigeria for a performance to celebrate Diwali. This was the second time the musician has performed in the country.[29]

Vocal style and instruments

Daler Mehndi is credited for creating a genre called "Rabbabi", which is a combination of Thumri, Sufi and rock and creating an instrument called "Swar Mandir" which is an instrument that combines influences from the Rabab, Swarmandal and Tanpura. The instrument was crafted by Sanjay Rikhi Ram from Delhi and was launched on 10 February 2012 by the Indian classical music maestro, Bharat Ratna awarded Pandit Ravi Shankar.[30]

Business ventures

Daler Mehndi launched his maiden Record Label 'DRecords' in the year 2000.[31] The record label has several artists under its banner including Hussain Baksh and Safri Boys.[32]

Foreign pop culture

Daler Mehndi has created interest on the internet with his "Tunak Tunak Tun" music video, as various YouTubers have impersonated him. This was taken into consideration by the video game company Blizzard Entertainment who incorporated the tunak tunak dance in their multiplayer role playing game World of Warcraft.[33]

Personal life

Daler Mehndi is married to Taranpreet Kaur.[34] He has four children – Gurdeep Mehndi, Ajit Kaur Mehndi, Prabhjot Kaur Mehndi and Rabaab Kaur Mehndi. His daughter Ajit Kaur Mehndi is married to Navraj Hans, son of Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans.[35] Gurdeep Mehndi got engaged to his fellow actress from Delhi 1984, Jessica Singh in 2014.

Philanthropy

In 1998 Mehndi launched the "Daler Mehndi Green Drive", inducted in the Special Task Force of the Delhi Government.[36] The drive has planted over 1.2 million saplings in and around Delhi.[37]

He has performed for charity for Imran Khan's Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust in Pakistan and helped raise $5 million.[38]

Mehndi supports charitable causes such as cancer, thalassemia and AIDS, and has helped to bring up the homeless children of Kenya as well as famine-stricken families in Kalahandi in Orissa, India.[39] He financially supported the families of Kargil martyrs by donating to the Indian government's Kargil Victims' Relief Fund.

Mehndi was one of the first celebrities to go and visit the soldiers at Kargil.[40] Mehndi has constructed earthquake resistant houses for the Gujarat earthquake victims; he donated money and performed to raise money for Gujarat cyclone and quake victims, and for police welfare funds. He has donated rupees 10 million in Vadodra for the victims of the cyclone in the government aid fund. He has taken upon himself the reconstruction of a block devastated in the Gujarat quake in Doodhiya village.[41]

Mehndi has set up a Daler Mehndi Food for Life Society in Chander Vihar, Delhi, where a 24-hour kitchen provides food to the destitute and the underprivileged. Mehndi has constructed a Gurudwara Dukh Bhanjani Sahib where every morning people from all castes and religions join together and offer service in the name of god. Mehndi is the only known Indian artist to be invited by the President of Pakistan as a state guest. He gifted his album Bismillah to the President Zardari of Pakistan and the funds generated from its sale were given to the President's charitable fund.[42]

Mehndi voiced his protest against International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) controversial ruling on the use of turbans while playing. The singer made a video to raise awareness about the issue and to have the policy changed.[43][44][45]

In 2013, Mahendi was appointed as the brand ambassador of NIAPPI Business Council by Shalabh Kumar.

Filmography

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "An Aureate Voice – Daler Mehndi". dalermehndi.com.
  2. 1 2 "I'm proud to be from Bihar: Daler Mehndi". hindustantimes.com. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Daler Mehndi". myswar.com. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "Daler Mehndi Bio". in.com/. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Daler Mehndi". ibnlive.in.com. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "A night laced with pep and music". tribuneindia.com. 13 December 1998. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  7. ↑ The Times of India (10 December 2002). "Daler Mehndi". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  8. ↑ The Tribune (18 August 2000). "Daler Mehndi in his element". tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  9. ↑ India TV News (16 March 2016). "Viral Video: Watch Priyanka Chopra as ‘Cinderella’ in this old song of Daler Mehndi". indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  10. ↑ "Reviving the Punjabi Beat: Daler Mehndi". gibsonguitar.in. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "This Canadian singer is a fan of Daler Mehndi". http://www.hindustantimes.com/. External link in |work= (help)
  12. ↑ "deadmau5 Speeds With Daler Mehndi, Spins With Richie Hawtin". deadmau5 Speeds With Daler Mehndi, Spins With Richie Hawtin.
  13. ↑ "Navratri comes with a gift from musical genius Daler Mehndi". santabanta.com.
  14. ↑ http://ww.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/navratri-comes-with-a-gift-musical-genius-daler-mehndi
  15. ↑ "Aaja mere twitter te twitter song Video – Rediff Videos". rediff.com.
  16. ↑ "Daler Mehndi launches 'Best of Gurbani' on Guru Nanak Jayanti". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Coke celebrates 125 years with King of Bhangra Daler Mehndi". radioandmusic.com. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  18. ↑ "US goes 'Balle Balle' with Daler Mehndi". timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  19. ↑ "Daler Mehndi – all set to rock YOUFEST in Spain". timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Daler Mehndi To Recreate Tunak Euphoria at YouFest". weeklyvoice.com/. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Deadmau5 to go Tunak Tunak Tun?". http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014. External link in |publisher= (help)
  22. ↑ "Reviving the Punjabi Beat: Daler Mehndi". gibsonguitar.in. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  23. ↑ "King of Pop Daler Mehndi rocks Kuwait". indiaglitz.com.
  24. ↑ "Daler Mehndi to make Kuwait say 'Ta Ra Ra Ra'!". santabanta.com.
  25. ↑ "Daler Mehndi to make Kuwait say 'Ta Ra Ra Ra'!". Sify. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  26. ↑ "Daler Mehndi to Make Kuwait say 'Ta Ra Ra Ra'! – Hindi Movie News". Bharatstudent.
  27. ↑ "Daler Mehndi performs at Prabhat Pheri in Maharashtra". sify.com//. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  28. ↑ "Daler rocks Mandsaur in MP". thecitynews.in. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  29. ↑ "Daler Mehndi Rocks Nigeria Once More". indiaglitz.com. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  30. ↑ "Strings of Change". indianexpress.com//. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  31. ↑ "Bhangra – A Celebration Past Cultural Barriers". indiaprofile.com. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  32. ↑ "I'm too expensive for Bollywood playback singing: Daler Mehndi". hindustantimes.com. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  33. ↑ "Daler Mehndi Tunaks his way into World of Warcraft". asiancorrespondent.com/. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  34. ↑ "Daler Mehndi weds again". newsworldplus.com/date=18 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  35. ↑ "Daler Mehndi's daughter ties the knot with Hans Raj Hans' elder son". timesofindia.com/. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  36. ↑ "Daler Mehndi goes Green". timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  37. ↑ "Daler Mehndi goes Green". samachar.com. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  38. ↑ "Bhangra diplomacy". hindu.com. 2 April 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  39. ↑ "The man with the diamond in his turban". news.bbc.co.uk. 27 October 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  40. ↑ "Green singer, evergreen songs". tribuneindia.com. 15 July 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  41. ↑ "A bhangra blast from Daler". hindu.com. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  42. ↑ "Indi-pop king Daler Mehndi on Sureeli Baat". radioandmusic.com. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  43. ↑ "Daler Mehndi protests against FIBA's turban ban". Sify.
  44. ↑ "Daler Mehndi protests International Basketball Federation's turban ban". www.bollywoodlife.com. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
  45. ↑ "Daler Mehndi Condemns FIBA's Turban Ban – Hindi Movie News". Bharatstudent.

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