"Daler Mehndi, as a musician, performer, and song-writer, continually re-invents himself and his art."

The hallmark of the "Great musician's" often lies in their ability to hone to perfection a strong and easily assimilated iconic, but singular image. It may evolve slowly and surely over the years but will always be presumed to be a natural maturing. Daler Mehndi, as a musician, performer and song - writer, defined this convention completely. He continually re-invented himself and his art at breakneck speed and illogical disjointedness. It seemed as though time was always at a premium. With complete disregard for the then prevalent - regional- Punjabi- music style loyalty or so called integrity, he combined the most unlikely forms of music with newfound subject matter sprinkled with his fetish for "RabRab" (God) words, rendered with versatile Power Pitched Vocals, performed with exquisite choreography and character, ornamented further with the signature self designed Maharaja Robes, Bejewelled Turban and Jewellery - a Style only befitting a Maharaja presenting the then unknown and unborn Indian Pop Industry with its first true Pop Icon. He deconstructs that which makes him singular, and then a new element arises to confound and entice the masses who think they have just figured out his latest incarnation. His USP was his Originality.Mehndi exemplifies the new aesthetic from his humble folkie yet celebrated beginnings from Bolo Ta Ra Ra to the glitter and glam of the rocking Balle Balle & Jalwa, to the pied piper rage of Tunak Tunak , to the elegance of Ru -Ba -Ru & Shaam Say Maine Puchha, at each twist and turn of his career, creating more than one myth to harken back to his creative visions.

In the beginning...

Daler Singh was born in Patna, Bihar on August 18th, 1967. He was born into a 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 the Late Ustad 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 where his parents found him standing center-stage, his shoulders overflowing with garlands of flowers, sandalwood and money. Classical music of the great Indian Maestros heard on radio, concerts and cassettes of the legendary Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Nazakat Ali- Salamat Ali, Mehdi Hasan, Parvaiz Mehdi, Chote Ghulam Ali Khan and the Illahi Kirtan Durbars attended all over India provided him with an introduction into the world of gurmat sangeet, thumri, khayal, ghazal.
By 1991, he formed his own group comprising of his brother's, cousins and musician friends. Daler performed at the Who's Who and within a year was a must have at each socialite's do. The legendary Impressario the Late A.J Jaspalof IPCA who gave Daler a Professional set up promoted Daler "as the Golden Goose to Watch out for." In 1994, A J Jaspal sent Daler to compete at the prestigious annual Voice of Asia International Ethnic and Pop Music Contest at Azia Dynasys in ALMATY, Kazakhstan. Daler Mehndi representing India was judged 2nd amongst 200 contestants from world over by 20,000 strong audience. He was quoted by the judges as the 'MOST ORIGINAL SOUND FOUND IN 3 DECADES'.
That was the first time Bhangra Music was acknowledged outside Punjab (a Northern State of India) and firmly plastered its presence on the global scenario. Daler Mehndi saw himself at an International setting amidst an alien audience craving for more and critics lapping him with accolades and praises which provided him with an introduction to the showy world of Pop and mod, and by 1995 he was Daler Mehndi, with long flowing robes, bejeweled turban and aspirations of stardom rustling about his head. Mr. Shashi Gopal of Magnasound signed him immediately for a 3 Album Contract for 3 years.

HISTORY created by Mehndi -

Success followed Daler without doubt and Indian Pop was never the same since his advent into it. He was majorly responsible for the elevation of the Indian Pop Music through the Super Success of all his albums. His innovative, inimitable and imaginative style of music was responsible for the elevation of Pop Music to a degree of respectability that it commands today. The inspiring and refreshing mix of the classically seeming traditional music fused with the funky beats of the new age proved to be a potent mixture.

"BOLO TA RA RA", Mehndi's celebrated debut album recorded as an entity in itself, marks the first definitive creative stretch for the listener. Daler's fusion of rustic lyrics, seemingly easy sing along tunes, fused with just the right element of western instrumentation are often referred to as the birth point of Bhangra Pop, and certainly the auspicious beginnings of glam - Global Bhangra Pop can be traced back here.

BOLO TA RA RA changed the perception of the Music Industry by selling over 20 million copies. The album that was targeted at the regional audience of Punjab sold a record 2.5 Lakh units in Kerela alone within 25 days of its release. DALER MEHNDI became the SOUND OF THE NATION. The album not only established Daler as a POP STAR but also laid the foundation for Bhangra pop to emerge at what it is today. Bolo Ta Ra Ra won him the Channel V's Best Indian Male Pop Artist Award. A year later, his second album under Magnasound "DARDI RAB RAB" further created stir in the nation and shut up his critics who had called him a 1 Album success. This Album superseded the sales of Bolo Ta Ra Ra. Again this year he was nominated in 3 different categories and won the prestigious Channel V Best Indian Male Artist Award.

In 1997 with his third album "BALLE BALLE" he created a HATRICK OF SUPERHITS and was christened "DOLLAR MEHNDI" by the media. This album got him Channel V Awards in 6 different categories. Magnasound and the Country declared him "SUPERLATIVE". There was more to come; With titles like "The Turbaned Tornado", the "Sultan of Swing" conferred on him by the International press, Daler was set to take Bollywood by storm and gave the Indian Film Industry with an anthem "NA NA NA RE" for the film "Mrityudata". Composer, performer Daler Mehndi featured on the Big Screen with the legendary Mr. Amitabh Bachan. Daler had the Music Industry gripped in Mehndi Mania. It was also the year when India celebrated its 50 years of Independence, with "50-50 PHATTE CHAK DEYANGE", Daler paid his tribute to the country by rendering a truly befitting track.
Again in 1998, The "Badshah of Bhangra" gave yet another hit the next year, titled "TUNAK TUNAK". It became famous as the pied piper track and its music video which was conceptualized by Mehndi in retaliation to the media's comment that the success of his videos depend only on the glam models featured in the videos, with 4 Daler Mehndi's and exquisite choreography done by himself the song and the video became an instant HIT, such was the craze of the song that people across the globe are being enchanted by him to this day. -for India it was the first ever music video using the Blue Screen technology. Tunak Tunak won the prestigious RAPA Award, the Channel V Award, The Videocon Award, The Screen Award. Such was the craze of Daler that almost every movie, T.V serial or commercial started emulating him as a person or his style or his songs and tunes to copy the success he was relishing. Right from dressing like Daler, singing in Punjabi and greeting with Balle Balle became a trend. Even during the election campaign, various political parties ran their campaigns on tunes of his hits to capture the attention of common man. 1998 was certainly the year that Mehndi began to get a glimpse of the power of the pop.
The superhit POP track is famously revered by the Classical musicians of India and Pakistan especially for the intro of the song sung by Daler firmly showcasing his classical prowess.

1998 Daler launched the "DALER MEHNDI GREEN DRIVE" and within a span of 3 years planted 6Lakh saplings in New Delhi. DM Green Drive was inducted in the Special Task Force of the Delhi Govt.

The same year he was signed up for another movie "Khauff" featuring the Bollywood siren Raveena Tondon. The song composed by Daler "ANKH LADTI HAI" became a rage at the clubs and Daler's dream to have the prodigal Asha Bhosle sing one of his compositions came true. Daler and Asha Bhosle duet further embossed his supremacy in music.

1998 was an eventful year of his career, not only was Daler topping all the music charts which was now a routine for all his albums since his debut Bolo Ta RA Ra days, Daler Mehndi had become a Brand. He was by now the most expensive Artist and performer. He was signed by Coca Cola to counter Pepsi's Bollywood Brigade for a whooping record deal, which made History. Daler Mehndi was Coca Cola's Brand Ambassador and the Jingle sung buy Daler for Coke with the signature Daler Mehndi choreography became a rage. Daler was taken for a 30 city Tour of India with each city having more than 50 thousand to a Lakh of Audience creating hysteria. The same year Daler dropped another bombastic track "KUDIYAN SHEHR DIYAN" for the film titled "ARJUN PANDIT" featuring the chirpy Juhi Chawla. The song is still a must play at all weddings, and clubs and the chart busters were enough to help the producers have their cash registers running.

Daler's musical journey was creating waves through his Tour's abroad. USA tasted the Mehndi Mania during the Blast 98 Tour. The Press was dizzy with his energetic performances. One journalist mesmerized with the Bhangra King's performance went to the extent of writing on record "HE IS ALL THAT… HE IS BIGGER THAN THE BEATLES" (Home News Tribune). Post the Singapore concert; one journalist went onto write, "If Daler's legs found a lawyer they would sue his pants off them. That's the way Daler jigs around so frantically that it is almost infectious, like a ballerina on steroids." Daler Mehndi Concert Tours in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Europe, UAE, South Africa, East Africa, Oman, Bahrain, Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, West Indies, Belgium, Holland to name a few have had crowds swooning to his music and dancing away to glory as one fan fondly describes his music "the stairway to Heaven". Such is the persona of the man that when he is performing live before a cheering mob, none can resist exercising their sweat glands with him. On stage he is electricity personified. The press quoted his Malaysian concert as "Bigger than that of Michael Jackson's"
Daler apart from weaving his musical magic had set another rage that of his costumes. From Bollywood Actors, to kids, grown ups, to foreigners all were aping his signature long flowing robes, he was also responsible for adding glamour to the Sikh "Turban", he made 'colorful turbans, a trend. In 1999, he received the Elle Style Award for the Most Stylish Music Artiste.
The Millennium had Daler Mehndi jiving with his young fans dressed like him in the Delirious "EK DANA" album. Mehndi's magic worked but this was also the year Daler paid the price for his meteoric rise. Courting controversies, the Album outsold its predecessors and is to this date his highest selling album on the net. Daler's world tour with the then reinging Bollywood Actress Karishma Kapoor in 2000 was bigger than his
Past tours. The breakneck speed at which he was garnering success and fame was exhilarating .
2001 Daler signed with Universal Music. Ever experimenting Daler gave India a new rocking track "KAALA KAUWA KAAT KHAYEGA". The Album "Nabi Buba" had Arabic influences. Daler's musical wanderings were evident with the varied flavors from across the world, aesthetically and soulfully entwined with his rustic nuances of Indian folk music. 2002 with "Nach Ni Shaam Kaure" Daler seemed reticent.

2003 Daler forayed into playback singing for Films. He started with the famous and soulful Ru- Ba- Ru for the critically acclaimed "Maqbool", Vishal (Film and `Music Director of Maqbool) and the legendary Gulzar were mesmerized by Daler's rendition of their song. The same year Daler and A.R Rahman finally came together to give a rocking track "Nach Lae" for Lakeer (Directorial Debut of the ace Choreographer Ahmed Khan)

He fused Rock with Bhangra with his next album- under his own Label……titled "Mojaan Laen Do" and then 2004 was a year when a much needed freshness came into the stagnant music industry with the self produced superhit "SHAA RA RA" . The same year he was featured in the coveted international TIME MAGAZINE- the only Indian singer to have been featured in the magazine.

Daler the man behind the star- Genuinely Daler Singh Mehndi

Daler since his childhood was a prankster par comparison.
A hard-core aficionado of the Almighty, he is a firm believer in His grace and faith. Right from childhood, he believed in the Being of the omnipresent and as a devout follower waited for His grace as it came. Daler's firm belief and his hard work is what made him the Badshah Of Indipop today. Daler became the one with the largest shadow to loom over the Indian Music Industry When asked where he would like to be now, after being at the helm- "Sacchkhand" the feet of the Almightyis his final destination. Affectionately addressed as Dalerji and Daler pahji (elder brother) in the industry, the burly Sardarji wears the title with humility and grace. An optimist, hard working and sensitive human, far from hatred, with a aim to spread happiness all around, with a clear vision and expression for all, receptive to every emotion, a lover of Mother Nature and a staunch disciple of God is what Daler Singh is when he is not Daler Mehndi-The Badshah Of Indipop.

For Non- Asians, Daler is the famous Tunak Tunak Man, the Burly smiling Sardarji of long flowing robes, diamonte turban, symbolic KICK ASS step and creator of HAPPY MUSIC.

Daler Mehndi is a man with a definite mission: nail the charts by unleashing million-selling albums. Loose-limbed warbler and lord of crowd-pleasers, his fame is widespread and popularity so huge there is no way you wouldn't have heard of the king crooner, who's rightfully credited with making bhangra beats as hot as baalti meat and curry round the globe. Forceful, fearless, frank, flirtatious and always fuelled up for something new, Mehndi's route map to musical monarchy is well trodden. In his own words "This is not the end of the journey that he started as an impetuous, precocious and impressionable five-year-old. 'This is just the beginning… there is a long way to go before I leave a mark…' musing over his own words as if in prayer."

One can find him an optimist, hard working and sensitive human, far from hatred, with a aim to spread happiness all around, through his music with a clear vision and expression for all, receptive to every emotion, a lover of Mother Nature and a staunch disciple of God is what Daler Singh Mehndi is when he is not Daler Mehndi-THE BADSHAH OF INDIPOP.

SOME QUOTES CONFERRED BY MEDIA ON MR. MEHNDI

Source - THE HINDUSTAN TIMES, INDIA- 24 NOV 1990, PRATIK GHOSH.

India's leading Newspaper profiles Daler Mehndi as "An Aureate Voice", "He possesses a voice soaked in melody that lends his personality an aura of respectability bordering glamour". - This is written of him 5 years before the launch of his debut Pop Album 'Ta Ra Ra Ra'

Source: THE NEW PAPER, 20TH AUGUST 1999, RAHUL PATHAK

INDIA'S Bhangra King Daler Mehndi bounced all over the stage here last weekend. Rahul Pathak saw the show and is still catching his breath.

"If Daler Mehndi's legs could find a decent lawyer, they'd sue the pants off him. It's not fair not fair what he does to them……….But Mehndi's defence would be that I did it in Public Interest. The joy was infectious. You just feel happy, giddy, dizzy."

Photo Caption: Daler Mehndi moving like a ballerina on steroids.

1995 Daler Mehndi's first album is launched: "BOLO TA RA RA RA" India's first true POP Album as the critic's address it .The album put Bhangra Music a stronger acknowledgement world over. Even the Music Company was shocked and realized that it wasn't a regional product. The Album sold 200,000 copies within a week of its launch in the South of India-Kerela, where people don't speak Hindi (the National language of India), leave alone Punjabi-one of the 15 languages of the multilingual country. This created History. The album broke all records- in terms of music, sales figures, performance, presentation… ALL.

1996 Daler Mehndi's second album is launched: "DARDI RAB RAB" Critics crowned him the Undisputed King of Bhangra. From that moment onwards Daler Mehndi was responsible for the elevation of the Indian Pop Music through the continuous success of his albums up to this day.

1996 The same year Daler Mehndi is invited to France - Paris, and performs for European Audience exclusively, at the Annual TAM TAM Festival, France With not a single Indian or Asian present in the audience, such was the charisma of his singing that the promoter was forced by the European audience for a repeat performance of Daler Mehndi. He performed Twice at the same venue for a bigger audience at the next performance in the same day.

1997 The Bollywood Icon AMITABH BACHAN ropes in Daler Mehndi for a duet act in his comeback vehicle MRITYUDATA. "NA NA NA NA NA RE" further etches the name Daler Mehndi as a PRODIGY with an insight of music, a preceptor of the audience's demand and a hot seller.

1997 Daler Mehndi releases his THIRD BLOCKBUSTER 'HO JAYEGI BALLE BALLE"

Such was the paraphernalia of the album that any International Star performing in India-would use the phrase "Balle Balle" to communicate with the audience. Daler Mehndi of the long flowing robes and the bejeweled turban with his signature hand movements and power pitched vocals had conquered the hearts of legions of fans.

The only Indian Artist to have given 4 consecutive Hits year after year each surpassing the sales of its predecessor. Each different and unique in terms of compositions, vocals, music, rhythm, videos.

MAGNASOUND renews its Contract with Daler Mehndi with a whooping amount of 2.5 Crores. The Biggest amount ever paid to an Artist. DALER CREATES HISTORY AGAIN.

Some Quotes

Shashi Gopal, Chairman and Managing Director of Magnasound (India) Ltd. comments at 15/6/98, Press Conference. (Magnasound Mega Deal):

"It has been an astounding price, yes, but only to tell people that Indian Artists are worth that much and more and that, if Latin American artists can take over the world, why not Indian Musicians? Daler is a very high worth artist too".

"We are delighted to have Daler on our Roster. With his talent, pizzazz and deep conviction in his music, Daler has reached the highest echelons of Indian Pop. Daler's music is on a different plane altogether. The rest of Bhangra Pop exponents are good but Daler towers above all of them. We are proud about being credited for the discovery of this volcano of extraordinary talent".

"Daler is a committed Artist. He has done three original albums with us, all three are major hits. We are not showing off. We are just showing our commitment towards Daler".

21/6/98, Mid Day (Mumbai).

'The mix of classically traditional music and rhythm fused with western instruments, rendered with Daler's versatile, power pitched vocals performed with exquisite choreography and character, ornamented further with the signature Maharaja robes, Bejeweled Turban and Jewelery - a Style only befitting a Maharaja: You encounter Success'. Daler's sheer presence and powerful vocal skills have moved large audiences. His Musical Success has crossed all barriers of age, race and language forming a "GLOBAL KIND OF MUSIC".

1999 This Crystalline jewel further embossed his supremacy in music, particularly in the film industry, with other two jazzy numbers "Kudiyan shehar Diyan" in the film 'Arjun Pandit' and "Ankh Ladti Hai to Ladne de" in the film Khauff"

"Daler Mehndi straddles the classes and the masses," says Channel V's Head of music and artiste relations, Mandar Thakur. He refers to Daler's reaction to a universal audience, be it at a swank five star hotel or at the Railway Stadium in Moradabad- Daler gives them what they want and they in turn love him. Billboard's Jim Bessman recently wrote about Daler Mehndi in the 25th September'99 issue: "So compelling is today's Bhangra beat, in fact, that it is transforming the entire Indian pop music scene, thanks to the commanding vocal presence of Daler Mehndi, the Home News tribune of New Jersey dated Monday, March 22nd '99 proclaimed him thus: HE IS ALL THAT. DALER IS BIGGER THAN THE BEATLES" Fredrick Kaiman.

2000 Daler's venture "EK DANA" has within 1 week of its launch sold more than 750,000 units in the Northern India alone. "Pied Piper, rewriting his own career to emerge as a spiffing new icon for his millions of fans" written by a renowned columnist.