Daler+Mehndi

Dalher Mehndi Punjabi pop sensation Dalher Mehndi was born and raised in Benares, north India; he began singing at the age of 5 and at the age of 14 he left home and began studying with his uncle, Raahat Ali Khan Saheb, honing not only his vocal skills, but also learning the table (A dance). After years of intense training, Mehndi mounted his professional career singing ghazaals inspired by the poetry of Qateel Shifai and Firaq Gorakhpur. He slowly turned away from the classical music and headed towards pop, however in the year of 1995 he became a superstar (VH1). Music lovers around the world jammed to his beats, Magnasound revised Dalher Mehndi and signed and awesome Rs 20.5 million two-record deal. His vocal cords are the most prized in Indian music until this day. His very first album “Tunak Tunak Tun” went double platinum within a week of its release; Magnasound couldn’t have got a better deal. Overnight, the album spread like wildfire taking the country and critics by surprise and the cash registers were ringing (Dalher Mehndi). In 1995, the song “Bolo Ta Ra Ra” it changed the perception of music Industry by selling 20 million copies. Dalher Mehndi became the sound of the nation. The album not only made Dalher a pop star but also laid the foundation for Indian pop to emerge at what its at. “Bolo Ta Ra Ra” won him the channels V’s Best Indian male pop Artist Award. In 1996 “Dardi Rab Rab” further created a stir in the nation and shut up his critics that called him a 1 album success” (Dalher Medhndi). Forming his own group in 1991, it was not long before he had the world Delhi swinging to his tunes. Not just beat bumping tunes and foot tapping numbers; the powerhouse performer had people talking about his taste in style. Three years after getting a band together Mehndi emerged as the most sought-after and popular performer at Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he won the second prize at the Danysy Festival, 1994. It was a year after when Magnasound was quick to realize popularity that the label gave Mehnndi top billing. Soon, the entire sub-continent resounded with just one note Bolo Ta Ra Ra! (hummaa.) Mehndi moved to San Francisco, United States and worked as a cab driver before returning to India in 1991 to form his band. In 1992 he was in a car accident that injured a jaywalker who Mehndi than took to the hospital. Mehndi was than sued as a result of the mishap. Mehndi was also accused of being a member of a scam bringing illegal immigrants to Canada by disguising them as musicians, a charge he denies (oneindia). His album song “Tunak Tunak Tun” is an Internet hit. This cult following was spurred by the music video Mehdnis song “Tunak Tunak Tun”, often referred to simply as “Tunak”, which gained its popularity with his wild dancing and has led to many homage’s and parodies. He originally came up with the music video, in which he dances with “clones” of himself, in response to media statements that he was popular only because of the models in his videos. Tunak Tunak Tun was the first music video to make use of blue screen technology in India (OneIndia). Daler Mehndi spealizes in Hindi-Pop that he infuses with Rababi signing, and a Sikg musical tradition. The sound is similar to that of techno, dance and house music, with the folk’s sounds of an Indian table being played in the back round. His popularity and the concurrent series in Pakistan were to raise funds for the quake victims. He also helped rehabilitate victims of the Orissa cyclone and street children in Kenya (OneIndia). Mehndi has made the Daler Mehndi Green Drive to help make a cleaner environment in Delhi. He also donated 85 million rupees to the green drive, 12 million rupees to Cargyle charities, and built 16 houses in Gujarat after an earthquake there. He also did a concert series in Pakistan to raise funds for the quake victim (OneIndia). For four years he has been recognized as the biggest star if Indian pop. Dalher made sure that his most recognized song Bhangra-pop became the household word. His fourth album Tunak Tunak tun didn’t do as well as he expected, but it made headlines because the singer a whopping Rs. 2.5 core contract as I mentioned before with Magnasound. Dalher, is now back in the news. Two weeks ago he signed an agreement with Tips Industries, after his contract with Magnasound expired. Though there was talk that he talked to T-series and Sony Music earlier, nothing worked out (smashhits). This is an interview with the pasha of Punjabi pop talks about his plans and his music. After talking to T-Series and Sony, why did he settle for Tips? Dalher said, “I never approached any companies. Many companies came to me, because it would be good for me to sign them. I however, they all wanted me to do two of three albums with them. I decided that if I signed an agreement with any company, it would be for one album only“ (smashits)(Dalher Mehndi). Dalher latest album Ek Dana was in his words as an experiment and had some good vocal acrobatics by the king himself. The beautiful orchestration of music and the use of exotic musical instrument like rahaab make it an album to reckon with. Being a gifted singer that he was Dalhers understanding of music gave him the confidence to come up with his own style of Bhangra music, which is largely accepted by masses. However, he also did playback singing for films like Mrityudata, Khauff and Arjun Pandit (bollysite). Dahler Mehndi is now working on being a movie star, he is now going to star in 2 movies. However, he is still working on new songs. Dalher has so many friends from all around the world. His songs are going from country to country making high number and being on top of music charts, in 1996 Dalher Mehndi was charted number 1 on MTV greatest hits (bollysite). His most upcoming movie is “KISSAN” The King of pop is setting screens on fire by jiving along with pretty damsel Diya Mirza and power puff Khan Borthers & Arbaaz for the Tribute Song for Indian Framers titles “Mere Desh Ki Dharti”. Along with them are Jackie Sharoff, Dilip Tahil, and Nauheed Cyrusi & Junal Kapoor. Daboo Malik has remixed the song that is mostly played in the movie and Sohail Khan produces the film (Dalher Mehndi). On June 23, 2009 Bhangra king Dalher Mehndi dinging songs in Tamil and Telugu may sound strange, but that is exactly what he wants to do. He is making a foray into southern cinema with the much talked about “Kuselan”, starring Tamil superstar Rajnikanth. The movie is being made in Tamil and Teugu and Mehndi, who gave his Punjabi pop songs like “Bolo Ta Ra Ra” and “Dardi Rab Rab” has sung a song in both versions in his inimitable style (Dalher Mehndi). I adore Dalher Mehndi, because he’s a different kind of music artist, and his songs are fun to dance and sing to, because you cant understand what he’s saying.