Daler Mehndi

Daler Mehndi
Background information
Birth name Daler Singh Mehndi
Born 18 August 1967
Patna Sahib, Bihar, India
Origin New Delhi, India
Genres
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, record producer
Years active 1995–present
Labels
  • D Records
Website www.dalermehndi.com

Daler Singh Mehndi (born 18 August 1967) is an Indian singer-songwriter. He was born in Patna, Bihar on 18 August 1967. Brought up into a family of musicians who had been singing for seven generations, his early influences on music are his parents, who taught him various raga and Shabad's from the Guru Granth Sahib. 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.[1]

Early life

Daler Mehndi gave his first stage performance in front of an audience of 20,000 at the age of 13 in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. 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, A J Jaspal sent Daler to compete at the annual Voice of Asia International Ethnic and Pop Music Contest at Azia Dynasys in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Daler Mehndi represented India and was judged second amongst other two hundred contestants.[2]

Music career

Song recording for the 2012 Bollywood film Chaalis Chauraasi.

Magnasound signed Daler Mehndi for a 3 album contract for 3 years. Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Mehndi's debut album, sold over 20 million copies.[3] The album established Daler as a k pop star,[4] 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 3 different categories at Channel V Music awards and won the Channel V Best Indian Male Artist Award.[5] In 1997 he released his third album Balle Balle. This album got him Channel V Awards in 6 different categories.[6] 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 2001, Daler signed up with Universal Music and released gave 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.[7]

On Navratri 2014, Daler Mehndi composed and recorded his rendition of the 'Hanuman Chalisa' overnight while working at his studio in Delhi.[8] Daler Mehndi, feeling thoroughly inspired during the auspicious festival of Navratri, decided to compose and record his rendition of the 'Hanuman Chalisa'. A night of hard work in the supercharged DM Folk Studio led to the creation of the song.[9]

In September,2014 Daler Mehndi released his new song Aaja Mere Twitter Te to encourage users to visit his Twitter account and Facebook page. The song garnered great response.[10]

On November 6, 2014 Daler Mehndi released his album Best Of Gurbani on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti.[11]

Tours

In 1998, Mehndi was signed by Coca-Cola for product endorsement and was featured in 30 concerts across India.[12] He has performed in USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, UAE, South Africa, East Africa, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Singapore, West Indies, Belgium, the Netherlands to name a few.[13] On 29 September 2013, Daler performed at the YouFest festival in Spain.[14][15] Recently he 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".[16] In August 2014, Daler Mehndi was invited as the guest of honor 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 (India).[17]

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.[18]

The concert organized 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.[19][20][21]

On the eve of Guru Nanak Jayanti Daler Mehndi was invited to Ulhas Nagar to perform at the world's largest Prabhat Pheri.[22]

In November, 2014 the singer visited Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh for a performance where he was felicitated with garlands of fowers.[23]

In November 2014 Daler Mehndi was invited to Nigeria for a performance to celebrate Diwali. This was the 2nd time the musician has performed in the country.[24]

Vocal style & instruments

Daler Mehndi is credited for creating a new genre called "Rabbabi", which is a combination of Thumri, Sufi and rock and creating a new instrument called "Swar Mandir" which is an instrument that combines influences from the Rabab, Swarmandal and Tanpura. The instrument was crafted by Master Sanjay Rikhi Ram from Delhi and was launched officially on 10 February 2012 by the legendary Indian classical music maestro, Bharat Ratna awarded Pandit Ravi Shankar.[25]

Business ventures

Daler Mehndi launched his maiden Record Label ‘DRecords’ in the year 2000.[26] The record label has several artists under its banner including Hussain Baksh, Safri Boys and more.[27]

Foreign pop culture

Daler Mehndi has created a lot of hype on the internet with his "Tunak Tunak" music video, many YouTube users have impersonated him and made their own version of "Tunak Tunak". This was taken into consideration by the video game giant Blizzard Entertainment who went on incorporate the tunak tunak dance in their massive multiplayer role playing game World of Warcraft.[28]

Personal life

Daler Mehndi is married to Taranpreet Kaur.[29] He has four children namely 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.[30]

Philanthropy

In 1998 Mehndi launched the "Daler Mehndi Green Drive", inducted in the Special Task Force of the Delhi Government.[31] The drive has planted over 1.2 million saplings in and around Delhi and growing.[32] He has performed for charity for Imran Khan’s Shaukat Khannum Memorial Trust in Pakistan and helped raise $5 million.[33] Daler Mehndi also stood up for causes especially for terminal and life-threatening diseases like Cancer, Thalassemia and AIDS that have inflected the poor and also helped to bring up the homeless children of Kenya as well as famine stricken families in kalahandi in Orissa, India.[34] Daler financially supported the families of Kargil martyrs by donating over 5 million to the Indian Government’s Kargil Victims' Relief Fund. Profoundly patriotic, Mehndi is a true nationalist and was one of the first celebrities to go and visit the soldiers at Kargil. Mehndi frets over the state of the country, and has wanted the betterment of the nation wherever and whenever he could lend a hand.[35] Daler has constructed earthquake resistant houses for the Gujarat Earthquake Victims; he has not only donated several million, but also performed to raise money for Gujarat cyclone and quake victims, various Police Welfare Funds. He was in the news for donating 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 complete with all the basic amenities.[36] Daler 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. As a firm believer of god Mehndi has also 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. Daler Mehndi is the only known Indian Artist to be invited by the President of Pakistan in the strenuous Indian & Pakistan History 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.[37]

Daler Mehndi took part in the international initiative for ALS awareness, with Ice Bucket Challenge. He was nominated by a young girl named Arya on Facebook.[38]

Daler Mehndi voiced his protest against International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) controversial ruling on the use of turban while playing. The singer made a video to raise awareness about the issue and to have the policy changed.[39][40][41]

Filmography

Discography

References

  1. ↑ "I'm proud to be from Bihar: Daler Mehndi". hindustantimes.com. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Daler Mehndi". myswar.com. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.in.com/daler-mehndi/biography-63087.html
  4. ↑ "Daler Mehndi". ibnlive.in.com. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  5. ↑ "A night laced with pep and music". tribuneindia.com. 13 December 1998. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  6. ↑ "Daler Mehndi". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 10 December 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "Reviving the Punjabi Beat: Daler Mehndi". gibsonguitar.in. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  8. ↑ http://www.santabanta.com/bollywood/92170/navratri-comes-with-a-gift-from-musical-genius-daler-mehndi/
  9. ↑ http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/navratri-comes-with-a-gift-musical-genius-daler-mehndi
  10. ↑ http://ishare.rediff.com/video/entertainment/aaja-mere-twitter-te-twitter-song/9805468
  11. ↑ "Daler Mehndi launches ‘Best of Gurbani’ on Guru Nanak Jayanti". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Coke celebrates 125 years with King of Bhangra Daler Mehndi". radioandmusic.com. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "US goes 'Balle Balle' with Daler Mehndi". timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  14. ↑ "Daler Mehndi – all set to rock YOUFEST in Spain". timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  15. ↑ "Daler Mehndi To Recreate Tunak Euphoria At YouFest". weeklyvoice.com/. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  16. ↑ "Deadmau5 to go Tunak Tunak Tun?". http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "Reviving the Punjabi Beat: Daler Mehndi". gibsonguitar.in. 11 August 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  18. ↑ http://www.indiaglitz.com/King-Of-Pop-Daler-Mehndi-Rocks-Kuwait-hindi-news-113772
  19. ↑ http://www.santabanta.com/bollywood/90723/daler-mehndi-to-make-kuwait-say-ta-ra-ra-ra/
  20. ↑ http://www.sify.com/news/daler-mehndi-to-make-kuwait-say-ta-ra-ra-ra-news-default-ojdxNwjbdafgd.html
  21. ↑ http://www.bharatstudent.com/news/1-134535/daler-mehndi-to-make-kuwait-say-ta-ra-ra-ra
  22. ↑ "Daler Mehndi performs at Prabhat Pheri in Maharashtra". sify.com//. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  23. ↑ "Daler rocks Mandsaur in MP". thecitynews.in. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "Daler Mehndi Rocks Nigeria Once More". indiaglitz.com. 23 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Strings of Change". indianexpress.com//. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  26. ↑ "Bhangra - A Celebration Past Cultural Barriers". indiaprofile.com. 10 August 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  27. ↑ "I'm too expensive for Bollywood playback singing: Daler Mehndi". hindustantimes.com. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  28. ↑ "Daler Mehndi Tunaks his way into World of Warcraft". asiancorrespondent.com/. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  29. ↑ "Daler Mehndi weds again". newsworldplus.com/date=18 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  30. ↑ "Daler Mehndi's daughter ties the knot with Hans Raj Hans' elder son". timesofindia.com/. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  31. ↑ "Daler Mehndi goes Green". timesofindia.indiatimes.com/. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  32. ↑ "Daler Mehndi goes Green". samachar.com. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  33. ↑ "Bhangra diplomacy". hindu.com. 2 April 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  34. ↑ "The man with the diamond in his turban". news.bbc.co.uk. 27 October 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  35. ↑ "Green singer, evergreen songs". tribuneindia.com. 15 July 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  36. ↑ "A bhangra blast from Daler". hindu.com. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  37. ↑ "Indi-pop king Daler Mehndi on Sureeli Baat". radioandmusic.com. 6 September 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  38. ↑ "Daler Mehndi Takes The Ice Bucket Challenge And Asks Amitabh, Shahrukh & Priyanka To Join". storypick.com. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  39. ↑ http://www.sify.com/news/daler-mehndi-protests-against-fibas-turban-ban-news-default-ojcalqafdggea.html
  40. ↑ http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news/daler-mehndi-protests-international-basketball-federations-turban-ban/
  41. ↑ http://www.bharatstudent.com/news/1-134480/daler-mehndi-condemns-fibas-turban-ban
  42. ↑ "Daler Mehndi in Sandalwood". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.

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