Daler Mehndi

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Daler Mehndi, born Daler Singh in 1967 in Patna, Bihar, comes from a Punjabi Sikh family. In 1991 he formed a group with his brothers, cousins and friends. In 1994 he won the Voice of Asia competition in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He helped make bhangra known worldwide, and Indian pop music independent of the Bollywood film. His trademarks are dance numbers, a turban and long flowing robes.

Music and breakthrough

He signed a three-album contract with Magnasound. His debut Bolo Ta Ra Ra sold more than twenty million copies and made him a pop star. The follow-up Dardi Rab Rab did even better, and in 1997 came Balle Balle, which won six Channel V Awards. That year he also sang the song Na Na Na Re for the Bollywood film Mrityudata, in which he appeared on screen with Amitabh Bachchan. In 1998 Tunak Tunak Tun appeared, with a video with what was then an unprecedented budget of 25 million rupees. The song was a great success in India and later became known internationally too. The album won the Screen Award for best Indian pop album in 1998.

Influence

The music combines the driving rhythms and the singing of Punjabi bhangra with pop production. In 2014 Mehndi made an electronic remix of Tunak Tunak Tun together with Deadmau5, a sign that his song found a second life far beyond India. He has performed in dozens of countries, including the Netherlands.

Listening

• 
  Tunak Tunak Tun · Daler Mehndi, 1998
  Apple Music ↗

Discography

Studio albums

• 1995Bolo Ta Ra Ra
• 1996Dardi Rab Rab
• 1997Ho Jayegi Balle Balle
• 1998Tunak Tunak Tun
• 2000Ek Dana
• 2001Lehriya
• 2002Nach Ni Shaam Kaure
• 2003Mojaan Laen Do
• 2004Shaa Ra Ra Ra
• ?Arjun Pandit
• ?Raula Pai Gaya
• ?Waheguru