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 There are bhangra
acts, and then there is Daler Mehndi. The singer
has managed to infuse his own brand of charm and
histrionics into his singing. Daler comes from a musical family.
He was born in Patna, and his tutelage began
early. Members of the family used to sing in
the local gurudwara. Daler wanted to spread
his wings early, and receive the right training.
He then left home to train under Ustad Rahat
Ali Khan Sahib of Gorakhpur. He became conversant
with the nuances of the Patiala gharaana.
Daler's
is the classic rags to riches story. He worked
as a taxi driver before hitting big time, and
has not stopped laughing his way to the bank
since.
Daler first struck
gold with his album Bolo Ta Ra Ra in 1995. He
had met composer Jawahar Wattal, and together
with the music label Magnasound, managed to
wield the trump card in the form of peppy tracks,
which did beautifully on the charts. Daler was
here to stay.
This was followed by rapid releases
in the form of Ho Jaayegi Balle Balle and Tunak
Tunak Tun.The albums sold huge numbers all over
the country.
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.
Daler
Mehndi'ss USP is
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
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) and followed it up with super hit
track from Rang De Basanti.
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