Daler Mehndi – Biography of Bhangra / Pop Singer

Artistry

Daler Mehndi specializes in a type of Hindi-Pop that he infuses with Rababi singing, a Sikh musical tradition. The sound is similar to that of Techno, dance, and house music, with the folk sounds of an Indian tabla being played in the background. His popularity and the concurrent revival of Bhangra music is thought to be driven by the ease of dancing to it and a national pride in the Indian people.

Philanthropy and other activities

Mehndi has established the Daler Mehndi Green Drive to help make a cleaner environment in Delhi. He has 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 victims. He has also helped rehabilitate victims of the Orissa cyclone and street children in Kenya.

American Pop Culture

Blizzard Entertainment imitated Daler Mehndi’s dance in the music video for “Tunak Tunak Tun” as the template for the dance of characters of the Draenei race in World of Warcraft which has further expanded his internet presence.