January 4, 1999

DALER MEHNDI
Just Dalerious

The non-stop man of Punjabi music swirled his way out of balle balles to the more sophisticated world of satellite television.

FACT FILE

A record Rs 2.75 crore deal with Magnasound for two years. Channel [V]'s best male artiste and best album award for Ho Jayegi Balle Balle.   What's the point making money singing rubbish? --Daler Mehndi Punjabi pop singer

In a difficult year for music, Daler Mehndi catapulted himself into iconic stratosphere. This marathon man of music who stops not even to inhale while belting out his Punjabi pop numbers cut the biggest single deal ever when Magnasound signed him on for Rs 2.75 crore for two years.

The podgy country bumpkin swirled his way out of Balle Balles to the more sophisticated worlds of the Rich Diasporic Indian and satellite TV. His popular album Ho Jayegi Balle Balle landed him with the best Indian male artiste and the best album awards at the recent Channel V function. Once people mistook Mehndi for designer J.J. Vallaya. Today they ask JJ who? Dalerious rise? Quite.

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