At a time when a major chunk of the world is still scratching its head as it tries to make sense of cryptocurrency, Daler Mehndi has emerged a pioneer of sorts by becoming among the early Indians to purchase virtual real estate in the Indian Metaverse, PartyNite.

The decision was taken after Mehndi enjoyed his January 26 gig at PartyNite, and the property, named Balle Balle Land, will have a store from which fans can purchase merchandise via NFT tokens.

“When I was approached to perform at the PartyNite Metaverse inauguration event, I went with an open mind. But when I saw the larger-than-life spectacle, and my fans dance with me, I realised that this is not the future, but the present. [This is the means] to reach out to the game-savvy young audience. [I wanted to] own my land so that I could provide meaningful content, host events, and sell merchandise. It is a very different experience from live shows. Where else can one fit in millions of audience members with whom we can interact and groove?” asks the musician, further detailing how he had the chance to pick a location of his choice. 

Mehndi says he wanted “the central location in the Utopia land of PartyNite”. He also wanted a space that was big enough to host events, concerts, movie premiers, and his store. “It had to be an earthy place for people to hang out at. I was shown a few land parcels, and I chose what fitted this requirement. The Metaverse is a parallel world with its own economy. It is similar to how the Earth came to be. People claim land, bring digital assets, and sell them. Some of the goods are also shipped physically, so it’s like reimagining the world all over again. I’m grateful that I’m on the pilot seat, making this happen.”

With his new venture, Mehndi seeks to provide quality and meaningful content to fans, directly. “I will bring established singers, and at the same time, provide a platform for upcoming singers and performers as well. I’m able to help movies, do promotions, and directly engage and communicate with the citizens of Balle Balle Land. We are working with artists throughout the year, and a lot is going to happen in the land.”

Singer Daler Mehndi has one wish for every Indian this Republic Day — to feel grateful to be living in this country. He urges his fans to “love our country” as he gears up to stage India’s first virtual live concert in the metaverse on R-Day.

The singer, who is dedicating the performance to the nation and all the people residing in it, will steal the spotlight with his evergreen hit albums such as Namoh Namoh, India India and Jago India. Brimming with excitement, he says, “The whole world will be a part of it. It is a new concept in India and a challenging thing to achieve. At first, I didn’t understand the concept but then I realised it is quite popular outside India. It is a digital avatar and totally virtual and I think after a few years, this is going to be the next big thing.”

Glad to see his music resonating with people during these grim times, the 54-year-old feels that the country has done far better in dealing with the Coronavirus crisis for the past two years, as compared to other countries.

Explaining the statement, the singer known for songs such as Bolo Ta Ra Ra, Tunak Tunak Tun and Na Na Na Na Na Re shares, “We [India] are a thriving economy. Look at Afghanistan and the turmoil that is there in the country. There are so many countries that are undergoing internal and external conflicts across the world. We [Indians] are in a much better place than many other countries. Even with Covid-19 itni badi trasdi guzar sakti thi but aisa nahi hua, third wave bhi humne samhaal liya.”

Daler Mehndi gets emotional while talking about the recent Pulwama terror attack, which claimed the lives of 44 CRPF jawans
Faguni Verma (BOMBAY TIMES; February 25, 2019)

After actors showing solidarity with Pulwama martyrs, singer Daler Mehndi is also urging the music and film fraternity to contribute towards the security of our soldiers. “Be it Bollywood or the South film industry, I want all of us to come together through our profession, and present the security forces with bulletproof jackets and vehicles, and jammers so that they are safer,” said Daler in Chandigarh. He added, “God forbid, if any tragedy strikes in the future, at least the impact will be lessened due to better equipment. Not just the soldiers, these should be provided to every police personnel, besides other security forces manning the country’s safety.”

Daler says that he is taking this task seriously and intends raising funds for the same. Speaking about his contribution, he added, “I will do anything to collect the funds for this task. Even if I have to do 100 shows throughout the year, where they don’t pay me, the money collected should be used to buy bulletproof jackets and vehicles along with jammers, and distributed by us.”

Saddened by the martyrdom of the jawans, Daler said, “I get deeply distressed by the news of someone’s brother, father or son getting killed in such devious attacks. If I try to sing about the emotions that well up within me during such incidents, I will fail. My heart goes out to the families, who are suffering the loss. I might end up crying if I speak more on them.” 

Daler Mehndi rips into the current crop of Punjabi pop singers for projecting a false image of the state
Jaspreet Nijher (BOMBAY TIMES; May 26, 2018)

At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, on May 11, as the Indo-Hollywood production 5 Weddings premiered, one person who was beaming in absentia was singer Daler Mehndi. He has rendered the title track U U Yeah in the film starring Bo Derek, Nargis Fakhri, Rajkummar Rao and Casey Clark. “I couldn’t have been happier. Even if I couldn’t make it to Cannes, my voice was there,” says Daler, whose costumes have also found place in a recently opened interactive music museum launched at Bengaluru.

The veteran pop singer seems to be doing a lot of title tracks of late — he has sung the title tracks of at least four upcoming Bollywood film releases. Giving credit to his classical training that still holds him in good stead in the sea of younger, pop singers, Mehndi says the base of his music since childhood was Gurbani. “I don’t know why music directors are giving me title tracks, but I do think that it’s my strong base from the formal music training, and roots in Gurbani, the ragas, qawwali, Sufi, ghazals that have held my music since the last 19 years.”

Daler’s track Tunak Tunak Tun in 1998 was one of the first in the genre of Punjabi pop music. When asked to comment on the current scenario, he comes down sharply on the new generation’s disregard for the soul of music. “It is sad that for a state that is heavily into music, modern singers are exploiting lyrics to portray an image of Punjab that is false. Daru, kudiyan, bandookan, gadiyan…is that all Punjab is about? To those who don’t know this state, the image broadcasted through music is this,” rues the singer. He also points out another paradox when he says, “Though Punjabi music production is highest among regional music, unfortunately Punjabi films don't sell on their music, like Bollywood does.”

Calling modern singers ‘copycats’, Mehndi says, “We have a generation of copycats now, busy sending out images of being cool dudes, wearing fake imitations of brands, being high on drugs, and gathering fake online views.” Despite modernity, the singer says he is proud of his signature style. “The only thing different about me was the weight I had gained over the years. I had gone from 72 kgs to being 92. But now, I have shed that too and gone back to my weight of 25 years ago,”

Mehndi laughs.

Pop icon Daler Mehndi explains why he hardly sings for Bollywood films these days
Soumya Vajpayee Tiwari (MID-DAY; September 1, 2016)

Pop sensation Daler Mehndi is a rarity in Bollywood’s music scene currently. The only number he recorded last year was Vande Mataram for ABCD : 2. Now, he has lent his voice to the title track of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirzya.

“I want to sing for Bollywood, but I can’t compromise on my respect. I am not the kind of singer who records a song that 10 others do too. I don’t like to be an option. If a song is meant for Daler Mehndi, only then will I sing it. I can’t sing for free, pay composers or woo them with gifts to get work. I can’t sing vulgar songs,” says Mehndi.

He has been part of Mehra’s Rang De Basanti (2006) and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’s (2013) soundtracks in the past. “Rakeysh ji ke sath mera rooh ka rishta hai. We know little about each other, but whenever we meet, there’s always so much warmth. He trusts my work. He believes that I do things in a way no one else does,” says Mehndi.

“When I tried singing the alaap for the song, Gulzar saab, Shankar Mahadevan and Rakeyshji were in tears,” says Mehndi, whose upcoming projects include Dangal and Baahubali 2. “I like to take up tracks that other singers can’t even think of singing. In the last four years, so many singers have come and gone. My style of singing is my USP,” he adds.

Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; August 26, 2016)

The Bolo Ta Ra Ra Daler Mehndi singer, in an exclusive chat with Follo, spoke about music and more
Deepak Singh (BOMBAY TIMES; March 25, 2016)