| Gurdas Maan to bring the fragrance of Punjabi Music to Atlanta |
| Written by Kavita Chhibber | |
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An ace sportsman, a soulful writer and a competent actor, Gurdas Maan is a multi-dimensional personality. It is however his stupendous success as the man who brought Bhangra music and Punjab to the forefront both nationally and internationally paving way for the Daler Mehdis and Jazzy B’s that the prolific singer will be most remembered.
Life began for Maan in Faridkot in January 1957 and like most Indian kids the focus was on education and sports. Maan however was always interested in music, but ended up being a star sportsman after his parents moved to Patiala and earned a Masters in Physical education, and a black belt in Judo among other achievements. On the side Maan kept writing lyrics, doing stage shows and singing. A one-song appearance on Jallandhar Doordarshan changed the entire course of his life. “I had written Dil da mamla... for an amateur Punjabi play, Sasi Punnu. It was a lively number alright but we hadn’t bargained for the havoc it created,” recalls Maan in an interview. Di da Mamla became a mega hit all over the country and Maan has never looked back and continued to rise to superstardom. Maan’s popularity transcends regional barriers, and he has sung songs in different languages and worked with music directors from Bollywood and others from all over the country. From stage Maan moved to movies. He has worked in Mamla Gadbad Hai, Long Da Lashkara, Ki Banu Duniya Da, Chora Harysana Da, Qurbani Jatt Di, Ucha Dar Babbe Nanak Da, Pratigya, Kachehri, Dushmani Di Agg, Baghaavat, Gabroo Punjab Da. Recently he has acted in Des Hoya Pardes Shaheed-e-Mohabbat and Zindagi khoobsoorat hai. His career spans more than two decades with churning out hit albums and his latest offering Vilayatan is going to be another chart buster from the sounds of it. Gurdas says that while he has not formally trained in music he was destined to sing and learnt from many people he met on his musical journey, be it the man on the street who sang, to singers he tried to imitate. A note, a sound, a thought can inspire him to write and compose.. In an interview he admitted to learning a great deal from folk singers Yamla Jat and Surinder Kaur, and later the Mangeshkar singers, Rafi and the biggest influence in his life Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Today more than two decades later Maan is the one who is being revered by other up and coming singers many of whom admit it is Maan who is their hero. On May 6th the Sikh American Society of Georgia is bringing this legendary entertainer to what is likely to be a pulsating, foot tapping performance. |
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