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Thousands attend spectacular Annual Punjab Mela 2014 at LA

LIVE Performance by the Legend GURDAS MAAN


Los Angeles, July 26, 2014
NRIpress-Club/Ramesh/Karen
Photos: Rupinder-Dhillon Photography
Gary Singh

“The Punjab Annual Mela attracted over eight thousand NRI Community members at the Hansen Dam Soccer Field in Los Angeles, California on July 2014  from 5.30pm to 11pm,”  said Dr. Jaswant Singh Dhillon. “The mammoth Mela, which has become the largest free carnival event for the NRI community in Southern California, was graced by the presence of the Chief Guest Dr. Baljinder Grewal.”

Raman Chadha, Shamsher Sidhu, Gurdas Mann, Jaswant Singh Dhillon, Iqbal Samra, Ravi Grewal, Satinder Satti, Harjit Sidhu, Nachhatar Bhullar

Get set for California to rock with Gurdas Mann "The Bhangra King" that draws ultimate respect from all Punjabi music lovers. It was organized by Punjabi Heritage  & cultural Society  (PHSC) & Festival of India Association.

Mann is one of the most successful artists of all time from India. Gurdas Mann is a singer, a songwriter, a choreographer and a National award-winning actor. Gurdas Mann gained national attention in India in 1980 with the song "Dil Da Mamala Hai". Since then he has gone on to record over 27 albums and has written over 200 songs. His movies include: SHAHEED - E - MOHABBAT, ZINDAGI KHOOBSOORAT HAI, DES HOYAA PARDES, WARIS SHAH - ISHQ DAA WAARIS, etc.

His power-packed stage performances are a rage and he is a crowd-puller man, who confesses his wildest dreams. Hailed as the pioneer of Punjabi pop bhangra, Gurdas Mann, has entertained Punjabi listeners with his beautiful songs as well as his robust bhangra numbers. This top star of Punjabi, is the pride of the Indian nation and a role model for millions around the world. For Gurdas Maan, it was his stage performances that earned him this much popularity and love of all.

Gurdas Maan was a keen sportsman, worked as a physical instructor in a college and did  masters in physical education. He received an honorary degree of Doctor of Music from the University of Wolverhampton on 7 September 2010. Maan performed at the Royal Albert Hall for two nights in April 2011 as part of his UK tour. This was the first time Maan performed at the Royal Albert Hall, an opportunity that very few artists come across. Maan, on stage acknowledged that he could hear the voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in the Hall as they too had performed there earlier.

Mann has starred in blockbuster Bollywood films and has received numerous awards, including the Jury’s Award, presented to him by the president of India in 2005. In 2009 he won "Best International Album" at the UK Asian Music Awards for Boot Polishan.

Gurdas Maan is best known as an actor for his performances in the following films:

  • Waris Shah-Ishq Da Waaris (2006), which was nominated as India's selection for the Academy Awards, and Shaheed-E-Mohabbat (1999). The first was by Sai Productions, which tells the real-life story of Boota Singh.
  • Appeared in the hit film Shaheed Udham Singh (2000), in which he played the role of Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary, with no prejudices based on religion, caste or creed. As a singer Maan has worked with music directors such as Laxmikant Pyarelal, Bappi Lahiri, Anu Malik, Nadeem Sharvan, Amar Haidipur, Charanjeet Ahuja, and Jaswant Bhanwra.
  • He starred alongside Juhi Chawla in the epic Des Hoyaa Pardes (2004), an emotional film illustrating the tragedies faced by the people of Punjab in the 1980s. He adopted the role of a son of a well-respected Jatt (bilingual separatist) Gurdev Singh Somal. He falls in love with a high-ranking police officer’s daughter. Before the wedding, the father is murdered by separatists. This tale soon twists into the inevitable demise of Gurshaan (Gurdas Maan). This movie was based on actual events.
  • Gurdas Maan  has appeared in Ucha Dar Babe Nanak Da (1982), Mamla Garbar Hai (1984), Long Da Lishkara (1986), Qurbani Jatt Di (1990), Pratigya (1990), Roohani Taaqat (1991), Saali Adhi Ghar Waali (1992), Wanted: Gurdas Maan Dead or Alive (1994), Kachehri (1994), and Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai (2002).
    Personal life

Gurdas Maan was born to Lt. Sardar Gurdev Singh Maan and Bibi Tej Kaur. Maan is married to Manjeet Maan and has one son, Gurikk who has done his schooling at Yadavindra Public School and Mayo College. Gurdas Maan started his career as an employee of Punjab State Electricity Board.

 “ Our loving NRI press - there is no hesitation to say that your contribution and exposure towards the heritage and culture of the Indian community is beyond our praise and appreciation.  Your excellent participation as the media encourages us to continue endorsing such concerts,” Dr. Jaswant Singh Dhillon wrote in his email. “The legendary singer, GURDAS MANN, and his team of artists, including the prominent hostess Satinder Satti, performed live in the presence of NRI spectators. 

“We owe a very special thanks to our sponsors  who played a major role in the funding of our team,” said Ravi Grewal who has owned several businesses in Southern California and Nevada. “I have heard nothing but great feedback about the team activity. People loved it and you guys rocked it! THANK YOU!.”

 

 

 

   

 

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