Gurdas Mann, His contribution to Punjabi music Options

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Gurdas Mann

The actor

Initially he decided to plunge into the movie scene through the Punjabi film circuit. And although, he was an established singer, acting wasn't all that new to him since he had done some stage plays. Though he was appreciated for his roles, he somehow always ended up playing light roles similar to that of his real life. That led him away from experimenting and caused him to pay less and less attention to movies and more to singing. Nevertheless, some of the movies he worked in are Mamla Gadbad Hai, Long Da Lashkara, Ki Banu Duniya Da, Chora Haryana Da, Qurbani Jatt Di, Ucha Dar Babbe Nanak Da, Pratigya, Kachehri, Dushmani Di Agg, Baghaavat, Gabroo Punjab Da. He got the challenge of playing a role in a movie that went on to be a blockbuster. The name of that movie is Shaheed-E-Mohabbat.

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Guess who is making a debut in Bollywood? Gurdas Mann. The Bhangra king, who for years has entertained Punjabi listeners with his mellifluous songs as well as his robust bhangra numbers. The Punjabi film Shaheed-e-Mohabbat Bhoota Singh produced by him did quite well. Now the renowned singer-actor is all set to step into Hindi films. His debut Hindi film casts him in a romantic lead opposite none other than Tabu. The film, Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hai , dwells into a relationship between a spastic child and a singer, says Mann. His wife Manjit Mann, an actress herself, had thought about the concept. Mann claims that he has met a lot of spastic children many of whom throng at his concerts in wheel chairs. So there is a personal touch to the entire project, is it?

Tabu was undoubtedly the first choice for the lead female role. His wife was sure that Tabu was the only one who could do justice to the role, a fine actress that she is. Mann also adds that Tabu had seen his earlier work and readily agreed to work opposite him in Zindagi Khoobsoorat Hain. Besides Gurdas Mann and Tabu, the film stars Divya Dutta, Ashish Vidyarthi and Rajat Kapoor in key roles. Music would be scored by Anand Raaj Anand and is being directed by Manoj Ounj, who also directed Shaheed-e-mohhabat Bhoota Singh.

Gurdas Mann is singing three songs in the film - two solos and a duet with Alka Yagnik. The character of the spastic child would be played by yet another little newcomer named Chandni. She had earlier modeled for the Parle-G Biscuit ad. Gurdas sent her to the Dilkush School in Juhu, where she had to spend a month observing how spastic children behave.

As for playback singing in Hindi films, Mann is always game for it. But his prior commitments for shows have kept him tied up. The Bhangra King might be a new comer in Bollywood but he has almost 15 Punjabi films up his sleeves and has also dabbled in theatre.

Source: bollywoodworld.com