Introduction

Mika Singh is a singer, composer, performer and songwriter. He is the youngest among the six Mehndi brothers, with the eldest being the popular Punjabi singer, Daler Mehndi. Mika Singh has made private albums like Something Something, Dunali, Gabru, Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag which were big hits. He has risen from being a Kirtan Singer in his early days to a well-known pop and bhangra artist.

Early Life

Mika Singh was born as Amrik Singh. He is the youngest among the six Mehndi brothers, with the eldest being the popular Punjabi singer, Daler Mehndi. His father, Ajmer Singh Chandan was an amateur wrestler as well as a trained Indian Classical musician while Balbir Kaur, his mother had a great interest in the field of folk music and she had also been an amateur wrestler at the state level. Mika learned to play the tabla at the age of eight. By the age of 12, he had learned to play the harmonium and by the age of 14, he was proficient with the guitar. In his early days, he was a Kirtan singer before evolving into a pop and bhangra artist.

His First Albums

Mika released his first album called ‘Saawan Mein Lag Gayi Aag’ in 1998, which got immediate success. Thereafter, he released a number of albums like Ishq Brandy (2000), Gabru (2001), Jaan Qurban, and Something Something (2006). Soon, he began to sing songs like Dil Tod Ke Na Ja in the 2006 movie Pyaar Ke Side Effects, moving on to Dil Mein Baji Guitar for the film Apna Sapna Money Money in the same year. Next, he made another album entitled Dunali in 2007. Some of Mika’s songs in 2007 include Ganpat from Shootout at Lokhandwala, Mauja Hi Mauja from Jab We Met and Neeli Neeli Aankhon Wali from Nehlle Pe Dehlla. Mauja Hi Mauja became one of his first well appreciated songs. That year culminated with his song Nachle Soniye for the movie Dus Kahaniyaan. The following year he sang two numbers for the movie Singh is Kinng – including one title track and Bhutni Ke. The year 2008 also saw him singing Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (title track). In 2009, his songs included Tabahi Tabahi for the film Jugaad, Dhun Lagi for the film Jai Veeru, title track of Dil Bole Hadippaa and Tamil Bhangra song for Quick Gun Murugun.

Rise to Fame

The year 2010 saw one of Mika’s hit numbers Aapka Kya Hoga (Dhanno) for the film Housefull. Incidentally, the song was a remake of a hit song by the same name from the 1981 film Lawaaris.

By 2011, he had a number of hit songs like Jugni for the film Tanu Weds Manu, Pyar Do Pyar Lo for Thank You, Ishq Na Kariyo Kake for Pyar Ka Punchnama and Aal Tu Jalal Tu for F.A.L.T.U. His other hit numbers included Desi Beat for the film Bodyguard, Dhinka Chika for the movie Ready, Subah Hone Na De for Desi Boyz, Saj Dhaj Ke for Mausam, Gaddi Modange for Dharti & a Bengali film title track Paglu.7

In 2012, his song list included the title track for the film Ajab Gazabb Love, 9 Track Album for the film Pardese and Long Drive for the film Khiladi 786. The year 2013, began for Mika with Ishq Di Battiyan for the movie Four Two Ka One and included Aa Re Aa Re for the hit movie Besharam.

The following year, his songs could be heard in most of the hit films like Catch Me If You Can from The Xpose, Khol De Dil Ki Khidki from Humshakals, Party to Banti Hai from Bhoothnath Returns and his biggest hit of the year, Jumme Ki Raat from the recent movie Kick.

An Actor

Mika Singh has worked in two Punjabi movies Mitti (2010) & Loot (2011)

Controversy

Mika had stirred up a controversy in 2006 when he kissed Rakhi Sawant on his birthday without her permission. However, it seems they made up when they crossed each other’s path in several TV shows & declared that they are friends again in the 2011 edition of Comedy Circus.

TV Shows

He had been a mentor, a judge as well as a team captain for the team called ‘Mika’s Blasters’ in the reality show called ‘Music Ka Maha Muqabla’, hosted on STAR Plus.