# Surjit Bindrakhia

Surjit Bindrakhia (born Surjit Bains; 15 April 1962 – 17 November 2003) was a singer from Punjab, India. He was recognized for his distinctive voice and hekh, a singing technique where a note is held continuously in one breath.
His biggest hits include Meri Nath Dig Paye, Dupatta Tera Satrang Da, Lakk Tunoo Tunoo, Bas Kar Bas Kar, Mukhda Dekh Ke, Tera Yaar Bolda, and Jatt Di Pasand. Surjit is often regarded by fans and critics as one of the most influential voices in Bhangra music. He received a special jury award at the 2004 Filmfare Awards for his contribution to Punjabi music.

## Early life and family

Bindrakhia was born as Surjit Bains to Sucha Singh and Gurcharan Kaur in the Bindrakh village of Rupnagar district, Punjab, India.
He began his singing career by singing boliyan for his college bhangra team. He received formal training from his guru, Atul Sharma. Bindrakhia appeared in films before he was a major figure in the music industry. His first appearance in the Punjabi movie industry was in the film Anakh Jattan Dee, where he sang the title song, Baniye Ne Jatt. Lyricist Shamsher Sandhu recognised the talent Surjit had which gifted him an opportunity into the Punjabi music industry. Most of his hit songs were written by Shamsher Sandhu and music was produced by Atul Sharma.
Surjit Bindrakhia married Preet Bains in April 1990. The couple had two children, son Gitaj Bindrakhia and daughter Minaz Bindrakhia.

## Professional life

Surjit Bindrakhia's voice was widely praised for its power and range among Bhangra singers during his career. Throaty, with a wide range of sounds, he was one of the most successful traditional artists doing the rounds of the bhangra scene during his time. Surjit had been known in Punjab for many years. His first break in the Punjabi music industry came in 1990 with the album Addi Utte Ghum, which included the track Jugni in which Bindrakhia performs his world record 32-second hekh. Surjit Bindrakhia is credited as being the first international superstar in bhangra music. His song Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da reportedly remained a top Punjabi track on UK charts for several weeks.
Bindrakhia was known for his high-pitched hekh, which reportedly could last up to 42 seconds. While other singers have attempted similar vocal techniques, Bindrakhia's style remains distinctive. His singing style worked with the beat, so you would find him pausing along with the dhol and raising and shifting into different keys as the dhol does. All of this gave Bindrakhia the air of a child gone a little mad with his voice. Bindrakhia is often credited as an influential figure in bridging traditional Punjabi folk music and modern Punjabi pop.

## Death

Reports indicated that Surjit experienced health issues in the later stages of his life.. He had been hospitalised multiple times. Due to a sudden decline in health, Surjit Bindrakhia died from a Silent Heart Attack cardiac arrest on the morning of 17 November 2003 at his home in Phase-7, Mohali.
Prominent Punjabi artists and singers attended his bhog and funeral at Bindrakhia's native village Bindrakh. Some of the artists who turned up to pay their last respects to the legend included Sardool Sikander, Hans Raj Hans, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Babbu Maan, Gurdas Maan his lyricist and a close friend Shamsher Singh Sandhu, and his guru and music composer Atul Sharma.

## Legacy

Bindrakhia stormed the market with over 250 million hit sales of which 175 million came from India alone. He later combined with greats such as Surinder Shinda doing live sets.
Punjabi singer Babbu Maan paid respects to Bindrakhia's family and in his 2005 album Pyaas, pays tribute with a song dedicated to Bindrakhia titled Pind Diyan Juhaan. In 2011 DJ Harvey and Nirmal Sidhu made a tribute song to Surjit Bindrakhia called Bindrakhia Boliyan which has been a huge success since its release being ranked at Number 1 on the BBC Asian Network Chart in the first week of release.
In 2018 DJ and Music Producer DJ Frenzy released a remix track of the hit song Mundri Nishani. This remix was part of a series of Bindrakhia's tracks reimagined by the DJ. The first track itself has been a huge success and has been widely received by fans.
Some of his songs like Tera Yaar Bolda, Lak Tanoo Tanoo, Jatt Di Pasand are considered indispensable for any wedding in the northern part of India and can be heard even today.

## Discography

| Release | Album | Record Label | Notes |
| 1989 | Munde Aakhde Pataka | Finetone | |
| 1990 | Addi Utte Ghum | Catrack Entertainment | |
| 1990 | Gal Das De Dil Di | DMC Records LTD | |
| 1991 | Munda Ki Mangda | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 22/05/00 |
| 1992 | Loki Kehandey Bas Kar Bas Kar | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 22/05/00 |
| 1993 | Gabhru Gulab Warga | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 24/05/00 |
| 1993 | Labh Kiton Bhabiye | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 01/01/96 |
| 1994 | Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da | DMC Records LTD | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 04/05/00 |
| 1994 | Mundri Nishani | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 01/06/00 |
| 1994 | Phullan Wangoo Hasdiye Kudiye | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 1995 | Laadla Deor | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 16/06/00 |
| 1995 | Rumaal Bhul Gayee | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 17/05/00 |
| 1996 | Dil Watte Dil Mangda | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 1996 | Sohni Naar | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 1996 | Tauba Tauba Sohneyan Da Husn Kamaal | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 24/05/00 |
| 1997 | Tera Vikda Jai Kure Pani | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 1997 | Jawani Aa Gayee Oye | Tips | |
| 1998 | Phul Kadha Phulkari | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 1998 | Wang Wargi Kuri | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 1999 | Mukhda Dekh Ke | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 2000 | Lakk Tunoo Tunoo | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 2001 | Billiyaan Akhiyaan | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 2002 | Dilaan Diyaan Choriyaan | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 2003 | Ishque Di Aag | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |

## Posthumous albums

| Release | Album | Record Label | Notes |
| 2004 | Galti Malti Maaf Kar Deo | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 2005 | Pyar Kar Lai | Music Waves | |

## Religious and special albums

| Release | Album | Record Label | Notes |
| 1992 | Kamban Dil Gaddaran De | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | Re-released by Super Cassettes Industries T-Series on 22 June 2000 |
| 1999 | Janam Dihara Khalse Da | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| 2001 | Singho Sewadar Bano | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series | |
| Release | Album | Song | Record Label |
| 1996 | Mitran Noo Maar Gia (New Year Program 1996) | Aedron Rumaal Hiliya | DMC Records LTD |
| 1997 | Mela Meliyan Da (New Year Program 1997) | Kannan Wich Ghungroo | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 1998 | Mela Vaishakhi Da | Patasian Nu Bhordi | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 1998 | Jhanjhar Di Chhankar (New Year Program 1999) | Moda Maar Ke | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series} |
| 1999 | Koke Da Lishkara | Khul Gaya Jalebi Juda | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 1999 | Phulkari (New Year Program 2000) | Tera Yaar Bolda and Jhanjar Patlo Di | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 2000 | Dupatta | Dupatta Tera Sat Rang Da (Remake) and Nakhro | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 2001 | Mela Geetan Da (New Year Program 2001) | Wangg Hogi Tangg and Malang Baniye | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 2001 | Dhol Wajda (Vaisakhi Program 2001) | Dil Vakh Rove | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 2001 | Boli Pa Mitra (New Year Program 2002) | Khitton Sikheya Matak Naal Turna | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 2002 | Mittran Da Chhalla | Mittran Da Chhalla and Aedron Rumaal Hiliya (Remake) | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 2002 | Giddhe Vich Vajdi Addi (New Year Program 2003) | Giddhe Vich Vajdi Addi and Ikk Akh Toonahari | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 2003 | Guldasta Geetaan Da (New Year Program 2004) | Udoon Udoon Kardi Jawani | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |

## Filmography

| Release | Film | Song | Record Label |
| 1989 | Anakh Jattan Dee | Baniye Ne Jatt | Finetone |
| 1991 | Jatt Jeona Mour | Baba Banda Singh | Finetone |
| 1991 | Badla Jatti Da | Boliyan with Surinder Shinda | Finetone |
| 1994 | Kachehri | Dera Jatt Da with Dilshad Akhtar | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 1996 | Zorawar | Ve Kehre Tere Amb Torh Laye with Parmjit Sandhu | Catrack |
| 1996 | Rab Dian Rakhan | Khera Tera Nahion Chandna | Super Cassettes Industries T-Series |
| 1998 | Ishq Nachavye Gali Gali | Char Din Mitteran Ne | Catrack |