From corporate events coordinator to the voice of Indian cinema
In short: Before he was a multi-lingual playback sensation, Benny Dayal was managing events for a global firm. Discover how a chance audition by a legendary composer transformed a journalism graduate into one of India's most versatile musical talents.
Born on 13 May 1979, Benny Dayal’s journey to musical stardom was far from linear. Raised in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to parents from Kerala's Kollam district, Dayal pursued a formal education that included a B.Com. and a Master's in Journalism from Madras Christian College. Before finding his footing in the recording studio, he worked in the business world as an Events Coordinator for RR Donnelley, a role he eventually abandoned to pursue his musical ambitions.
The turning point in his career arrived through the band S5, a group launched by the SS Music TV channel. It was during a performance with S5 that the renowned composer A.R. Rex Rahman noticed Dayal's talent and invited him to audition. This breakthrough led to significant industry recognition, including receiving the RD Burman Award for New Music Talent at the 54th Filmfare Awards for his work on the song "Kaise Mujhe" from the film Ghajini. He also earned the Max Stardust Award for New Musical Sensation in 2009 for the hit "Pappu Can't Dance."
Today, Dayal is a prominent figure in the playback singing industry, performing in an expansive range of languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati, and Marathi. His live presence is defined by his touring band, Funktuation, which was established in 2011 and features a brass section known as The Horn Flakes. Beyond the studio, Dayal has even ventured into acting, making his debut in the Malayalam suspense thriller By the People.
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