Swag, according to singer Benny Dayal

Benny Dayal

When Benny Dayal is on stage, he promises quality entertainment. The 32-year-old wears many hats, quite literally. "I have lost count of hats I wear," says the singer, easily recognised for his bald pate, nerdy glasses and a kazoo in hand. His strength lies in his ability to sing in eight languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Urdu, Bengali, Hindi and English. With a gig dedicated to Western music tonight, Dayal intends to return to his teenage years.

A younger Dayal (centre) with S5 at a concert in 2006

Dayal grew up in Abu Dhabi but graduation took him to Chennai in 2002. His musical horizons broadened at Madras Christian College, an institute still known for its cultural events. "I began by singing in English. I used to sing with many bands (Subject To Change, S5 to name a few) in Chennai," shares Dayal, who also carries a bunch of English originals in his kitty, like Dragon Warrior and We Would Know. Dayal witnessed several college fests and local bands who belted out songs by The Eagles and Stevie Wonder. But in his mind, none could dethrone Michael Jackson. "He is my hero and one of the reasons I became a musician. My most memorable song is Bad. When I wear a hat on stage, it is an ode to him," adds Dayal.

He is working on a series of singles with music producer Dub Sharma, with whom he released a rendition of O Mere Dil Ke Chain (a Kishore Kumar classic) a few months ago. "The series is called Swag Anusar," adds Dayal. When asked about the quirky name, he pointed the real meaning of the word. "Swag doesn't mean a golden chain and a diamond ring; it means melody. It is also about having the right attitude (a fun one) and not what causes a problem," he laughs.

Dayal is also known for his work withâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088ARâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Rahman, especially in Hindi films like Delhi 6 and Ghajini.