Benny Dayal Brings Nostalgia and Artistry to Dubai Homecoming

Indian playback singer Benny Dayal is returning to his childhood home in Dubai for Thaalam Beats, a South Indian music festival at Coca-Cola Arena on August 15. Born in Abu Dhabi and raised in the UAE, Dayal sees this performance as both nostalgic and significant.

'It's a brilliant story,' he said. 'This kid studied here, and now he's performing at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.' He believes this moment can be an inspiration for young musicians growing up in the UAE who aspire to make music their career.

Dayal has been in the industry for nearly two decades and faces a challenge: many of his popular songs are over a decade old. However, he doesn't see performing these hits as simply recreating what listeners already know.

'When you perform live, you personalize the version for the audience,' Dayal explained. 'That's where the artistry comes into play.' He takes inspiration from artists like Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé who continually reinvent their own catalogue on stage.