A self-described "simple-hearted villager" who rose to stardom, artist and activist Tejinder "Babbu" Maan is one of the great stars—and champions—of Punjabi music and film. Born in 1975 and raised in Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib district, Maan released his official debut, Tu Meri Miss India, in 1999. While many Punjabi singers have drifted from traditional percussion-centric instrumentation to electronic beats, Maan has resisted that trend and remained rooted in Punjabi music's big acoustic beats. In 2009, he released Singh Better Than King, a provocative album of spiritually oriented tracks that contained "Baba Nanak," a satiric jab at fake religious teachers in the Sikh community. As a writer, producer, and actor, he has affirmed Punjabi culture in films like Ekam and Desi Romeos, whose scores he also writes and performs. Maan has parlayed his many awards into a platform for his political activism, focusing on the plight of Punjabi farmers and their families through his One Hope, One Chance foundation.