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In 2014, we went to pick up a cousin from his boarding school, and he was bursting with excitement to talk about his favorite singer and rapper – Yo Yo Honey Singh.

“Didi, he’s the only Indian rapper who has won a Grammy award!”. He then argued defiantly when I said he had his facts wrong. I remember it was 2014 because none of us had smartphones yet. We had to wait until we got home to look up the internet and fact-check. My excited, teenage cousin was disappointed to learn his rap god hadn’t actually won a Grammy. But that’s a testament to how Honey Singh’s young fans put him on a high pedestal, creating their own legends around the singer.

The 2024 Netflix documentary Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous charts the rise, fall, and comeback of the music star, with Singh granting cameras access to his home, memories, and family. It features numerous clips from packed concerts, familiar hit songs, home videos, and exclusive glimpses into Honey Singh’s Noida studio, home, and upcoming projects.

The documentary is primarily narrated through interviews with Honey Singh and his sister, Sneha Singh, interspersed with the voices of other interviewees, including Singh’s parents, friends, contemporaries, music producers, and a music journalist. With an 80-minute runtime, it best captures the story of how excessive fame, overwork, and drinking took a toll on Singh’s mental and physical health, forcing him to take a break from the music scene. Singh recalls doing back-to-back shows without breaks, which led to severe anxiety and paranoia.

At its best, Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous feels like a polished PR exercise. However, it tries to tackle too many subjects, leaving some woefully underexplored. For instance, it briefly addresses the controversies surrounding Singh’s music- accusations of misogyny, regressive lyrics, and sexism – but doesn’t dive deep. It also touches on his divorce from childhood sweetheart Shalini Talwar, who accused him of domestic abuse. “We signed an MOU, so I cannot talk about it,” Singh says in the documentary. Why bring up an issue if you’re not going to provide any insight?

Regarding criticism of his lyrics, Singh defends himself by saying he only serves what his fans want. “Is he an artist or a supplier?” the music journalist in the documentary sarcastically wonders. Perhaps he’s a bit of both.

This documentary will likely resonate most with fans of the rapper, who, despite the setbacks in his career, remains confident about topping charts and breaking records. A Grammy award? Singh doesn’t mention aiming for awards or accolades, but in the climactic moments of Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, he talks about a potential collaboration with Dr. Dre – a seven-time Grammy winner.

You can watch Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous on Netflix.