Punjabi singing sensation Diljit Dosanjh recently ignited a debate on censorship in the Indian entertainment industry during his Lucknow concert on November 22nd. The outspoken artist, currently touring India with his Dil-Luminati Tour, directly addressed what he perceives as a blatant hypocrisy regarding the portrayal of alcohol in music versus film. His comments followed a previous incident in Hyderabad, where he was directed by the Telangana government to refrain from singing songs that promoted alcohol, drugs, or violence.
Addressing his enthusiastic Lucknow audience, Dosanjh passionately challenged the perceived double standard. He eloquently pointed out that while many prominent Bollywood actors portray alcohol consumption without facing similar scrutiny, singers are often singled out for the same content. He cited his own successful repertoire as evidence, referencing popular hits like “Born To Shine,” “Kinni Kinni,” “GOAT,” “Naina,” and “Lover,” all of which achieved significant success without explicit alcohol references. He directly called out a TV anchor who had dared him to create a hit song without alcohol references, highlighting the commercial success of his numerous songs that far surpassed his hit “Patiala Peg.”
Dosanjh’s argument wasn’t simply about defending his own creative choices. Instead, he advocated for consistent application of censorship standards across all forms of Indian entertainment. “I’m not defending my songs,” he stated, as quoted by India Today. “I just want to say that if you want to censor songs, then the censorship should be applied to Indian cinema as well. Which big actor hasn’t done an alcohol song or scene? Censorship should be applied to films as well.” He emphasized the significant artistic value of his work, noting that his films have even received National Film Awards. He suggested a simple solution—a health disclaimer during concerts—would be a far more effective and fair approach than the current selective censorship.
His comments come after his modified performance in Hyderabad, where he cleverly replaced references to alcohol in his chart-topping songs “Lemonade” and “5 Taara,” substituting “Coke” for “daaru” (alcohol) and “hotel” for “theke” (liquor shop). This adaptation highlights the practical challenges and creative compromises faced by artists navigating these restrictive guidelines. Dosanjh’s passionate stance has sparked a broader conversation about the fairness and consistency of censorship within the Indian entertainment industry, particularly the disparity between music and film. His Dil-Luminati Tour, which previously enthralled audiences in the US, Canada, and Europe, continues its successful run across India, with upcoming shows scheduled in cities like Pune.
