Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh’s nationwide Dil-Luminati concert tour has been anything but smooth sailing. The tour, which has captivated audiences across India, has faced a series of controversies, highlighting the complexities of cultural sensitivities and artistic expression in the country. The most recent flare-up occurred in Indore, just a day before his scheduled performance.
Protests erupted in the heart of Indore, spearheaded by the Bajrang Dal, a right-wing Hindu organization. Their concerns centered around the alleged serving of alcohol and meat at the concert, which they viewed as culturally insensitive. Yash Bachani, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a related organization, voiced strong opposition, citing concerns about cultural preservation and even hinting at the possibility of “Love Jihad” incidents. Adding fuel to the fire, local BJP MLAs Usha Thakur and Golu Shukla openly supported the protests.
Dosanjh’s response was subtle yet powerful. Instead of directly addressing the protests, he chose to recite a verse from veteran lyricist Rahat Indori’s popular poem, ‘Agar Khilaf Hai Hone Do,’ during his Indore concert. The powerful lines, “Agar Khilaf Hai Hone Do Jaan Thodi Hai, Yeh Sab Dhuaan Hai Koi Aasmaan Thodi Hai, Sab Ka Khoon Hai Shaamil Yahan Ki Mitti Mein, Kisi Ke Baap Ka Hindustaan Thodi Hai” (If opposition is to be faced, let it be faced, this is not our life, it’s just smoke, not the sky, everyone’s blood is mixed in this soil, this isn’t anyone’s father’s India), resonated deeply with the audience, implicitly challenging the protesters’ claims.
The situation eventually de-escalated, with reports from concertgoers confirming that neither alcohol nor meat was served at the Indore event, complying with local police regulations. This peaceful resolution stands in contrast to earlier controversies.
In Pune, the state excise department canceled the permit for alcohol service at Dosanjh’s Kothrud concert due to protests from local residents and political figures, including members of the NCP youth wing and BJP leader Chandrakant Patil. These concerns mirrored those in Indore, reflecting a recurring pattern of resistance to alcohol at Dosanjh’s concerts.
Perhaps the most striking incident occurred in Hyderabad, where the Telangana government banned certain songs from Dosanjh’s performance, targeting lyrics referencing alcohol. Undeterred, the singer creatively replaced the alcohol references with mentions of Coca-Cola, showcasing his adaptability and resilience. He later addressed the censorship issue directly, cleverly pointing out the hypocrisy of selective censorship. He stated, “I am not defending my songs or myself. I just want that if you want to censor songs, then the censorship should also be applied to Indian cinema. In Indian films, the bigger the gun, the bigger the hero. Which big actor has not done a song on alcohol or a similar scene? If you want to apply censorship, then please apply it to everyone.” His argument highlights the double standards often prevalent in the entertainment industry.
Despite these ongoing challenges, Diljit Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati tour continues, undeterred. With upcoming shows in Chandigarh on December 14th and a grand finale in Guwahati on December 29th, the tour’s trajectory remains captivating, a testament to both Dosanjh’s resilience and the enduring popularity of his music. The controversies, however, serve as a reminder of the complex interplay between artistic expression, religious and political sentiments, and freedom of speech within India.
