New Delhi:
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has joined the growing list of critics slamming Jasleen Royal’s opening performance at Coldplay’s Mumbai concerts, following earlier comments by singer Antara Mitra and composer Vishal Dadlani.
The director recently shared a video from the performance on his X (formerly Twitter) account and said that the audience found it more melodious than Jasleen herself.
He wrote, “The audience is more pure than these auto-tuned, Instagram-generated singers. Imagine if he didn’t have followers on Instagram, would anyone even bother to audition him for the Mohalla singing competition?” Would be allowed? Counting on talent is the new norm.
The audience is more pure than these auto-tuned, Instagram-born singers. Imagine if she didn’t have followers on Instagram, would anyone have allowed her to audition for the Mohalla singing competition?
Counting followers over talent is the new norm. pic.twitter.com/waqrgovhjv
– Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) January 24, 2025
Earlier, Antara Mitra had also voiced her concerns and said, “I am shamelessly calling it out! Because someone from the same field should be! I have an iron fist so I am doing it.” Yes, you are all making these decisions on a large scale, my only request is to give priority to music over numbers.”
Vishal Dadlani similarly criticized the performance in an Instagram story that was later deleted but was revived on Reddit. Although he didn’t name names, fans speculated that his comments were directed at Jasleen.
He wrote, “I’m really sorry, but when you put a basic-to-bad singer on a big stage in front of a big crowd, all you’re doing is showing more people that person. Can’t really sing. Sadly the system is the best we have within the labels in India.
ICYDK, Jasleen made history as the first Indian artist to open for a British band, with plans to perform at Coldplay’s upcoming Ahmedabad show as well.
