Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s much-awaited New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana was embroiled in a legal controversy after a complaint was filed by Panditrao Dharnevar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.
The complaint prompted the Deputy Director of the Women and Children’s Department of the Punjab government to issue a formal notice to the District Commissioner of Ludhiana, urging him to stop the singer from performing certain songs during his live shows on December 31, 2024. Went. Which was addressed to local authorities in Ludhiana, specifically calling for a ban on songs that have been accused of promoting alcohol, such as ‘Patiala Peg’, ‘5 Tara Theke’ and ‘Kes (Jebe Wicho Fem) Labbia)’, even if modified with changed lyrics.
The complaint references prior warnings issued to Diljit Dosanjh by various commissions, where he was advised against performing these controversial tracks. Despite these advice, the singer has reportedly continued to perform the songs with minor changes. Panditrao Dharnevar, who filed the complaint, expressed strong concern over the impact of such songs on the young audience, especially when the audience consists of underage children. ,
Making the situation more complex, Dharnevar cited a judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which in 2019 had directed the police to ensure that public events including live concerts involving consumption of alcohol, drugs or violence are not banned. No songs should be played.
According to the court’s ruling, songs that glorify substances such as alcohol or drugs have a harmful effect on impressionable children. Pandit Rao has also made it clear that if the concert goes ahead with these tracks then he is ready to take the matter to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. , He criticized Dosanjh for performing such songs wearing a turban, a traditional headgear, which he believes should not be associated with promoting negative values.
The Ludhiana concert, which was added as a last-minute stop on Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati India Tour, marked the grand finale of his three-month nationwide performance schedule. Initially, the tour was scheduled to end in Guwahati, but the Ludhiana show was not announced on 23 December and the tickets were sold out within minutes of the sale starting.
In the days before the protest in Ludhiana, Diljit Dosanjh had already faced scrutiny in other cities for similar reasons. During his concert in Hyderabad in November, he received a legal notice from the Telangana government, citing a complaint about his performance of songs promoting alcohol and violence. Also, during his Indore show, the singer addressed the issue of black market ticket sales. , defending themselves against allegations that their tickets were being resold at inflated prices.
Controversy over the lyrics of Diljit Dosanjh’s songs is not new. At the beginning of the year, the singer made headlines for his comments on alcohol in his music. During a performance in Ahmedabad, he promised that he would stop making songs about alcohol if the Indian government imposed a nationwide ban on alcohol. Dosanjh said, “If all states declare themselves dry states, I promise I will never sing about liquor again.”
Despite these ongoing legal challenges, Dosanjh’s Dil-Luminati tour has been a huge success, with tickets selling fast at every stop.
published – January 01, 2025 12:19 PM IST
