International sensation, Diljit Dosanjh tweaks alcohol references for performances in dry state. Calls out double standards of Indian Govt.
Diljit Dosanjh is never one to shy away from speaking his mind—especially when talking about rules imposed on artists. Recently, during his Dil-Luminati India Tour, the singer made waves by refusing to sing songs about alcohol in dry states like Gujarat and calling out what he sees as a double standard in how Indian and foreign artists are treated.
It all started when the Telangana government warned Diljit not to promote alcohol, drugs, or violence in his songs ahead of his concert in Hyderabad. While some artists might have shied away from controversy, Diljit turned the situation into an opportunity to make a bold statement.
At a recent performance in Ahmedabad, the singer gave a shout-out to Gujarat’s dry state status (where alcohol is prohibited) and declared, “I won’t sing any song about alcohol here because this is a dry state.” But his message didn’t stop there. He called on governments across India to close down all liquor shops if they truly wanted to rid the country of alcohol-related songs. “You shut down liquor shops across the country, I’ll stop singing about alcohol. Easy,” he said with a cheeky grin.
The singer wasn’t done yet. During the show, Diljit also mocked the government for its treatment of Indian artists compared to international performers. “If a foreign artist comes, they can sing whatever they want, no questions asked. But when an Indian artist performs, suddenly, there’s a problem,” he remarked. He even recalled the pandemic, pointing out that while everything else was locked down, liquor shops remained open. “You can’t fool the youth,” he said, rallying the crowd with his words.
Let’s start Dry Nation Movement 🙏🏽
— DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) November 17, 2024
Ahmedabad 🪷 pic.twitter.com/K5RfuSn2Kx
Diljit’s remarks were especially pointed when he discussed Bollywood’s role in promoting alcohol. “Bollywood has thousands of songs about alcohol, and they even advertise these brands. But me? I don’t drink, and I don’t promote alcohol. I’ve sung dozens of devotional songs, but all people want to talk about is ‘Patiala Peg.’” He continued, “I can tweak my songs, and people will still love them.”
In a world where social media is buzzing with every celebrity’s move, Diljit’s message was clear: if the government truly cares about the youth and the issues they face, it should address bigger concerns, like the promotion of alcohol in media, rather than singling out artists.
Diljit wrapped up his performance with a challenge: “Let’s start a movement. If all states become dry, I’ll stop singing about alcohol in my concerts. You declare a dry day when I perform, and I won’t sing about it.” A bold challenge indeed, but with Diljit’s charisma and strong opinions, it has the potential to get people talking.
